Prey Model Raw Food Diet Questions(Long)

[cedarvalleynewfoundlands]

Hi All

I have been doing some research on the prey model raw food diet and have a couple (no thats a lie.....actually a ton!!!!) of questions.
I went down the street and talked to our local meat processor/butcher (one of the many benefits of living in the country!).
He said he can easily supply me with all the raw meaty bones I need (for free too!!)
He showed me what he would have, which is mainly beef, lamb, goat and deer bones with quite a bit of meat left on them. The deer ribs and thigh area had huge hunks of meat hanging on them still. He said that is the normal type of bones he would have, and said he could easily supply me withup to several hundred pounds a week. My questions are:
Can I feed these types of bones as the main portion, and then supplement with chicken backs, necks and frames and occasionally whole chickens. If I calculated correclty, my larger males would need 3-4 pounds of raw feed daily in a 70% meat 20% bone 10% organ ratio. Can I give them the bones from the meat processer and then a couple times a week give them chicken backs, frames etc to get the correct ratio of bone? I am looking online to find some good books on prey model, and am just now starting to find meat sources etc before I make the jump. A raw food co-op in the city area takes orders once a month for raw chicken backs, frames and leg quarters at really good prices, which is where i would be getting those from. Any raw feeders out there who could help get us started on this endeavor, your help would be greatly appreciated.
Mary

 

[saddust]

Prey model feeding means you would be feeding the whole animal, if possible including fur, hair, or feathers. What you're suggesting is replicating feeding the same ratios of whole prey using collective parts (meaning sometimes half a chicken - as your example - but many times mostly it would be a chicken leg quarters, frames, backs or duck necks, turkey necks, etc. with hearts, gizzards, or for a beef meal - heart, green tripe, course ground beef) added in for the meal. So they call that style "franken prey."

Some of the parts you're mentioning can be fine - but you should not feed any weight bearing bones of large animals (ungulates) because those bones are too hard to be consumed - they would be considered recreational and not contributory to the diet, i.e., contributing the bone portion... The meat you could get off them would certainly be beneficial and worthwhile. Ribs also can be fine - especially from the smaller animals you mentioned, goat, lamb... I have given deer ribs but I do find that they can be brittle and splinter if they get a chance to dry even a bit (frost free freezers pull moisture out of the air in there).... So just keep an eye on them when they're eating... Beef ribs are definitely too hard. Like I mentioned though - lamb breast and goat breast (ribs) are great if you can get them - especially if there is a fair amount of meat on them...

In the giant breeds - the 2-3% of body weight isn't generally an accurate guideline... for instance a very active 60# labrador may eat more than a 125# newf.... You should base it on age and activity level.... I would definitely start at 2% of their desired body weight and adjust as necessary... My 7 year old 170# neutered male (he's tall and large - not overweight) eats just about 2#'s a day total. So be cautious not to overfeed....

 

[R Taft]

I totally agree with the saddust post, i adjust my feeding volume according to the dogs weight. i keep my dogs slightly light, because they are very active dogs. I do not do the prey thing, because i do not like feeding offal (lung, heart, liver, fur, etc) raw. I still give my dogs the occassional rice and meat cooked, because they love it and go so silly and happy when they get it. A bit like i do with chocolate and cake for me

 

[LindaR]

I feed prey model to my 18 mo boy and my new10 week old pup. Pup eats almost as much as big boy does. I found that 1.5% to 2% of adult body weight works well for us. I monitor body condition and keep dogs on the lean side. Since I haven't found sources yet of whole animals, I do the best I can with 80% meat, 10% bone and 10% organs(half of which is liver) that I find on sale at the groceries. We feed pork shoulder roasts & ribs, whole turkeys, chickens, beef, tripe, canned salmon/mackeral. I also supplement with salmon oil to correct the omega 6/3 ratio. It looks to me like what you're proposing to feed contains too much bone. I seldom feed chicken backs--only to add a small bit of bone to all-meat meals. As saddust posted, skip the weight bearing bones of large ungulates and make certain you feed lots of meat along with the consumable bone. Keep the 80/10/10 percentages in mind and your doggies will do well and love their new menu. A great resource for anyone considering rawfeeding is the rawfeeding group at yahoo. There are over 13000 members on that group, many long time rawfeeders, as well as breeders/owners of giant breeds. Best wishes on your new adventure.

 

[cedarvalleynewfoundlands]

Thanks everyone for all the info.
As far as feeding the larger bones from beef, would it be allright to give them the bone in meat, let them get all the meat off and then collect the bones?
I have found a local source of whole turkeys and chickens. The price is less for the entire bird than it is for the bird minus feathers. I wasnt aware I could give them an entire bird feathers and all. I am also looking into finding a local source of rabbits etc, but so far havent found anything except the occasional rabbit hunter. I guess they could also eat squirrel?
I am going to check out the yahoo raw food group.
Thanks again for any help.
Mary

 

[saddust]

but so far havent found anything except the occasional rabbit hunter. I guess they could also eat squirrel?

A side note - wild caught game like rabbit and squirrels... just keep in mind that they can be carrying parasites... fleas, etc., but more importantly tapeworm.... If you do feed them, try to find an all-natural wormer - Wrm Clear or you can grind up dried pumpkin seeds in a coffee grinder and mix into their meals - to give them occasionally.