Category: E) Dietary Fats/Oils


Dietary Oils: A Multi-Part Series – Flax Seed Oil

Filed under: E) Dietary Fats/Oils, Flax Oil — Leave a comment
January 19, 2012

Flax seed oil is touted as one of the best, if not the best dietary oil to consume to fight cardiovascular disease by raising the healthy HDL cholesterol levels over the lousy LDL cholesterol levels. I totally agree with this fact and here is why, flax seed oil is extremely high in Omega 3 fatty acids, the “heart-healthy fatty acids”.

Flax seed oil is also known as a “brain” food for the same reason, because it is high in Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are found in high concentration in the brain and are responsible for memory, performance and behavioral function. They also help with vision and nerve relay. In addition Omega 3 fatty acids play an important part in maintaining mood levels.

Flax seed oil has been linked to preventing stress by calming the nerves, increasing energy and stamina, regulating blood sugar levels, easing inflamed tissues as with arthritis, and soothing dry skin as with eczema. It has also been known to help people who suffer with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

But for the same reason flax seed oil is so wonderfully good for cardiovascular health, and all of these other health benefits, in my opinion it makes a poor oil to consume without adding other Omega oils along with it if your goal is to consume a healthy diet overall.

How can this be?

Flax seed oil lacks some of the qualities that help convert the Omega 6 fatty acids into another really great Omega fatty acid, “gamma-linolenic”, or more commonly known as GLA. This little wonder fatty acid actually scrubs the arteries of lousy LDL cholesterol therefore putting the Omega 6 fatty acids to work in a way that they normally would not work without being converted into GLA.

In addition flax seed oil does not contain enough Omega 7. Omega 7 is otherwise known as palmitoleic acid which helps to oxidize, or “burn” unused fat. This is of great importance to ensure that our birds do not become obese or develop fatty liver disease.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love flax seed oil and believe it should be part of the overall “good fat” in our birds’ diet because it is uncommonly high in Omega 3 fatty acids. But in my opinion it should not be considered a “stand-alone” dietary oil. In my opinion, when feeding flax seed oil it should always be fed in partnership with hemp seed oil at the rate of 1.5 parts of hemp seed oil to 1 part of flax seed oil to ensure that our birds are receiving enough of the GLA and Omega 7 fatty acids in the hemp seed oil along with the Omega 3 fatty acids in flax seed oil.

*Mixing 1.5 parts of hemp seed oil to 1 part of flax seed oil you can use the same portions as an overall “total added fat intake” guideline as I presented in the hemp seed oil article for feeding your bird. However, using this recipe is optimum because it includes both hemp seed oil and flax seed oil and therefore provides a more balanced ratio of Omegas 3, 6, 7, 9 and GLA.:

“You can add it on top of their food. (Please DO NOT add this to their drinking water! It will only coagulate and cause a mess and if you don’t wash the water bowl out really, really well, it could go rancid.)

Just a drop for small Budgies once a day is more than enough. You can probably get away with giving only a drop every other day. For parakeets such as the Ringneck and similar size birds a drop or two daily will do. Moving on up to larger birds, say Conures, Pionus and the like, maybe 3 or 4 drops a day on top of their food. Then for African Greys, small Cockatoos (and even the small Macaws) and such, 5 drops to a 1/16th of a teaspoon a day. Larger Cockatoos you could give from 1/16th to 1/8th of a teaspoon a day depending on skin and feather quality. Then the large Macaws you can give 1/8th to ¼ teaspoon daily depending on skin and feather quality.”

If your bird is suffering from “The Mutilation Syndrome” it may partially be because these essential fatty acids are lacking in your bird’s diet. Please keep in mind the above recommendations are only a guideline and depend on the overall health and vitality of your individual bird. Obviously if your bird is suffering from a health problem you need to consult with your licensed avian veterinarian before adding any additional oils to your bird’s diet. And if you know you bird already suffers from fatty liver disease, do not increase your bird’s intake of these fatty acids without first consulting with your licensed avian veterinarian.

A combination of hemp seed oil with flax seed oil on a regular basis, and then adding palm oil once a week should provide the dietary fat our birds need, especially if they are also receiving nuts every now and then. Coconut oil can be used on occasion for very specific reasons, or for certain species. It’s important to remember that in the wild our birds would be consuming these healthy fats on a regular basis; their systems are designed to metabolize these healthy plant fats.

Harmful fats, like long-chain animal fats from meat and dairy, have no place in our birds’ diet for the most part. These are the kind of fats that cause a buildup of cholesterol. Hydrogenated and trans-fats from industrial oils are extremely harmful for our birds, they come from highly processed foods. These are the kind of fats that will lead to cardiovascular problems, obesity and fatty liver disease because our birds’ systems cannot process these fats and utilize them.

But we must remember that these “good fats” are medium-chain “plant” fats and are therefore easier for the body to recognize as useable, digestible and easy to metabolize fats, they actually help reduce cholesterol in most cases. These are the kind of fats that give our birds energy, help their heart to pump blood, help their brain to function, provide lubrication for joints, aid in maintaining good eye sight and help to create beautiful feathers and supple skin.  Without enough “good fat” in our birds’ diet every function of their body is going to suffer. You can learn lots more about “good fats” and the role they play in our diet as well as our birds’ diets in our series on “Dietary Fat: An Overview for Companion Birds“.

*Dieatary Fat during mating/breeding season: I have found the use of flax seed oil during mating/breeding season to be of wonderful use in calming the emotions of hormonal birds. The Omega 3′s in flax seed oil have a calming effect on the hormones in the brain that control the emotions. But during the mating/breeding season I highly recommend discontinuing the use of hemp seed and hemp seed oil completely. In some extreme cases flax seed/flax seed oil must be discontinued as well. But in most cases flax seed oil, because of its high content of Omega 3, is actually somewhat beneficial because of its overall calming effect. However, if you find that your bird is too sensitive to both hemp and flax seed oil during this hormonal time, discontinue the use and use only Coconut oil as it does not contain any properties that will antagonize hormones. You may find that even Palm Oil antagonizes hormones during this hormonal time of your bird’s cycle. Watch your bird carefully when feeding dietary oils during its hormonal cycle for any additional aggressive or emotional behaviors and discontinue the use of the oils if necessary.

