Protein requirements for Blue‐fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva) growth^*

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the protein requirements for hand-rearing Blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva). Forty hatchlings were fed semi-purified diets containing one of four (as-fed basis) protein levels: 13%, 18%, 23% and 28%. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with the initial weight of the nestling as the blocking factor and 10 parrots per protein level. Regression analysis was used to determine relationships between protein level and biometric measurements. The data indicated that 13% crude protein supported nestling growth with 18% being the minimum tested level required for maximum development. The optimal protein concentration for maximum weight gain was 24.4% (p = 0.08; r(2) = 0.25), tail length 23.7% (p = 0.09; r(2) = 0.19), wing length 23.0% (p = 0.07; r(2) = 0.17), tarsus length 21.3% (p = 0.06; r(2) = 0.10) and tarsus width 21.4% (p = 0.07; r(2) = 0.09). Tarsus measurements were larger in males (p < 0.05), indicating that sex must be considered when studying developing psittacines. These results were obtained using a highly digestible protein and a diet with moderate metabolizable energy levels.

Nutrition of free‐living Neotropical psittacine nestlings and implications for hand‐feeding formulas

“…The use of formulas for hand‐rearing is a common practice for the propagation of psittacines, both for the pet industry (Low, 1980; Speer, 2007) and for conservation aviculture (D. Brightsmith et al, 2005; Groffen et al, 2008; Jones & Merton, 2012; Vigo‐Trauco et al, 2021). However, the nutritional requirements for growth and development of this family are not well understood (Carciofi et al, 2008; Koutsos et al, 2001; Rachmatika et al, 2020; Roudybush & Grau, 1991; Taylor et al, 1994; Wolf & Kamphues, 2003). Hand‐feeding diets have generally been extrapolated from the nutritional requirements of growing poultry (National Research Council, 1994) and modified empirically rather than through scientific study (Koutsos et al, 2001; Vigo‐Trauco et al, 2021).…”

Feed processing effects on digestibility, palatability, excreta fermentation products and blood parameters in blue‐fronted amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva)†

“…Psittacidae is a diverse cluster with more than 330 species that differ in their nutrient and feed requirements (Snyder, McGowan, Gilard, & Grajal, 2000, Forbes & Lawton, 1996. Little information exists on nutrient requirements and feed utilization in the Amazon genus (Kamphues, Wolf, Heisler, & Frömbling, 2001;Carciofi, Prada, Mori, & Prada, 2003;Saad, Ferreira, Borges, & Lara, 2007;Carciofi, Sanfilippo, De-Oliveira, Do Amaral, & Prada, 2008).…”