Fitch diets in New Zealand: an analytical survey

Fitch diets from 30 farms were surveyed and analysed for moisture, protein, carbohydrate, fibre, ash, fat and individual fatty acids, fat peroxide value, and infinity-tocopherol. The dietary raw materials most often used were mutton, fish, poultry, beef and cereals. Eight of the 30 breeders added no vitamin or other supplements. Analytical mean (range) values on a wet matter basis were: moisture, 66.3 (49.6-76.8)%; protein, 16.5 (12.4-21.2)%; carbohydrate, 2.5 (<0.1-8.7)%; fibre, 0.4 (0.1-1.0)%; ash, 3.7 (1.2-8.3)%; fat, 10.6 (1.4-26.1)%; peroxide value, 5.7 (0.3-110) m.equiv x /kg fat; infinity-tocopherol, 13 (0.6-103) mg/kg; calculated gross energy value, 7.2 (3.7-13.7) MJ/kg. Protein contributed 42 (20-79)% of the gross energy value; fat, 49 (15-74) %, and carbohydrate, 6 (0-20) %. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA's) comprised 10 (3.6-39) % of the total fatty acids. The ratio of infinity-tocopherol to PUFA was 2.1(0.1-10.5) mg/g. Results of the survey are discussed in the light of nutrient requirements for the fitch.