I often get asked what the difference is between Kibble and Raw Feeding. Having fed both in the kennel over time, I have found that we have received a better healthier balance feeding our own brand kibble. Firstly there was a noticeable improvement in the cognitive behaviour of the dogs; they worked more like a pack, and their approach is that of calm. There was also less fighting for food, as the kibble sates their needs over a longer time span. Secondly and remarkablely so the bitches suddenly became more fertile, litters grew in size, and the bitches were calmer and more comfortable in whelp. We ensured that the whelping bitches have access to the Mother and Baby starter food in addition to their adult food. Mothers are incredibly content on this gaining the right puppy growth weight balance and ensuring they are fit and healthy to carry to term, exercise and have an active whelp.
With the introduction of the Mother and Baby kibble, we have found a complete balance, which we carry on feeding to the puppies and Mum until she regains her pre whelp condition. We now enjoy watching a rounded monitored growth of our large breed puppies, without upsetting their digestion, continuing to feed the complete balance puppy kibble until the youngsters reach the age of two years. We introduce a mixture of puppy and adult food as they develope to help with their growth spurts, and provide the nutrition required during this period.
We have found that we don't have any skin or coat issues, and allergies and sensitivities are a thing of the past. We are also of the opinion that the balanced nutritious diet has been a key factor in the improved heart health of our Irish Wolfhounds.
Raw pet food can be purchased as a complete diet, but many owners choose to feed homemade raw as they believe it is better for their pets. Studies show that 95% of homemade diets were deficient in at least one essential nutrient, and 84% were lacking in multiple nutrients (PFMA, 2020). Dodd et al. (2019), carried out a nutrient analysis of a homemade diet and the impact that this diet had when fed to a puppy. The results of the study show that the diet was deficient in many nutrients as well as an incorrect balance of calcium and phosphorus which resulted in poor skeletal development. Our Bonaforte puppy recipes have been specifically formulated with the appropriate levels of protein, calcium & phosphorus to ensure healthy growth and development.
Not only has it been identified that there is a risk to pet health from feeding homemade raw diets if they are not nutritionally balanced for the specific species and life stage it has also been identified that there is a risk to human health. When feeding a raw diet, the risk of infection from bacteria is increased as both the pet and their owner can be directly exposed to foodborne pathogens. A study looked at 35 commercial raw pet foods and examined the products for contaminants such as salmonella, listeria and E.coli. The study reported that over half of the raw food that tested was positive for at least one contaminant (Bree et al., 2018). The study concludes by stating that dry pet food is a safer option for pets and owners alike.
It is not always easy to make a direct comparison between raw and kibble because of the difference in the physical state; therefore it is important to calculate any values on the same “Dry Matter Basis”. Dry Matter refers to material that remains after the removal of water. The below tables compare the nutritional content of various raw diets to Bonaforte's Five Star Duck Recipe on an “As fed basis” as well as on a “100% Dry Matter Basis”. By converting both products to the same dry matter the Analytical Constituents can be compared equally.
Analytical Constituents on an “as-fed basis”
Analytical Constituents on 100% Dry Matter Basis
There are many different formats of pet food on the market which can sometimes make it hard to decide what is best to feed to pets. Some I have to agree are rubbish, producing all kinds of issues with digestion and sensitivities, which perhaps is the reason why some turn to Raw feeding, as a good nutritious kibble can be expensive, but it should not be about cost. The most important message is that the quality of pet food should be measured on the contents of the food rather than the format that it is fed in. All of our complete pet foods are formulated to meet the pet’s nutritional requirements in line with the FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines. The technology used cooks raw meat gently to protect proteins which provide higher nutrient bio-availability and digestibility.