In AAFCO's nutritional guidelines the minimum quantities for iron(adult minimum), for instance is expressed as 40 mg/kg. Does that mean that a dog should eat at least 40 mg of iron for every 1 kilogram of dry matter food? Or, does it mean that a dog should eat at least the quantity of iron of 40 mg times his/her weight in kilograms?
In case it is the latter, do those values indicate quantities that should be eaten per day?
THE trick with understanding the tables and knowing what is available in a raw diet (from global nutrient tables is that many of the minerals in the aafco tables are expressed as mg/kg. While meat and offal nutrient tables are just expressed as mg, micro grams etc per 100g or food.
"Minimum recommended daily amount of a tabled nutrient in mg/kg of DRY food consumed." Ref 5.
% Affco conversions
Example: Affco has minimum requirement (adult maintenance of) 0.6% Calcium.
100g Beef has 6 mg Calcium per 100g, Beef is 70.5% water.
That means the Calcium % in Dry beef is:
(6/ 100,000) x 100 x (100/(100-70.5))
= 0.006 x 3.38 = 0.02% well below the 0.6% minimum requirement. That is of course why we add raw bone to their diet, and make sure that the Ca:P ratio is correct. More on that later.
This aafco value (mg/kg) Calculation
Example: Affco has minimum requirement (adult maintenance of) 80mg/kg Iron. (NCA is 32 mg/kg)
100g Beef has 2.4 mg Iron per 100g, Beef is 70.5% water.
That means the Iron mg/Kg in Dry beef is:
(2.4 x 10) x (100/(100-70.5))
= 24 x 3.38 = 81.12 mg/kg Close to the AAFCO minimum requirement.
check http://www.healthydogtreats.com.au/dog-treats-articles/131-dog-food-vitamin.html for whole article and references.
