Nutrient evaluation of a pork by-product and its use as environmental enrichment for managed large exotic cats.

Cayla J Iske,Kelly L Kappen,Cheryl L Morris,Anna K Johnson,Jessica D Colpoys,Chelsea A Iennarella

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0202144

Abstract

North American zoological institutions typically feed ground raw meat diets to large exotic cats. These diets typically are nutritionally complete, but lack physical properties characteristic of whole prey. Lack of mastication and prey manipulation may contribute to behavioral and health challenges. Pork by-products may provide environmental enrichment to mitigate these challenges. The objectives of this study were to evaluate a pig head for nutritional composition and to determine if a pig head was biologically relevant environmental enrichment for managed large exotic cats. Pig heads consisted of: DM: 48.5%; OM: 60.7%; CP: 38.4%; fat: 22.0%; CF: 13.5%; TDF: 3.4%; GE: 4.1 kcal/g DM. Five individually housed exotic cats (Panthera tigris tigris, Panthera tigris altaica (n = 2), Panthera tigris jacksoni, Panthera leo) were observed in 2-h blocks, 24-h before pig head introduction (Baseline), at time of pig head introduction (Enrichment) and immediately after the pig head was removed (Post Enrichment) via instantaneous scan sampling for 4 consecutive weeks. Active behaviors were 55.7% higher on Enrichment compared to Baseline days, and 26.4% higher compared to Post Enrichment days (p<0.0001). Active behaviors were 39.8% higher on Post Enrichment compared to Baseline days (p<0.0001). Total active behaviors were highest (p<0.0001) in week 3 and lowest (p<0.0001) in week 4 with differences as high as 64.5% seen among weeks. In conclusion, pig heads have potential to provide nutrient dense enrichment to large exotic cats, and employing a pig head as environmental enrichment increased active behaviors and did not lose novelty.

Highlights

In North American zoos, a majority of cat diets consist of ground, raw meat, typically horse or beef-based
On Enrichment days, active behaviors were 55.7% higher compared to baseline and 26.4% higher compared to Post Enrichment days respectively (p
Lying was 22.1% higher on Baseline compared to Enrichment days and sitting was 64.1% higher on Baseline compared to both Enrichment and Post Enrichment days (Table 6)

Summary

Introduction

In North American zoos, a majority of cat diets consist of ground, raw meat, typically horse or beef-based While these diets have been formulated to meet cat nutrient requirements [1], they do not fulfil other non-nutritive requirements. Carnivore Essentials was a commercial feed manufacturer and provided funding to support the annual salary of CJI along with funding to complete laboratory analyses conducted. They provided the pork byproducts (in-kind) for the evaluation and testing. They did not contribute to study design, data collection or analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

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Discussion

Conclusion