This blog contains excerpts from my column, ‘The Holistic Parrot’, that appears in the March 2011, #158 issue of Parrots magazine.
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Nutritional Daily Requirements – Determining Minimum, Recommended and Optimal Levels
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) published a preliminary report in 1998 titled, “Nutrition Expert Panel Review, New Rules for Feeding Pet Birds”. Of the hundreds of nutrients required by the avian body 29 are mentioned in this report. This information is comparable to the Minimum Recommended Dietary Allowances (MRDAs) for people. According to the current AAFCO Pet Food Committee chairperson the expert panel that compiled this information never reached an agreement regarding a final recommendation and has since disbanded. Presently, in the US, any current nutritional recommendations are strictly the suggestions made by a particular bird food company.
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With birds – as with people – the minimum required amount of essential nutrients is very different from the optimal amounts each individual needs for their highest level of good health and wellness.
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For example, the MRDA requirement level for thiamine (vitamin B1), for women between the ages of 19 to 70, is 1.1 mg per day. (3) This value is the minimal amount required to prevent beriberi.
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Beriberi is a nervous system disease that is rare in developed nations. It is caused by a thiamine deficiency. According to, “Prescription for Nutritional Healing”, by clinical nutritionist Phyllis A. Balch, other symptoms that can result from this vitamin deficiency include constipation, edema, enlarged liver, fatigue, forgetfulness, gastrointestinal disturbances, heart changes, irritability, labored breathing, loss of appetite, muscle atrophy, nervousness, numbness of hands and feet, pain and sensitivity, poor coordination, tingling sensations, weak, sore muscles, general weakness and severe weight loss.
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An individual could have sufficient thiamine in their diet to prevent beriberi, but they may require a higher amount if other health complications are present. According to, “Prescription for Nutritional Healing”, people treating certain health conditions with nutritional therapy can consume upwards of 300 mg of B complex a day. Remember, animal holistic nutrition and healthcare has been derived from practices proven successful with people.
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Since the nutritional needs of the B complex vitamins can vary so widely for people, doesn’t it make sense that individual parrots would each have unique nutritional requirements for this and other nutrients?
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Was this blog helpful? Do you have any other questions about this topic? Please send a comment.
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Did you know that chickens actually helped a medical doctor discover the true cause of beriberi?
Learn about this and more about avian MRDAs in the complete published version of this column.
Next month the April ‘The Holistic Parrot’ column will discuss over-supplementation malnutrition and how to avoid this in your birds.
For the complete published version of this column visit Parrots magazine.
Subscriptions to Parrots magazine and single issues are available on-line. Or, if your prefer, you can receive a copy by mail.
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Hi Lucy,
You can purchase a copy of the full article on-line at http://www.parrotmag.com .
Thanks for asking.
Thanks, Leslie! IT sounds like a good magazine. I will probably subscribe.
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