Resource Links

Nutrition Advisory Group

Valuable links and other Nutrition-related resources

LINKS AT THE USDA WEBSITE

Handling Frozen/Thawed Meat and Prey Items Fed to Captive Exotic Animals: A Manual of Standard Operating Procedures.

Crissey,S.D., K.A.Slifka, P.Shumway, and S.B.Spencer.

2001. U.S.Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library.

Many captive carnivorous and omnivorous exotic animals are routinely fed frozen/thawed meat, meat-based raw products, and prey items. These meat items often are received in bulk and may be stored for a period of time before being prepared by thawing, cutting, chopping, and grinding for feeding to the animals. Since it is important that nutrient loss and bacterial load in these food sources be controlled, proper handling is essential. This publication provides background and guidance for handling this food. All points of handling are discussed, from ordering, purchasing, and receiving through storage, thawing, and feeding —including cleaning and sanitation —to validating procedures and quality assurance sampling. Following these guidelines should allow institutions to meet or exceed Federal animal welfare regulations, including the Animal Welfare Act.

Handling Fish Fed to Fish-Eating Animals: A Manual of Standard Operating Procedures

Crissey, S.D.

1998. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library.

Most captive fish-eating animals are fed frozen, thawed fish that are received in bulk and have been stored for a period of time before being prepared by cutting and chopping prior to being fed to the animals. Since it is important that nutrient loss and bacterial load in this food source be kept to a minimum, proper handling is essential. This document provides background and guidance for the handling of fish fed to captive fish-eating animals. All points of fish handling are discussed, from ordering, purchasing, and receipt through storage, thawing, and feeding—including cleaning and sanitation—to validating procedures and sampling. Using these guidelines, along with the appropriate documentation as presented in the text and the sample forms, should allow institutions that feed fish-eating animals to meet or exceed regulations current at this time.

Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins Handbook

This handbook provides basic facts regarding foodborne pathogenic microorganisms and natural toxins. It brings together in one place information from the Food & Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service, and the National Institutes of Health.

Sterilization of Marine Mammal Pool Waters: Theoretical and Health Considerations

This is a large pdf (67 pages) so it will take a while to load.

Excerpt from Dr. Arnoldi's forward:

"Under the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) inspects facilities that exhibit captive marine mammals. since 1979, when we first undertook that responsibility, water quality at such facilities has been the topic of major discussions among APHIS, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Marine Mammal Commission, the US Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service, marine mammal researchers, industry personnel, and other concerned parties. These discussions focused on what constitutes good water quality for captive marine mammals and how marine mammal water chemistry works.

I hope that by publishing this manuscript on the sterilization of marine mammal pool waters, APHIS can assist in ensuring that water quality for these animals is better understood. The manuscript will serve as a basic text for APHIS personnel and other interested individuals and also serve as a source of information for future discussions about the subject."