How to make complete dog food at low cost

One of the biggest challenges of keeping dogs in Nigeria is their feeding requirement economically, nutritionally and conveniently. There are a lot of dog food varieties in the market with various brands at various alarming costs. In fact, with that, it has become a luxury to keep dogs. Available dog food is packaged in cans & bags all imported from U.K, USA, S.A, China etc. It is worrisome that like the chicken feed dog food is not produced on a commercial level as in other parts of the world. Importation of these dog foods has made the cost so high and unsustainable to pet owners in the country. Does that spell doom? No.
Is there an alternative to these commercial dog foods?
Yes. That is what we are going to be proffering here. There is a formulation popularly used by dog breeders living in Jos town in Plateau State of Nigeria. Jos is considered the major dog breeding town in Nigeria and by my calculation has more dog breeders than any state in Nigeria presently. Dog breeders in Jos not only breed dog for local distribution but also for export. So these breeders are not ready to spend so much to feed their dogs so they subscribe to an alternative called ‘ACHA’. Acha, as it’s called, is made from a byproduct called ACHA. The dog food we are going to be formulating is close to this ‘Acha’ but highly improved.
Problem with the regular ‘Acha’ dog food
Due to the high percentage of untrained personnel in the milling of this dog food, most of the ‘acha’ you see are of low quality and has low nutritional consideration or value. I have had situations where my clients would complain that his dog refused one set of acha dog food and ate another set favorably. This exposes the issue of inconsistency of the quality but all these are going to be addressed here.
Basic requirements
Here we have to consider materials or ingredients that are readily available to us in Nigeria at a very cheap cost like:
1. Corn CP 10.0%
2. Fish Meal CP 60%
3. Groundnut Cake CP 46%
4. Beans CP 23%
These ingredients above are the most commonly used ingredients to formulate this acha dog food except ‘Acha’ itself. I excluded it here because I can’t determine its crude protein (CP) content although the CP provided above may not be 100% correct but it’s not important right now what is important is knowing the principle of making complete food for your dog based on the overall crude protein (CP) you wish to achieve.
Crude protein content requirement
Crude protein is usually the primary focus of most animal feed being the source of the building blocks of life (i.e. Amino Acids). Most commercial dog foods come with crude protein of about 23-27% for adult dogs and 27-32% for puppies. Yes, puppies require more protein for development and growth while adult only requires protein for maintenance and body repairs.
Pearson’s Square Method
This method is the most widely used method for calculating the crude protein combination of the various materials or ingredients available to you for your food formulation. It is used in the formulation of almost all livestock feed. So if you learn it now you can become a consultant doing it. It’s simply based on a square called the Pearson’s square. Take a glimpse. So let’s use it to formulate our dog food using the ingredients provided above.
Calculating the crude protein
Let us formulate dog food for 27% crude protein which I believe can serve both puppies and adult dogs. We must recognize the restriction of Pearson’s Square which is the fact that it only accommodates two ingredients at once.
Here we want to assume we want only groundnut cake with crude protein 46% and corn with 10% crude protein. As you can see our target crude protein is 27% in the middle of the square. So we subtract diagonally by using the big value against the smaller values. No negatives are recognized. From the above, you can see that the value on the top right is the value for groundnut cake (17.0 parts) and the one at the bottom right is the value for corn (19.0 parts). You can also see the total value in parts of both ingredients (36.0 parts).
Using our Pearson’s square values we can compute the percentage of each ingredient in the ration:
- For Corn we have: (19.0 / 36.0) x 100 = 52.78%
- For Groundnut cake : (17.0/36.0) x 100 = 47.22%
With this, it means that if you want to produce 100kg of dog food with 27% crude protein you will need 52.78kg of corn and 47.22kg of Groundnut cake. What if our ingredient also has beans and fish meal which we also want to use in our formulation how to we go about it?
Formulating the dog food with more ingredients
Here we will use all the 4 ingredients listed previously. We are going to mix these ingredients in our preferred proportion and determine their combined crude protein before we delve into the square.
- 30% Fish meal with CP 60.9% = 18.27
- 70% Groundnut cake CP 46% = 32.20
Protein in High protein mix is 50.47% (adding the above values)
- 65% Corn CP 10% = 6.50
- 35% Beans CP 23% = 8.05
Protein in grain mix is 14.55%
Now let us calculate the parts in the ration of each of the ingredients using the values from our Pearson’s square:
- 12.45 parts x 30% = 3.74 parts of fish meal
- 12.45 parts x 70% = 8.72 parts of Groundnut cake
- 23.45 parts x 65% = 15.24 parts of Corn
- 23.45 parts x 35% =8.22 parts of Beans
Totaling 35.92 parts
With the above values, you can now calculate the percentage of each ingredient required for your chosen quantity. From the above our new dog food containing fish meal, groundnut cake, corn & beans will require:
- (3.74/35.92) x 100 = 10.41% of fish meal
- (8.72/35.92) x 100 = 24.28% of groundnut cake
- (15.24/35.92) x 100 = 42.43% of corn
- (8.21/35.92) x 100 = 22.86% of beans
When you sum up the percentage of each ingredient you get approximately 100%. So the combination of these ingredients in the above percentage will give us 27% crude protein for our complete dog food formulation. It’s best to weigh in kilograms (kg) each of the ingredient using your percentage values considering the quantity you have to produce at a time mix them properly and grind them in the mill.