*If at any time you begin to see black spots on your bird’s feathers, you may be feeding too much oil or fat to your bird, (Or this may be a sign of “Iron Storage Disease”) back off and consult your licensed avian veterinarian. You may need to have your bird’s blood lipid and lipoprotein panel checked and/or checked for fatty liver disease and/or place your bird on a liver detox regimen.

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Dietary Fat: An Overview for Companion Birds – Part 2

Filed under: An Overview: Dietary Fat - Part 2, Basic Parrot Nutrition, E) Dietary Fats/Oils — Leave a comment
December 28, 2011

In part 1 of “Dietary Fat: An Overview for Companion Birds”, we discussed the two classifications of fats, the “saturation” and the way fats are “structured”, by molecular carbon chains. We discovered that polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are basically healthy fats more so than saturated fats, except in the case of saturated plant fats that are made up of medium chains. This specific group of medium chain saturated fats is unique to plant fats; saturated animal fats are made up of long chains and therefore are not healthy saturated fats. Medium chain fats are compatible with a living body and therefore are considered to be a heart healthy fat in spite of the fact they are saturated.

Seed and nut fats are made of medium chains and are therefore recognizable by the living body as compatible fats in which to metabolize and turn into quick energy sources. Whereas animal fats take a longer period of time to digest, metabolize and finally turn into an energy source a living body can utilize. More often than not animal fat actually turns into fat on a living body, but seed and nut fat normally do not when fed in moderation, they actually get utilized as energy and what doesn’t get utilized as energy gets utilized to clean out the “lousy” LDL cholesterol running through the arteries.

Knowing this very important information helps us to understand that “fat” can be a really good nutritional support to add to our companion bird’s diet. In fact, it is a vital part of an exotic bird’s total and complete nutritional profile.  Having discovered this we are now ready to discuss some of the various nutritional seed, oils and nuts we have available to us to include in our companion bird’s diet!

Beneficial “Fatty Acid” Seed and Oils

I have previously only briefly touched on some of the best kinds of seed and oils to add to our companion birds’ diets to achieve the best “fatty acid” nutrition. Let’s go into a little more detail.

Seed

Unfortunately seed has gotten a really bad reputation because in the past so many people fed a diet strictly of seed for so many years resulting in under-nourished or mal-nourished birds.  But there is a healthy place for seed in a companion bird’s overall, balanced diet.

When we are diligent in feeding a diet rich in whole foods consisting of a large variety of greens, fruits, berries, nuts, herbs and other wholesome foods, seed can play a vital role in the overall nutritional profile of a bird’s total diet.

Seed contains some of the essential fatty acids we have discussed, but it’s important to know which variety of seed is the healthiest seed to feed.

Hemp Seed / Oil

Hemp Seed

First of all let’s take a deeper look into hemp seed and hemp seed oil because I mentioned it several times in previous sections.

Hemp seed and the oil derived from it contain probably the most balanced fatty acid that can be easily obtained. It contains all of the fatty acids that are beneficial to the health and well-being of our parrots. It contains, depending on the variety, approximately 21% Omega 3, 2-3% GLA (no other of the common oils contain this fatty acid), about 56% other Omega 6’s, and about 11% Omega 9, about .12% of Omega 7 and finally about 9.7% of the saturated fats.  Hemp is one of the rare seeds to contain Omega 7, Palmitoleic acid which actually helps in the burning off of excess fat.

In my opinion, if you feed no other oil, this is the best oil by far to feed your companion bird to ensure good health overall.

You can read a more in depth post here:  Hemp Seed Oil

Flax Seed / Oil

Secondly, flax seed is very high in Omega 3, that fatty acid known for its heart health properties.

Flax Seed

Many people tout this source of fatty acid over any other  because it is so high in Omega 3 helping to balance the high amount of Omega 6’s we normally over-consume in our American diet, and this is a good thing. However, flax seed does not contain any GLA like hemp seed does.

Flax seed contains almost 60% Omega 3, about 14% Omega 6, about 16% Omega 9 and 10% saturated fats. But because it does not contain GLA, I would not recommend feeding this oil as a “stand-alone” oil.

Safflower Seed

Safflower Seed

I am convinced that we need to be adding safflower seed to our companion birds’ diets. Typically it contains at least 14% Oleic acid, Omega 9. This makes it a heart healthy fatty acid seed and one that should not be avoided in our companion birds’ diet. It also contains about 4% Palmitic acid, a fairly healthy saturated plant fat our birds need for the production of supple skin, beautiful feathers and strong beaks and talons. It’s also good for our birds because it contains a high amount of Folic acid, naturally occurring vitamin A and a fair amount of vitamin E.

This seed should not be a stand-alone seed; this should be fed in conjunction with other seed.

I do not recommend adding safflower oil to our birds’ diet. Too many times safflower oil is processed as a hydrogenated oil. We have previously discussed hydrogenated oils; they are industrial oils used in highly processed foods and are almost impossible to break down in the metabolic system leaving arteries clogged.  Just to make absolutely sure we are not feeding a hydrogenated version of safflower oil to our birds, in my opinion it’s just best to stick to safflower seed and stay away from the processed oil.

Saturated Plant Oils

Some fatty acids must be derived from saturated plant oils. You can feed the actual fruit when you can find it, most of the time it’s just more convenient to find the oil in a virgin, unrefined, cold-pressed version. As previously discussed saturated plant fats are not the same as saturated animal fats, these plant fats have medium chain carbon bonds (MCFAs) and the body recognizes them as something that can be easily metabolized. So there is no worry about build up in the arteries like there is with animal fats, actually these fats are very healthy and can help lower the “lousy” LDL cholesterols, especially when saturated fats are combined with naturally occurring Oleic acid, Omega 9, they are extremely efficient in reducing the harmful cholesterols. Both Palm oil and Coconut oil contain enough Oleic acid to make them heart healthy oils.

Palm Oil

Let’s not confuse this with “palm kernel oil”.

The two are not the same and palm kernel oil should not be fed to our companion birds.

Palm Fruitparrots.

Palm oil is a rich, orange-red oil known mainly as a “saturated” oil. It contains about 50% saturated fats, and about 50% unsaturated fats: 1% Omega 3’s, and 11% Omega 6’s. Palm oil is high in Oleic acid, Omega 9, 38%.

