9. 12. 2013 Nutrition requirements Selection and formulation of appropriate diets for companion and aviary birds is based on wild feeding ecology, digestive anatomy and physiology, and Exotic birds nutrition nutritional reguirements of related species. Research indicates that requirements of some key nutrients for psittacines vary from those of poultry. Winter term 2013 Evolution of nutrition for psittacine birds Water intake 1st stage Body Weight (g) Water Intake Per Day (ml) • Early diets were based upon food habits of wild birds Budgerigar 30 – 35 4 Canary 18 – 24 4 2nd stage Lovebird 55 10 • nutrient requirements that were scientifically determined for poultry Cockatiel 100 13,6 were adopted, at least in part, as standards for diets of captive Cockatoo 300 – 900 15 psittacine birds Amazon/Grey 350 – 600 17 - 35 3th stage • research populations of easily propagated species, such as Desert – adapted birds require less water intake than tropical birds. budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) and cockatiels (Nymphicus Changes in diet or environmental temperatures can alter water hollandicus), are being used to investigate dietary preferences, intake nutrient requirements, and metabolic capabilities 1 9. 12. 2013 Carbohydrates Carbohydrates Carbohydrates are used to produce energy in the form of Sucrose, one of the predominant disaccharides of fruit adenosin triphosphate (ATP) from glycolysis and the sugars is easily digestible. However, some insectivorous tricarboxylic acid cycle, and produce heat from oxidation passerines that feed on diets high in protein/fat and low of glucose to CO2 and H2O. They are also used to in carbohydrate, lack of sucrase enzyme necessary for produce precursors of the nutrients, synthesize glycogen the digestion of these simple sugars. Avoid feeding this or fat from glucose, decrease luminal pH through birds fruits high in disaccharides such as mango, apricot, production of short – chain fatty acids, and increase the nectarine and peach. population of anaerobic flora. The antibacterial properties of short – chain fatty acids may decrease Postgastric microbial fermentation of polysaccharides pathogenic intestinal bacteria. The central nervous occurs in nectarivorous, frugivorous and florivorous system, erythrocytes and muscles require glucose for species. energy. Muscles can utilize substrates such as fatty acids. Protein Proteins are composed of amino acids. The protein chain can contain up to 22 different amino acids. Of these 10 cannot be manufactured by the body, so they must be routinely provided by the diet. The are lysin threonin arginin leucine histidin isoleucine methionine valine tryptophan phenylalanine 2 9. 12. 2013 Feeding strategies and common diet ingredients Functional Digestive Anatomy Species name Feeding Common diet ingredients • Digestive anatomy of an animal generally reflects the strategy type of diet it consumes, and the feeding strategies of Blue and gold macaw florivore seeds, fruits, nuts Military macaw florivore seeds, nuts, berries, fruits psittacine species (granivory, frugivory, nectarivory, and Blue-throated macaw frugivore palm fruit, nuts, milk omnivory) Budgerigar granivore seeds • Acquisition of food is enabled by the beak, tongue, and Cockatiel granivore seeds (prefers soft, young over oral cavity. mature, hard seeds) • Beak shape and size are often adapted to accommodate Rose-ringed parakeet granivore seeds Rainbow lorikeet nectarivore primary nector, pollen, fruits, seeds preferred foods Sulphur-crested omnivore seeds (primary sunflower), grubs, cockatoo rhizomes Red-tailed amazon omnivore seed, fruits, flowers, leaves, nectar, insects Crop Crop • In most birds, the esophagus is divided by the crop or ingluvies (some birds do not have a crop) into a cervical and a thoracic component. • In Galliformes and Falconiformes, the crop forms a ventral enlargement of the esophagus at the thoracic inlet. • In Psittaciformes, the crop is stretched transversely across the neck. • In canaries and ducks, the crop is absent, but there is a spindleshaped swelling of the esophagus at the thoracic inlet. • In pigeons, the ventral diverticulum of the esophagus that forms the crop is divided into two large lateral sacs Some crop shapes include a) Great Cormorant, b) peafowl, c) budgerigar and d) domestic pigeon. e-h) Various shapes noted in a cockatoo. 3 9. 12. 2013 Cecal characteristics • large – chicken, turkeys, grouse, quail Paired cecum (a) connected • large to medium – ducks, geese, swans with ileum (b) and rectum (c ).. • vestigial – larks, finches, jays, wrens Cecum of canary • vestigial to absent – pigeons, doves • absent – parrots, lories, macaws Cecum of pigeon Cloaca Cloaca • The cloaca serves as a storage site for urine and feces. • In many avian species, retrograde movement of urine from the cloaca to the rectum allows for resorption of protein, salts, and water. • This phenomenon likely occurs in psittacine birds as well. The cloaca is composed of the 1) coprodeum, 2) urodeum and 3) proctodeum. The 4) openings of the ureter and 5) vagina can be seen in the urodeum. Other structures associated with the cloaca include the 6) rectum, 7) cloacal bursa, 8) oviduct and 9) vent. 4 9. 