How to decode the labels on food packages?

The ability to decode the labels on the packages of food means the opportunity to determine the quality of the feed. At the labels are usually specified components and guaranteed analysis (the number of protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber and other nutrients). In addition, you can also determine whether to proceed stern unhealthy preservatives, and to what extent should feed the animal, depending on its weight.

Another important thing to be taken into account when choosing feed, is its price. Calculate the price of feed per kilogram or cost of feeding a day. Usually dry feed economical than any other, moreover, the price per kilogram in a large sack fewer than in a small package. Remember that buying a cheap feed you do not save money because you will need to feed an animal for more than more expensive food. On the other hand, some of the expensive feed, especially sold only through veterinarians can treat your dog less than cheaper and more accessible feed. Most animals are not in need of special additives, but only in qualitative stern.

The basis of dry matter. There are different kinds of fodder for livestock, which differ from each other not only their constituents, but also different levels of humidity. Canned food may contain up to 80% moisture, while dry feed containing about 6%. Humidity feed important to know for two reasons. First, since the price is determined by feed per kilogram, when you buy feed containing 80% moisture, you actually get 20% of food and 80% water. Therefore, food preserves much more expensive than dry food. And secondly, the knowledge could help feed moisture to compare the overall protein and fat between different kinds of fodder. These percentages content labels on those or other components appear to feed as a whole and not to feed on the basis of dry matter. Therefore, you are interested in transforming the basis of the parameters to dry, you can compare them among different feeds.

If the dry feed containing 10% moisture, we know that the remaining 90% of dry matter. Then we look at the label and check the level of protein, which is, say, 20%. Since then, should be divided 20% protein at 90% dry matter. As a result, we receive 22% of protein on the basis of dry matter. Now compare this figure with the same canned in the stern, with 80% - yu humidity. We know, at 80% moisture in the stern provides 20% dry matter. At the label indicated 5% protein. Divide 5% to 20% and we get 25% protein on the basis of dry matter. Consequently, canned stern contains more protein per kilogram of dry matter than in a dry stern. A similar calculation can be done and for fat, carbohydrates, fiber, etc.

Guaranteed analysis. Guaranteed analysis on the package feed provides information on the minimum level of total protein and fat and the maximum level of fiber and water. Protein and fat are listed in the cheese, rather than assimilate form. Digestion protein and fat may vary, depending on their sources. Therefore, should carefully examine the list of ingredients feed, to determine whether sources of protein and fat are digestable. And while using the analysis can be guaranteed to some extent be concluded as feed, however, should not trust him too. Thus, once one of the producers issued a "feed" in the guaranteed analysis indicated that 10% of protein, fat 6.5%, 2.4% fibre and 68% humidity. The only problem was that among the components of the "feed" were old leather boots, used motor oil, activated carbon and water!

The list of ingredients. At all food packages to necessarily present a list of its ingredients, which are listed in order of weight from more to less. Knowing the composition of feed ingredients, you can determine the quality of the feed and choose the best for your pet. Attention is drawn to the fact that some unscrupulous manufacturers are trying to cover up unwanted feed ingredients, breaking them into smaller components and placing in the bottom of the list. For example, the list might be: chicken, whole corn, corn gluten, whole wheat, wheat bran, wheat flour, etc. If you group all the ingredients of corn in aggregate, they would far outweigh be in this stern and chicken, and wheat. Therefore, to select the best feed, you should understand in all its ingredients, knowing the type and properties of preservatives and dyes. The following are some of the most common ingredients in feed cats.

The meat - this is pure flesh of dead animals (chicken, cattle, lamb, turkey, etc.). It may include skeletal muscles, tongue, diaphragm, heart, esophagus, subcutaneous fat and skin, tendons, blood vessels and nerve.

Meat offal - is clean of dead animal parts, except for meat. In offal includes the lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, liver, blood, bone, stomach and intestine, free of contents. In offal does not include wool, horns, teeth and hooves.

Waste bird treatment - is part of the net MURDERED type of heads of poultry, arms and internal organs (heart, lungs, liver, kidney, stomach, intestine). Do not contain feathers.

Fish products - is part of the fish net, with the recovery of fat or without.

Beef fat - fat derived from beef.

Whole corn - chopped or whole grain corn.

Flour corn gluten - a by-product of the manufacture of starch or corn syrup. This balance after removing dried bran, bacteria and starch.

Beer rice - small fragments of rice kernels that have been separated from the major ground rice kernels.

Crude rice - unpolished rice.

Flour soybeans - a by-product production of soy oil.

BHA (Butylated hydroxyanisole - E320) - butilgidroksianizol, preservatives fats.

Etoksikvin - chemical preservatives, which is used to prevent damage to feed.

Tocopherol (such as vitamin E - E307, E308, E309) - natural preservatives.

Recommendations for feeding. Each package of food given advice on feeding, depending on the weight and size of the animal. It should be remembered that these recommendations are general in nature, since each animal different levels of activity, metabolism and its surrounding temperature. In addition, the volume of feeding influences breed, age, different stresses, etc. Therefore, the daily feed, specified on the package, can only be used as an overall point of departure. If your pet is too slim or constantly feels hungry, feed him more often and more. If your pet too mast, feed him less. Here importantly common sense and monitor the condition of the animal than strict adherence to instructions.

The most common question, which asked the owners of pets to their veterinarians and pet-shop vendors - what is the best food in the market? And there is no single answer and unified views. Should feed such food, which is ideally suited to your pets. A determine its quality and choose among many others can be carefully examined the data contained on the label and compare the various options and ingredients.