One of its greatest properties it offers our birds is the beta-carotene, the precursor to vitamin A. Beta-carotene is easily converted to vitamin A by natural synthesizes in a bird’s body.  And just briefly, the importance of vitamin A in our birds’ diets are: Overall vitality, healthy immune system, healthy digestive tract, healthy respiratory tract, healthy reproductive system, strong skeletal structure, supple skin, vibrant feathers, good eyesight.

You can read a more in depth post here: Palm Fruit Oil

Coconut Oil

Coconut

Coconut oil is about 92% saturated fat containing about 5-7% Oleic acid, Omega 9.

Coconut Oil supplies its very own very special properties that need to be looked at for purposes that may arise from time to time with your bird. It contains Caprylic and Lauric acids, both efficient in treating yeast infections. Coconut Oil is also known to level out blood sugar in the case of insulin resistance in Type 2 Diabetes. It is also a good source of vitamin E so it helps condition and protects the skin as well as healing minor cuts, abrasions and minor wounds. It has been known to help prevent macular degeneration of the eyes as well. There are many, many uses for Coconut Oil, too many to list. I suggest you turn to the Internet and conduct your own search regarding the healing properties of Coconut Oil.

You can read a more in depth post here: Coconut Oil

Beneficial “Fatty Acid” Nuts

Nuts are extremely high in Oleic acid, Omega 9 which as previously stated, is responsible for lowering the overall “lousy” LDL cholesterols and raising the overall “healthy” HDL good cholesterols. Just about any nut you decide to feed is going to contain a fair to high amount of Omega 9 and there are a vast array of nuts from which to choose to feed our companion birds.

Macadamia nuts are an excellent source of Omega 9 and they contain Omega 7 as well, the fat-burning Omega. But on a regular basis I prefer to feed almonds because they contain a moderate amount of Omega 9 plus they are very high in calcium, a mineral that almost every companion bird needs in their daily diet and almonds contain a good amount of protein too. Basically they are just a good all around nut if you are not going to feed any other nut. But just like any food, feed in moderation, too much of a good thing can be harmful. Almonds are a tad high in the amino acid Arginine and anyone following my blog will know that I highly suspect Arginine to be a contributing factor in The Mutilation Syndrome. However, I do like to feed Macadamia nuts on an infrequent basis just to make sure that great beta-carotene and Omega 7 nutrition is being derived from such a wonderful whole food source.

I never feed peanuts because they are so susceptible to aflatoxins. In my opinion it’s just not worth the risk.

Fats: In Conclusion

After our study of fats we have learned that healthy fats not only provide energy, they carry oxygen to the blood, they also nourish the brain, help prevent certain cancers, lubricate the body inside and out as in the case of preventing arthritis and also aid in keeping the skin moist and supple. Fats also help with the uptake of calcium thereby preventing osteoporosis. Certain fats can aid in the treatment of diabetes and other fats can help keep eyesight sharp by preventing macular degeneration and in some cases fat can also act as an antiviral, antifungal or an antibacterial and aid in destroying yeast infections, heal cuts and minor wounds. In short, fats are nothing but miraculous in many ways and should be a staple in our companion birds’ diet for optimum nutrition!

We shouldn’t be so worried about feeding “fat” to our birds, as long as it’s healthy fat. There has been far too much negative talk about fat in our birds’ diets in my opinion. For some reason the common thinking is that all fat translates into “fat birds” and this is just not true. These birds come from regions of the world where there is an abundance of healthy fats from which to choose and consume, and they do consume these fats in the wild; these fats are part of their normal diet and they need these fats to thrive. Obviously they don’t need as much fat living more sedentary lives as captive birds, but they still need a good amount for their bodies to function properly.

Take a good, long look at your bird’s diet and if necessary make changes to include the healthy fats your bird needs to thrive. Don’t be fearful that your bird will become obese simply because you are feeding your bird what its body is designed to consume. As long as your bird is receiving lots of fresh, wholesome greens, fruits, berries and herbs, then adding some quality nuts and seed to the diet will not harm your bird in any way. In fact your bird will be a lot better off with the added “good fat” in its diet!

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Dietary Fat: An Overview for Companion Birds – Part 1

Filed under: An Overview: Dietary Fat - Part 1, Basic Parrot Nutrition, E) Dietary Fats/Oils — Leave a comment
December 21, 2011

Pre-Classification and Purpose of Fats

Fats fall under a wider category known as “lipids”.

Lipids

Lipids are natural organic compounds and are not water soluble; they are fat, lipid and oil soluble. Lipids include fats, phospholipids and steroids. Fats are necessary for energy, to store energy, insulate the body, and cushion and protect the organs. Phospholipids are a major component of cell membranes, they are found virtually lining every cell in the body, especially the brain, protecting each cell. They help brain cells communicate and influence how well receptors function. Steroids are cholesterol derived hormones that help regulate various physiological functions in the body.

For the purpose of our edification we will be focusing primarily on “fats” mainly in the form of “fatty acids”, the building blocks of total fats, and the function they play in the health of our companion birds.

Fats are used inside of living creatures for many things, but one of the main purposes of these necessary nutrients is for the production of energy the body will utilize in daily activities.  Therefore it is absolutely crucial that high quality fats are available to a living creature, fats that can be quickly absorbed, metabolized and exchanged into energy so that a living creature has plenty of energy in which to expend throughout each and every day. Such is the case for birds living in the wild that may need to escape quickly from any approaching predators.

But what about the fat requirements of companion birds, what are the kinds of fats our birds need? What are the best sources of food from which to derive these fats? Is it important to know how much fat our companion bird should consume each and every day?

In some ways it’s more important to discuss the classifications of fats and their molecular structure so you will have a good understanding of what constitutes a healthy fat. Once you understand what constitutes a healthy fat, it becomes much easier to choose sources of healthy fats for your companion bird to consume. And in knowing what the purpose of fats are in the diet, then we don’t have to worry as much about the total intake of fats, because we will know that the right fats, fed for the right purpose in moderation will not make our birds fat, but will supply the necessary nutrients exotic birds need to thrive.

The Two Classifications of Fats

There are two ways to classify fats, one is by saturation, the other is by the length or molecular size of the carbon chain, or how they are connected to one another.

Let’s review saturation first.

Saturation

There are mainly polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, saturated, trans-fats, and hydrogenated fats.

