Red-Legged Seriema Care Manual
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
RED-LEGGED SERIEMA (Cariama cristata) CARE MANUAL CREATED BY AZA RED-LEGGED SERIEMA SPECIES SURVIVAL PLAN® IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE AZA GRUIFORMES TAXON ADVISORY GROUP Red-legged Seriema (Cariama cristata) Care Manual Red-Legged Seriema (Cariama cristata) Care Manual Published by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in association with the AZA Animal Welfare Committee Formal Citation: AZA Red-legged Seriema SSP (2013). Red-legged Seriema (Cariama cristata) Care Manual. Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Silver Spring, MD. Original Completion Date: May 2013 Authors and Significant contributors: Sara Hallager, Smithsonian National Zoological Park Dr Sharmie Johnson, DVM, Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium. Reviewers: The AZA Gruiformes Taxon Advisory Group Steering Committee James Ballance, Zoo Atlanta Celia Falzone, Ellen Trout Zoo Jennifer Evans, Tracy Aviary Jo Gregson, Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, United Kingdom Cathy King, Vogelpark Walsrode, Germany AZA Staff Editors: Maya Seaman, MS, Animal Care Manual Editor Consultant Felicia Spector, MA, AZA ACM intern Candice Dorsey, PhD, Director, Animal Conservation Debborah Colbert, PhD, Vice President, Animal Conservation & Science Cover Photo Credits: Josh Caraballo Disclaimer: This manual presents a compilation of knowledge provided by recognized animal experts based on the current science, practice, and technology of animal management. The manual assembles basic requirements, best practices, and animal care recommendations to maximize capacity for excellence in animal care and welfare. The manual should be considered a work in progress, since practices continue to evolve through advances in scientific knowledge. The use of information within this manual should be in accordance with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning the care of animals. While some government laws and regulations may be referenced in this manual, these are not all-inclusive nor is this manual intended to serve as an evaluation tool for those agencies. The recommendations included are not meant to be exclusive management approaches, diets, medical treatments, or procedures, and may require adaptation to meet the specific needs of individual animals and particular circumstances in each institution. Commercial entities and media identified are not necessarily endorsed by AZA. The statements presented throughout the body of the manual do not represent AZA standards of care unless specifically identified as such in clearly marked sidebar boxes. Association of Zoos and Aquariums 2 This%nutrition%chapter%is%an%excerpt% from%the%complete%Animal%Care% Manual%available%at%the%% Association%of%Zoos%and%Aquariums% (AZA)’s%website:% http://www.aza.org/animalDcareD manuals/% % % % % % Further%information%about%diets%and% the%nutrition%of%this%and%other%species% can%be%found%at%the%% % AZA’s%Nutrition%Advisory%Group% (NAG)’s%website:% % http://nagonline.net% % % Red-legged Seriema (Cariama cristata) Care Manual Chapter 5. Nutrition 5.1 Nutritional Requirements A formal nutrition program is recommended to meet the nutritional and behavioral needs of all red-legged seriemas (AZA AZA Accreditation Standard Accreditation Standard 2.6.2). Diets should be developed using (2.6.2) A formal nutrition program is the recommendations of nutritionists, the Nutrition Scientific recommended to meet the behavioral and Advisory Group (NAG) feeding guidelines: nutritional needs of all species and specimens within the collection. (http://www.nagonline.net/Feeding%20Guidelines/feeding_guid elines.htm), and veterinarians as well as AZA Taxon Advisory Groups (TAGs), and Species Survival Plan® (SSP) Programs. Diet formulation criteria should address the animal’s nutritional needs, feeding ecology, as well as individual and natural histories to ensure that species-specific feeding patterns and behaviors are stimulated. From the limited data available, it appears that although seriemas are omnivorous, their dietary habits may be primarily insectivorous/carnivorous, as hypothesized by Redford and Peters (1986). The gastrointestinal tract of the seriema was noted to have a large gizzard, but no visible crop (Boyle, 1917). This type of gastrointestinal tract is seen with insectivores, herbivores, and omnivores. Carnivores tend to have a more developed proventriculus and thin-walled, weak gizzard (Klasing, 1998). With this in mind, seriemas may be best adapted for an omnivorous/insectivorous feeding strategy. Suggested target nutrient levels are presented in Table 5. These concentrations are based on those for poultry, dogs, and cats, which are similar to the seriema’s omnivorous/insectivorous eating habits. Recommended diet proportions are listed in Table 6. Table 5. Proposed nutrient guidelines for seriemas on a dry matter basis. * Nutrient Proposed Nutrient Guidelines 2008 Protein, % 16.5–30.0** Fat, % 10-30*** Crude Fiber, % - Calcium, % 0.66–2.0** Phosphorus, % 