When selecting the best dry food for your dog, why is it better to go with the chicken meal than the pure chicken?
Chicken meal is simply chicken that has been baked to remove bacteria and other toxins. Chicken is simply pure chicken.
What people dont know about chicken, is that it is made mostly of water. If a label on a bag of dog food says %60 whole chicken, that is quite misleading as that does not take into account how much of that %60 of chicken is left after baking it to remove unwanted substances!
When the label on the bag says %60 of chicken meal, your getting more of the chicken because the product has already been baked to remove unwanted affects such as bacteria.
Explanation:
Converting dry matter basis This can be the hard part. All pet foods have different levels of moisture. Canned foods can have up to 80% moisture whereas, some dry foods can have as little as 6%. This is important for 2 reasons. The first is that the food is priced by the pound, and when you buy dog food that is 80% water you get 20% food and the rest is water. So the amount of food your pet consumes is small and expensive. The other reason for understanding percent moisture is to help you compare crude protein and fat between brands and between canned and dry. The listings on the label are for the food as it is, not as it would be on a dry matter basis. So without converting both brands of food to a dry matter basis you will not be able to compare them accurately. Fortunately, the conversion is not that complicated.
If a dry dog food has 10% moisture we know that it has 90% dry matter. So we look at the label and check the protein level that reads 20%. Next, we divide the 20 percent protein by the 90% dry matter and we get 22%, which is the amount of protein on a dry matter basis. Does this make sense so far? Good. Now let us compare this to canned food that has 80% moisture. We know that with 80% moisture we have 20% dry matter. The label shows 5% protein. So we take the 5% and divide it by 20% and we get 25% protein on a dry matter basis. So the canned food has more protein per pound on a dry matter basis after all the water is taken out. We can do the same for fat, fiber, etc.
» left by Anonymous (1 year 224 days ago.)
no, according to the AAFCO, chicken meal is a lesser quality protein than chicken. This article is misleading Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 219 days ago.)
Sorry to say but chicken meal is superior in terms of nutrients per volume Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 195 days ago.)
Chicken meal is made out of all the scrap meat that is left over at the slaughterhouse. Also it includes all the animals that aren't fit for human consumption. Disgusting. Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 195 days ago.)
Poorly written article. Not helpful at all. If the author actually did research first, it would be more useful. Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 195 days ago.)
AAFCO says chicken meal is worse quality that real chicken. Do your research first, before you write an article Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 195 days ago.)
Food has a certain percent of moisture in it, using chicken meal doesn't mean that the food is better than if it uses regular chicken. The food is all cooked down, so whats they point of baking chicken first. Chicken meal is worse quality than chicken. Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 195 days ago.)
Article is very misleading!!!!! Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 195 days ago.)
Chicken meal sucks. Real chicken is better. Get the facts straight Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 195 days ago.)
This guy is a bad writer in general. Chicken meal is worse quality than chicken. It's like another article he wrote saying Real Canadian Ferrets are much better than all other ferrets and that you can only purchase them from the breeder themselves. Hello, many PetCo stores sell Real Canadian Ferrets and they are just as bad as ferrets from other large breeders. This guy doesn't know anything, he just likes to sound great. Respond to this comment
» left by anonymous (1 year 169 days ago.)
This is the order of the quality of chicken;
chicken meal,chicken,chicken by product meal,and chicken by products.
» left by Laura Medley from New York City (1 year 158 days ago.)
"AAFCO Definition: Chicken Meal"
Definition: Chicken Meal: chicken which has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size. Inary a word about pre-cooking or baking out bacteria)
Examples: Chicken meal is often used in dry cat food. The quality of the protein will depend on the type and amount of chicken meat in the mixture, as well as the amount of bone and connective tissue processed with the meat. Although better than chicken by-product meal, chicken meal is generally a lesser quality of protein source than chicken meat.
For an eveluation of value in chicken meal as compaired to meat meal and corn gluten meal, visit pubmedcentral dot nih dot gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1250243
Pet PRomise does NOT use chicken meal in its pet food. They are also giving out $5 coupons to try the pet food so google them. Respond to this comment
» left by den from NJ (1 year 136 days ago.)
this article is completely wrong, go do some research before you post Respond to this comment
» left by Rhonda from Seattle (1 year 95 days ago.)
