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Post by bitbyter on Mar 9, 2014 11:18:11 GMT -5
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Post by msav on Mar 9, 2014 16:16:50 GMT -5
pretty much what I thought. AAFCO is In my Opinion useless for dogs and cats and really useless for ferrets.
That is Why Kaytee can market birdseed as ferret food. explains a lot
The first time I saw kaytee ferret food at the pet store I knew there was nobody enforcing any food for ferrets. well now I know enforcing is not the issue there is nothing to enforce.
so someone can market raisins as ferret food and just because they eat it and don't die in 26 weeks then it can be called legitimate ferret food?
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Post by Heather on Mar 9, 2014 16:47:06 GMT -5
Basically....that's why there is the garbage out there and the studies to prove that it's healthy. The poor ferret only has to survive for 26 weeks. Which is why after the introduction of 'grain free" kibbles with the substitute being various dried legumes and vegetables that ferrets started developing cystine stones. They only had to stay alive for 26 weeks. Most ferrants discover these stones about 8 months to a year after feeding these products.
ciao
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Post by bitbyter on Mar 9, 2014 20:45:27 GMT -5
Yes, this re-enforces the idea the kibble really isn't great food for our ferrets, but we already knew that. The point I was really trying to make is this.
If this is all that is required for a kibble to be OFFICIALLY labelled as "complete and balanced", then raw diets with a balanced menu (muscle meat, bone in meat, organs and heart), EASILY MEET OR EXCEED these requirements. This means vets have NOTHING they can complain about.
I am seriously considering if we can find enough vets and ferret owners willing to do a trial. Work out a specific menu, have the vets test their health before and after, keep weight logs, etc. If we could show that the menu meets the AAFCO food trial requirements that would be a HUGE triumph for the raw community.
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Post by Sherry on Mar 12, 2014 8:46:10 GMT -5
Now THAT would be an interesting idea.
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Post by bitbyter on Mar 12, 2014 10:06:26 GMT -5
The only barrier I can see Sherry is the time frame (26 weeks or 6.5 months). Cats and dogs don't vary their weight much from season to season (as far as I know) like ferrets do. It could be tough meeting the no weight loss greater than 15% with ferrets. Thoughts?
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Post by Heather on Mar 12, 2014 11:25:26 GMT -5
I don't know how you'd do it unless you started the study during the summer, and worked it through the winter. There would be weight gains but not losses. My guys would fail the study, though my farm ferrets and my jills would be better study ferrets. They rarely change more than a few oz. The hobs would be the worst as the gain and lose a pound every year.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2014 20:47:23 GMT -5
I was in petco today (greeley, co) and they had a new tag for Marshall food with made with raw chicken.
I felt bad for the babies there. Manure here & there; ppl us in litter box. Dry kibble (I'm assuming Marshall it was very long) and mush bowl too (kibble) plus even more bags of Zupreem grain free & corn free. They had 5 babies in....
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Post by Sherry on Mar 16, 2014 3:09:59 GMT -5
Jason, honestly with something like this I'd start it April or May. As I am certain those kibble companies have
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Post by Thérèse on Mar 16, 2014 8:20:36 GMT -5
Wouldn't there have to be an allowance for the ferret seasonal weight gain because don't you have ferret specific kibbles over there that would have had to pass these standards??
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Post by bitbyter on Mar 16, 2014 10:12:19 GMT -5
No allowance as far as I am aware. So either they are doing what we have figured out (starting in spring and going until winter) or they aren't bothering with AAFCO standards (I don't have any kibble bags to check).
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2014 12:48:30 GMT -5
I'd be interested in participating in a study like this.
The requirements state 6-8 animals. Could you select ferrets that don't show a dramatic seasonal increase or decrease in weight? Or ferrets that have a recorded history of their typical weight gain/loss?
What would be the goal of doing this kind of study? Who would be our target audience? Larger companies? Already informed pet parents? The general pet parent audience? Ferret owners? People that are on the fence about switching?
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