Phosphorous, ash

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Newbie - 09 Aug 2005 17:29 GMT

Thanks to many comments made on this board, I have learned the value of
keeping the phosphorous content low. However, most cans do not seem to
list it, or does it go by some other name too? In particular, what is
"ash"?

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Karen - 09 Aug 2005 19:27 GMT

check out

http://webpages.charter.net/katkarma/canfood.htm

> Thanks to many comments made on this board, I have learned the value of
> keeping the phosphorous content low. However, most cans do not seem to
> list it, or does it go by some other name too? In particular, what is
> "ash"?

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Phil P. - 09 Aug 2005 20:41 GMT

> Thanks to many comments made on this board, I have learned the value of
> keeping the phosphorous content low. However, most cans do not seem to
> list it, or does it go by some other name too?

Nope- phosphorus is only listed as phosphorus or phosphate and not usually
listed on the label. Usually you have to call the company for the nutrient
contents- the phone numbers are on the cans.

You want a phos content no higher than 0.2% (as fed) or 0.80% (dry matter
basis) for a food that contains 75% moisture, and 0.18% (as fed) or 0.80%
(dry matter basis) phos. for a food that contains 78% moisture. These
values are only for adult cats- kittens need more phosphorus and calcium for
growing bones.

The values listed in the Guaranteed Analysis on the label are minimums and
maximums *only*- and *not* the actual nutrient content of the food.

In particular, what is

> "ash"?

Ash is what's left after the diet is burned for 2 hours at 600*C. IOW, ash
is all the noncombustible ingredients in the diet- which is basically most
of the mineral content but *without* relation to any specific mineral. The
ash value *does not* correlate to the phosphorus or magnesium content of the
diet.

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Newbie - 09 Aug 2005 20:59 GMT

: You want a phos content no higher than 0.2% (as fed) or 0.80% (dry
: matter basis) for a food that contains 75% moisture...

For canned food (which is what I mostly feed), which is the number
usually quoted, "as fed" or "dry matter basis"? Or does it vary from
company to company?

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Phil P. - 10 Aug 2005 05:28 GMT

> : You want a phos content no higher than 0.2% (as fed) or 0.80% (dry
> : matter basis) for a food that contains 75% moisture...
>
> For canned food (which is what I mostly feed), which is the number
> usually quoted, "as fed" or "dry matter basis"? Or does it vary from
> company to company?

Most companies quote the 'as feed' values- but some companies will also give
you the 'dry matter basis' and/or 'caloric basis' values. Just ask them
which values they're giving you. Be sure to get the moisture content, too,
because the moisture content affects the dry matter value of all the
nutrients. For example, 0.2% phos (as fed) in a canned food with 78%
moisture
translates into .9% phos (DMB) whereas 0.2% phos (as fed) in a food with 75%
moisture
translates into .8% (DMB) phos.

Phil

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