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

PLoS One. 2018 Sep 12;13(9):e0202144. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202144. eCollection 2018.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed*
  • Animals
  • Animals, Zoo*
  • Cats
  • Meat Products*
  • Nutrition Assessment*
  • Panthera*
  • Red Meat

Grants and funding

CLM is an employee of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, a 501c3, non-profit organization. In addition to providing the salary support for CLM throughout the study duration, the zoo also contributed animals for the study and keeper time for accomplishing the data collection. Dr. Morris played a role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish and preparation of the manuscript. 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 also provided the pork by-products (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 specific roles of both CJI and CLM are specified in the Author Contribution section of the online submission form. We thank Sustainable Swine Resources for financial support and pig heads to conduct the study. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.