12. 2013 Mean retention time Mean retention time • mean retention time -the average length of time that food • larger birds have longer GI tracts and retention times is retained in the GI tract • avian nectarivores, typical mean retention time is approximately 30–50minutes (but it is 80 minutes in rainbow lorikeets) • granivores retention times are approximately 40–100 minutes • depends upon • frugivores retention times are approximately 15–60 – food characteristics, minutes – feeding strategy, • The mean retention time is typically an order of magnitude shorter – digestive anatomy, than the time required for complete evacuation of the GI tract. – and body size • Complete evacuation of a single meal from the crop of a budgerigar takes 11.75 hours, whereas complete evacuation of the entire tract takes 26 hours Anatomy of specific species Nutritional strategy • Shape of beak Food specialization Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo – seed of eukalyptus • Tongue Glossy Black-Cockatoo – seed Casuarina Pesquet's Parrot – fruit from 2 of 38 species of fig Thick-billed Parrot - pine Red-spectacled Parrot - araucaria Tucuman Parrot – genus Alnus - Alder 5 9. 12. 2013 Eastern Rosella Budgerigar Platycercus eximius Melopsittacus undulatus Australia outback Australia outback Mainly arid area. Intake of seed of 39 species of plant. Not detected intake of gren part of plant or insects. Size of seeds in range 0.5 – 2.5 mm. Intake mainly of fruits and seed, too green parts of In captivity – millet. grass,bush and tree. In total using 87 species of plants. Marked intake of insects, mainly in time of flower of eucalyptus. Animal parts of diets can made to 50 %. Cuban Parrot Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo Amazona Calyptorhynchus funereus leucocephala outh-east of Australia Latin America Intake of seeds and green part of 30 species of plants. Marked intake of larva of insects parasitical on the plants, using especially for feeding of young. Rain forest with humid clima and high average temperature. Intake of seed and green parts of 16 species of plants, mainly palm. 6 9. 12. 2013 Seed mixture inhalt protein, Pets sacharide and lipid in correct - Commercial quasi „complete“ mixture with vitamins. quantity, but are poor to Generally nice coloured packing, composition many times suitable, but not correct way of storage. Intake essential fatty acids of human food (sweet, salt and fat). aminoacids Birds in breeds vitamins - Original mixture of every breeder, variable offering of minerals and fruits and vegetable, sprouting of seeds, tendence biologically effective imitated naturally variability of feed source. substance Pelets of diferent producer Offered vegetable and fruits inhalt proteins, sacharids inhalt great mounts of vitamins, and lipid in correct minerals and biologically active quantity and quality. compound, but in the spectrum Depended on the which is suitable for individual normally existing in this clima producer inhalt too and enviroment. essential fatty acids, aminoacids, vitamins and minerals. Are poor to biologically effective substance 7 9. 12. 2013 What Not to Feed Vitamin Supplementation • Avocado • Dry powder – poisoning – Sprinkle over fruit, vegetables, and other • Raw milk or raw milk poducts table food or commercial kibble – microbes, lactose – NOT on seeds • Chocolate • Liquid – Theobromine is toxic for bird – Put in water – Replace after each water change – Thoroughly clean waterer once or twice a day Nutrition of exotic birds Feeding of parrots • Feed your parrot a balanced diet of fruit, vegetables, cooked meats • Nutrition is the single most important aspect of and grains. Go ahead and share whatever healthful food you're eating with your parrot. bird husbandry. Nutrition impacts the health, • Determine the proper amount by feeding your parrot small portions of several foods. If there's food left over, decrease the longevity, appearance and behavior of birds in amount the next time. Continue doing so until your parrot eats all of the food. Remember this portion size. captivity. • Offer your parrot a variety of small servings of different foods, not a lot of one food. • The complex biochemistry and interactions • Keep your parrot's food fresh, as bacteria and mold can grow on food left in the cage and make her sick. between levels of nutrients coupled with the • Give your parrot fresh water daily.