Blood values of adult captive cheetahs ( Acinonyx jubatus ) fed either supplemented beef or whole rabbit carcasses

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 kJ BW −1 ) compared with SB (347 kJ BW −1 ) ( P = 0.002). 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 ( P = 0.033), and a tendency for elevated cholesterol levels when fed WR ( P = 0.055). 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 (200 mg/kg DM), compared with WR (94 mg/kg DM), was reflected in higher serum zinc concentrations ( P = 0.011). Feeding WR resulted in an increase in serum vitamin A ( P = 0.011). 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. Zoo Biol 31:629‐641, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.