Instead of saying the writer/article information is "wrong" or stupid, PROVE your position please. Respond to this comment
» left by jules from chicago (1 year 95 days ago.)
Chicken meal is NOT scrap meat left over at the slaughter house nor is it animals not fit for human consumption. That would be chicken by product meal. Lets get it straight!! Respond to this comment
» left by Leroy (1 year 54 days ago.)
They are cats, people. Cats! Fall over dead in you house and when your precious doesn't get fed for a couple days he will be eating on your face. Buy any cat food with a picture of a cat on the package and everything will be fine. And if Fluffy passes on in 10 years worry not, for the animal shelter will give you a replacement for free. Respond to this comment
» left by Steve from Ohio (1 year 32 days ago.)
Wow, how misinformed some people are is amazing. How could you think to quote anything from the AAFCO when they would allow their stamp of approval on such garbage as Kibbles & Bits that contains Hydrocloric acid before any meat content in the ingredient list!!! Chicken meal as Jules from Chicago said is not scrap but simply chicken void of its moisture content which gives it a true weight placement on the ingredient list. If you remove the water from chicken which is about 80% of its weight that puts it much further down on the ingredient list so if your 2nd 3rd or 4th ingredient is a grain, you now have a grain based food not meat based. More tricks by dog food companys. see dogfoodanalysis and see where your food rates. Mine is 5 star of possible 6. Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (350 days 16 hours ago.)
no, everyone is an "expert" and it doesn't sound as if anyone has knowledge of what they are speaking. Respond to this comment
» left by Kristen from Indiana (299 days 22 hours ago.)
I am going to make my dog's food myself. Sick of all the hipe. Respond to this comment
» left by Anne from San Francisco (260 days 18 hours ago.)
Chicken meal contains feathers, guts, beaks, feet and anything else from a chicken that human will not eat.
» left by Steve in Ohio (253 days 1 hour ago.)
Ok Anne, as I said before how MISINFORMED some people are! This info is so easy to find. I copied & pasted some info for you try not to misunderstand it this time. The crapy stuf is called by-products-the good stuff is meal
We do not want to see any by-products in the food, especially of un-specified source. The AAFCO definition of “chicken by-products” for example is “ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines, exclusive of feathers, except in such amounts as might occur unavoidable in good processing practice.”
So, look at the top five or so ingredients - these form the major portion of the food. The ingredients in dog food are required to be listed in order of weight. So that means that the first ingredient on the list is the one with the greatest volume in the food. We want this to be a named meat source – eg. Chicken, beef or lamb. Never unidentified “meat” and never a "by-product". Note also that since the list runs in order of weight, it is better to see “chicken meal” than “chicken” at the top of the list. “Chicken” includes a high degree of water content, “chicken meal” does not – so with “chicken” it is quite possible that once the water content is removed, it may actually be the fourth or fifth ingredient, not necessarily the first as suggested.
» left by Steve in Ohio (253 days 1 hour ago.)
By the way I get my info from independent non profit sources unlike some like Laura who quotes from pet promise that is trying to sell you a product. This is aafco's definitions.
Chicken - the clean combination of flesh and skin with or without accompanying bone, derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken or a combination thereof, exclusive of feathers, heads, feet and entrails.
Chicken Meal - chicken which has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size.
Note chicken meal is derived from clean chicken not from by-products therefore it's simply ground and cooked clean chicken so as to eliminate water and bacteria. I hope this puts this issue to rest. Respond to this comment
» left by dogbreath from seattle (239 days 1 hour ago.)
wow, may as well give them a place setting at the table!!!!! Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (234 days 20 hours ago.)
I don't believe anything on pet food labels. I've never seen the word meat meal on anything I eat. Why is it strictly reserved for pet food labeling? I don't give my pets anything to eat that I wouldn't put in my own mouth. You have to be a lawyer to read those ingredients list these days. Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (225 days 9 hours ago.)
