Page 184 - Raw Diet References Book 2019

Proposed Revisions Edited per Comments for 2014 Official Publication 17

CHANGES TO AND RATIONALE FOR NUTRIENT CONCENTRATIONS -
CAT FOODS

CALORIC DENSITY
The 2007 AAFCO Feline Nutrition Expert Subcommittee (FNES) retained the
presumed caloric density for cat food products at 4000 kcal ME/kg DM for both the
nutrient concentrations per kg DM and the nutrient amounts per 1000 kcal ME. As
discussed below and in the footnotes to the Tables of the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient
Profiles, products with a caloric density greater than 4000 kcal ME/kg should have
nutrient concentrations corrected for energy density. Nutrient concentrations in
products with energy densities less than 4000 kcal ME/kg should not be corrected.

PROTEIN
The 2007 FNES did not change the minimum concentrations of crude protein in
the Cat Food Nutrient Profiles, the current values being equal to or greater than the
1,3
corresponding 2006 NRC RA and FEDIAF Guidelines. The FNES made
modifications to concentrations for some essential amino acids to bring the
recommended concentrations in line with the RA in the 2006 NRC and the FEDIAF
Guidelines. Minor increases between 0.02 to 0.04% in amounts of histidine, isoleucine
and leucine were made in the Growth and Reproduction Profile. The amount for
methionine and methionine plus cystine was decreased for adult maintenance.
Significant increases were made to the recommended phenylalanine and phenylalanine
plus tyrosine concentrations to bring the recommendations in line with the RA in the
2006 NRC which are based on studies establishing the requirements for maximum
nitrogen retention and black hair color. 21,22
Because of work showing an adverse effect of high concentrations of methionine,
23
the maximum concentration of 1.5% was retained. The FNES also set a maximum of
1.7% for tryptophan based on the work of Herwill and the recommendations in the
2006 NRC and FEDIAF Guidelines. 1,3,24

FAT/FATTY ACIDS
The 2007 FNES retained the minimum recommended concentrations of crude fat
at 9% DM and at 0.02% for arachidonic acid. The minimum concentration for linoleic
acid was increased to 0.6% in both Cat Food Nutrient Profiles consistent with the
corresponding 2006 NRC RA and FEDIAF Guidelines. Similar to the CNES, the
FNES established minimum recommended concentrations for some fatty acids in the n-
3 (omega-3) series in the Growth and Reproduction Profile, specifically, alpha-
linolenic acid at 0.02%, and the combination of eicosapentaenoic plus docosahexaenoic
1
acids at 0.012%, of DM. The FNES notes that the NRC stated no requirement for
alpha-linolenic acid in adult cats had been demonstrated and that although a theoretical
argument could be made for the adult cat to require eicosapentaenoic plus
docosahexaenoic acids on a similar order of magnitude as arachidonic acid given the
low delta-6 desaturase activity in the species, no objective data were available to
support the establishment of any required concentrations. Although the FNES did not
feel there was data sufficient for setting minimum recommended concentrations for n-3
fatty acids for adult cats, a recommendation in a comment to list quantities of alpha-
linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic plus docosahexaenoic acids for adult maintenance
as being not determined (ND) was accepted by the AAFCO Pet Food Committee.

MINERALS
The 2007 FNES increased the recommended concentrations for copper in canned
formulas in the Growth and Reproduction Nutrient Profile and for iodine and selenium