First there are the polyunsaturated fats (PUFAS). These are extremely healthy fats which make up the fatty acids known as “Omega 3” fats. One of the best sources for this fatty acid for our companion birds can be found in flax seed and flax seed oil, although hemp seed and hemp seed oil supplies a good amount of this fatty acid as well.

Secondly there are the monounsaturated fats (MUFAS). These are basically healthy fats which make up the fatty acids known as “Omega 6” fats; they are mostly vegetable fats and are found in abundance in almost all of the highly processed foods we consume. They are commonly derived from corn, safflower seed, peanuts and olives.  While they are mostly healthy, when eaten in overabundance they can actually add to the problem of cardiovascular problems and chronic pain by causing more inflammation unless the “GLA” (Gamma-linolenic acid) version is consumed. The “GLA” version is derived primarily from hemp seed; this is the only seed besides borage, black currant seed, and evening primrose that contains GLA.

Then there are the saturated fats. These are normally animal fats, but not always. There are healthy plants, nuts and seed that contain saturated fats.

And finally there are trans-fats and hydrogenated fats. Some trans-fats occur naturally in some foods. But most trans-fats and hydrogenated fats are industrial or synthetically produced fats for use in highly processed foods. A living creature cannot break these fats down into useable energy and they clog the arteries, never, never use these kinds of fats in your bird’s diet.

The Molecular Carbon Chain Structure of Fatty Acids

Now let’s review how fats are structured. Fats are made of chains of “fatty acids”. Fatty acids consist of chains of carbon atoms with hydrogen atoms attached.

There are short (SCFA), medium (MCFA) and long (LCFA) chain fatty acids. Most of the foods we consume are made up of the LCFAs. MCFAs also contain the medium-chain triglycerides known as MCTs. MCFAs are probably the best fatty acids to consume because a living creature recognizes fat molecules by their size and MCFAs are recognized as compatible to a living creature and therefore are metabolized more efficiently than SCFAs and LCFAs. This is actually more important to remember than the classification by “saturation” of any given fat because while a fat may be considered to be unhealthy by the “saturation” standard, it may actually be considered healthy when measured by the molecular size of the chain, that is if it is a medium chain fatty acid (MCFA).

I wish to include a short quote by Dr. Bruce Fife, ND. I believe this is one of the best explanations of how MCTs “work” in a living body:

“MCTs are processed differently. When we eat a fat containing MCTs, such as coconut oil, it travels through the stomach and into the small intestine. But since MCTs digest quickly, by the time they leave the stomach and enter the intestinal tract they are already broken down into individual fatty acids (MCFAs). Therefore, they do not need pancreatic enzymes or bile for digestion. Since they are already reduced to fatty acids as they enter the small intestine, they are immediately absorbed into the portal vein and sent straight to the liver. In the liver they are preferentially used as a source of fuel to produce energy. MCFAs bypass the lipoprotein stage in the intestinal wall and in the liver. They do not circulate in the bloodstream to the degree that other fats do. Therefore, they do not supply the fat that collects in fat cells nor do they supply the fat that collects in artery walls. MCFAs are used to produce energy, not body fat and not arterial plaque.”
(You can read Dr. Fife’s complete article at OfSpirit.com)

Categories of Fatty Acids

There are two main categories of fatty acids, both “essential and non-essential fatty acids”, in other words, “essential and conditionally essential” fatty acids that a living creature really needs to perform at its best.

The term “essential” fatty acid refers to what a living creature needs to ingest as a required food source because it cannot synthesize the nutrient without introducing it by an exogenous source, that is, a source outside of itself.

The term “non-essential” fatty acid means that a living creature does not need the substance introduced by a food source because it is synthesized by the body either naturally or by food that has previously been introduced and metabolized by the body.

The essential fatty acids are “Alpha-linolenic” (ALA) or Omega 3 and “Linolenic” (LA) or Omega 6.  Normally Omega 6 fatty acids are widely available through food sources, too available in fact. We have to work a little harder to find food sources that contain Omega 3 fatty acids.

Then there are “non-essential fatty acids” like Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) a special Omega 6 fatty acid that is metabolized from Linoleic acid another Omega 6 fatty acid, Lauric acid (a saturated fatty acid), and Palmitoleic acid (a monounsaturated fatty acid), classified as Omega 7, found in extremely high concentration in Macadamia nuts. And finally, one Omega that isn’t talked about very much but is very important in my opinion is Omega 9, or Oleic acid. It is considered one of the “non-essential” fatty acids too, but because it has such important nutritional properties I think it is still a good idea to find a good food source and introduce it into our birds’ diet.

Omega 3

Flax Seed

The purpose of Omega 3 is heart health and good brain function. It also helps with the condition of skin, balancing emotions and providing energy to the body.  Studies have shown that Omega 3 actually lowers total cholesterol and triglycerides overall, thus reducing the risk of heart-related diseases. Studies have indicated that Omega 3 has decreased the symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus. And research has shown that calcium absorption improves with the intake of Omega 3, thus preventing the onset of Osteoporosis. Macular degeneration is less likely to occur when Omega 3 is consumed on a regular basis. And cancers like breast, colon and prostate cancer are less likely to occur when a diet rich in Omega 3 is consumed.

One of the best sources of Omega 3 is organic flax seed and organic flax seed oil as well as organic hemp seed and organic hemp seed oil.

Omega 6

The purpose of Omega 6 is to stimulate skin and feather growth (hair growth in humans), maintain bone health, regulate metabolism and maintain the reproductive system.

Hemp Seed

Not all Omega 6’s are equal. The “Linoleic” (LA), Omega 6’s have shown to actually cause more damage to the body when consumed in large quantities; they actually increase additional pain and inflammation as in the case of chronic pain syndromes as well as additional cardiovascular problems for heart patients. This is because the American diet consists of so many foods that are too high in Omega 6’s actually cancelling out the benefits of any of the Omega 3’s in a person’s diet.

However, if a diet that is high in the Omega 6, Gamma-linoleic acid, otherwise known as “GLA”, is consumed this is a different matter. GLA is responsible for actually contributing to lowering the total cholesterol level thus contributing to good heart health. GLA is also responsible for reducing inflammation.

The best sources of GLA Omega fatty acids for our birds’ diets are organic hemp seed and organic hemp seed oil.