Well, just in case you didn't know, you and your pets have different nutritional requirements so you giving your pets what you eat is probably not the best idea. Dogs are omnivores so they don't need a diet strictly based on meats only. Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (155 days 21 hours ago.)
dogs are carnivores, not omnivores regardless of what we may feed them. They're primal diet included of meats and fish only. How many wild dogs or wolves do you see eating fruits and veggies?
» left by Heather from Sth Aust (219 days ago.)
Yes!! this was very helpful to me, as I'm living in SA- Australia.
I to, for what it's worth- believe that the big dog food
companies do not have to disclose everything they put into our pet
food, incl, preservatives, dyes etc ,etc & they won't tell you
truthfully about what makes up, chicken/beef/ lamb by products.
Steve in Ohio does have the correct info. we should be very
careful about what we feed our dogs/cats.
I have been doing some research myself & I am quite shocked to read
& hear, (what so called) ingredients go into making pet food. Respond to this comment
» left by Heather from Sth Aust (219 days ago.)
Yes!! this was very helpful to me, as I'm living in SA- Australia.
I to, for what it's worth- believe that the big dog food
companies do not have to disclose everything they put into our pet
food, incl, preservatives, dyes etc ,etc & they won't tell you
truthfully about what makes up, chicken/beef/ lamb by products.
Steve in Ohio does have the correct info. we should be very
careful about what we feed our dogs/cats.
I have been doing some research myself & I am quite shocked to read
& hear, (what so called) ingredients go into making pet food. Respond to this comment
» left by thegarbageguys from toronto (181 days 3 hours ago.)
what they don't list is how the chicken died and the meat by products, they are the dead animals that died from disease or misfortune picked up from vets and farms complete with flea collars, choke chains, leather collars, halters and the plastic bag they were picked up in. It all goes into the grinder. That is where mad cow comes from. Cows eating cows. Just think about it. Where does all the dead deseased livestock go? The answer is: rendering plants and where does the rendered meat go if people can't eat it? It goes to animal food because animals can't complain and demand regulations.
» left by Anonymous (142 days 23 hours ago.)
Good article and YES, chicken meal is superior - what is not superior is chicken by products meal. Do your research before attacking the author! Chicken meal does NOT contain feathers! Chicken by products does. Respond to this comment
I would like to clear up most commonly mistake between chicken and chicken meal, chicken meal is most of the water and fat removed as versus chicken contains water and fat, as well it takes 5lbs of chicken to produce 1lb of chicken where as chicken takes 5lbs and probably will only decrease by a fraction with the water and fat still contained. F.Y.I chicken by product meal contains the chicken's head, feet, and intestines as per AAFCO which is hard for your dog or cat to digest. Please people before bashing other people do research and do not approach a situation with your own ignorance and/or judgement. And if you are wondering wat types of food are nuturious for dog or cat research; NUTRO,Blue Buffalo, Solid Good, Wellness,Royal Cann,Avoderm,Pet Promise
» left by Liz from Minnesota (126 days 23 hours ago.)
Just put your carnivores (dogs, cats & ferrets) on a raw meat diet. I have for the last 15 months done this for my 2 large dogs. Get a whole chicken and give it to them, then you don't have to worry about chicken vs. chicken meal. I divide a whole chicken between my two dogs. Raw meat doesn't have all the nutrients and enzymes cooked out of it. Plus, it keeps their teeth clean and breath fresh. Throw away the 'crap in a bag'. Feed the way nature intended....a model-prey diet.
Wow, it sounds like a lot of people here are mixing up "Chicken Meal" and "Chicken By-product Meal,' which are two completely different things! Chicken meal is good, real meat, without the useless water content, chicken by-product meal is leftover scraps. What bothers me is that a lot of people are thinking that chicken meal and chicken by-product meal are the same ingredient, when they couldn't be more different! And that they are actually spreading this misinformation and treating it as a fact is even worse!
True. Steve from Ohio and a few others actually provided the accurate information as to the difference between chicken meal and chicken by-product. Quite a number of people had it 'bass-ackwards'.
The other thing I really like is when a person attacks another claiming that they're wrong about their info but offer zip-zero-nada in support of their own assertion...wonderful reasoning process there!
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