Hemochromatis in fruit-eating birds

15juni2005
J. Nijboer, De Harpij
The function of dietary iron disease problems encountered because of iron storage, and the influence of other dietary components on iron storage is revieuwed. Vitamin C and iron- poor (not more than 50-65 mg iron per kg dry stuff) diets are generally recommended for fruit-eating birds.
Recent research indicates that diets for mynahs should not exeed 25 mg iron per kg dry stuff. The autor cautions that not all commercial diets advertised as being iron-poor are actually iron-poor, as often only the amount of iron and other mirconutients deliberately added to the diet are included in the analysis. The iron found in the basic ingredients and/or added through manufacturing processes is not iincluded in the analysis. The amount of iron in a commercial diet can differ per batch or lot, and some manufacturers are now putting the nutritional analysis per lot on their websites. The author suggests that diets of fruit-eating birds should constitute appoximately 50-75% (dry stuff) softbill mixture or pellets, with low iron and vitamin C fruits added. Additionally tea can be added as tannins reduce iron absorbtion, however the percentage tannin differs per tea sort, and may interact with other dietary components.