Macadamia Nuts

Omega 7

It is believed that Palmitoleic acid, Omega 7, plays a significant role in fat oxidation. If so this is vitally important not only in preventing obesity, but also in the production of energy. As previously stated palmitoleic acid is abundant in macadamia nuts.

Omega 9

Oleic acid, Omega 9, is one of the “non-essential” fatty acids, meaning that living bodies synthesize it so food sources do not need to be introduced to metabolize it. However, just as a precaution it may be a good idea to introduce some food sources to make sure this fatty acid is present in the body because it is so important to have available. It’s responsible for lowering overall “lousy” LDL cholesterols and increasing the “healthy” HDL cholesterols.

Foods that are high in Oleic acid are grape seed oil, nuts and seeds. One of the best dietary sources for our companion birds is organic hemp seed and organic hemp seed oil.

How Much Fat Should We Feed To Our Birds?

After years and years of research surrounding wild and captive parrots there is still much debate as to the amount of fat content each species needs in their diet to maintain homeostasis, balanced health and vitality. Obviously a wild parrot will need a higher fat content than a captive parrot simply because of the amount of energy expended.  Having stated that fact, we must keep in mind that the quality of fat in a bird’s diet is just as important as the amount of fat in a bird’s diet, all parrots need quality fats in their diets because this is one of the prime nutrients their species thrives upon.  Even though a captive parrot may need less in their diet than a wild parrot, they still need quality fats.

We know from our research for human diets that Omega 3 fats are overall healthier than the Omega 6 fats. Therefore we want to make sure we begin by adding foodstuffs that contain these kinds of fats to the base diet for parrots. These would include foods such as leafy greens, nuts and a moderate amount of high-quality seed. We need to be careful how many grains we feed to our birds because grains are high in the Omega 6 fats, and not the good Omega 6’s like the GLA’s. While yes, all of the Omega 6’s are needed in the diet, as previously stated, a diet too high in the Omega 6’s will cancel out the good of the Omega 3’s, therefore we really need to exercise caution in feeding too many grains like corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye and millet.

When we take all of these fats into consideration, it’s no wonder that parrots need to consume a fair amount of quality fats.  They need to take in a quantity of fat for energy anyway, and they need to take in enough to cover all of the fatty acids listed here to cover all of their dietary needs.

Remember these are polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, the good fats. It’s when we feed high amounts of saturated fats (a small amount of saturated fats are good, like the kind found in nuts), or any amount of trans-fats or hydrogenated fats (never, never feed Trans fats or hydrogenated fats) that we have worries attached.

Our post here is just a short post, it doesn’t even begin to cover the broader aspect of dietary fats and what foods to feed to ensure you are feeding the best fats possible to your feathered friend. Please stay tuned for Part 2 of “Dietary Fat-An Overview for Companion Birds“. In addition, I will be going into depth about dietary fats in the book I am writing about companion bird nutrition.

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Dietary Oils: A Multi-Part Series – Coconut Oil

Filed under: Coconut Oil, E) Dietary Fats/Oils — Leave a comment
October 17, 2011

Coconut Oil is a dense oil because it is a saturated oil. Although it is not a saturated oil in the sense it comes from an animal source, it is still considered saturated because of the kind of saturated “fat” the coconut oil contains, medium chain triglycerides. These are actually good triglycerides, they assimilate well by the body system, they don’t cause bad cholesterol (LDL) to form. These triglycerides contain Lauric, Capric, Caprylic, Myristic and Palmitic acids.

Without going into great detail, these acids help prevent a myriad of illnesses and disease. For instance, the Lauric acid may help in preventing candida albicans and fungal infections like ringworm, herpes, the measles, influenza, hepatitis C and HIV. Capric acid helps to balance insulin levels as in the case of diabetes (This is why we use coconut and coconut oil , in a limited amount, in our “Diabetic’s DeLight” Parrot Diet. Even though parrots that are diabetic need limited amounts of oil, they still need a quality oil that will aid in skin and feather health as well as balancing insulin.). Caprylic acid has been shown to be highly beneficial in treating salmonella, ringworm, candidiasis (yeast infections) and gastroenteritis.

The polyunsaturated oil in coconut oil is linoleic acid; it is an omega 6 essential fatty acid. It is responsible for healthy cell membranes, wound healing and healthy hair, or in the case of our parrots, healthy feathers.

The monounsaturated oil in coconut oil is oleic acid, and it is an omega 9 fatty acid. It is responsible for lowering total cholesterol levels, which includes triglycerides, further aiding in the balance of insulin in the case of diabetes, slows in the development of heart disease, aids in the production of antioxidants, and acts as a great moisturizer as well. This is very important omega in any oil and most oils don’t contain it, or contain it only in very limited quantity. Coconut oil contains it in abundance!

Coconut oil is about 92% saturated plant fat.

The omega ratio in coconut oil: 9=5.8; 6=1.8; 3=<1

The poly-phenol present in coconut oil is gallic acid.  Gallic acid acts as a antioxidant and helps to protect our cells against oxidative damage. It is a phytochemical that also helps in the treatment of diabetes as well as albuminuria. (Albuminuria is a pathological condition wherein albumin is present in the urine. It is a type of proteinuria.)

Coconut oil also contains vitamin E which is essential for healthy eyesight (protects against macular degeneration) and healthy skin, and vitamin K essential for proper blood coagulation, as well as necessary minerals especially iron, the non-heme type.

It is vitally important to understand that cold-pressed, organic virgin coconut oil is the only kind of coconut oil that provides all of these benefits because processing it in this manner protects all of the beneficial health properties of this magnificent oil. Many of the other ways of processing this oil, heat pressed, or by the use of chemical solvents, quickly downgrades the overall product and the benefits derived are lost due to the method of extraction. And beginning with an organic version of the oil is key to maintaining the beneficial properties because using a lower grade of coconut that has been sprayed with pesticides or grown with chemical fertilizers does nothing but weaken the overall health properties of the finished product.

Coconut oil is a “stable” oil, meaning it does not go rancid quickly like other less stable oils, especially oils that are saturated oils, like lard that are derived from animal sources. Because of this outstanding property coconut oil can usually be kept at room temperature for months on end, therefore the need for refrigeration is not necessary. In addition, coconut oil has a high heat burning point which makes it very good for cooking and frying. And because of its nutty flavor it offers a wonderful taste to most any food!

