Cavy Pellet Analysis

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Josephine
Little Jo Wheek

Post   » Sun Mar 02, 2003 5:38 pm


There were two other Hartz cavy pellets at Kmart and Wal-mart where I went. I'm sure--just like Kaytee--they have at least a dozen of the "same but different" diets. On I go...

Rowena

Post   » Wed Apr 02, 2003 8:31 pm


All this pellet talk is making me nervous. I have a 10 wk old gp and am currently looking for a good pellet to buy him. What do you all recommend? Also, I've been giving him timothy-based hay from oxbow and he seems to love it; should I continue w/this or should I switch to alfalfa hay b/c he's a young piglet? And another thing...how should I go about leaving veggies for my gp? Should I fix him a bowl of lettuce pieces and cut up veggies in the morning? The problem w/this is that I go to school and the veggies would be sitting in the cage for a good 6-7 hours while I'm away...don't veggies brown very easily?

HollyT
Get on your bike.

Post   » Wed Apr 02, 2003 8:43 pm


hahaaaha....the veggies will be eaten within 5 minutes. No need to worry about spoiling. I give a half cup of veggies in the morning and afternoon.

Oxbow carries the best pellets according to many gp owners. Your pig is young so he should have alfalfa based pellets and hay with a good quality grass hay like Timothy. Kleenmama ships hay and it is wonderful quality. If you order from her you won't be disappointed. It's also MUCH cheaper. I'll try to put up the relevant links for you.

http://www.TheFerretStore.com/

They carry oxbow pellets and the shipping is free if you spend 25 dollars or more. Not hard to do if you're a new gp owner.

Kleenmama@aol.com

Email her and she can answer questions about her hay, costs, shipping, etc. She frequents this forum.

User avatar
VMOUSE1970
Supporter in '05

Post   » Thu Apr 03, 2003 9:13 am


Found out that two pet stores and one "Center" carries Oxbow products. woohoo

gpmom

Post   » Tue Apr 08, 2003 9:55 am


Dear gpmom:

Thanks a lot for making inquiries about our Guinea Pig Foods. At
present, we have three different products available in the pet stores
near your place (Orangeville). They are Guinea Pig Treat (item # H-1114), Guinea Pig
Pellets (item # H-1103) and Guinea Pig Gourmet (item # H-1103) or Guinea
Pig Food (item # 61120). All those formulas don't contain ethoxyquin,
BHA, BHT as well as animals fat. Only Guinea Pig Gourmet and Guinea Pig
Food contain trace of artificial colors yellow 5 and blue 5. Two
colorings are used in our extruded kibble, which is added into these two
formulas. Those extruded kibbles only account for 4%, so they are much
safe for all animals.

I trust this explanation is satisfied with your demand. Should you have
any question on our products, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you,

Baoquan Lu
Hagen Industries Ltd.
3235 rue Guenette
St-Laurent, Quebec H4S 1N2
Tel: 514-331-2818
Fax: 514-331-8119

Josephine
Little Jo Wheek

Post   » Tue Apr 08, 2003 5:24 pm


What about the other low-quality ingredients?

Josephine
Little Jo Wheek

Post   » Tue Apr 08, 2003 10:09 pm


Here are the other Hagen feeds gpmom posted on another thread:

GUINEA PIG TREAT
Item # H-1114

Cut corn, feed oats, red milo, guinea pig pellets (alfalfa meal, oats, barley, corn, wheat shorts, wheat germs, soybean meals, corn distillers, dried grains, malt sprouts, salt, dicalcium phosphate, limestone, magnesium oxide, cane molasses, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, menadione sodium bissulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), vitamin B12 supplement, ascorbic acid, riboflavin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, choline chloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, ethoxyquin, manganous oxide, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, ferrous sulfate, calcium iodate), sunflower seed, barley, oat groats, wheat, dehydrated carrot flakes, natural flavors.

----Guaranteed Analysis

Crude protein 11.5% (min.)
Crude fat 5.5% (min.)
Crude fiber 11.0% (max.)
Ash 4.0% (max.)
Moisture 11.0% (max.)



