| Ravenwood Ranch |
| Copyright 2007. Al l Rights Reserved. Created by Taylormade Web Design. Last Updated October 5, 2007. |
| Where Quality Counts |
| Ravenwood Ranch Choosing Quality Kibble |
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| INTERPRETING KIBBLE LABELS |
1) INGREDIENT LIST
Ingredients are listed descending order of weight when added in the formulation.
The first item on the list is present in the largest quantity, the second is in the
second largest quantity and so on.
Evaluating a kibble to feed your pet using just the ingredient list has serious
limitations. Follow these general guidelines:
a) For best results an animal protein source (meat) should be one of the first three
ingredients listed.
b) Beware of manufactures that list different forms of the same ingredient
separately. For example ground corn and flaked corn may be listed separately but
result in a large amount of corn in the diet.
2) THE NAME: THE 25% RULE
The named ingredient must comprise at least 25% of the product. Example "Beef
Dinner". This means that beef is at least 25% of the diet. This is usually the 3rd or
4th ingredient on the list.
3) THE NAME: THE 3% RULE
Combined ingredients must add up to 25% with the second ingredient being 3% or
more. Example "Lamb and Rice Dinner" means that there is at least 3% rice and the
combination of lamb and rice make up 25% of the diet.
4) GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
This is declared on an 'as fed' basis so it includes all the water in the feed. Stated as
minimum or maximum values of nutrients. This isn't very accurate because it
allows for a large range. Example, 16% crude protein MINIMUM could mean it has
16.5% or 30%.
5) TESTING
To be claimed to be "complete and balanced" the diet must provide nutrients that
meet an established profile AFRO or COMA. Animal feeding tests are done
following AFRO procedures. Must meet the requirements of animals at that life
stage. Example, Puppy food must meet needs of puppies. Problem - testing is only
done for 6 months and some weightless is allowed so not much scientific data on
the effects of a dog fed that food for longer than 6 months. This raises concerns
with the long term effects. Hopefully they will change this procedure soon.
6) OTHER CLAIMS
The term "Natural" has no official term as far as regulation goes. In reality a
balanced diet HAS TO include some artificial ingredients. So be aware that no diet
can be 100% natural. Until recently "organic" was not regulated either. Most of the
"organic" ingredients came from animals and plants in the transition of becoming
certified organic. This means they were in the process of switching over from
conventional to completely organic. This is now becoming more strictly regulated.
7) MEAT is clean trim off federally inspected animals and is high quality.
Something to keep in mind is that when meat or meat byproduct is listed as the first
ingredient, it is based on pre-processing weight (which means it contains a lot of
water) - after processing (drying), that meat may only make up a small percentage
of the food.
8) MEAT BYPRODUCT is non-rendered clean parts from federally inspected
animals and is high quality. It is called 'byproduct' because it is the leftovers of the
animal that humans don't eat, like the organs, tongue, heart. This is also high quality
and nutritious. Because this product comes from the slaughter plant where human
food is produced it is clean and safe.
9) MEAT MEAL is rendered product exclusive of bone, hide and hair, not federally
inspected and not well regulated. Try to avoid this on your label if possible.
So bottom line - you want meat and meat byproduct, steer clear of meat meal.
10) Kibble has to have 40% carbohydrates to stick together in kibbles.
In order to choose a good quality kibble follow these guidelines:
1) Check the ingredient list. You want an animal protein source to be one of the
first three ingredients. The ingredients in the largest amount are listed first. If the
first three ingredients say corn, wheat, flour, or something along those lines you
know that your food is full of filler. Higher quality kibbles have animal sources
listed first.
2) Try to choose foods that list meat or meat byproduct. This meat comes from
clean, federally inspected animals that are slaughtered for humans. The scraps are
good quality and go for pet food. Steer clear of meat meal as it is not well regulated
and contains a lot more 'junk' meat that is less nutritious.
3) You want your food to have LOW carbohydrates because these are the filler in
your pet food. To figure out how much carbohydrates you have in your food
follow this formula:
% Moisture + % Protein + % Fat + % Fiber + % Ash = Answer
If you don't have a value for Ash you can use the standard which is 9%. If you
don't have a value for Fiber you can use the standard which is 4.5%.
Now:
100-answer = % carbohydrates
You want this to be low as possible. The aim is for less than 40%.
Now:
% Protein x 3.5 = answer a
% carbohydrates x 3.5 = answer b
%Fat x 8.5 = answer c
Now add answer a + answer b + answer c = the energy in your dog food measured
in kilocalories/100 grams.
To decide how much energy your dog needs:
Body Weight x 30 + 7 = answer
For performance -> answer x 2 to 8
For growth/reproduction -> answer x 3
For maintenance -> answer x 1 to 1.5
For weightless -> answer x 0.8
Aim for HIGH energy and LOW carbohydrates to find your best food. Hope this is
straightforward enough to be useful.
Whole Dog Journal's Top Ten Kibbles
Ingredients in Kibble
Ingredients in Pet Food
Natural Balance
Selecting a Commercial Pet Food
Solid Gold
Canidae
Eagle Pack
Innova EVO
Ingredients are listed descending order of weight when added in the formulation.
