DOG FOOD GUIDE
Working dogs are ‘amazing animals and elite athletes,’ Marlborough vet Stuart Burrough says.
Caring for their mates Working dogs are best mates to many farmers, indispensable to all, Gerard Hutching writes.
R
ecent decades have seen a sea change in attitudes to caring for what Marlborough vet Stuart Burrough describes as “amazing animals and elite athletes”. Where once farmers might have fed their dogs throwaway lamb offcuts, and left them in kennels at the mercy of the elements, a rising tide of awareness is setting new standards for their care. Practice manager at Atkinson and Associates in the northern King Country town of Piopio, Cathryn Christie, confirms a shift in attitude from her observations over the last 10 years. “It wasn't uncommon 10 years ago to see very thin farm dogs that were not regularly wormed, they weren't fed enough and it was poor quality food sometimes. They got injured regularly and didn't last very long. There are still dogs like that out there but they're the exception to the rule when you see them these days.”
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A dog’s working lifespan varies, depending on the terrain. On steep hill country five to seven years is maximum, after which it might be sold to someone with an easier farm. Christie knows a number of nine-year-olds still working and are valuable parts of the team. Financial self-interest is one of the chief drivers of the transformation. Central Otago station manager Chris McDonald points out a well-trained dog can be worth anything between $8-$10,000 and therefore any measures that extend the working life of their second most valuable asset (after a vehicle) are welcome. McDonald has six dogs for the Patearoa 20,000 stock unit farm, and he treats them like part of the family. He says most farmers are caring, some appreciate them more than others. “It depends on your upbringing, if you come from an environment where people treat their dogs well, so will you.” He says some dogs get a good pat during
Marlborough vet Stuart Burrough.
the day at some stage. Some people hardly pat a dog at all, it's just a tool to them. “For my own situation, care hasn’t changed a lot, I’ve always kept them well housed and well fed.” McDonald says some farmers buy a dog and trade them, others will have them from pups to when they die. In the past a dog might get old and it would be put down but now a lot of people value what the dog has done within their lifetime. Continues
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“They treat them to a damn good retirement - which they should get.” A typical day starts with giving the dogs a run before loading them on to the dog box on the ute and heading off to work. In spring, lambing is the most important job and for that he uses only the three heading dogs rather than the boisterous huntaways which come into their own herding sheep in the yards.
SOPHISTICATED CARE Central Otago station owner Chris McDonald sees vets as being at the forefront of dog health and wellbeing. He says care has become more sophisticated. Equally, farmers are more prepared to spend a lot of money to rehab a dog if it is injured. Two vet practices – The Vet Centre in Marlborough and Vet Service Hawke’s Bay - are helping to spearhead the newly launched Wallago Dogs programme. It is the brainchild of Elanco technical vet Kirstie Inglis. She is also an animal wellbeing representative for the company. The aim of the initiative is to improve the services that vet clinics offer to farm dog clients. Inglis’ interest in New Zealand farm dogs was sparked 15 years ago when she migrated from the United Kingdom. “Already animal health was a pet passion, and then I met these cool breeds the huntaways and the heading dogs – and got to know about the station life. “It just blew me away, how important the bond was between those working dogs and farmers out on those remote stations all day.” Working in a vet practice, she and colleagues used to do annual dog runs where within a three-day time period they would vaccinate as many as possible. She laments they did not get enough time to properly examine the dogs but notes that has changed to an extent, with some practices doing a good job of giving dogs the health care they deserve. She says if a vet practice sends out a dog animal expert rather than the farm vet who normally doesn't do dogs, and they do a nose-to-tail exam like one for a pet dog, they can pick up and foresee health problems a lot better. “Better than doing the frantic ‘let's cram all the dogs into three days a year in the area’,” Kirstie says. With that in mind, in concert with Stuart Burrough of the Vet Centre in Marlborough and Caroline Robertson of Vet Service Hawke’s Bay, she has developed sets of resources practices can use.
