1. What is Dry Matter Basis?

Dry matter basis is a method of comparing pet foods by removing the moisture content, allowing for accurate nutrient comparisons between different products regardless of their moisture levels.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the dry matter basis formula:

Where:

• \( Nutrient_{as\ fed} \) — Nutrient percentage as listed on the pet food label
• \( Moisture \) — Moisture percentage of the pet food

Explanation: The formula removes the moisture content to show what the nutrient percentage would be if the food contained no moisture.

3. Importance of Dry Matter Calculation

Details: Comparing pet foods on a dry matter basis is essential because different formulations (dry kibble, canned, raw) have vastly different moisture contents that can make direct label comparisons misleading.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the nutrient percentage as shown on the pet food label and the moisture content percentage. Moisture must be less than 100% and nutrient value must be positive.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why can't I just compare the numbers on pet food labels?
A: Pet foods have different moisture contents (dry kibble ~10%, canned ~75%), which dilutes the nutrients. Dry matter basis removes this variable for accurate comparison.

Q2: Where do I find the moisture percentage?
A: It's usually listed in the guaranteed analysis or nutritional information panel on pet food packaging.

Q3: What nutrients should I compare?
A: Key nutrients to compare include protein, fat, and fiber percentages to evaluate food quality.

Q4: Does this work for all pet food types?
A: Yes, this calculation works for dry kibble, canned, semi-moist, and raw foods when you know the moisture content.

Q5: How much difference does moisture content make?
A: Significant difference! A 30% protein kibble (10% moisture) has similar protein content to a 10% protein canned food (75% moisture) when converted to dry matter basis.