Hagen Gourmet Guinea Pig
Item # H-1120, 1 kg (2.2 lbs)

Living World Premium Guinea Pig Food
Item # 61120, 908 g (2.0 lbs)

Pellets (dehydrated alfalfa meal, wheat shorts, ground wheat, soybean meal, lignin sulfonate, corn gluten meal, calcium carbonate, cane molasses, salt, DL-methionine, magnesium oxide, ascorbic acid, choline chloride, *), wheat, milo, sunflower seed, oat groats, extruded kibble (ground corn, wheat middlings, dried beet pulp, corn gluten meal, dehydrated alfalfa meal, soybean meal, wheat starch, calcium carbonate, salt, dicalcium phosphate, yellow 5, blue 5, *), green split peas, cracked corn, flaked corn, whole corn, dehydrated flaked carrot, raisins, dehydrated banana, dehydrated flaked potato, dehydrated flaked leek, orange oil.
* cobalt sulfate, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, sodium selenite, vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, folic acid, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), calcium iodate, vitamin D3 supplement.

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude protein 13.0% (min.)
Crude fat 4.6% (min.)
Crude fiber 16.8% (max.)
Ash 4.6% (max.)
Moisture 12.0% (max.)

Living World Premium Guinea Pig Food
Item # 61120, 908g (2.0 lbs); 61124, 9.07kg (20 lbs)

Pellets (dehydrated alfalfa meal, wheat shorts, ground wheat, soybean meal, lignin sulfonate, corn gluten meal, calcium carbonate, cane molasses, salt, DL-methionine, magnesium oxide, ascorbic acid, choline chloride, *), wheat, milo, sunflower seed, oat groats, extruded kibble (ground corn, wheat middlings, dried beet pulp, corn gluten meal, dehydrated alfalfa meal, soybean meal, wheat starch, calcium carbonate, salt, dicalcium phosphate, yellow 5, blue 5, *), green split peas, cracked corn, flaked corn, whole corn, dehydrated flaked carrot, raisins, dehydrated banana, dehydrated flaked potato, dehydrated flaked leek, orange oil.
* cobalt sulfate, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, sodium selenite, vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, folic acid, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), calcium iodate, vitamin D3 supplement.

----Guaranteed Analysis

Crude protein 13.0% (min.)
Crude fat 4.6% (min.)
Crude fiber 16.8% (max.)
Ash 4.6% (max.)
Moisture 12.0% (max.)



Guinea Pig Food
(H-1103, H-1104, H-1108, H-1109)

Dehydrated alfalfa meal, wheat shorts, ground wheat, soybean meal, lignin sulfonate, corn gluten meal, calcium carbonate, cane molasses, salt, DL-methionine, ascorbic acid, choline chloride, cobalt sulfate, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, sodium selenite ,vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, folic acid, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), vitamin D3 supplement, mineral oil, propionic acid, sorbic acid, ground corn cobs, citric acid.

Guarantee Analysis

Crude protein 18.0% (min.)
Crude fat 2.5% (min.)
Crude fiber 16.0% (max.)
Moisture 12.0% (max.)
Calcium 0.7% (min.)
Phosphorus 0.5% (min.)
Sodium 0.2% (min.)
Magnesium 0.25% (min.)
Vitamin A 11,000 IU/Kg (min.)
Vitamin D3 1,600 IU/Kg (min.)
Vitamin E 50 IU/Kg (min.)
Vitamin K 5mg/Kg (min.)
Vitamin C 800 mg/Kg (min.)


---------------

Thanks to gpmom for this info.

Unfortunately, the news for these feeds is not good. Not only do some have seeds and other dehydrated "goodies" and colorings that are for the owner's visual benefit, but they also contain harmful ethoxyquin, poor quality soy, beet pulp, corn products (including ground corn cobs!), potatoes, sunflower seeds, wheat products, grain by-products (grain itself is fine and much healthier than the leavings from other industries--which are by-products), etc. The fiber content is also poor in ratio to the protein. The fiber should be about 20% of the total.

User avatar
pigluvver

Post   » Thu Apr 10, 2003 8:41 am


Gerty (from the bag)

Alfalfa pellets, Flaked Beans (10.0%), Flaked Maize (10.0%), Flaked Peas (10.0%), Wheat extrusions, Whole Oats, Hipro soya (7.5%), Flaked Wheat, Alfalfa stalk, Linseed lozenges (5.0%), Vitamins and minerals.