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Burrough and Robertson describe it as a process of sharing their intellectual property. In their own way they have been doing Wallago dogs for several decades but they never gave it a formal name. Robertson says the first impetus used to be vaccinating dogs and trying to get herd immunity, but that has expanded out to improving overall animal health. This is trying to give people an easy way of starting a process. When faced with something new, the hardest thing is to get started. “We're giving them a push, it's a good thing for business, clients and the animals,” she says. Burrough says the resources are aimed at practices which have not yet developed a working dog health programme, and to give them the tools and confidence to get started. He likens a thorough clinical examination to an annual warrant of fitness check for the car – it will pick up preventable problems.
ANOTHER YEAR’S WORKING LIFE “It's better for farmers if they can get another year's working life out of their dogs by dealing with problems before they develop, but also has benefits for the practice which earns income from follow up procedures that were identified. It’s a win:win.” Atkinson and Associates’ Cathryn Christie says the new frontiers of dog care lie in drugs, nutrition and kennel care. There is an increasing use of antiinflammatory drugs to ward off stiffness. Where in the past farmers used to wait until arthritis slowed dogs down, now they
Kirstie Inglis: ‘It just blew me away, how important the bond was between those working dogs and farmers.’
are being more proactive by putting them on anti-inflammatory drugs. “It might just be given as a pulse therapy - perhaps when they've got a big day to get them through - or as they get older it might be a more constant course. There's one product (Trocoxil) which you can give once a month and that's been a game changer for working dogs because farmers aren’t always compliant at dosing daily.” Big strides have been made in nutrition. Dogs used to be fed mutton no matter the quality, but one of the upsides of the better prices farmers are being paid for livestock is that the practice has largely stopped – “a godsend for nutrition”, Robertson says. In comparing dogs to elite athletes, Burroughs says the All Blacks would not try and perform on “rubbish”, whereas diets of high levels of protein and fat not only give them more stamina but stronger bones. Specialty dry food diets do not come cheap. For example the Royal Canin mobility diet costs almost $200 for 15kg but farmers will feed their good older dogs on the nuts instead of dosing them. Burroughs says the old dog can keep going till the younger one is ready. Only in its infancy, the Wallago programme is hosted on a website vetsafe.co.nz.
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Summary of general information provided by dog food suppliers Product name
Type
Refrigeration needed?
AAFCO status Ingredients list (first 3 only)
Acana Prairie Poultry
Formulated
Chicken meal (25%), steel-cut oats (23%), fresh chicken meat (5%)
N
BlackHawk Working Dog Adult Formula
Approved
Lamb meat meal, beef meat meal, oats
N
Champ Max Biscuits
Formulated
Wheat, meal and bone derived from beef and lamb, animal fat
N
CopRice Working Dog Adult Beef
Formulated
Beef & chicken meat with by-products, rice, cereals
N
CopRice Working Dog Adult Chicken
Formulated
Chicken meat with by-products, rice, cereals
N
CopRice Working Dog Puppy
Formulated
Chicken & beef meat with by-products, rice, cereals
N
CopRice Working Dog Senior
Formulated
Chicken meat with by products, rice, cereals
N
Dogpro Original Working Dog
Formulated
Wholegrain cereals, real meat beef, mutton/lamb & chicken
N
Dogpro Plus Working Dog Active
Formulated
Wholegrain cereals, real meat beef, mutton/lamb & chicken
N
Eukanuba Premium Performance
Approved
Chicken, chicken by-product meal, corn meal
N
Game On
Formulated
Kangaroo meat, wholegrain cereals, poultry meats
N
Hills Science Diet Adult Active
Formulated
Whole grain corn, chicken by-product meal, pork fat
