Metabolizabilidade aparente de dietas e morfometria de Pelotas em rapinantes da família Accipitridae.

Abstract

The adequate diet is a relevant factor in the maintenance of birds of prey in captivity and as an example of other species; the knowledge of the nutrient metabolizability and intrinsic factors to different species is indispensable to formulate a balanced diet that meets the nutritional requirement of those birds. Based on this context, two experimental trials were done simultaneously. The objective was to evaluate the morphometric characteristics of food pellets produced by the Accipitridae family of birds of prey fed with three protein sources. In the second trial, the objective was to determine and compare the coefficients of apparent metabolizability of the dietary nutrients provided to those birds under the same conditions. The experiment consisted of five adult birds of the Accipitridae family. The animals were submitted to three different diets: chicken breast (CB), quail cuts (QL) and mice (MC). The pellets were analyzed length (cm), width (cm), height (cm) and weight (g) and also for visual aspects and a period between swallowing and the regurgitation (IFR). In the second trial, diet, excreta and pellets were analyzed for dry matter (DM), mineral matter (MM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), crude energy (CE), and apparent metabolizable energy (AME), and nitrogencorrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn). There was no regurgitation of pellets for the diet with chicken breast. Thirty-six pellets were collected, the highest number of pellets was observed in the diet with mice (79%), which also presented the majority of wholly pellets and with an average weight (2.59 g) higher than that found in the diet with quails (1.09 g). There was no difference observed (P>0.05) for length and height of the pellets among treatments. However, the weight, width, volume and length / width ratio were higher (P<0.05) when birds consumed mice. The metabolizability coefficient for dry matter, crude protein, ether extract as well as for apparent metabolizable energy (EMA) and nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) did not differ between the chicken breast (CB) and quail diets (QL). For the diet with mice, there was a significant decrease on the metabolizability coefficient of the nutrients and metabolizable energy. Chicken breast is not considered a complete feed for birds of prey and it is occasionally provided to supplement the diet, in addition to present a lower content of mineral matter among the diets provided (4.6%), a fact that can cause deficiency of calcium and other important minerals for the health of those birds. This way, it is recommended the utilization of quail as primary protein source for birds of prey raised in captivity.