Analytical components in pet food explained simply
If you take a look at the can or packaging of your furry friend's food, you'll surely notice the table that provides information about so-called analytical components in the food.
This globally standardized method is called the Weende feed analysis and makes it possible to compare different types of pet food in terms of their nutritional values. How high the individual values should be and what a percentage means depends on the type of food. We'll explain the 5 values to you in a simple way.
Crude protein
This value includes not only pure protein, but all nitrogen-containing compounds in your pet's food, including substances that are not protein in nature, such as free amino acids, peptides, or alkaloids.
These compounds indicate the amount of protein present, but not the quality or digestibility. To find out whether these are animal or plant proteins, you can check the listed composition.
Crude ash
Ash in your pet's food? No need to worry. Crude ash refers to the inorganic portion of the feed and contains, among other things, the essential macro and trace elements.
Since pet food is heated during analysis, the organic components burn off. The inorganic ones remain—and these are vital for your pet. A higher crude ash content indicates a high amount of minerals in the food, which is especially the case with mineral feeds (such as our →Mineral Mix for dogs).
Example: BARF Fresh Menu for Dogs
Give this a try!
Crude fat
Crude fat includes not only pure fats (triglycerides) but also fatty acids, among others. Your pet needs these for meeting their energy requirements, for supplying essential omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, and for absorbing fat-soluble vitamins in the intestine. The body can obtain about twice as much energy from fat compared to carbohydrates or proteins.
The crude fat value is therefore particularly useful for roughly estimating the calorie content of a food.
Crude fiber
Crude fiber contains the insoluble organic components of a food and mainly consists of plant structural substances. These fibers, also known as dietary fiber, are indigestible components of the food for the animal and are important for healthy bowel function and for maintaining the "good bacteria" in the gut that help with digestion.
Dietary fiber also supports the natural movement of the intestines, protects against constipation or diarrhea, and thus ensures good stool quality.
Conclusion
The analytical components in pet food are an important key to optimally meeting your pet's nutritional needs. But not all types of food are the same. Those who choose →quality dog food benefit from a balanced composition and high-quality ingredients that contribute to your dog's health and vitality.
