Evaluation of four raw meat diets using domestic cats, captive exotic felids, and cecectomized roosters

Abstract

Our objective was to evaluate raw meat diets for captive exotic and domestic carnivores containing traditional and alternative raw meat sources, specifically, beef trimmings, bison trimmings, elk muscle meat, and horse trimmings. We aimed to examine diet composition and protein quality; apparent total tract energy and macronutrient digestibility in domestic cats, African wildcats, jaguars, and Malayan tigers; and ME and fecal fermentative end-products in domestic cats. Because of variation in the meat sources, dietary proximate, AA, and long-chain fatty acid composition were variable. Our analyses indicated that all diets had essential fatty acid deficiencies, and the elk diet (i.e., trimmed muscle meat) was deficient in total fat. Standardized AA digestibilities measured using the cecectomized rooster assay were high (>87%). Using the NRC minimum requirements for the growth of kittens, the first limiting AA of all diets was the combined requirement of Met and Cys (AA score: 81 to 95; protein digestibility corrected AA score: 75 to 90). All diets were highly digestible (88 to 89% OM digestibility). There was no effect of diet or felid species on DM (85 to 87%), OM, and GE (90 to 91%) digestibilities. Apparent CP digestibility was greater (P≤0.05) in cats fed elk (97%) compared with those fed bison (96%), and greater (P≤0.05) in wildcats (97%) and domestic cats (97%) compared with tigers (95%). The diet and species interaction (P≤0.05) was observed for apparent fat digestibility. In domestic cats, the fresh fecal pH and proportions of acetate and butyrate were altered (P≤0.05) due to diet. Diet also affected (P≤0.05) fresh fecal concentrations of total branched-chain fatty acids, valerate, and Lactobacillus genus. In conclusion, although the raw meat diets were highly digestible, because of variation in raw meat sources the nutrient composition of the diets was variable. Thus, compositional analysis of raw meat sources is necessary for proper diet formulation. The types of meat commonly used in raw meat diets may be deficient in total fat (trimmed muscle meat) and essential fatty acids (trimmings and muscle meats). Additionally, differences in raw meat source nutrient composition and digestibility affect the beneficial and putrefactive fermentative end-products found in feces.

Protein quality of insects as potential ingredients for dog and cat foods

“…CP, crude protein; HFp, housefly pupae; BSFl and BSFp, black soldier fly larvae and pupae; HC, house cricket; YMW, yellow mealworm; LMW, lesser mealworm; MW, Morio worm; SSR, six spot roach; DHC, death's head cockroach; ACR, Argentinean cockroach; PMM, poultry meat meal; FM, fish meal; SBM, soyabean meal; tIAA, total indispensable amino acids.*Females.†Calculated as described in Kerr et al ( 13 ) using minimal requirements for growth of kittens and puppies ( 14 ) as reference values.…”

“…†Calculated as described in Kerr et al ( 13 ) using minimal requirements for growth of kittens and puppies ( 14 ) as reference values.…”

“…Digestibility of substrate OM and N was calculated as the amount of residue collected (in g DM) × content in residue (in percentage of DM basis)/amount of substrate incubated (in g DM) × content in substrate (in percentage of DM basis). The AA scores were calculated as described in Kerr et al ( 13 ) using minimal requirements for growth of kittens and puppies ( 14 ) as reference values.…”

Partial replacement of dietary buffalo meat on the bone with chicken carcass improves serum antioxidant profile of zoo‐housed Indian leopards (Panthera pardus fusca)

“…Digestibility of nutrients is higher in obligate carnivores (Clauss, Kleffner, & Kienzle, ). However, digestibility of diets may vary according to meat sources across exotic and domestic cat species (Kerr et al, ). In this experiment, digestibility of DM ranged from 86% to 95.6% (mean, 90.7 ± 0.58), which was marginally higher than the range of 83–89% reported in zoo‐housed Indian leopards fed solely on BMB diets (Pradhan et al, ).…”

Survey of owner motivations and veterinary input of owners feeding diets containing raw animal products

“…In addition to zoonotic bacteria, pets fed raw meat may also contract zoonotic parasitic diseases (including toxoplasmosis and echinococcosis) (Araujo et al, 1975; Elmore et al, 2010; Jokelainen et al, 2012; Moro & Schantz, 2009; Schwabe et al, 1972; Strohmeyer et al, 2006). Raw diets (both commercial and homemade) may also be nutritionally inappropriate for the species or life-stage to which they are fed (Dillitzer, Becker & Kienzle, 2011; Freeman & Michel, 2001; Kerr et al, 2013; Kohler, Stengel & Neiger, 2012; Taylor et al, 2009; Zeugswetter, Vogelsinger & Handl, 2013). …”