title: Alpha-tocopherol in captive falcons: reference values and dietary impact.
abstract: To determine reference values for plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations in falcons and to investigate a possible dietary impact, 29 falcons were randomly selected from a collection of 500 captive breeding falcons fed with 4-week-old chicks. Blood samples collected from each falcon were analyzed for plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations. Reference values were 16.7-46.1 mg/L with a mean plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration of 27.5 +/- 8.7 mg/L. A group of 5 gyr-saker falcon hybrids (Falco rusticolus x Falco cherrug) were fed 1-day-old chicks for 4 weeks; the resultant mean plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration was 34.9 +/- 5.6 mg/L. When the diet was changed to turkey breast meat for 4 weeks, the mean plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration decreased significantly to 13.1 +/- 2.6 mg/L. Results appeared to support the influence of diet on plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations in falcons.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Poultry Diseases, Free University of Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Bianka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schink
authors.forename: Hafez M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hafez
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lierz
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D046093:Falconiformes / Q000097:blood*; D008460:Meat; D012016:Reference Values; D014422:Turkeys; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D024502:alpha-Tocopherol