Cups/Kcals per pound?

Hmmm....the only thing I can recommend is to go to the websites or maybe ppl who feed it here can tell you....How do you figure how many cups per pound? I'd like to figure this out for my food too?

Solid Gold lists 4.85 cups per pound on all of the foods I've made a note to look at. Natura lists their calorie count per cup and per pound. I know I've seen a couple Purina formulas that list density, but I can't find it for all of them.

These are general rules of thumb.
 
1 cup = 8 fl oz
100 g = 3.5 oz
 
protein provides about 3.5 kcal/gram
fat provides about 8.5 kcal/g
carb (NFE) about 3.5 kcal/g
 
I figured this out previously, using the guaranteed analysis from Nutro Large Breed Adult Lamb & Rice, the formula my dog eats.
 
24 % protein
13 % fat
4 % fiber
10 % moisture
 
Dry matter: 22 percent protein
 
Adult large breed maintenance, BTW, is 18 %.
 
out of a 100 g sample;
24 g X 3.5 kcal/g = 87.5 kcals protein
13 g X 8.5 kcal/g = 110.5 kcals fat
60 g X 3.5 kcal/g = 210 kcals carb
 
Totals 408 kcals/cup.
 
Shadow's daily need is 1,729 kcals/day.
 1729/408 = 4.5 cups per day, give or take, since my cup may not be an accurate 8 oz cup or the kibble shape and size may not allow 8 oz to fit in the cup. He seems to average about 4 cups or so a day.
 
The kcal needs per day depends on the weight of the dog and it's activity level or stage of life. That info is available at the merkvetmanual site.
 

I don't know if this is going to work, but here goes! Don't think I've lost my mind though! I scanned my notes from my nutrition class on figuring kcals, energy requirements, etc. So I am posting them. Hope someone can make sense out of them, LOL
 
[linkhttp://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b233/Bunnyrunner/kcals.jpg]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b233/Bunnyrunner/kcals.jpg[/link]
 
[linkhttp://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b233/Bunnyrunner/EnergyRequirments.jpg]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b233/Bunnyrunner/EnergyRequirments.jpg[/link]
 
Well, it didn't work putting it on here, so I am providing links for them.

I see that I wasn't too far off.
 

When I plug Solid Gold Wolfcub into that formula, it comes out to 420 calories per cup. Their bag lists 375 calories per cup. What am I doing wrong?

Unit Percent Grams Kcal/gram Total
Protein 26.00% 26 4 104
Fat 12.00% 12 9 108
Fiber 4.00% 4 4 16
Moisture 10.00% 10 0 0
Ash 2.70% 2.7 4 10.8
CHO 45.30% 45.3 4 181.2

Total Kcals 420

Do you multiply the total by .9 to account for moisture?

no, you weren't, lol. I was trying to figure out how to get it up on here while you were trying to type your response, lol.
 
The one thing that REALLY needs to be taken into consideration is the DOG SPECIFIC energy requirements. Figuring  your dogs BMR, EF (energy factor) and GF (growth factor) you get a much more accurate picture for what YOUR dog needs and not simply averages.
 
I really prefer to feed my dogs by the gram. I have went through and weight the food(s) on a digital scale in a certain container. Figured the number of grams for each dog and marked the container with each dogs name. I know exactly how many grams each gets daily and I don't have to measure any more. Now, if one was to drop weight or gain, I would refigure. Or if their energy factor changed or growth factor need adjusting, then I refigure again, but it usually stays pretty steady except during heavy trialing/competition. I have separate containers for those dogs during those times.
 

 you only need to figure protein, fat, and carbs for calculating kcals. Minerals, moisture, fiber, vitamins, etc. Don't count.

The one thing that REALLY needs to be taken into consideration is the DOG SPECIFIC energy requirements.

 
Very true. Mushers live by those numbers and adjust the diet up and down as needed. In competition, sled dogs have a huge kcal requirement, primarily in protein and fat. So, many musher will feed a racing food that is high in protein and fat and even supplement with fresh meat.
 
But anyone could benefit from a better understanding their own dog's requirements.
 

Ok, back to square one. I need to find out how many cups are in each pound of all the dog foods.

Well, there's always the scientific method. Buy a small bag of all the foods and measure them. I am not trying to sound like a smart a$$, but that would be a good way to find out since all the kibbles are so variable.

If I could buy 8 bags of dog food at wholesale, then I would do it and give the food to the animal shelter when I'm done. I'm not about to pay $200 for food I'm not gonna use, though. [sm=banghead002.gif]