Zoo Nutrition News July 1 999 Contents SPECIAL ISSUE 1 09 Nutrition Research in Zoo Animals 14 Starting a Nutrition Service 23 Central Kitchen System 30 Transferring Birds to Pellet Feeding 32 Feeding Enrichment in Bears First European Zoo Nutrition Meeting From the Organising Committee Dear member, Providing a good diet, which fulfils as many aspects of a natural diet as possible, is an essential consideration in improving the welfare of zoo animals. Although some research has already been conducted in the field of zoo animal nutrition and more is ongoing, there is still a great need for further investigation. Exchange of ideas, information and results is vital when developing zoo animal diets. On this premise we began to organise a conference focussed on zoo animal nutrition that eventually became the First European Zoo Nutrition Meeting, held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands from 9 -11 January 1999. The conference was organised by the EAZA Research Committee, the Veterinary Faculty of Utrecht and Rotterdam Zoo. When Jean-Michel Hatt (Veterinary Faculty of Zurich) and I started planning the conference at the beginning of 1998, we anticipated and would have been more than happy to welcome approximately 80 participants. So we were surprised and extremely pleased to have more then 180 delegates from 29 countries attend the conference. Most were European, however participants also travelled from the Republic of China, New Zealand, Bahrain, USA and Canada. Congress participants represented not only zoos but also the zoo animal food industry and nutrition research institutes. We never expected such a great response to this meeting. It can only mean that zoo animal nutrition is indeed an important issue within the zoo world. Steps should be taken to provide continued means of discussing and disseminating EAZA News July 1999 information relating to zoo animal nutrition. An open session was held at the end of the conference and a questionnaire 02 was sent to all participants, asking how this should be done in Europe in the future. All the conference participants received a set of abstracts from all of the presented talks and posters, more than 40 in total. More information on how to obtain a copy of the abstracts can be found on page 20 of this EAZA News special on Zoo Nutrition. All conference participants will, free of charge, receive a copy of the conference proceedings to be published at the end of this year. Details of how to obtain the conference proceedings can also be found on page 20. Some talks contained general information about zoo animal nutrition, which will be useful for all zoos. Therefore we decided to produce this special EAZA News focussing on the nutrition conference. Perhaps the most appropriate way to start this EAZA News special on Zoo Nutrition is with a current review of the status of zoo nutrition in Europe. Following that as a contrast, and perhaps a model of how European zoos should coordinate their nutrition information Special issue on Zoo Nutrition and research, the role of Nutrition Advisory Group of AZA is described. Throughout this newsletter and at every nutrition meeting there is always a call for more research. The article Zoo Nutrition Research describes the particular problems of the zoo nutritionist when designing research protocols. Two pages are devoted the Zootrition software, what is sure to become an essential tool for every zoo nutritionist. Basic guidelines on how to establish a zoo nutrition service follow. Information about the conference programme can be found in the centre of this issue. The idea of a centralised kitchen is common in North American zoos but unusual in Europe. Emmen Zoo, however, uses this system and describes how it works. A related article follows on the importance of food safety, an often overlooked issue. The importance of communication between zoo nutritionist and pathologist also receives attention in this EAZA News special on Zoo Nutrition. Commonly observed diet-related illnesses in birds are described, followed by an article with methods and tips on how to transfer birds to pellet feed. The final article relates to food presentation, another very important consideration when designing zoo diets. Many thanks to the EAZA Executive Office for their assistance and especially to Andrea Fidgett for English editing and Sofie van Wees, guest editor of this issue. Of course, it would not have been possible to publish this newsletter without the assistance of our sponsors, information about whom is also displayed in this special issue. I sincerely hope that this EAZA News special on Zoo Nutrition contributes to improving zoo animal nutrition – because our animals deserve better diets! Joeke Nijboer Nutritionist Rotterdam Zoo Member of Organising Committee of the First European Zoo Nutrition Conference Contents Cover 01 Feeding harbour seals at Ouwehands Zoo, Rhenen, COLOPHON The Netherlands From the Organising Committee 02 EAZA News is the quarterly magazine of Contents 03 The European Association of Zoos Nutrition in zoos, research