Speaker
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Liz Koutsos, Mazuri Division Purina
Mills -
Talk Title: Current Concepts in
Lorikeet Nutrition and Applications to
Other Nectivorous Avian Species
Elizabeth Koutsos
Liz Koutsos graduated from the
University of Maryland College Park with
a BS in Animal Science. Her
undergraduate research experiences
included examination of fescue toxicosis
in Eld’s deer at the Washington National
Zoo, and determination of energy and
protein requirements of juvenile striped
bass.
She then received her MS and
PhD in Nutrition from the University of
California Davis, where her research
focused on carotenoid metabolism in
birds and the role of carotenoids in the
immune response. Additional research
efforts focused on protein and vitamin
nutrition of cockatiels, the
inflammatory response of Japanese quail,
and starch utilization in the American
Kestrel.
Following her PhD, Liz joined the
Animal Science Department at California
Polytechnic State University, San Luis
Obispo. Her research at Cal Poly focused
on nutrition and intestinal inflammation
in domestic avian species, while her
teaching responsibilities included
Physiology Chemistry of Animals, Applied
Nonruminant Nutrition, Immunology and
numerous BS thesis research projects.
In 2006, Liz joined Mazuri Exotic
Animal Nutrition, a division of Purina
Mills/Land O'Lakes, as the director of
research and technical services. Her
current work involves development of
appropriate diets for species ranging
from earthworms to elephants. Research
programs involve major zoos and
universities across the country, and
include examination of carotenoid and
protein requirements of koi, examination
of the effects of starch and fiber on
rumen development in browsing herbivores
including mule deer and giraffe,
evaluation of a sustainable alternative
to feeding fish in marine mammals such
as the beluga whale, and examination of
the nutrient requirements (focusing on
vitamin A, carotenoids and iron) of the
Rainbow Lorikeet.
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