While moderate use of coconut oil can actually aid in the lowering of bad LDL cholesterol by increasing the good HDL cholesterol, it is important to understand that coconut oil, even though it is a very healthy oil, can be overused because it is a “saturated fat”. And though it is not an animal fat, and it is a wonderful oil for human use when used as a substitute for butter or in cooking, anything can be harmful if not used in moderation. For this reason I suggest you do not feed this oil to your parrot on a daily basis. This oil should be used with extreme caution and only at the advice and consultation of a parrot nutritionist for certain health issues in limited amounts.

However, if your parrot is a “plucker” or “skin mutilator”, exercising extreme caution and making sure to avoid the eyes completely, you can apply it topically to your parrot’s bare skin if your parrot is not a flighted parrot. Doing this will aid in healing of the mutilated skin as well as soothe the irritation.

For all practical purposes we have covered what I believe to be the most important oils in the diet of companion parrots. There are other less mainline oils that can be used in our parrots’ diets, and I’m sure we will discuss them at some point in time in our ongoing health and nutrition discussions.  I hope you have enjoyed our series about healthy oils for our parrots and how to use them in their diets! This concludes our series about the use of individual oils in our parrots’ diets.

*If at any time you begin to see black spots on your bird’s feathers, you may be feeding too much oil or fat to your bird, back off and consult your licensed avian veterinarian. You may need to have your bird’s blood lipid and lipoprotein panel checked and/or checked for fatty liver disease and/or place your bird on a liver detox regimen.(Or this may be a sign of “Iron Storage Disease”)

Sign up to our blog so you will be sure to receive more educational articles like this one! Just return to our home page at http://TheBestBirdFood.com and click on “Sign Me UP” in the upper right hand corner of the blog!

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Machelle Pacion / The BEST Bird Food / BirD-elicious! / Passion Tree House LLC © 2012 All Rights Reserved

*Information supplied by The BEST Bird Food or any of its contributors, associates, et al, does not intend to diagnose, treat or cure any symptom, illness or disease. Any information provided is strictly for the purpose of “sharing” resources. Should a reader decide to use any such information they do so at their own risk and holds author(s) and associates, et al, of The BEST Bird Food blog harmless in any and all legal matters concerning their health and the health of their family and/or friends and/or colleagues who they may share the information with as well as all of their pets and/or livestock whom they may practice the information upon.

 


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Dietary Oils: A Multi-Part Series – Hemp Seed Oil

Filed under: E) Dietary Fats/Oils, Hemp Oil — 2 Comments
June 16, 2011

Cannabis Sativa

Hemp seed oil is a very important oil to include in our parrots healthy food regimen for so many reasons that will be mentioned here. It’s one of those great fatty acids that offer benefits that are so amazing one has to wonder if Nature had it all planned out from the very beginning! This oil would almost be Mother Nature’s miracle oil and prime defense against all kinds of disease! If you are not going to offer any other dietary oil or “fat” to your bird’s diet, this is the one oil I would recommend over any other oil because it contains Omegas 7, 9 and GLA besides the normal Omegas 3 and 6.

Hemp seed oil is categorized as a polyunsaturated fat and contains about 75% to 80% of this type of fat in the total content and only 9-11% of saturated fat. Hemp seed oil is practically a perfectly balanced oil in all of the main omega fatty acids, omega 3 (22%), omega 6 (55%) and GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) (1-4%) *SEE BELOW. Plus it contains a small amount of oleic and stearidonic (0-2%) acids. All three of the minor fatty acids, GLA which is metabolized from “linoleic”, the Omega 6 fatty acid, oleic and stearidonic acids, are polyunsaturated fats but are not essential fatty acids. Omega 3 and omega 6 are essential fatty acids because the living body cannot produce them; they have to be introduced into the living body through food sources.

Polyunsaturated fats stay liquid at room temperature as well as in the refrigerator. They go rancid, or spoil easily so it’s important they are kept in dark bottles and kept in the refrigerator after opening to keep them fresh.  But polyunsaturated fats are really good for us if we know how to utilize them. They are found in the plant kingdom and hemp oil comes from the hemp plant known as “cannabis sativa”. The best quality is grown organically and cold pressed so that all of the delicate nutrients are left unharmed through the process.

As mentioned above, hemp oil is the most perfectly balanced oil as far as the omega fatty acids are concerned. For this reason hemp oil can be consumed on a regular basis without worry of over-consuming and reaching a point where a “fast” from the product must be advised in order for the living body to self-regulate the amount of omegas in the body.

Let’s take a closer look at what each of the omega fats mentioned above do for the living body. As mentioned earlier, these are considered “essential” fatty acids because the body cannot produce these fatty acids itself, yet they are vital for normal body metabolism. In other words, these fatty acids must be introduced to the body by outside food sources.

Omega 3 fatty acids are made up of α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), all of which are polyunsaturated.

Omega 3 fatty acids have shown to stimulate blood circulation, reduce blood triglycerides and have shown some potential benefit in reducing problems associated with rheumatoid arthritis and cardiac arrhythmias. Some studies show that it helps in cases of depression.  Several studies report anti-cancer effects. Omega 3 fatty acid may reverse cardiovascular disease and it improves immune function. Research suggests that it delays or prevents psychotic disorders in high-risk children and adolescents. There have been many claims to the anti-inflammatory properties of omega 3’s.

Omega 6 fatty acids are primarily made up of linoleic acid which then, by biosynthesis a small amount of it transforms into GLA (gamma-linolenic acid or omega 9), then to DGLA, the main anti-inflammatory property of the omega fatty acids, then into arachidonic acid and finally to docosatetraenoic acid, both of the latter acids are important for the vital role they play in brain function.

Omega 6 fatty acids are important, but in moderation. This is why hemp oil is a good source of the omega fatty acids, because hemp oil is so perfectly balanced. Omega 6 has shown to be of benefit in cardiovascular health as well as an anti-carcinogen.  Omega 6 has shown to help with diabetic neuropathy, allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, ADHD, eczema, high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis, and premenstrual syndrome. But overused like it is in our American diet, in so many high-processed foods, it has shown to actually increase cardiovascular risks and possible cancer cell overgrowth as well, that is when it does not contain  GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) as well, like it does in hemp oil.  However the Omega 6 in hemp seed oil is quickly converted to omega 9 by GLA , which “scrubs” out the “lousy” LDL cholesterol from the blood flowing through the arteries. Therefore this type of Omega 6 does not pose harm of over-saturation of blood lipids or lipo-proteins, therefore it actually reduces blood cholesterol rather than increasing it.

