 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
02/12/2008 Another Cat Feeding Trial Update
AAFCO requires all pet foods to be substantiated to qualify it as a complete and balanced diet for certain life stages or all life stages. This substantiation can be done one of two ways. It can either be formulated so its dry matter analysis meets or exceeds the AAFCO nutrient profile, or the manufacturer can put the food through a feeding trial. Although feeding trials are a more expensive route, Nature’s Logic has elected to prove it’s adequacy through the trials instead of adding synthetic vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. We have 6 kittens which have completed the lactation, weaning, and growth phases of the trail. Their blood work has shown some incredible results (as shown below). We still have a couple of more kittens to raise, so more updates will be following.
*As a reminder, this resulting blood taurine level comes from our natural food ingredients, not from added synthetic taurine. Scroll down to see definitions of Albumin, Hematocrit, Albumin and Taurine. Here is a picture of Shasta, one of the kittens produced in the trial. For those of you that might be interested, all the kittens have already been adopted. Albumin - is the clear liquid portion of blood. It is the protein of the highest concentration in plasma. Albumin transports many small molecules in the blood (for example, calcium, and progesterone). It is also of prime importance keeping the fluid from the blood from leaking out into the tissues. This is because, unlike small molecules such as sodium and chloride, the concentration of albumin in the blood is much greater than it is in the fluid outside of it. Because albumin is made by the liver, decreased serum albumin may result from liver disease. It can also result from kidney disease, which allows albumin to escape into the urine. Decreased albumin may also be explained by malnutrition or a low protein diet.
Note: Cats and dogs being fed Nature’s Logic diets during AAFCO Feeding Trials had albumin percentage levels 22% to 29% higher than the required average level to complete a successful feeding trial substantiating the Nature’s Logic diets adequate for all life stages.
Hematocrit - This is basically a test that counts and measures the size of red blood cells. A low count of red blood cells may reflect anemia, bone marrow failure, malnutrition or specific diet deficiencies.
Note: Cats and dogs being fed Nature’s Logic diets during AAFCO Feeding Trials had hematocrit percentage levels 12% to 37.3% higher than the required average level to complete a successful feeding trial substantiating the Nature’s Logic diets adequate for all life stages.
Hemoglobin - is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A lower than normal hemoglobin may be due to anemia, malnutrition, nutritional deficiencies of iron, folate, vitamin B12, or vitamin B6.
Note: Lactating Bitches and Queens being fed Nature’s Logic diets during AAFCO Feeding Trials had hemoglobin percentage levels 13% to 29% higher than the required average level to complete a successful feeding trial substantiating the Nature’s Logic diets adequate for all life stages.
Taurine - is one of the most abundant free amino-acid-like compounds found in the heart, the skeletal muscles and the nervous system. Taurine is a colorless, crystalline compound which is found in the free form in invertebrates and in the bile of mammals. It promotes the intestinal absorption of lipids (fats) as cholesterol. It is essential in preventing a disorder in cats called "dilated cardiomyopathy" (which is a failure of the heart muscle whereupon the heart tissue itself swells to try to meet the animal's circulatory needs), as well as being very significant in helping feline reproduction and prevention of a progressive retinal disease called feline central retinal degeneration(FCRD) which will cause blindness if left untreated. In queens that have taurine-deficient diets, there are more still births, fewer live kittens born, and ultimately fewer kittens that survive to the weaning stage.
Note: Queens and Kittens being fed Nature’s Logic diets during AAFCO Feeding Trials had taurine percentage levels 55.25% to 97.78% higher than the required average level to complete a successful feeding trial substantiating the Nature’s Logic diets adequate for all life stages. Nature’s Logic canine diets also contain high levels of natural taurine which may also be a necessary nutrient for canines as indicated in some recent studies and articles.
|
