Hi, I came  across 2 new kibbles today and would like to hear opinions please......

AATU

iComposition: 80% Chicken (50% Freshly Prepared Deboned Chicken, 30% Dried Chicken), Sweet Potato, Chick Peas, Peas, Lucerne, Chicken Stock, Salmon Oil, Carrots, Tomato, Chicory, Tapioca, Apple, Pear, Cranberry, Blueberry, Mulberry, Orange, Bilberry, Cowberry, Parsley, Peppermint, Spirulina, Seaweed, Oregano, Sage, Marjoram, Thyme, Chamomile, Rosehip, Stinging Nettle, Yucca, Marigold, Aniseed, Fenugreek, Cinnamon, Hip & Joint Care (Glucosamine 350mg/kg, MSM 350mg/kg, Chondroitin 240mg/kg).

Technological Additives: None stated; Sensory Additives: None stated; Nutritional Additives: L-Carnitine 200mg, Vitamins: Vitamin A 17,310IU, Vitamin D3 1.540IU, Vitamin E 480IU. Trace Elements as Compounds: Ferrous Sulphate Monohydrate 641mg, Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate 534mg, Manganous Sulphate Monohydrate 105mg, Cupric Sulphate Pentahydrate 38mg, Calcium Iodate Anhydrous 4.72mg, Sodium Selenite 0.53mg.

Analytical Constituents: Protein 31%, Crude Fibres 3%, Crude Oils and Fats 16%, C
Feeding Guide: Dog weighing up to 5kg: 75g-100g; 10kg: 80g-140g; 15kg: 100g-210g; 20kg: 120g-250g; 30kg: 190g-350g; 40kg+: 270g- 450g., ..

EVOLUTION

Composition: Chilled Chicken (26%), Poultry Meal (24%), Turkey Meal (10%), Fish Meal (10%), Sweet Potato Flour (10%), Poultry Fat, Chicken Gravy, Pea Flour (3%), Pea Fibre (2%), Carrot Powder (2%), Apple Powder (2%), Seaweed meal (1.5%), Minerals (includes Yucca Extract 200mg/kg, Marigold Meal 50mg/kg, Rosemary Extract 5mg/kg), Botanical Herbs (0.5%) (includes rosehip, liqourice root, peppermint, devils claw, milk thistle).

Feeding Guide: Dog size: feed per day; Small: 100-165g (less active), 125-210g (active)
Medium: 165-280g (less active), 210-350g (active)
Large: 280-470g (less active), 350-585g (active)
Giant: 470-715g (less active), 585-890g (active)

Thanks

When another manufacturer added pea flour to their fish and potatoes food,  I had ill dogs so would not go for a food with that ingredient.

Ive just seen that Evolution advertised in P@H. Says its exclusive to them? Nice to see a food in there thats advertised with the 70% meat, 30% veg. Would be interested in putting this into the "about dog food" calculator to see what they say. I feed raw so wouldn't say that's going to be any better - but even so a step in the right direction for P@H as they dont sell Orijen ect.

You always need to watch out then the amount of a Fresh ingredient is listed as once it has the moisture content removed it will only be about a third of what is quoted.

For example a food that has 40% meat meal compared to a food with 20% meat meal and 20% fresh meat, the latter has less meat in the recipe.

Ahhh yes, completely missed the "meal" bit. What a shame!

Nothing wrong with meal (as long as it is specifically identified as a given meat meal, not by product meal), if a food is dry once processed it all becomes meal.  Its the Fresh meat bit used most often to make it seem there is more meat in the mix than there is on a dry matter basis.

>Ahhh yes, completely missed the "meal" bit. What a shame!

Ounce for ounce (or gram for gram for the more modern among us!) there's more meat in meat meal than in fresh meat.

Ah I see - I was getting confused between meal and derivatives (just mashed up left over bits)!

There is a site which tells you want the definitions are for the UK production rules.  Meat meal has to be the flesh parts of the animal.

http://www.best-dog-food-review.com/67979.html

"Definition of meal:
Meals are prepared by the heating, drying and grinding whole or parts of warm blooded land animals from which the fat has been partially extracted or physically removed. The product has to be free from hooves, horn, bristle, hair and feathers as well as digestive tract content.

I feed raw and not likely to change but the first does sound reasonable if you are happy with veg etc

Comparing meat meal and Fresh meat percentages: http://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/dog-food-ingredient-glossary.php

"Fresh meat is widely used in wet dog foods and is also becoming increasing popular in dry foods. When comparing the meat contents of dry foods it is important to remember that since fresh meat contains roughly 70% water (compared to just 8% in meat meal) it is far less nutritionally concentrated than meal and so more is required. For example, in order to provide the same levels of protein and fat as 20% meat meal a dry food would need 72% fresh meat!"

You may also want to look at Canidae PURE.
Duck, duck meal, turkey meal, sweet potatoes, peas, chicken fat, potatoes, suncured alfalfa, That's it.