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Reddening in our Ibises - Part 2: Dose administration carotenes

Reddening in some of our birds, it is currently a hotly debated topic with many aviculturists of ibises, flamingos, spoonbills and pelicans. On Ibisday 2007, we have already dealt with this topic extensively. We want to give you, on the basis of a number of articles, more information on this subject, in this way we give you the opportunity to become a critical judge on the usefulness of administering colours and the role they play.

We have tried to turn the scientific literature in a smoothly readable text. We think it is always nice when we get feedback on our articles, do not be afraid to state your experiences with us.

Part 2: Dose administration carotenes

In Part 1 we learned that carotenes are responsible for the reddening of our birds. That is the reason why we carotenes, in the form of canthaxantine, extra to administer the diet of our birds.

What is now the ideal dose to deal with the birds? Nobody knows what the perfect dose is, so we look at what dose zoos feed their animals. Finally, we compare this with the maximum dose that people may have.

1. Study of zoo Brookfield

In the zoo of Brookfield an investigation into the reddening of their birds. It has been done in blood collection of flamingos, ibises and to determine the carotenes in the serum.

Subsequently, the carotenes content in the diet is calculated. By comparing two figures obtained, one could determine to what extent the carotenes are accumulated in the birds body. The ibis in the zoo: Sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus), Hagedash ibis (Bostrychia hagedash hagedash) and Red ibis (Eudocimus ruber) ate:

  • Mix of fish
  • During moult, added canthaxatine
  • Flamingo floating
SPECIESCAROTENOÏDE IN SERUM (NMOL/L)CAROTENOÏDE IN DIETACCUMULATION- DEGREE
Greater flamingo35.351HighHigh
Caribian flamingo24.078HighHigh
Scarlet Ibis2.489LowHigh
Hagedash Ibis711LowHigh
Sacret Ibis314AverageHigh

Therefore there are sufficient quantities carotenes by the birds.

Above, a study from a zoo, we will now determine the content of canthaxantine in several commercial retailer products. Than we will compare all these values compare with the maximum dose that is recommended to dosing.

2. Calculation Cantazoo:

Cantazoo is a dye that has been marketed for the reddening ibis, pelicans and flamingos. It is a common dye that gives good results in our birds.

In 1 gram Cantazoo-powder is added 1 mg canthaxantine and 0,150 mg bèta-carotene.

3. Nutrition for Red Canary:

1 gram of a 10% canthaxanthine/kg , this means100 mg canthaxanthine/ kg food.

4. Comparison chart

What we are seeing here is a whole number of different data on the amount of canthaxantine given to the animals.

KIND OF NUTRITIONCANTHAXANTINE/ KILO FOOD
Cantazoo 20 mg
Nutrition Brookfield zoo200 mg
Nutrition Red Canary100 mg
Livestock nutrition80 mg

5. Human nutrition

Humans may daily eat 0.03 mg canthaxanthin per kg. When we assume the same standard of ibis to keep (weight man: 925 grams; weight Female: 775 gr), then an adult ibis daily intake is maximum 0.03 mg canthaxanthin!

If we compare the values of the amount of canthaxanthin with the amount that an ibis daily may take, then we note that our birds have much more dye administered through their food, than what actually is permissible.

This in the assumption that our values have allowed ibis same as in humans.

6. Provisional conclusion

Discussing carotenes in Part 1, Part 2, we looked into how many of these dyes are administered to birds in a zoo and through food. If we compare these values with a man up to what is permissible, we note that our birds in these four examples get much higher doses of these dye administered, but still significantly less than for example canaries.

The equation are discussed in this article is very superficial. Also, we do not know exactly how carotenes are harmful to our birds. We compare here: the man with the red ibis. But is it relevant? A man does not need to get to red feathers during breeding season. Can our birds digest probably higher concentrations?

Further research is indeed needed We will proceed with gathering information around this theme.

Text: Ben Lamberigts
Header photo: Valerie

Sources

  • Couteel, P., Roodkleuring van ibissen: Ibisdag Antwerpen, 29-10-2007
  • Roodkleuring zalm, (Z.D)., [WWW], http://www.food-info.net/nl/qa/qafp13.htm, consulted [02/2008]
  • Threskior, Buvens, B., Lamberigts, B., Coorevits, K., Bauwens, K., (2007), Ibisvoeding, Project Dierengezondheid, Hogeschool Gent, Departement Biowetenschappen en Landschapsarchitectuur; België.

Species

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Scarlet ibis

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Roseate spoonbill

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