Eficiência nutricional da alimentação composta por ração industrial alternada com frango cru para cães

Abstract

Whereas the use of raw chicken as a substitute for part of the industrial feed in commercial kennels for breeding and exposure purposes is a constant reality, the objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional efficiency of a dog food protocol, performed in a kennel where the use of industrial feed mixed with raw chicken was considered. The study was performed at Ceará Terra da Luz Kennel, located in Fortaleza - CE. Twenty-three dogs of different sizes and breeds were used, including American Bulldog, Golden Retriever, Jagd Terrier, German Shepherd, Belgian Shepherd Malinois, Pincsher and Shih-tzu. The dogs were initially weighed and their body condition scores (BCS) were evaluated. Feed monitoring was performed during a period of 28 days, weighing all food supplied daily and removing leftovers to determine the dry matter intake of the animals. From the amounts of food consumed, both from industrial feed and raw chicken, calculations were performed to determine the amounts of energy, protein, calcium and phosphorus ingested daily to compare with the nutritional and energetic recommendations present in Nutrients Requirements of Dogs and Cats. The diet presented close to ideal levels of energy, protein, calcium and phosphorus, only for one of the categories of animals studied, the Belgian Shepherd Malinois puppies. For the other animals, the nutritional levels of the diet were far from their requirements, especially with regard to mineral excess for adult and elderly animals, however no clear symptoms of mineral excess were found. The alternate supply between industrial food and raw chicken is possible for dogs of the studied breeds, but professional accompaniment is necessary to determine the best condition of this supply.