Blood Values of Adult Captive Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) Fed Either Supplemented Beef or Whole Rabbit Carcasses.

Zoo Biology 30: 1–13.

This study evaluated nutrient intake and relevant blood parameters of 14 captive cheetahs, randomly assigned to a meat-only diet (supplemented beef, SB) or a whole prey diet (whole rabbit, WR) for 4 weeks each. Despite a higher food intake, daily metabolizable energy intake was lower when fed WR (308 kJBW1) compared with SB (347 kJBW1) (P50.002). The ratio of protein to fat was markedly lower for WR (2.3:1) compared with SB (8.8:1), which was reflected in higher serum urea levels when fed SB (P50.033), and a tendency for elevated cholesterol levels when fed WR (P50.055). Taurine intake of cheetahs fed WR was low (0.06% on DM basis); however, analytical error during taurine analysis cannot be ruled out. Feeding WR resulted in a well-balanced mineral intake, in contrast to SB. The latter provided a low calcium:phosphorus ratio (1:2.3), thereby increasing the risk of metabolic bone disease. The high zinc content of SB (200mg/kg DM), compared with WR (94mg/kg DM), was reflected in higher serum zinc concentrations (P50.011). Feeding WR resulted in an increase in serum vitamin A (P50.011). Therefore, the risk of hypervitaminosis A in captive cheetahs when fed WR exclusively on a long-term basis should be evaluated. Our findings suggest that neither diet is likely to provide appropriate nutrition to captive cheetahs when fed exclusively.

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