Evaluation of the ingredient profile in Psittaciformes feeds marketed in the Metropolitan Region of Recife

The evaluation of the ingredient profile in feeds for psittaciformes, such as parrots and parakeets, is crucial to ensuring the health and welfare of these exotic birds. In the metropolitan region of Recife, the quality of the feeds offered to psittaciformes varies significantly. This study aimed to analyze the composition of ingredients in feeds available in the local market, focusing on their nutritional adequacy. Thirteen commercial diets for psittacines were used, obtained from establishments such as markets, stores, and fairs in the Metropolitan Region of Recife. The brands selected for the research offered good cost-benefit ratios and consisted of diets made up of various seeds. Date were analyzed using bayesian mixed effects linear regression model. It was observed that the basic composition of most commercial feeds is a mixture of seeds, including canary grass, small sunflower seeds, cateto rice, oats, safflower, rapeseed, sorghum, triticale, corn grains, millet, and peanuts. Additionally, a higher amount of common millet was noted, which may be directly related to the acquisition price of these ingredients compared to the quantity available in the feeds. Disparities were observed in the percentages of dry matter, mineral matter, and crude protein in relation to the information on the packaging. This suggests potential qualitative losses of nutrients declared on the packages prevalent in the region. Psittacine feeds are formulated with cheaper ingredients, and the actual nutritional value of the feeds is lower than the information on the labels.