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Old July 3rd, 2008, 10:43 PM
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What's 'ash' in pet food?

I've noticed from buying so many different holistic brands that the erm, nutrition label things will vary. There's a a couple things I don't understand, but 'ash' is at the top of my list. I just searched it on google and on here, and still really don't understand it.

My cats are on Blue Buffalo Wilderness for their 'main' dry diet but I supplement with whatever I feel like buying (Evo mostly, Before Grain and Halo sometimes too).

The bag says

Ash 7.0% min

Is that good or bad or what? Is it only in dry food or is it in wet food? I never noticed it on wet food.

Why are pet food labels so darn hard to understand?!! I spend a ton of time reading all those articles you guys post on how to read them and still get confused.

Thanks much for any answers.. might not be back online tomorrow but will still check in asap.
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Old July 4th, 2008, 12:23 AM
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Ash is the total mineral content of a pet food, and all kibble contains it. Some are lower, some higher, but it is neccesary as it is minerals
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Old July 4th, 2008, 12:35 AM
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Quote:
from http://www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk/ash.htm

ASH ‘the incombustible inorganic residue remaining after incineration; generally the mineral content of the food’ *

Contrary to popular belief ash in pet food has not been collected from a fire place and added for bulk!

In pet food the constituents are broken down in to several components: carbohydrate, moisture, protein, fibre and fat/oil.

Anything that does not come into one of these categories is called by the general term 'ash'. Therefore ash contains minerals and vitamins and is essential for your pet's health.

It is called ash because when the food is burned (to determine its analysis) carbohydrate, fibre, fat and protein are all incinerated. Ash is the part of the food that remains after incineration.
At one time high levels of ash was thought to cause FUS/FLUTD but that is debatable, no one is really sure one way or the other.

Min 7% is in line with Orijen, alittle higher than Wellness and less than Evo, the higher the meat content the higher the ash level is going to be.
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Old July 4th, 2008, 12:43 AM
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Quote:
Therefore; food with a higher proportion of meat content will contain more ash. However, better quality meat will produce less ash.
The above information is from http://cat-care.suite101.com/article...nt_in_cat_food
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Old July 4th, 2008, 10:20 AM
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This is why the Grain Free High protein high fat foods have higher ash values. Although meat does have higher minerals, meal is inclusive of bones, and this also contributes significantly to the ash content.
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Old July 4th, 2008, 10:58 AM
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Oh, so I guess that's why I never noticed it on regular brands like Friskies and Meow Mix before... because there's not meat in those XD

So, 7% is good I guess?

Blue Buffalo claims
"LifeSource Bits contain a precise blend of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants selected by holistic veterinarians and animal nutritionists. These include ingredients that have been shown to help strengthen your cat’s immune system, support her specific life stage requirements and protect her from the negative impact of environmental toxins. And, unlike other brands that add vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, LifeSource Bits are “cold–formed” to preserve their full potency."


So since they are 'cold formed' doesn't that mean there should be less ash? I never really understood the cold formed thing anyways, I think they don't actually cook their kibble and sort of freeze it raw. If that's possible.
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