Page 187 - Raw Diet References Book 2019

Proposed Revisions Edited per Comments for 2014 Official Publication 20

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Sih TR, Morris JG, Hickman A. Chronic ingestion of high concentrations of
cholecalciferol in cats. Am J Vet Res 62:1500-1506, 2001.

Correcting for Moisture Content

The values given in the Profiles are listed in terms of dry matter (DM). However,
the values listed in the guaranteed analysis on dog and cat food labels are given on an
"as is" or "as fed" (AF) basis, and values reported from laboratories may be given on
either an AF or DM basis. The difference between a value reported on a DM basis
versus an AF basis is proportional to the moisture (water) content of the food. The
greater the moisture content of a food, the greater the food’s DM values for nutrients
would be compared to the corresponding AF values. This discrepancy makes direct
comparison between the guaranteed analysis values on a food label and the Profile
table values impossible without first correcting one or the other set of values so that
both are on an equal-moisture basis.
One method of correcting for moisture is the adjustment of the values listed in the
guaranteed analysis or reported from a laboratory on an AF basis to a DM basis before
comparing with the Profile values. This is done by dividing each AF value by the
proportion of DM in the food [(100 - % moisture)/100]. The examples shown below
use the guaranteed analysis values, but these adjustments are equally valid for actual
laboratory results reported on an AF basis.

Example A1: A Dry Dog Food Making a Growth Claim
Moisture-Adjusted Guaranteed Analysis Values

Dog Food
Nutrient Moisture - Moisture-
Profile Adjusted Adjusted
Guaranteed Minimum Guaranteed Guaranteed
Analysis Values for Analysis Analysis vs.
Nutrient Values Growth Values Profile Values
Crude Protein: min. 21% 22.5% 23.3% OK
Crude Fat: min. 8% 8.5% 8.9% OK
Crude Fiber: max. 4% 4.4%
Moisture: max. 10% 0% 0%
Calcium: min. 1.1% 1.2% 1.2% OK
Phosphorus: min. 0.9% 1.0% 1.0% OK

Directly comparing the guaranteed values in Example A1 for crude protein, crude
fat, calcium, and phosphorus to the minimum values for growth given in the Dog Food
Nutrient Profile indicates this food would appear to be deficient. However, this
comparison is not valid because the values for the food are listed on a 10% moisture
(90% DM) basis but the Profile values are given on a 0% moisture (100% DM) basis.
To put both sets of values on an equal-moisture basis, the guaranteed values were
adjusted to 100% DM by dividing each value by the proportion of DM in the food
(0.90). With this correction, it becomes apparent that the moisture-adjusted guaranteed
analysis values of the reported nutrients do, in fact, meet the minimum recommended
concentrations of the Dog Food Nutrient Profile for Growth and Reproduction.
As an alternative method to converting the guaranteed values to a DM basis, the
Profile values can be adjusted to match the moisture content of the food. This can be