Effect of addition of cane fiber extruded in dry diet on gastric emptying, small intestine transit time and the quality and fecal output in domestic cats

• Grant number: 11/06353-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Júlio Carlos Canola
• Grantee: Camila de Andrade Sarkis
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

For the formulation of pet food is important to know the nutritional value and functional properties of food, as food ingredients in the formulation alternative are of industrial interest and influence in reducing the environmental impact. This project aims to verify physiological responses of the gastrointestinal tract of cats, by the addition of 10% fiber cane sugar in the formulation of extruded dry food. This will be used for 12 healthy adult cats, male or female, that will comprise two groups of six animals each. The control group (Gc) will be fed with rations formulated without the presence of sugar cane fiber and the test group (TG), with a diet containing 10% sugar cane fiber. The animals will undergo adaptation, being conditioned for seven days to feed only at 8 am and 17h, with the provision in these moments, the ration for a period of 1 hour. Once adopted, each animal will receive orally a capsule containing 12 radiopaque markers. Radiographs, ventrodorsal and left-right lateral, before this procedure (M0) and hourly (M1. ......... Mn) or until at least 90% of the markers have come to the colon, will be held to determine the emptying gastric transit time and the small intestine. Treatments will be compared for gastric emptying time and transit in the small intestine. The fecal score system will be used, calculated dry matter fecal production and fecal matter in natural, per kilogram of food consumed. The data will be evaluated using the T-Student test or the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, the 5% significance level.(AU)