Propolis in the Diet of Blue-Fronted Amazons (Amazona aestiva spp): Digestibility of Minerals

Abstract The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of propolis on the digestibility of minerals in the diet of blue-fronted amazon (Amazona aestiva). For this, 10 adult birds (5 males and 5 females) were separated into two groups (Control and Propolis 0.5% m/m). The apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of the following minerals was analyzed by spectrometry: calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and nickel (Ni). ANOVA was used to evaluate ADC analyzes of the minerals, as well as the Pearson correlation between the ADC of the control and propolis rations. There were lower correlations in the ADC of the minerals of the birds that received propolis ration. It was concluded that parrots consuming propolis-containing ration showed better ADC levels, possibly due to the reduction in the interaction between the minerals and the alteration of the intestinal flora by propolis.