
New Manual on How to Feed Marine MammalsBy Brian
Norris, (301) 504-6778, [email protected] October 16, 1998Signs asking visitors not to feed the animals are common sights at zoos and
aquariums. To stay healthy, captive animals have to eat "animal"
food. For marine mammals, that means fish for dinner every day. Handling and
preparing fish for marine mammals are easier tasks now, thanks to a new manual
focusing on preserving nutritional quality. The how-to book is designed to help institutions that care for fish-eating
animals meet or exceed all regulations concerning animal feeding. The manual, "Handling Fish Fed to Fish-Eating Animals," was
prepared by the Animal Welfare
Information Center of the National
Agricultural Library and the U.S. Department
of Agriculture's Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service. NAL, the largest agricultural library in the
world, is part of the Agricultural Research
Service, USDA's chief scientific agency. Proper handling of food for porpoises, seals and other marine mammals is a
challenge, according to AWIC coordinator Jean Larson. Most captive fish-eating
animals are fed fish that have been frozen for weeks or months, then thawed
before feeding time. Proper handling is essential to minimize nutrient loss and
prevent bacterial build-up. The manual discusses all points of handling food-fishfrom ordering,
purchasing and receipt, to storage, thawing and feeding. The manual was prepared by Dr. Susan Crissey, director of nutrition services
for the Daniel F. and Ada Rice Center, Chicago Zoological Society, with
assistance from the AWIC staff. Copies are available while supplies last from
the Animal Welfare Information Center, National Agricultural Library, ARS, 10301
Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705-2351, (301) 504-6212, fax (301) 504-7125,
e-mail [email protected]. Contact: Jean Larson, Animal Welfare Information Center, National
Agricultural Library, ARS, Beltsville, Md., (301) 504-6212, fax (301) 504-7125,
[email protected]. Story contacts Jean A Larson U.S. Department of Agriculture | |