Storage
I recommend you store this dog food away from high moisture and away from rodents or rats. These rodents can ruin all your effort by urinating on the food while feasting on it. Weevils are other pests that attach this food so make sure the milling process was very hygienic. I also recommend you produce dog food that will last for only 1 month or 30days.
Preparation
You cannot serve the food just like that because these dogs are not chicken or goat that eat these things raw. You have to prepare it by boiling some hot water and adding the raw food and steering for some minutes. You can also add palm oil for coloration. Prepare according to the quantity and consistency (thickness) you want to prepare or that is preferred by your dog. Beware of the aroma so that you are not tempted to eat your dog food yes it smells like some African meals (just kidding).
It’s has been a long and complicated ride here. Don’t worry if you didn’t understand the calculation just read it again and try pressing your calculator it will start sinking in. Thank you for reading please leave your comments or suggestions below.
I so much appreciate this piece. But my observation and question is this sir. How about the feed ingredient like Lysine, methionine, bone meal. etc. The they not also important in formulating dog feed?
Leave a Reply
He just gave an idea of what is needed. He did not talk about the energy. Make research online and use same method to arrive at th results for Vaccine.
Leave a Reply
Homemade is quite a good and satisfying porn to watch because it feels casual and domestic. As if the porn lady in the video can be actually reachable! So it is less complicated to be deluded and playthings to your creativity. you try this porn group that will at all disappoint you better! Homemade lesbian porn pertains to the type of porn wherein feminine enthusiasts make love to each various other and film it at their own homes! That will be ideal, you will much less likely discover well-executed type porn-this time it thinks actual and authentic, the hot lesbians filmed it for your liking specifically. best porn milfTheir naughty pussies possess happen to be scratching and they want you to cool off to their sizzling hot naked bodies! This actually occurs in real lifespan you would sense additional genuine as if you were viewing a real point!
Leave a Reply
Prettiest Pornstar Tools To Improve Your Daily Life Prettiest Pornstar Trick Every Person Should Be Able To prettiest pornstar
Leave a Reply
The 10 Scariest Things About Pornstars With Onlyfans pornstars with onlyfans
Leave a Reply
What's The Current Job Market For Top Pornstars Professionals? Porn
Leave a Reply
this again is very informative, helpful and encouraging. thanks for ur effort n generousity. thanks
Leave a Reply
@Jones thank you. Keep visiting for more informative articles.
Leave a Reply
Nyc one sir.Kudos
Leave a Reply
m very happy for this enlightment but my question is can i replace the beans with soya.
Leave a Reply
Apart from the beans ,can I add soya beans instead?
Leave a Reply
@sholz yes but process it properly then dry it before use.
Leave a Reply
@ emmanuel..lysine, methionine and bone meal is of no need. In fact bone meal is dangerous for your dog which can later kill it.
Leave a Reply
Very true I almost became a victim
Leave a Reply
really? i will like to know more please
Leave a Reply
This is just what dog breeders like me need. Thanks. Quite educative. My question however is on d use of beans. Over d years I've bn using soya beans to formulate. Are there any implications and which is d most preferred? Thanks once again.
Leave a Reply
@Gbenga Soya beans is okay as long as you process it properly.
Leave a Reply
Please I need more enlightenment on processing of soya beans please
Leave a Reply
Nice article, I have been wanting to get this but now I do and yet I still don't understand fully on how to make it... Can I do this at home just by myself or I take it to a factory and have it done...? I'm a breeder and I live in Benin.... Thank you.. If anyone has a clean answer on how to do it properly and stays in Benin just holla please... Here's my pin 5156C3EF... Thank you very much...
Leave a Reply
tanx for d piece,very informative but am kind of confuse.what is not clear to me is d KG i will use whn using corn,groundnut,fish n beans.will appreciate if anyone can help on this
Leave a Reply
@Bilkisu The weight of the corn, groundnut, fish & beans if those are the ingredients you wish to use, depends on the total weight you are producing. After calculating in percentage you then work out the percentage of each ingredient to make up the total weight which should be 100%.
Leave a Reply
Doc..i really appreciate this information, the breakdown of the mixtures is so nice but i have a little problem, after preparing it & serving my dogs (adult & puppies), all they do is to smell it and walk away, i even went as far as adding meat into it, they will pick the meat and leave the rest, pls is there any other method you can suggest for me? Thanks a lot, i really appreciate
Leave a Reply
@A-dakolo i will like to know the quantity of food produced by you.