As mentioned above omega 9 is formed as a by-product of the omega 6  biosynthesis.  It is unlike omega-3 and omega-6 in that it is not an essential fatty acid because it can be formed by the body through the biosynthesis of omega 6. Therefore it is not necessary to find a food product to consume to artificially introduce it to the body as long as some other food source containing omega 6 is being consumed.

GLA, the precursor to omega 9, is probably more important than either omega 3 or 6 in that it is responsible for such important processes as neurological transmissions and brain cell growth as well as muscle tissue growth, re-growth and repair. This is another reason why hemp oil is so wonderful. Out of all of the other oils, hemp is the only oil which contains a significant amount of GLA.

Hemp oil has many benefits including reducing cholesterol thus preventing heart disease and stroke, promoting cell membrane fluidity, reduction in inflammation thus easing the effects of arthritis, tuberculosis and other inflammatory disease, and it helps to increase body metabolism and regulate blood pressure. Hemp oil also affects skin condition maintaining its softness and suppleness. This may affect feather growth and appearance as well keeping the feathers well oiled and groomed. And as a bird grooms its feathers even the beak will benefit from the oil that is transferred to the beak keeping it hydrated and shiny! Not to mention how the talons will benefit as well.

Hemp oil also provides an ample supply of carotene, phytosterols, and phospholipids, in addition to a large number of minerals including: calcium, sulfur, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium.  It is also a good source of chlorophyll which is a wonderful antioxidant.

One concern about hemp oil that many people think about is the fact that hemp oil is derived from the cannabis plant, commonly associated with “marijuana”. There is no need to worry about receiving a “high” from hemp oil because this kind of hemp oil is made from the variety known as “cannabis sativa” and the very process of producing the oil eliminates the THC, the psychoactive element, while cleaning the plant before it is even pressed to release the oil.

The next time you wonder which oil is best to use for your bird on a daily basis, think no further than hemp oil. It is a polyunsaturated fat, it is perfectly balanced in omega fatty acids, and even though you do need to take some precautions to keep it from going rancid by storing it in your refrigerator, it will stay fresh longer than most other oils. But try to purchase the certified organic brand, that way you will be sure not only that your bird is receiving balanced omega fatty acids, but that nutrition is of the highest quality as well. If you are going to go the extra mile, why not go to the nth degree and buy only the best for your fine feathered friend? You will not be using very much on a daily basis anyway.

You can add it on top of their food. (Please DO NOT add this to their drinking water! It will only coagulate and cause a mess and if you don’t wash the water bowl out really, really well, it could go rancid.) And about how much will you be using? Just a drop for small Budgies once a day is more than enough. You can probably get away with giving only a drop every other day.For parakeets such as the Ringneck and similar size birds a drop or two daily will do. Moving on up to larger birds, say Conures, Pionus and the like, maybe 3 or 4 drops a day on top of their food. Then for African Greys, small Cockatoos (and even the small Macaws) and such, 5 drops to a 1/16th of a teaspoon a day. Larger Cockatoos you could give from 1/16th to 1/8th of a teaspoon a day depending on skin and feather quality. Then the large Macaws you can give 1/8th to ¼ teaspoon daily depending on skin and feather quality. Always pay close attention to the skin and feather condition. If all is looking good and their energy level is normal, meaning “active” and not over active or on the other end, lethargic, then you are probably feeding the right amount of oil. Feeding oils will give your bird an extra boost in energy so be on the lookout for that emotional effect. (If you have a bird that is abnormally lethargic, consult your licensed avian veterinarian, this is not normal.) See here for a better, more balanced, “added fat intake” regimen to follow that includes both hemp and flax seed oils.

*Because there was a bit of discussion regarding the use of hemp oil on a daily basis in a parrot’s diet following the posting of this article, I desired to perform further research into the matter. I was able to dig up more statistics from the company we obtained our certified organic hemp oil from when we were producing the parrot food you purchased from us. You will be happy to read these results because the omegas show an abnormally high amount of Omegas 3 and 9 with GLA to boot!    3=21%; 9=11%; 6=56% and 2-3% GLA with and extra Omega 7, palmitoleic acid coming in at .12%. Palmitoleic acid is good for such things as fat oxidation which helps in weight loss as well as lowering blood lipids and also reduces insulin resistance. Saturated fats come in at about 9.7%

*If at any time you begin to see black spots on your bird’s feathers, you may be feeding too much oil or fat to your bird, (Or this may be a sign of “Iron Storage Disease”) back off and consult your licensed avian veterinarian. You may need to have your bird’s blood lipid and lipoprotein panel checked and/or checked for fatty liver disease and/or place your bird on a liver detox regimen.

Sign up to our blog so you will be sure to receive more educational articles like this one! Just return to our home page at http://TheBestBirdFood.com and click on “Sign Me UP” in the upper right hand corner of the blog!

Be sure to visit our “forum” on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Parrots-The-BEST-Bird-Food/169623509768097

Machelle Pacion / The BEST Bird Food / BirD-elicious! / Passion Tree House LLC © 2012 All Rights Reserved

*Information supplied by The BEST Bird Food or any of its contributors, associates, et al, does not intend to diagnose, treat or cure any symptom, illness or disease. Any information provided is strictly for the purpose of “sharing” resources. Should a reader decide to use any such information they do so at their own risk and holds author(s) and associates, et al, of The BEST Bird Food blog harmless in any and all legal matters concerning their health and the health of their family and/or friends and/or colleagues who they may share the information with as well as all of their pets and/or livestock whom they may practice the information upon.


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Dietary Oils: A Multi-Part Series – Palm Fruit Oil

Filed under: E) Dietary Fats/Oils, Palm Oil — Leave a comment
June 14, 2011

There are many kinds of oils our birds should have in their weekly diet.  And each of the oils we will be discussing has their own special and unique health benefit to add to a living body.

Let’s begin with the more commonly known oil to the parrot community, palm oil or palm fruit oil. This oil is orange to orange/red in color and is derived from the fruit of the palm fruit, not the kernel. It is dense, rich in carotenoids, the stuff that gives it rich color. Palm fruit oil contains about equal parts of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. The unsaturated fatty acid is about 38% oleic acid and 11% linoleic acid. Therefore palm oil cannot be “technically” classified purely a “saturated” oil or purely as an “unsaturated” oil because it is equally both. The fatty acid derived from palm fruit oil is commonly known as Palmitic acid.