institutions and food industry Current Status in Europe 04 and Aquaria (EAZA) Current Status in Europe 05 This special issue of EAZA News is dedicated Nutrition Advisory Group The formation of the NAG for the American Zoo and 06 to Zoo Nutrition and was Aquarium Association Nutrition Advisory Group compiled as a result of 07 the First European Zoo Nutrition Meeting Z00 Nutrition Research Some considerations on the design of research projects 09 held in Rotterdam, Z00 Nutrition Research The Netherlands, 10 in January 1999. Z00 Nutrition Research 11 Editorial Staff EAZA News July 1999 Sofıe van Wees Zootrition 12 Windows compatible dietary management software Andrea Fidgett Zootrition 13 Joeke Nijboer Mick Kurtz Z00 Nutrition Service 14 How to build a zoo nutrition service? Koen Brouwer Z00 Nutrition Service 15 EAZA Executive Offıce c/o Amsterdam Zoo, Z00 Nutrition Service 16 PO Box 20164, 03 1000 HD Amsterdam, NAG Meeting 17 Third Meeting of the Nutritional Advisory Group The Netherlands Special issue on Zoo Nutrition e-mail: Conference Programme European Nutrition Meeting 18 [email protected] Membership services: European Nutrition Meeting 19 tel: +31 20 520 07 53 fax: +31 20 520 07 54 Abstract & Proceedings 20 Collection Coordination & Conservation: Internet 21 tel: +31 20 520 07 50 fax: +31 20 520 07 52 Central Kitchen 23 Central animal nutrition kitchen in Emmen Zoo Safety and Quality Food safety and food quality assurance in the zoo Photography 24 Rob Doolaard - IZP Safety and Quality [email protected] 25 (unless otherwise mentioned) Pathology 27 What can the nutritionist do with the results of the pathologist? Design Bird Nutrition 28 Some diet related problems seen in birds Jantijn van den Heuvel, Bird Nutrition 29 Made, The Netherlands Pellet Bird Feeding 30 Transferring birds to pellet feeding Printing Drukkerij Van den Dool, Pellet Bird Feeding 31 Sliedrecht, The Netherlands Feeding Enrichment 32 A way of stimulating natural behaviour of captive bears? The views expressed in Feeding Enrichment 33 this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Closing Remarks 35 European Association of Zoos and Aquaria. Who is Who in EAZA 36 Printed on paper bleached without chlorine Items may not be reproduced without the permission of the EAZA Executive Offıce. Current status in Europe Nutritioni in zoos, research institutions and food industry by Sofıe van Wees, Rotterdam Zoo, The Netherlands To compile an inventory of the current status of zoo nutrition in Europe a survey was conducted among European zoos, Employment Nutritional research institutions and food companies, the purpose being 20% of zoo animal research 28% to make recommendations for improving zoo nutrition in nutritionists in zoos Europe and to aid better communication between zoos, research and food industry. Questionnaires were sent to SHARPLY CONTRAST 177 zoos, 64 research institutions and 48 food manufacturers over 30 European countries in total. Almost 50% of the Nutritional Need for zoo-questionnaires, 11% of the research-questionnaires and 75% problems and additional 83% 13% of the food industry-questionnaires were returned. diseases research The participants were asked to respond to a variety of questions that can be assigned to fıve categories: Communication - General questions Many zoos record their diet information and that data is readily accessible. However the actual exchange of data lags EAZA News July 1999 - General aspects of zoo nutrition - Specific problems involving zoo nutrition behind. An explanation for why the information exchange 04 - Research relating to zoo nutrition does not take place lies in the method of recording diets. - Information and communication Most of the time, diet notes are in paper form only, which In this article the most important survey results are presented. restricts their distribution. Computerised diet notes in a standardised format would be much easier to exchange, An animal nutritionist is employed in only 20% of the especially now that many zoos have access to computers European zoos. Partly due to the lack of nutritional knowledge, and to the Internet in particular. In addition to agreeing on but probably also because of a lack of facilities, the percentage a standardised format, in order that nutrition software could of European zoos which conduct nutritional research is low be synchronised across many countries it is possible that Special issue on Zoo Nutrition (28%). Since these percentages have changed little since a newsgroups and regular meetings would also promote similar study was conducted five years ago, it is unrealistic to communication. The main objective in establishing these expect the situation will change in the near future. lines of communication would be to prevent people from ‘re-inventing the wheel’ – resources are often already On the other hand, approximately three-quarters of the limited. Therefore when a zoo in Spain for instance, participating zoos think that some diseases may have been has problems with a certain diet, it is often more simple caused by inadequate diets.