Default Re: Grainless dod food



fat.
GREYHOUND BALANCED DIET

Energy Content provided by a ratio of:- Carbohydrate 40-42%

Crude Protein 22-24%

Fat 30-33%

Basic Ratio on per kg body weight basis

Breakfast Kibble 12% crude protein 5g/kg bwt

Main Meal Lean Beef 10% fat 20g/kg bwt

Dry Food 20% protein

10-12% fat 15g/kg bwt

Omega 3/Omega 6 oil 0.75-1.0ml/kg bwt

The amount fed must be monitored to avoid excess body weight as the diet is very efficient in providing energy for

exercise and excess will result in weight gain.

Greyhound Body Weight 25 kg 30 kg 32 kg

Breakfast Kibble 12% protein and milk 125g 150g 160g

Main Meal Lean Beef 10% fat 500g 600g 650g

Dry Food 20% crude protein

10-12% fat

375g 450g 500g

Oil Omega 3 – Omega 6 Oils

15ml

Increasing to

20ml

18ml

Increasing to

25ml

20ml

Increasing to

30ml

A slightly higher protein diet is beneficial to greyhounds racing on a regular basis.

Notes:

1. Where a greyhound requires extra energy to maintain body weight in hard work, increase the dry food by 50-

100g per day, whilst still maintaining the optimum carbohydrate balance for energy.

2. Where an excitable greyhound becomes dehydrated in hot weather, add an additional 1 tablespoon (17g) of

fat (lard/suet, meat trimmings, copha) per 300g meat in the diet.

3. Where lean meat, such as very lean or trimmed beef, horse meat, kangaroo or chicken is used in place of lean

10-12% fat beef, add 1 tablespoon (17g) of fat (lard, suet, meat trimmings) to the diet to maintain the

optimum energy balance with the correct CHO:Protein:Fat ratio for speed and performance. Do not use fat

(dripping) from roasted meat.

4. Additional supplements of vitamin E (100iu daily), vitamin C (max 250iu daily13.) and iron (15mg daily) can be

provided, along with electrolytes.

The traditional meat-based diet contains a higher level of carbohydrates provided by cereals, rice or bread.2. Another

study suggested that greyhounds run faster race times when meat was added to a low protein and semi-lean diet,

presumably because the meat provided extra fat as an energy source.9.

Feeding the Racing Greyhound for Performance Page 4

Provide an Economical and Palatable Ration

The high energy density of fat and the lower cost of freshly trimmed and rendered animal fat by-product of the beef,

sheep, pork and chicken meat industries, makes the combination of a fat-boosted minimal meat and commercial dry

food diet more economical as well as more palatable to racing greyhounds. Therefore, there is an increasing tendency

to feed a minimum meat diet, higher in fat and protein, to reduce feeding costs.2.

Table 1: Classes of dry food for racing greyhounds relative to meat content in diet.

Optimum Mineral, Trace Mineral, Vitamin and Electrolyte Supplementation

The provisions of nutritional supplements to correct low, imbalanced or adequate levels in meat and cereal-based dry

food rations is paramount to meet the elevated needs for minerals and electrolytes imposed on the musculo-skeletal

and metabolic system by racing. When trained and fit to race, a sound greyhound can be successfully raced twice

weekly. Adequate intake of minerals for bone development on a meat-based diet is particularly important to maintain

skeletal strength.

It is estimated that the daily calcium intake needed by a sedentary 30kg dog to maintain optimum skeletal strength is

357mg (NRC, 2006), compared to 6000-8000mg daily for a greyhound in full race training (Kohnke, 199. It is also

recommended to add 20% more vitamin D than NRC (2006) guidelines to dry food formulations; as cereal based dry

foods, even with added calcium, have been associated with an increased incidence of bone fractures (Kohnke 199.

The estimated requirement for most other minerals and trace minerals is 2-3 times higher in a racing greyhound as

compared to a resting dog.2. Recommendations for B vitamin intake and fortification of feed is at least three times

higher than NRC (2006), which reflects the higher metabolic rate during anaerobic exercise of a racing greyhound

(Kohnke, 1998; Table 2).

Demineralisation of skeletal and joint structures as a result of high-loading athletic exercise and cortisone-induced

muscle catabolism during exercise and respiratory lead to losses of fluid and complementary electrolytes, particularly

potassium.

The diet must be fortified with a large range of macro and micro nutrients to meet athletic demand and maintain body

reserves, optimum metabolic function and racing soundness.

Maintain Immune Competency

It is recommended that the ration provided for racing greyhounds contain additional nutrients such as vitamin A,

vitamin E, vitamin C and selenium to counteract immune suppression resulting from higher circulating cortisol levels in

greyhounds subjected to the stress of training and racing. This will help to maintain optimum resistance against

disease and assist recovery from racing and injury.2.

Use Energy

(Kcal ME)/100g

Crude Protein

(%) g/100g

Fat

(%) g/100g

Approx. Daily Amounts for

a 30 kg Dog

Group 1

Kibbles dry

food

Meat-based diets 270 13 2-3 200-250g daily mixed with

700g medium 12-15% fat

meat.

Group 2 Minimum meat

diets

290-300 17-20 8-19 250-300g daily mixed with

500-600g medium 12-15%

fat meat.

Group 3 Complete feeds 330-340 20-24 8-10 550-600g daily or 250-300g

mixed with 200-250g

medium 12-15% fat meat.

Group 4 High-energy

complete feeds

400 25-30 20-25 400-450g daily.

Feeding the Racing Greyhound for Performance Page 5

Energy Requirement

Please Note: These notes were taken from Kohnke 1998 (Adapted) as the text is no longer in print.

Energy, with the exception of water, is the most important constituent of the greyhound diet.2. Diets can be

manipulated to improve oxidative yields and utilise short and medium chain carbohydrates and fatty acids over a wide

range of race distances and climatic conditions.2. Short-term, high-intensity exercise in the greyhound is fuelled mainly

from muscle glycogen and blood sugar to meet the predominantly anaerobic exercise demand.3.

The energy supply and exercise duration, intensity, and frequency are all interrelated and can be influenced by the

individual greyhound’s temperament, kennel and environmental temperature, and efficiency of metabolism.2. The

total energy requirement for a racing greyhound is a summation of maintenance, thermoregulation, exercise, and

racing expenditure, including behavioural influences and pre-race anticipation expenditure.2, 4. Regular monitoring of

body weight at least once weekly will assist in equating energy intake relative to expenditure.2. All estimates are as

metabolisable energy (ME) in kilocalories (Kcal). To convert kcal to kilojoules (kj), multiply by 4.184.

Useful Energy Equivalents for Feed Adjustment2.

Each 100gm (3 1/3 oz) of:

• Lean raw beef (10 to 12% fat) provides approximately 200 kcal ME.

• Dry food 24 to 28% crude protein, 8 to 10% crude fat provides approximately 300 to 310 kcal ME.

• Dry food 30 to 32% crude protein, 15% crude fat provides approximately 400 kcal ME.

• Each 17 gm (about ½ oz) or 20 ml (1 tablespoonful) of animal fat or vegetable oil provides approximately 150

kcal ME