Vitamin A In Birds Diet

There is some orchestrated confusion in bird circles about Vitamin A levels in food and possible

toxicity from high levels.

The availability of vitamins in the diet and the absorption of vitamins from the gut is complicated

and multi-factorial. I have tried to summarise some of the important aspects of Vitamin A as they

relate to prepared bird food.

1. There are several different kinds of Vitamin A. This has to be considered when discussing the

Vitamin A levels added to prepared foods.

2. Birds will convert ß Carotene to Vitamin A in the body so that ß Carotene levels are also

signifi cant.

3. There are different degrees of absorbability of Vitamin A from the gut. Not only are different

types of Vitamin A selectively absorbed, but the level of fat in the diet will change the absorption

because Vitamin A is fat soluble.

4. The NHMRC* range for Vitamin A requirement is 2,500 i/u/kg of feed to 10,000 i/u/kg. This is a

poultry fi gure only, there is no caged bird fi gure available, and nutritionists extrapolate caged bird

requirements from poultry data.

5. The NHMRC* toxic level for Vitamin A in poultry feed is 100 to 1000 times the nutritional

requirement.

6. The Vitamin A level in feed depends on the processing method of the feed. Vetafarm uses dry

extrusion and units of Vitamin A lost in production are allowed for in the formulation.

7. The age of the product from manufacture will affect the Vitamin A level. Vetafarm uses an expiry

date and recommended storage conditions to optimise Vitamin A levels.

8. The Vitamin A level in Vetafarm Parrot Pellets Maintenance Diet is 10,000 i/u per kg at

manufacture. Vetafarm has stringent quality controls to optimise the important Vitamin A level in

its feeds.

*NHMRC = National Health Medical Research Council, (the only world body for recommended

vitamin levels)

Dr Colin Davis

Information from Vetafarm

I personally use Breeding Aid with my breeding pairs and use Cod Liver and Wheat germ Oil with my birds in the flight.

This gives Vitamin A and D also some added vitamins and minerals.

Edited November 26, 200618 yr by daz