We continue to field enquiries from people either thinking of changing their dogs over to Australian Formula or who have actually done so and are looking for advice. Here then are the most commonly asked questions . . .
HOW MUCH DOES AUSTRALIAN FORMULA COST TO FEED COMPARED TO THE TRADITIONAL METHOD OF FEEDING?
To answer this, we went to the experts!
We asked two of the industry’s busiest retailers, one in Britain and one in Ireland, to come up with the relevant cost to feed one greyhound for one day.
It is worth remembering that both traders also sell traditional greyhound feeds as well as a wide variety of other supplements.
The Irish seller calculated that on average it costs around €0.90 per dog per day to feed Australian Formula.
The same retainer calculated that traditional feeding costs around €1.25 per dog per day
The U.K retailer came out with almost identical costings – bearing in mind the €/£ exchange rate of £0.55 (AF) and VAT regulations against £0.75 per dog per day
In calculating this we have taken a very basic approach involving a mid-market feed, added multi-vitamins etc. and priced meat at a market average.
NOTE: We assume that the meat is not sourced from a knacker yard – in line with industry guidelines.
A realistic cost factor also needs to be added for cooking, storing and collecting the meat but for simplicity we have ignored this.
We are aware that many people spend considerably more than our assessment given the large quantities of supplements that they are buying. To make traditional feeding cheaper than Australian Formula you would need to cut corners throughout, use a very cheap meal and buy low quality meat. If cost is a factor, the case for switching to Australian is overwhelming.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I FEED?
There are feeding instructions on the bag but as a rule of thumb the following can be used;
Multiply the weight of the dog in kg by 15 and feed the resulting number of grams;
For example a 30 kg dog needs 30 X 15 = 450g per day
To be less accurate, and non-metric, many trainers find about 1lb for a bitch and 11⁄4lb for a dog works as a rough average.
It is vital that new customers of Australian Formula appreciate the need to alter the volume of meal presented to their dog. They may need to reduce the meal size by as much as one third compared to traditional feeds.
Quite simply, if you give them an amount that ‘looks about right’ don’t be surprised if they gain 4 pounds per week!
Unlike many other foods, Australian does not bulk up its product with cheap fillers such as wheat (or worse!)
As a new user you may only fully appreciate this when you see your dogs for the first time producing small and well formed stools.
However don’t expect your dogs to be hungrier than they were on traditional diets.
The high energy levels, based on high grade fat sources, are very satisfying and nutritionally closer to the type of diet from which canines have evolved.
We strongly recommend that inexperienced trainers should always weigh the food whilst dry. To prepare, we advise steeping the food in warm water for a short period of about 15 minutes or half an hour.
Trainers should also be aware that there will always be variations from dog to dog, based on individual constitution, temperament and work load. Feeding guidelines are no more than a starting point.
HOW MUCH TO FEED PUPS AND SAPLINGS?
Pups, saplings and broods should be fed pretty much to appetite and given enough that they will clear and not leave any over.
It is fine to feed Australian dry so long as fresh water is always available and so long as food is not left around at night so as to not encourage rats and other vermin.
Young pups can be given Australian from a few weeks of age if it is fully mashed up in warm water or milk.
Saplings can require a lot of food if allowed to exercise freely. For a period this can be expensive but for so many reasons the nutrition of young greyhounds is one area where you may not want to cut corners.
BREAKFAST?
We generally advise that you should continue with a traditional breakfast of a little cereal and milk with possibly an egg. Several trainers have experimented using a mixture of Australian and brown bread for breakfast with excellent results.
CHANGING OVER?
If you read the advice on any bag of dog food it will advise you to change over to a new diet over a period of several days to avoid digestive disturbances.
We no longer give this advice. Australian Formula is so correct for the greyhounds digestive system and so well balanced that you can change over completely and in one day.
When you clear up the resulting stools the very next day you will notice a big improvement and sense that finally you have chosen a food that totally suits your dogs.
HOW CONFIDENT ARE WE THAT IT REALLY WORKS WITHOUT MEAT?
100% absolutely totally confident
But of course we would say that. We ask anyone who is not sure to ask around. The retailers will usually tell you that most ‘Aussie’ customers never look back.
Once you experience the freedom of not cooking and dealing with meat you will never go back.
The dogs love it and will run at least as well as they always did, very often better and they will certainly recover faster.
It is vital that new customers of Australian Formula appreciate the need to alter the volume of meal presented to their dog. They may need to reduce the meal size by as much as one third compared to traditional feeds.
- Features glutamine -essential for cell growth and a critical source of energy for the immune system.
- Produced with a balanced anion/cation ratio. This feed is an effective electrolyte.
- Contains fructose oligosaccharides and dietary fibre balancers to aid gut health, faecal quality, immunity and digestive function.
- Contains boron, green lipped mussel extract, glucosamines and chrondroitin sulphates to aid the maintenance and health of joints & cartilages.
- Contains protected creatine proven to increase performance.
- Contains the correct calcium / phosphorous ratio vital for skeletal health.
- Uses chelated trace minerals for improved bioavailability and biochemical effectiveness.
- Formulated from the premium quality of every ingredient; wherever possible of human grade.
- Contains antioxidant nutrients including selenium rich yeast, chelated zinc, vitamins C & E and beta-carotene.
- Contains B group vitamins, manganese, carnitine & taurine to aid muscle function.
- Protein sources are top grade chicken and Norwegian fish.
- Controlled omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio to minimise inflammatory response & improve skin and coat condition.