Leave a Reply
Thanks for this. What of I give the puppy Golden morn with milk , is this good? for now till I do this dog feed
Leave a Reply
Thanks for this. What of I give the puppy Golden morn with milk , is this good? for now till I do this dog feed
Leave a Reply
I wish to engaged in Dog business,pls enlight m e more on international market
Leave a Reply
im so happy to see a forum like this in Nigeria. I always thought of us as local, but we are now improving, nice website too. You should make it SEO Friendly, you people have good stuffs
Leave a Reply
Thank You so much sir!
Leave a Reply
Thanks for meeting you. On my part I have developed an indigenous feeds/concentrates formulation and analysis software. Able to calculate the crude protein, energy, calcium, phosphorus, fats, lysine, methionine, and fiber of any animal feed. This will be useful for you, if you find manual calculation difficult.
Leave a Reply
Mr. Jacob Emmanuel do you share the software.
Leave a Reply
This is a good article but the problem here is, am not good in mathematics. Looking at these numbers confuses me. So I dare ask the author to please formulate a meal of 50kg for me containing, corn, soya, lysine, gnut cake and fish meal please
Leave a Reply
Whao. Thanks Big. Sourcing alternative for my dogs and will try this fast. On soya beans, we normally have it sold and mixed with Indomie which I don't think is fried and it work well cooked with Indomie with fish. Thanks
Leave a Reply
This is sincerely gud just that am confused about the percentage calculation. How do one convert to module if one is to buy in module to process because that seems easy to use in the process of preparation.
Leave a Reply
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. But please can you break it down more, by using how many kg of GNC, Corn, Fish meal, and beans will be required if I want to make 100kg.
Leave a Reply
Nice article sir, is there a place such quality of meal as described above can be gotten, for breeders like me that dont have acces to formulating the foods personally? Because i tried a formulated food once and my dogs didnt have interest. i hope to get a response soon sir. thanks
Leave a Reply
Very good piece Doc. I'm happy to read your articles and will become a regular visitor to your site. Thanks.
Leave a Reply
Thanks for this blog, I am planning to get a nice German Shepard today. And hopefully this article will help me in taking care of it. Also I wanna appreciate your work by contributing to your work, I am a professional logo designer and a name brander. Kindly allow me design a nice logo for you instead of the one you are using, it's for free anyway. You need something professional. Check for my portfolio here if you care please https://www.behance.net/bdchub98e2 Thanks. - Mic
Leave a Reply
Thanks Bro for the info. God bless U for sharing
Leave a Reply
Thanks Bro for the info. God bless U for sharing
Leave a Reply
thanks for this idea. pls i want to ask if one can get the fish meal and GNC at feedmill to add with indomie. will it be a balance diet for my dog?
Leave a Reply
pls o....sorry for my question wat is Groundnut cake??
Leave a Reply
God bless you o, I've been reading comments to see if someone mistakenly explained it
Leave a Reply
Instead of fish meal, can we use chicken processing center waste consisting of Intestine, legs, head after drying and powdering as a substitute?
Leave a Reply
Good day, Pls, i will want to learn more on this Dogs Feedings specially the environment i find myself about am in the North and feeding of my dogs is always a problem. I will appreciate your reply if you can be of help. Thanks
Leave a Reply
The formula is superb, am on it since one month now and my Doberman is gaining weight and she ate it without stress. Thank you for this information.
Leave a Reply
This is so impressive. Well done to the Dr & his team.
Leave a Reply
Thank you so much for the information, but I would like to know how the ingredients are processed before being mixed. The corn and the beans. Do we boil and dry them or we just use them in their raw state
Leave a Reply
Wow,so we still have some Nigerians who are not self centered and always ready to share some wealth creating information free. Sir,I love what you're doing keep it up. #Not money oriented person#passion burning#Nigeria a better place for survival.
Leave a Reply
Hello Dr. please what about PKC?
Leave a Reply
Nice meal. 100% good for dogs. my dogs love eating it more and more. thanks
Leave a Reply
How did u do it...
Leave a Reply
Educative information, God bless you sir, like to have your no. sir, mine is 08039288646
Leave a Reply
Very informative I have a puppy and I will love to learn how to make the food but the maths is really confusing, this is my WhatsApp line 08167538960 to countine our discussion.
Leave a Reply
This is really detailed and insightful... Thanks for sharing Doc!
Leave a Reply
Corn, soya beans & groundnut, âž• fish oil, are the formula am using for my dog . and they are very fine.
Leave a Reply
Bros abeg d measurement nko ? How u Dey run am when u wan make am
Leave a Reply
Good morning sir Thanks for your help I just need one help please for us That are not good at calculations can you please give us an exact measurement based on using cup like for example 1to1/2cups something like that it will be much appreciated thanks sir
Leave a Reply
Dear fairvet.com webmaster, Thanks for the well-organized and comprehensive post!
Leave a Reply
Very happy for this,cause can food are so cost
Leave a Reply
Very happy for this,cause can food are so cost
Leave a Reply
omo i wont lie, the maths is quite confusing for me. Can someone kindly explain for a newbie like me on whatsapp +2347087142230
Leave a Reply