Author Topic: Cost of raw feeding breakdown  (Read 8061 times)

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Offline Amber

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Cost of raw feeding breakdown
« on: June 15, 2012, 02:22:34 AM »
I have been over to AC's cost of raw feeding page on catcentric and that inspired me to do a cost breakdown of all the ingredient for a home-made raw diet with hare-today grinds. AC, I hope you do not mind.

I recently ordered 50lbs of meat/bone/organ grinds from ht, deciding that I was sick of the constant battle to find meat that is not enhanced in the grocery stores around here and supporting big industry instead of small farms. Here is my attempt to break down the cost. If you find a mistake in my math, feel free to correct me. It has never been my best subject.

15lbs turkey grind + 15 lbs chicken grind + 10lbs rabbit + 10lbs goat + 2 day shipping totaled out to $197.35
197.35/50 lbs = $3.95 per lb
OR 197.35/10 batches = 19.74 per batc of food

60 b-complex 100 caps costs 9.84 or .164 per cap
100 vit e 400 caps costs 14.92 or .15 per cap
90 fish oil 1000 softgels costs 10.97 or .122 per softgel
90 taurine 1000 caps costs 8.65 or .096 per cap

I use 2 b caps, 2 e caps, 4 fish oil softgels, and 4 taurine caps per batch.

.33 + .30 + .49 + .38 = $1.48 per batch for supplements

I buy yard eggs from a neighbor at 2.00 per dozen or .17 per egg.
4 eggs per batch = .68

Amber weighs ten lbs and eats 4oz of food per day. The batch I just fixed made enough food 27 days once 12oz water, supplements, and egg yolks were added.

 
$19.74 + 1.48 + .68 = $21.90 per batch / 27 days = $0.0811 per day for cat food.

The supplements I use are all made in the USA; the animals are raised naturally and humanely and are antibiotic, hormone, and additive free. I know there are no fillers or nasty chemicals because I have nearly total control of the diet and I can support small farms instead of big industry, all for less than feeding a can of Friskies every day.

Math makes my brain bleed so I am going to bed now. Hopefully someone will find this useful, or at least my math attempt entertaining.

Offline Middle Child

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Re: Cost of raw feeding breakdown
« Reply #1 on: June 15, 2012, 07:29:22 AM »
Quote
$19.74 + 1.48 + .68 = $21.90 per batch / 27 days = $0.0811 per day for cat food.

Correction It would be $0.811 (about 81 cents) per day.  The way you wrote it, was 8 cents per day.  That was the only mistake that jumped out at me, my braind wouldn't process all the weights and measures, LOL

Thanks for posting this,  Amber.

Offline Amber

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Re: Cost of raw feeding breakdown
« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2012, 12:51:43 PM »
Thanks for spotting that, I read it as 81 cents. No idea why I stuck that extra zero in there.

Offline Lola

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Re: Cost of raw feeding breakdown
« Reply #3 on: June 15, 2012, 11:15:13 PM »
WOW, Amber, thanks for sharing!!!  Do you have any interest in posting the actual preparation steps? 
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Offline Amber

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Re: Cost of raw feeding breakdown
« Reply #4 on: June 16, 2012, 03:37:49 AM »
I can do that if you like.  ;D if you want pictures though, it will need to wait until I make another batch. Or would you just like a step by step?

Offline Lola

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Re: Cost of raw feeding breakdown
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2012, 01:08:33 PM »
Pictures are always good!   :D

However, I was thinking of you explaining how much of what ingredient you add and such.  Are you using your own recipe or one from a specific source?

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Offline Amber

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Re: Cost of raw feeding breakdown
« Reply #6 on: June 17, 2012, 07:49:40 PM »
If you go to hare today's taurine supplement page, it posts a recipe:

Quote
Here is a supplement recipe for five pounds of ground meat/bones/organs: [Courtesy of http://feline-nutrition.org/index.php]

8 to 16 oz water, use 16 oz if your cats like it soupier, 8 oz if they like it firmer
4 raw egg yolks
4000 mg taurine
4000 mg wild salmon or wild caught small fish oil
800 IU Vitamin E (use dry form)
200 mg Vitamin B Complex
1 ½ tsp Lite Iodized Salt
4 tsp psyllium husk powder (optional, mostly recommended when your cats are starting out on raw)

I omit the psyllium. I shall take pictures next time I make a batch.

Offline Lola

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Re: Cost of raw feeding breakdown
« Reply #7 on: June 17, 2012, 11:53:33 PM »
I'm still at the "Raw Feeding For Beginners" stage... buying commercial raw food.   ;D

BUT...I'm sure there are plenty of people (that are moving along much faster than me) that could use your guidance. 
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Offline Amber

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Re: Cost of raw feeding breakdown
« Reply #8 on: June 18, 2012, 12:20:06 PM »
I would certainly be happy to answe any questions to the best of my ability.

Offline Amber

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Re: Cost of raw feeding breakdown
« Reply #9 on: July 17, 2012, 11:40:48 PM »
Here are the pictures, as promised  :)

First assemble all of the ingredients, along with a bowl large enough for a full batch:


Remove the number of each supplement needed for a batch; these are the brands I use for each:


Take out the number of containers you will need and organize them for easy access later:


Pull apart capsules, snip the ends off gellcaps, empty conents into the bowl, and add water:
« Last Edit: July 18, 2012, 08:00:47 PM by Lola, Reason: edited picture sizes »

Offline Amber

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Re: Cost of raw feeding breakdown
« Reply #10 on: July 18, 2012, 12:01:23 AM »
Add egg yolks:


Whisk everything together:


Get the meat/bone/organ mix out of the refrigerator:


Add half the mix to the supplement slurry:
« Last Edit: July 18, 2012, 08:11:07 PM by Lola, Reason: edited picture sizes »

Offline Amber

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Re: Cost of raw feeding breakdown
« Reply #11 on: July 18, 2012, 12:36:37 AM »
Mix everything up very well, it should be a very loose consitency :


Add the other half of the mix:


Mix well, so that the supplements are well dispersed; it should be a uniform consistency like ground hamburger at this point:


Spoon into containers; it is best to use containers small enough that the food will be eaten within two days. I use 4 oz containers:
« Last Edit: July 18, 2012, 08:23:15 PM by Lola, Reason: edited picture sizes »

Offline Amber

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Re: Cost of raw feeding breakdown
« Reply #12 on: July 18, 2012, 12:55:16 AM »
Pop a lid on and put them in the freezer:


Save a bit for the feline inspector(s) to approve:


And a vanity shot of hissyfluff; sorry, I love this picture so much I couldn't resist:
« Last Edit: July 18, 2012, 08:35:04 PM by Lola, Reason: edited picture sizes »

Offline Middle Child

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Re: Cost of raw feeding breakdown
« Reply #13 on: July 18, 2012, 06:55:14 AM »
Thank you Amber!

Offline Lola

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Re: Cost of raw feeding breakdown
« Reply #14 on: July 18, 2012, 08:22:52 PM »
She is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!
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