Page 119 - Raw Diet References Book 2019

b) The ME in products of vegetable or animal sources; highly digestible special products such
origin, in their natural state, fresh or preserved, as milk substitutes or diets for enteral nutrition
such as meat, offal, milk products, cooked starch has to be predicted with the following equations.

Dogs:

kcal ME = (4 x % protein) + (9 x % fat) + (4 x % NFE)

kJ ME = (16.7 x % protein) + (37.6 x % fat) + (16.7 x % NFE)]

Cats:

kcal ME = (4 x % protein) + (8.5 x % fat) + (4 x % NFE)

kJ ME = (16.7 x % protein) + (35.6 x % fat) + (16.7 x % NFE)

c) Determination of ME content of foods by 1.25kcal/g digestible crude protein (5.23kJ/g) for dogs
feeding trials and 0.9kcal/g (3.77kJ/g) for cats (NRC 2006a).
Manufacturers should be aware that feeding trials
are regarded as the gold standard for determination FEDIAF recommends that members who wish to
of the energy content of any pet food. Using the trials use feeding trials should employ the quantitative
described in Chapter VI the digestible energy (DE) collection protocol described in Chapter VI, Section 2.
can be accurately measured. An approximate factor
to convert digestible into metabolizable energy is
0.9. Alternatively, NRC 2006 recommends subtracting

2.3 Literature review on energy requirements of dogs

While the formulae give average metabolizable size between the different breeds, which, with mature
energy needs, actual needs of cats and dogs may body weights ranging from one kg (Chihuahua) to
vary greatly depending on various factors (Meyer & 90kg or more (St. Bernard), is the greatest diversity
Zentek 2005, NRC 1985 & 2006). across mammalian species (Lauten 2006). The
amount of energy a particular dog will finally need is
Energy allowances, recommended for maintenance significantly influenced by factors such as age, breed,
of adult dogs, differ widely, with figures ranging from size, activity, environment, temperament, insulation
less than 90kcal ME/kg0.75 (377kJ) to approximately characteristics of skin and hair coat, body condition
200kcal ME/kg0.75 (810kJ). This diversity is not or disease.
surprising when we consider the variation in adult

2.3.1 Maintenance Energy Requirements (MER) of adult dogs

Energy requirements of animals with widely daily energy requirements of dogs most often
differing body weights are not correlated with kg are calculated in function of a metabolic weight,
body weight (BW) in a linear way (Meyer & Heckötter which equals kg0.75. Its accuracy for dogs has been
1986, NRC 1985). Energy requirements are more questioned, and a valid alternative (kg0.67) is more
closely related to BW raised to some power: The related to body surface, and may thus better reflect

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