Alternative components in feeding rations for marmosets and tamarins as prevention of macrosomia, diabetes mellitus and stillborn young

This thesis evaluates the suitability of food rations in zoos keeping Callitrichidae considering the prevention of macrosomia, diabetes mellitus and stillborn young, and where needed, suggests a change in feed rations. The feed rations of Callitrichidae in zoos differ greatly and problems can occur with greater amounts of fat and sugars and often also insufficiency of calcium, which can lead to obesity and further health complications. When performing this thesis, all food rations of the pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea), the silvery marmoset (Mico argentatus), the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus), the emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator) and the golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) was weighted during five days in the Olomouc zoo, the Plzeň zoo and the Jihlava zoo. The values of the rations were set based on table rates of the individual components stated in the program ZootritionTM (V2.6) and the final values compared with the recommendations stated in EAZA Husbandry Guidelines 3rd edition (2015). It was found that changes are needed especially with consideration to the food specialization of the different species, presently all species of Callitrichidae are fed the same rations regardless of their food priorities in the wild. The recommended changes to rations included changing a part of the ration to a ready mixed foodstuff for Callitrichidae to save time and enable a stable ration with good values of calcium and protein, and feed the animals mainly with vegetables rather than fruit, considering the closeness of vegetables to the fruit available in the wild