N
K9 Natural Frozen Beef Feast
Frozen raw
No
Beef, beef liver, beef tripe
Y
Mighty Mix Frozen + Large Dog
Frozen concentrate
No
Fats, meats & products derived from meat (beef, mutton, pork), salmon, cereal
Y
Mighty Mix Frozen Concentrate
Frozen concentrate
No
Fats, meats & products derived from meat (beef, mutton, pork), salmon, cereal
Y
Mighty Mix Large Dog Formula
Formulated
Cereal, meat products and fats (beef & mutton), honey
N
Nutrience Performance 30/20 Formula
Formulated
Chicken meal, oatmeal, chicken fat
N
Pedigree Working Dog Formula
Formulated
Meat & meat by-products (poultry, beef &/or lamb), wheat, wheat bran
N
Possyum Supreme
Formulated
NZ Possum meat, lamb & beef, semolina
O
Premium Greyhound Racer for Endurance, stamina & speed
Formulated
Wholegrain cereals, real meat beef, mutton/lamb & chicken
N
PRO PLAN Performance All Sizes All Ages
Approved
Chicken, animal fat, brewers rice
N
PRO PLAN Performance Extreme 32/30
Approved
Chicken, fish, animal fat, oats & wheat protein
N
Royal Canin Endurance 4800
FEDIAF
Dehydrated poultry protein, animal fats, rice
N
Superior Chunky Original
Formulated
NZ beef & lamb, semolina
O
TUX Energy
Approved
Cereals &/or cereal by-products, meat & animal by-products & fats derived from beef/sheep/poultry/goat or venison
N
TUX Energy Extra
Approved
Chicken, beef products, fats (dehydrated chicken and beef protein, beef fat which may contain sheep, venison and goat); cereals and cereal products; natural flavour and vegetable oil
N
Ultra Active Working Dog
Exceeds
Beef meal, ground corn, dried blood
N
Wag Garlic & Rice
Formulated
Chicken, lamb, rice
Y
Wag Original
Formulated
Chicken, beef, lamb
Y
NOTES • AAFCO status: Approved-has passed independent AAFCO testing, considered non-toxic, a complete and balanced diet. Formulated-good intent to meet AAFCO standards but not AAFCO tested. • FEDIAF:- indicates the product complies with the European Federation of Pet Food Manufacturers’ (FEDIAF) standards. AAFCO standards. • Ingredients are listed in order of proportion, highest listed first. Only first three are listed in this table. In general, where the first is a high-quality ingredient, the shorter the full list, the higher the food quality. • Mighty Mix recommends feeding their frozen concentrate with Mighty Mix large dog formula, either together or alternately. • All products listed are claimed to be complete and balanced diets
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Kibble Pet roll Biscuit
Made in
North America
Y
Yes
NZ
N
No
Australia
O
Once opened
France Canada USA
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Summary of daily rations recommended by dog food suppliers Product name
25kg highly active dog required/day
Pack/price details
Grams of food/day
$/day
Pack size (kg)
RRP ($)
Acana Prairie Poultry
335
2.84
17
149
BlackHawk Working Dog Adult Formula
478
3.2
20
134
Champ Max Biscuits
510
1.33
25
54.99
CopRice Working Dog Adult Beef
400
1.4
20
69.99
CopRice Working Dog Adult Chicken
400
1.4
20
69.99
CopRice Working Dog Puppy
Age dependent
Age dependent
15
59.99
CopRice Working Dog Senior
400
1.4
20
69.99
Dogpro Original Working Dog
450g
1.8
20
80
Dogpro Plus Working Dog Active
450g
1.8
20
80
Eukanuba Premium Performance
355
2.28
20
127
Game On
600
1.8
20
80
Hills Science Diet Adult Active
297
2.67
20.4
183
K9 Natural Frozen Beef Feast
500
4.87
20
194.99
Mighty Mix Frozen + Large Dog
288.5
1.36
25 + 20
101+103
Mighty Mix Frozen Concentrate
225
0.93
25
103
Mighty Mix Large Dog Formula
352
1.78
20
101
Nutrience Performance 30/20 Formula
347
2.06
15
119
Pedigree Working Dog Formula
500
2.09
20
83.5
Possyum Supreme
400
2
2
9.98
Premium Greyhound Racer
450
2.25
20
100
PRO PLAN Performance All Sizes All Ages
508
4.06
20
159.9
PRO PLAN Performance Extreme 32/30
543
4.82
18
159.9
Royal Canin Endurance 4800
550
3.81
20
137
Superior Chunky Original
400
1.51
2.2
8.3
TUX Energy
490
1.5
25
76.5
TUX Energy Extra
410
1.7
20
84.5
Ultra Active Working Dog
200
1.25
20
125
Wag Garlic & Rice
1200
2.96
3
7.39
Wag Original
1200
2.96
3
7.39
