vedlagt - Dansk Retriever Klub

Abstract
In recent years there has been much debate about the what, if any, the differences between high
price(HP)- dog foods and low price(LP)-dog foods are. The debate centers on whether or not foods
of both price categories actually fulfill the maintenance needs of a dog.
In the present study a feeding trial was conducted to examine (i) whether or not there is a difference
in nutrinent digestability between HP- and LP-dog foods, (ii) whether or not the analyzed nutrient
digestibility results in a similar metabolic energy as the one declared (iii)whether or not the feacal
amount discharged differs between the two price groups and (iiii) whether or not the defecation
frequency differes between the price groups.
In the present study the nutrient digestibility in HP-dog foods was found significantly higher than in
LP-dog foods (crudeprotein p= 0,011; crudefat p= 0,001; crudecarbohydrate p= 0,005). The
declared metabolizable energy was found overestimated for LP-dog foods and underestimated for
HP-dog foods. The feacal amount was significantly higher in the LP-group than in the HP group
(wet p=0,025; dry p= 0,006). There was no significant difference (p=0,057)in defecation frequency
between the two price groups.
Despite the significant difference in nutrient digestibility found in the present study, it was
concluded that foods of both price categories may fulfill the maintenance needs of a dog. For LP-
dog foods, this statement is conditional to that the metabolizable energy is based on a feeding trial
or in other ways corrected for the overestimation that occur when using NRC’s(2006) calculation
formula.
III