0.33–1.0** Calcium:Phosphorus Ratio 1:1–2:1 Potassium, % 0.44–0.72 Sodium, % 0.13–0.18 Magnesium, % 0.04–0.06 Copper, mg/kg 5.5–12.4 Iron, mg/kg 55–80 Zinc, mg/kg 55–96 Manganese, mg/kg 66–72 Selenium, mg/kg 0.2–0.4 Iodine, mg/kg 0.33–0.44 Vitamin A, IU/kg 170–7500 Vitamin D3, IU/kg 22–550 Vitamin E, IU/kg 11.0–38 Thiamin, mg/kg 2.2–5.6 Riboflavin, mg/kg 2.75–10.5 Pyridoxine, mg/kg 3.3–5.0 Vitamin B12, mg/kg 0.003–0.035 Biotin, mg/kg 0.11–0.25 Choline, mg/kg 990–2250 Folacin, mg/kg 0.8–1.1 Niacin, mg/kg 15–42.5 Pantothenic Acid, mg/kg 10.5–17.6 * Target values based on NRC for poultry, 1994 and NRC dogs and cats, 2006 ** Values at high end of range for breeding only. *** This is not a requirement for fat, but represents the range of fat in prey items and zoo diet items commonly fed. This range is thought to be appropriate, will supply essential fatty acids and will promote fat-soluble vitamin absorption. Association of Zoos and Aquariums 22 Red-legged Seriema (Cariama cristata) Care Manual Table 6. Seriema recommended diet proportion guidelines (as fed basis) Item Minimum, % of Diet Maximum, % of Diet Vertebrate Prey 0 25 Invertebrate Prey* 10 30 Nutritionally Complete Feeds** 40 75 Produce (greens, vegetables) 5 20 *Insects should be gut loaded or supplemented with a high calcium diet prior to feeding to compensate for the inverse Ca:P ratio in insects. To help explain further gut-loading please refer to Coslik et. al., 2009 and Latney et.al., 2009. ** Nutritionally complete feeds are those designed to meet specific recommended nutrient levels. These may be dry feeds, meat- based diets or a combination thereof. Most adult red-legged seriemas average between 2.5–3 kg (5.5–6.6 lb), with females weighing less than males. Weights of juvenile birds have not been reported. Quantifiable data is not available on energy requirements/feeding based on body size. No life stage research is available for this species (see Chapter 10.2); however, offering diets that meet the target nutrient range should meet nutritional needs through all life stages. Feeding diets with a nutrient composition at the upper end of the range should meet the needs of growing and reproductive birds. It is important to consider the nutrients provided by the overall diet as consumed. The analysis of many “maintenance” diets may already meet or exceed the target nutrients for growth and reproduction. Consequently, as long as appropriate foods and sufficient quantity to support growth and reproduction are available, diets may not need to be altered in composition for life stages. More research can be done on the target serum and nutrient values seriemas by collecting blood samples from clinically “normal” seriemas (see Chapter 10.2). In the wild, parents were observed selecting small reptiles to feed to their chicks (Redford & Peters, 1986). If chicks consume a diet that meets the target ranges expressed in Table 5, no changes are needed. However, adjustments may be needed to the size of items offered to allow the parents to select appropriate size items for the chicks. Some institutions crush bones and remove pelts of vertebrate prey to reduce the possibility of impaction. All insects should be gut-loaded and/or supplemented with a high calcium diet to provide appropriate calcium levels in these food items. Seriemas swallow small prey items whole and head first. Larger animals are held between their sharp claws, and torn apart. In the wild, killing their prey may involve beating the animal on the ground, or throwing it against a hard surface such as a rock. Seriemas in zoos will often kill a live rodent by beating it against the ground, but will not do this with dead prey items. Provided that the current diet is meeting target nutrient levels, dietary changes for breeding birds is not necessary (see Table 5). Excess calcium can be toxic with the effect of reducing the absorption of phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, and zinc. Some institutions begin supplementation to bring the calcium levels up to 2% after the third clutch of eggs has been laid to prevent depletion of the hen’s calcium stores. The calcium:phosphorus ratio should be 1:1 to 2:1 for the best tolerance of high calcium levels (Klasing, 1998). Seasonal weight changes have not been reported for red-legged seriemas, as they have in some other Gruiformes. Diet composition and amounts can be fairly consistent throughout the year, although food consumption may increase during the colder months due to increased caloric needs. While nutritional requirements for seriemas do not change seasonally, in northern latitudes, where temperatures regularly fall below 0 °C (32 °F), birds should be offered more food during colder months. Such increases may be based on observed increased food consumption. Seriema activity level remains fairly stable year round, and food amounts are likely to remain stable throughout the year as well. Seasonal changes will influence food changes more than other factors. As long as a diet meeting target nutrient levels is consumed, no alterations should AZA Accreditation Standard be necessary.