The first item on the list is present in the largest quantity, the second is in the
second largest quantity and so on.
Evaluating a kibble to feed your pet using just the ingredient list has serious
limitations. Follow these general guidelines:
a) For best results an animal protein source (meat) should be one of the first three
ingredients listed.
b) Beware of manufactures that list different forms of the same ingredient
separately. For example ground corn and flaked corn may be listed separately but
result in a large amount of corn in the diet.
2) THE NAME: THE 25% RULE
The named ingredient must comprise at least 25% of the product. Example "Beef
Dinner". This means that beef is at least 25% of the diet. This is usually the 3rd or
4th ingredient on the list.
3) THE NAME: THE 3% RULE
Combined ingredients must add up to 25% with the second ingredient being 3% or
more. Example "Lamb and Rice Dinner" means that there is at least 3% rice and the
combination of lamb and rice make up 25% of the diet.
4) GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
This is declared on an 'as fed' basis so it includes all the water in the feed. Stated as
minimum or maximum values of nutrients. This isn't very accurate because it
allows for a large range. Example, 16% crude protein MINIMUM could mean it has
16.5% or 30%.
5) TESTING
To be claimed to be "complete and balanced" the diet must provide nutrients that
meet an established profile AFRO or COMA. Animal feeding tests are done
following AFRO procedures. Must meet the requirements of animals at that life
stage. Example, Puppy food must meet needs of puppies. Problem - testing is only
done for 6 months and some weightless is allowed so not much scientific data on
the effects of a dog fed that food for longer than 6 months. This raises concerns
with the long term effects. Hopefully they will change this procedure soon.
6) OTHER CLAIMS
The term "Natural" has no official term as far as regulation goes. In reality a
balanced diet HAS TO include some artificial ingredients. So be aware that no diet
can be 100% natural. Until recently "organic" was not regulated either. Most of the
"organic" ingredients came from animals and plants in the transition of becoming
certified organic. This means they were in the process of switching over from
conventional to completely organic. This is now becoming more strictly regulated.
7) MEAT is clean trim off federally inspected animals and is high quality.
Something to keep in mind is that when meat or meat byproduct is listed as the first
ingredient, it is based on pre-processing weight (which means it contains a lot of
water) - after processing (drying), that meat may only make up a small percentage
of the food.
8) MEAT BYPRODUCT is non-rendered clean parts from federally inspected
animals and is high quality. It is called 'byproduct' because it is the leftovers of the
animal that humans don't eat, like the organs, tongue, heart. This is also high quality
and nutritious. Because this product comes from the slaughter plant where human
food is produced it is clean and safe.
9) MEAT MEAL is rendered product exclusive of bone, hide and hair, not federally
inspected and not well regulated. Try to avoid this on your label if possible.
So bottom line - you want meat and meat byproduct, steer clear of meat meal.
10) Kibble has to have 40% carbohydrates to stick together in kibbles.
In order to choose a good quality kibble follow these guidelines:
1) Check the ingredient list. You want an animal protein source to be one of the
first three ingredients. The ingredients in the largest amount are listed first. If the
first three ingredients say corn, wheat, flour, or something along those lines you
know that your food is full of filler. Higher quality kibbles have animal sources
listed first.
2) Try to choose foods that list meat or meat byproduct. This meat comes from
clean, federally inspected animals that are slaughtered for humans. The scraps are
good quality and go for pet food. Steer clear of meat meal as it is not well regulated
and contains a lot more 'junk' meat that is less nutritious.
3) You want your food to have LOW carbohydrates because these are the filler in
your pet food. To figure out how much carbohydrates you have in your food
follow this formula:
% Moisture + % Protein + % Fat + % Fiber + % Ash = Answer
If you don't have a value for Ash you can use the standard which is 9%. If you
don't have a value for Fiber you can use the standard which is 4.5%.
Now:
100-answer = % carbohydrates
You want this to be low as possible. The aim is for less than 40%.
Now:
% Protein x 3.5 = answer a
% carbohydrates x 3.5 = answer b
%Fat x 8.5 = answer c
Now add answer a + answer b + answer c = the energy in your dog food measured
in kilocalories/100 grams.
To decide how much energy your dog needs:
Body Weight x 30 + 7 = answer
For performance -> answer x 2 to 8
For growth/reproduction -> answer x 3
For maintenance -> answer x 1 to 1.5
For weightless -> answer x 0.8
Aim for HIGH energy and LOW carbohydrates to find your best food. Hope this is
straightforward enough to be useful.
Whole Dog Journal's Top Ten Kibbles
Ingredients in Kibble
Ingredients in Pet Food
Natural Balance
Selecting a Commercial Pet Food
Solid Gold
Canidae
Eagle Pack
Innova EVO
The information
on this page is
provided for your
own personal
use and is not
intended to replace
the advice or
guidance of a
veterinarian.
on this page is
provided for your
own personal
use and is not
intended to replace
the advice or
guidance of a
veterinarian.
| EVALUATING KIBBLE QUALITY |
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