Palmitic acid, however, is generally classified as a major saturated fatty acid because of its density and the rich flavor it has. But it gives very little affect to any rise in blood level lipids and lipoproteins. It fails to impact plasma lipids when total fat intake is within recommended levels. This is a very important factor to remember because so many people are fearful in feeding oils to their birds for the very reason of raising the “fat content” in their bird’s diet, thus causing a high cholesterol blood panel. This is virtually an untrue effect when feeding palm oil to your feathered friend if you are feeding oils in moderation. Even if you are feeding a little more than what is considered “moderate” it is difficult to overuse, read on and you’ll learn why. Pay close attention to how these fatty acids interact with blood, arteries and cholesterol .

Fatty acids are responsible for moving oxygen through the body. They also aid in cell membrane development, and they are necessary for strong organs. Fatty acids rebuild tissue keeping the skin healthy, hydrated and supple. One of the main functions of fatty acids is to actually rid the arteries of cholesterol build up. They also assist the adrenal and thyroid glands regulating weight.

Oleic acid is an odorless and colorless monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid and is responsible for protecting the brain and adrenal glands as well as regulating blood pressure.

Linoleic acid is a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid necessary for proper skin and feather health.

In addition, because of the carotenoids, palm fruit oil is a rich source of natural vitamin A. So many birds are deficient in this vitamin and are in need of supplementation. But I am a strong supporter of natural supplements, not laboratory-produced, synthetic vitamins that are found in highly processed diets. There is still no concrete proof that organic living creatures can appropriately digest, absorb and fully metabolize laboratory produced, synthetic vitamins. It’s always best to use what Nature supplies as the organic means of basic nutrition. And Nature has provided a wide array of natural nutrients, why not use them? –Vitamin A is an antioxidant and it is responsible for good skin, proper feather growth and replacement, bone health, eyesight, a healthy respiratory system, healthy, moist mucous membranes, and it may affect overall energy as well as support the thyroid and assist with diabetes related problems.

Palm fruit oil also contains Vitamin E and is an antioxidant responsible for skin health especially body tissue and blood cell growth and repair. It also helps to defend the immune system. Palm fruit oil contains both the tocopherols and the tocotrienols by virtue of the presence of Vitamin E. Palm fruit oil is one of the richest natural sources of tocotrienols.

Tocopherols contain anti-inflammatory properties, thus help the skin heal faster when bruised or wounded. One of the side benefits of tocopherols are their antioxidant properties as a natural spoilage retardant. This is good to know because you can be sure that your palm fruit oil, although you will need to refrigerate it once opened, will have a long and lasting shelf life in your refrigerator.

Tocotrienols help prevent brain cell damage, prevent cancer, and reduce cholesterol, thus improving cardiovascular health. These functions are not performed by tocopherols, so it’s easy to see why Nature placed both tocopherols and tocotrienols side-by-side in the same food, palm fruit, together they work miracles!

It is easy to see why palm fruit oil is so good for our birds. This should be a staple item in our bird’s health program, fed in moderation along with other oils we will soon be discussing on The BEST Bird Food blog. It’s absolutely imperative to know how to keep our birds healthy and vibrant! Palm fruit oil is only very small part of that plan. Palm fruit oil, when you can find a good, reliable source, can help resolve many problems you may be experiencing with your bird from dry skin, to feather problems, to mood disorders, to respiratory problems and even offer a fair amount of cardiovascular health benefits. It’s worth a try. Alone palm fruit oil may not solve all of your bird’s problems completely; however it may start eliminating some of the problems. But don’t expect miracles overnight; give a month or even three or four before you begin to see a real change.

Start out with just anywhere from just a pinch on the end of toothpick once a week for the very small Budgie, to a 32nd of a teaspoon for a Ringneck size bird once a week, to a 16th of teaspoon for a small Cockatoo size parrot, or similar size, once  a week, to an 8th of a teaspoon for the larger parrots once a week if you aren’t feeding any other oils. If you are feeding other oils, cut it back by just a couple times a month.

Some people will say that’s not enough, others will say it’s too much. Everyone has their preferences. I personally believe that these wonderful creatures need more oil in their lives than generally believed. Out in the wild they would naturally forage for items containing these oils to keep their skin and feathers well-oiled and also to give them the amount of energy their high metabolism calls for, which brings me to another very important point.

Do your birds receive the amount of exercise they need? This is a vital and necessary part of their daily lives.  Just like a small child who begins to go “stir crazy” if they stay in the house all day and doesn’t receive a chance to run off their energy, our birds are the very same way. If they don’t get a chance to get out of their cages and exercise, play and flap their wings they are going to go “cage crazy” and begin to give you behavioral problems.  If you are beginning to have “behavioral problems” with your bird, think about the amount of time you allow your bird out of its cage to play and interact with you, its favorite playmate!

*If at any time you begin to see black spots on your bird’s feathers, you may be feeding too much oil or fat to your bird, back off  and consult your licensed avian veterinarian. You may need to have your bird’s blood lipid / lipoprotein panel checked and/or checked for fatty liver disease and/or place your bird on a liver detox regimen.(Or this may this may be a sign of “Iron Storage Disease”)

Sign up to our blog so you will be sure to receive more educational articles like this one! Just return to our home page at http://TheBestBirdFood.com and click on “Sign Me UP” in the upper right hand corner of the blog!

Be sure to visit our “forum” on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Parrots-The-BEST-Bird-Food/169623509768097

Machelle Pacion / The BEST Bird Food / BirD-elicious! / Passion Tree House LLC © 2012 All Rights Reserved

*Information supplied by The BEST Bird Food or any of its contributors, associates, et al, does not intend to diagnose, treat or cure any symptom, illness or disease. Any information provided is strictly for the purpose of “sharing” resources. Should a reader decide to use any such information they do so at their own risk and holds author(s) and associates, et al, of The BEST Bird Food blog harmless in any and all legal matters concerning their health and the health of their family and/or friends and/or colleagues who they may share the information with as well as all of their pets and/or livestock whom they may practice the information upon.

 


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