Nutrition Advisory Group
 

1. Training
2. Physiological data including body condition indices
3. Vitamins and minerals; investigation of deficiencies, toxicities, and requirements
4. Food composition
5. Food and feed quality and sanitation
6. In situ projects; overlay on all of the above

1. Training: Justification – None of us can expand and improve the field of zoo nutrition alone. If our goal is to continually improve and move ourselves and the science forward, we must think of the next generation of zoo nutritionists. To attract students to our field and to cultivate them to be successful, we must offer them opportunities to learn and gain experience. Likewise, tenured zoo nutritionists should open themselves to learning from students, embracing new ideas and helping them develop these new ideas and ways of doing things. Thus training goes both ways from the mentor to student and the student to mentor.

Potential Activities: This category includes information exchange opportunities an example of which is the NAG Conference. Funding for the conference and for students to attend the conference is included. Zoo Nutrition Residency programs and special projects dedicated for training nutritionists in a zoo setting offers students the opportunity for first hand training. Included here too should be research projects where the student is a potential zoo nutritionist and is affiliated with both the university and zoo. This category of training and information exchange allows interested parties to address the future generation of zoo nutrition and zoo nutritionists.

2. Physiological data including body condition indices: Justification – To understand whether the nutrition provided to animals is adequate, it is imperative to assess that animal or population with respect to it’s physiological and nutritional status. This is a key component to any interdisciplinary approach to animal, species, and population well-being and fitness.

Potential Activities: This category includes continuing research and assessment to address specific issues with regard to identified nutrients (for example; vitamin E) as well as establishing a databank for distribution of published information. This category includes the assessment of healthy animals and establishing normal reference values as well as assessing the debilitated animal (and populations) both in the field and in captivity.

3. Vitamins and minerals; investigation of deficiencies, toxicities, and requirements: Justification - It is well known that much zoo nutrition research does not investigate these issues in a rigorous manner. Because of animal welfare issues, philosophical issues, limited animal numbers, and/or lack of support, ‘classic’ deficiency, toxicity, and requirement studies are often not performed in a zoo setting. However, the case is that much of the nutritional deficiency, toxicity, and requirement information remains unknown while we continue to house, manage and feed exotic and endangered species. There is a dire need to acquire such data

Potential Activities: This category includes research into delineation of vitamin and mineral deficiencies, toxicities, and requirements, such as the vitamin D work in primates and reptiles and the iron storage disease work in a number of species that must continue. NRC/CAN projects to outline the nutritional requirements of groups of species (i.e.: Non-human primates) is important and fall under this category. This category is broad in order to include emergent issues and any vitamin and/or mineral research that provides more knowledge about exotic species. This information is inclusive for taxonomic, feeding strategy, age and sex categories, etc. (insects to mammals; carnivores to herbivores; infant to aged; male/female). It includes establishing priorities for using appropriate animal models for closely related species.

4. Food composition: Justification – To understand whether the nutrition provided to animals is adequate, it is imperative to determine the nutrient composition of the foods. This includes foods consumed in the wild and that are available to the animal as well as foods available to be fed to captive exotic animals.

Potential Activities: This category includes determining nutrients in items such as ‘browse’ fed to many herbivorous animals in zoos as well as the secondary plant compounds that may be present in items. Determination of nutrient and secondary plant compounds in the foods selected (and even not selected) by free-ranging animals is important to know to identify feeding strategy details and is included in this category. Addressing specific issues with regard to individual chemicals as well as establishing a database for access to this information in included. Emphasis on connections between field conservation and field investigators as well as the feeds database industry is encouraged.

5. Food and feed quality and sanitation: Justification – It is imperative that captive animals be fed a diet (food/feed) that is wholesome and nutritious. The safety and health of the animals is dependent on the quality of food/feed the animals are offered. It is not enough to assume appropriate quality and collect information on the nutrient content of food/feeds offered to animals; nutrient content and wholesomeness must be assured.

Potential Activities: This category encompasses investigation into the processing of foods and feeds including manufactured items as well as products such as fish and forage. Processing includes at least: manufacture, shipping, procurement, handling and testing of any type of foods and feeds. Investigation comprises inspection as well as research that may include surveys, sampling, etc. Any quality control testing and setting specifications and appropriate Standard Operating Procedures to ensure or improve wholesomeness and/or nutritional value of foods/feeds fits in this category, as does development of better products. Priority is given to high-risk products (raw meat, fish/seafood, eggs, etc.).

6. In situ projects; overlay on all of the above: Justification – It becomes obvious that the research, data, and information identified as needed for captive animals, is essential for free-ranging animals also.

   Potential Activities: Any in-situ project that helps train nutritionists, adds to the physiological nutritional assessment, vitamin and minerals deficiency, toxicity, and requirement data, as well as food composition work is included.