brookcove
Posted : 3/6/2007 2:50:15 PM
I was told by a nutritionist that ONLY whole critters are anywhere near nutritionally complete. Because our soil is lacking in some vital minerals, farm raised animals seem to be somewhat deficient in some micronutrients - and it will vary from supply source to supply source. And younger animals that are usually seen in the grocery store have lower levels of OFAs - and without the brain you'll always be deficient in B and DHA. This is why variety is so vital to the RMB based diet.
As to calcium and phosphorus, isn't there a resource you can use to determine the nutrients in various "dog meats"? Not the USDA database, which rarely offers the data for bones. I'm sorry I don't have this in front of me or I'd pass it on. Maybe someone will have it.
Leg quarters are close to ideal, but you don't want to feed these all the time in the interest of variety. Meaty flank cuts are good, as are rump cuts - like the "picnic" from a pork leg. Necks are NOT usually meaty enough, at least the ones I"m getting aren't. Nor is a shank or rib, typically - I like to offer a shank and a chop together. The loin is too meaty on most beasts. Chicken backs or picked carcasses are too bony - again, you'll want to throw a breast or leg in if these constitute a large portion of the diet. You can also supplement a very bony cut with a really meaty recreational bone.