Protein 17.0%
Oil 3.0%
Fibre 10%
Ash 7%
Moisture 12.0%
Vit A 23,000 iu/kg
Vit C 250 mg/kg (ascorbic acid)
Vit D3 1,000 iu/kg
Vit E 50 mg/kg (alpha tocopherol acetate)
Copper 10mg/kg (as cupric sulphate)

Contains EC permitted colourants, vits guaranteed till best before date. (Bought this bag today, best before date Mar 04)

Wilko's guinea pig food. (store own brand - from the bag)

Grass pellets, extruded wheat, flaked beans, flaked peas, flaked maize, linseed lozenges, grass, whole oats, flaked soya bean, soya oil, vitamins and minerals, EC permitted colourants.

Protein 16.5%
Oil 3%
Fibre 11.5%
Ash 4.5%
Vit A 10,000 iu/kg
Vit C 225,g/kg
Vit D3 800 iu/kg
Vit E 50mg/kg (alpha-tocopherol acetate)
CU 10mg/kg (as cupric sulphate)

Vit levels guaranteed till best before date. Bought today, best before date Sep 2003

What is the ash in aid of? Is it just a bulk/filler or is it needed?

Josephine
Little Jo Wheek

Post   » Thu Apr 10, 2003 5:32 pm


The ash is a bad thing, but a side-product of other ingredients. It has to do with Mg content. Less than 10% is ideal. I'm not sure how safe it is in small amounts, but it is unavoidable to some extent. If a feed has more than 10%, it is certainly unbalanced in other ways and has poor quality ingredients.

Both the Gerty and Wilko's have major problems. Corn (maize), beans (what is that other than cheap!?), soy, colorants, and "flaked" and "extrusions" (or "extruded") point to poorer by-products.

Blue Seal has similar problems:

Blue Seal Guinea Pig Pellets (With added Vitamin C)
UPC 6-39139-00374-5

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

Crude Protein, Min............. 20.0%
Crude Fat, Min................... 4.0%
Crude Fiber, Max................ 16.0%
Moisture, Max..................... 10.0%
Calcium, Min.. 0.75% Max.. 1.25%
Phosphorus, Min................. 0.65%
Salt, Min..... 0.25% Max..... 0.75%
Ascorbic Acid, Min............... 400mg/lb

INGREDIENTS

Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Wheat Middlings, Oat Mill By-Product, Cane Molasses, Animal Fat (Mixed Tocopherosis Preservative), Corn Meal, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin D), Monocalcium Phosphate, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Maganese Sulfate, Maganese Oxide, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin A Supplement, Maganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Cobalt Carbonate, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Biotin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Brewer's Dried Yeast, Dried Streptococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product

Winter

Post   » Tue Apr 22, 2003 3:46 pm


I recently purchased 2 Cavies, Willow and Ruby. I live in a small town that doesn't cater to pet lovers (at least not little pets) and am limited with my choices. The main foods I have a choice between are Hagan pellets or Kaytee products. I was wondering which is better.

Charybdis

Post   » Tue Apr 22, 2003 4:08 pm


Since it is apparent that you have internet access, why don't you buy the appropriate pellets over the internet?

Also, can you post your questions in cavy chat instead of the reference forum?

Joni

Post   » Wed Apr 23, 2003 8:19 am


I thought I'd add Small World gp pellets to the list. They are made by Manna Pro Corporation.

Ingredients: Dehydrated alfalfa meal, wheat middlings, soybean meal, feeding oatmeal, corn, dried whey, linseed meal, cane molasses, vegetable oil, dl-methionine, calcium carbonate, monocalcium phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, salt, zinc oxide, zinc sulfate, cobalt carbonate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, menadione dimethylpyrimidinol, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, niacin supplement, choline chloride, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folix acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement.

Gauranteed Analysis

Crude Protein Min 20.0%
Crude Fat Min 4.0%
Crude Fiber Max 15.0%
Moisture Max 12.0 %


It does have a "Best if used by" date. This seemed to be a pretty decent feed from what I can make out of the ingredients.

Any opinions?

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