Phosphorous, ash

Thanks to many comments made on this board, I have learned the value of
keeping the phosphorous content low. However, most cans do not seem to
list it, or does it go by some other name too? In particular, what is
"ash"?

check out

http://webpages.charter.net/katkarma/canfood.htm

"Newbie" wrote in message
...
Thanks to many comments made on this board, I have learned the value of
keeping the phosphorous content low. However, most cans do not seem to
list it, or does it go by some other name too? In particular, what is
"ash"?

"Newbie" wrote in message
...
Thanks to many comments made on this board, I have learned the value of
keeping the phosphorous content low. However, most cans do not seem to
list it, or does it go by some other name too?

Nope- phosphorus is only listed as phosphorus or phosphate and not usually
listed on the label. Usually you have to call the company for the nutrient
contents- the phone numbers are on the cans.

You want a phos content no higher than 0.2% (as fed) or 0.80% (dry matter
basis) for a food that contains 75% moisture, and 0.18% (as fed) or 0.80%
(dry matter basis) phos. for a food that contains 78% moisture. These
values are only for adult cats- kittens need more phosphorus and calcium for
growing bones.

The values listed in the Guaranteed Analysis on the label are minimums and
maximums *only*- and *not* the actual nutrient content of the food.


In particular, what is
"ash"?


Ash is what's left after the diet is burned for 2 hours at 600*C. IOW, ash
is all the noncombustible ingredients in the diet- which is basically most
of the mineral content but *without* relation to any specific mineral. The
ash value *does not* correlate to the phosphorus or magnesium content of the
diet.

Phil P. wrote:

: You want a phos content no higher than 0.2% (as fed) or 0.80% (dry
: matter basis) for a food that contains 75% moisture...

For canned food (which is what I mostly feed), which is the number
usually quoted, "as fed" or "dry matter basis"? Or does it vary from
company to company?

"Newbie" wrote in message
...
Phil P. wrote:

: You want a phos content no higher than 0.2% (as fed) or 0.80% (dry
: matter basis) for a food that contains 75% moisture...

For canned food (which is what I mostly feed), which is the number
usually quoted, "as fed" or "dry matter basis"? Or does it vary from
company to company?

Most companies quote the 'as feed' values- but some companies will also give
you the 'dry matter basis' and/or 'caloric basis' values. Just ask them
which values they're giving you. Be sure to get the moisture content, too,
because the moisture content affects the dry matter value of all the
nutrients. For example, 0.2% phos (as fed) in a canned food with 78%
moisture
translates into .9% phos (DMB) whereas 0.2% phos (as fed) in a food with 75%
moisture
translates into .8% (DMB) phos.

Phil

Phil P. wrote:

On the product bag or can - the values quoted will be Guaranteed
Analysis which will always have either a Minimum or Maximum value. Min
24% protein, Max 3% fiber etc. GA values are basically worthless. A
product that guarantees a minimum of 24% protein could have 24% protein
or 45% protein - there is no way to know.

In the US dog foods are required to provide 4 GA's - Protein, Fat,
Fiber and Moisture. In cat food the GA for ash is added to the four
basic ones.

There are basically four ways to look at a food.
1. Guaranteed Analysis - very poor method - Min and Max only
2. As fed - means the actual percentage of the given nutrient inclusive
of the water in the food. Thus the nutrient is a percentage of the
total inclusive of the water. In dry foods this is a fairly good value.
3. Dry Matter Basis - which compares the actual percentage of any given
nutrient AFTER all the water has been removed.
4. grams/mgs/mcgs/IU's per 100 kcal of energy. This is the best method
by far.