Oregon Zoo Using Kirkman's Supplements to Provide Proper Nutrition and Health for Their Animals

PORTLAND, OR--(Marketwired - December 11, 2014) - The Oregon Zoo, which spreads across 64 acres in Portland, Ore. and houses many different species, gives many of its animals Ultra Tested® nutritional supplementation from Kirkman®. Kirkman® is a Portland-based nutraceutical company, which focuses on manufacturing pure supplements for individuals (or animals) with sensitivities or special health needs.

"Supplementation for animals is just as useful for animals as it is in people. Even in the wild, there are animals that have learned to self-supplement their diet with natural mineral and vitamin sources," Matt Brooks, Ph.D. Nutritionist with the Oregon Zoo, said in a recent interview with Kirkman®.

Among other nutrients, the zoo gives Kirkman's calcium to its ducks, chickens and waterfowl, especially those breeding or producing eggs. Brooks noted the vast amount of calcium it can take to produce an eggshell. Fortifying the birds' diets allows them to produce a thicker shell, leading to a safer, more stable egg laying process. Likewise, Kirkman® has other customers, who purchase calcium products for egg lying, such as bearded dragons and snakes. In addition, the Oregon Zoo uses Kirkman's Dicalcium Phosphate, Vitamin E and Thiamin as various supplementation for other animals in the zoo.

According to Brooks some household pets might benefit from taking certain supplements, with the consultation of a veterinarian or animal nutritionist. Dogs and cats can easily get a "complete diet" from their formulated canned or bagged food, Brooks said, because these sources are often fortified with specific vitamins and minerals. However, animals like reptiles could use "additional calcium in their diet, as crickets and mealworms are higher in phosphorus and deficient in calcium," Brooks said.

Kirkman® provides many options for supplementation. Every raw ingredient in every product it manufactures, with the exception of creams and lotions, is thoroughly tested for more than 950 environmental contaminants. The Sierra Safari Zoo, located in Reno, Nev. also uses these pure supplements for their animals' nutrition.

The Sierra Safari Zoo sought out Kirkman® when its 18-year-old male lion named Kenya suddenly became ill. After performing a series of tests, they discovered that Kenya was lacking in the enzyme lipase. Larry Newman, Kirkman's vice president and chemist, suggested Kirkman's Maximum Spectrum Enzym-Complete/DPP-IV™ Fruit Free w/Isogest®, which contains the enzyme lipase and it is free from fruit-derived enzymes that can cause more digestive issues in very sensitive cases. Read the story and other tips for animal supplementation on the Kirkman Labs, Inc. blog.

About Kirkman®

Kirkman® is the leading manufacturer of nutritional supplements for individuals with special sensitivities and dietary requirements. Founded in 1949, Kirkman® is also the oldest nutritional supplement company serving the special needs community. This experience has allowed Kirkman® to pioneer effective products in many areas of nutritional supplementation for individuals with special health needs. Kirkman® distinguishes itself from other nutraceutical companies with its Ultra Tested® protocol for purity testing, which calls for testing every raw ingredient in every product it manufactures for more than 950 environmental contaminants. To learn more about Kirkman®, visit the company's website at www.kirkmangroup.com.