PRICES CAN BE MISLEADING • Different bag sizes make the price for each bag irrelevant. Price per kilogram also has little relevance because daily rations vary widely between products. The calculated cost for each dog per day must be balanced against food quality, which should be the major consideration for working dogs. • For hard-working farm dogs, energy is an important factor in assessing rations. A 25kg dog has a resting energy requirement (RER) of about 820kcal per day. For dogs’ mustering, it’s more likely to be three to five times their RER, equating to about 2500kcal4000kcal. • This is a wide range but then so is their workload. Knowing the ME of a specific food means a daily energy requirement (DER) can be used to determine the daily ration of a food needed to provide this energy. • Daily ration (kg) = DER (kcal) /ME (kcal/kg) • For example, the daily ration of 4000kcal/kg to provide 2500kcal: DER = 2500 / 4000 = 0.625kg or 625g. NOTES • A dog’s nutritional requirements vary with size, age, workload, reproductive status and climatic conditions. • Daily rations quoted are those recommended by suppliers and may be based on different nutritional assumptions. • Monitoring body condition is the best way to fine-tune ration sizes for a particular food. • Farm dogs should ideally have a condition score of four on the Nestle Purina Body Condition System: • Ribs easily palpable, with minimal fat covering. • Waist easily noted, viewed from above. • Abdominal tuck evident. • Recommended retail prices from suppliers may vary from those seen at retailers, and bulk purchasing and specials reduce costs. Prices may vary from those in this table. • Prices include GST.
A puppy’s nutritional needs BY: SCOTT WILLIAMS It is estimated that it can cost about $40,000 to provide adequate feed and care for a working dog over its lifetime. As such, it makes economic sense to take whatever steps are necessary to optimise the health, performance and longevity of your dog. Like human nutrition, diet can have a significant impact on health and life expectancy. For young dogs, a balanced diet means a lot more than providing a rich source of protein and energy. It is providing the right combination of more
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than 40 essential nutrients in the right amounts, carefully matched with the levels of protein and energy they need to match their rapid growth. Puppies have different nutritional requirements to adult or senior dogs. Providing optimal nutrition throughout the puppy stage will ensure they have the very best start to an agile working career and a long, healthy life. The puppy stage can vary from nine to 24 months, depending on breed. Some working dogs are considered to reach adulthood at about 12 months of age while
other larger breeds like the Huntaway can be growing for at least 18 months. Specific puppy nutrition is easy to justify during early development (up to three months) because the rapid growth is visible to the owner. However, the importance of continuing to provide specific puppy food is often overlooked during the juvenile period, which can last from six months to 21 months. As a result, many owners transition their juvenile dog to adult food too early. However, as there are still important changes occurring in the body Continues
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CHOOSE BRAVECTO — LONG LASTING FLEA & TICK PROTECTION IN A SINGLE DOSE IT DOESN’T TAKE LONG FOR A FLEA BURDEN TO DEVELOP WITH TEAMS OF WORKING DOGS • One dose of Bravecto lasts the entire flea life cycle.1 • A great choice for dogs with flea allergy dermatitis. • Safe for use in dogs from 8 weeks of age and 2 kg bodyweight. • Safe for use in breeding, pregnant and lactating dogs, as well as ‘ivermectin sensitive’ Collies. • Bravecto chew for dogs treats and controls demodectic and sarcoptic mange, and ear mites. REMEMBER TO TREAT YOUR FARMS CATS TOO
Visit bravecto.nz to find out more 1. The average flea life cycle lasts 3-8 weeks.
ACVM70 No’s: A011019, A011261 & A011446. Schering-Plough Animal Health Ltd. Phone: 0800 800 543. www.msd-animal-health.co.nz NZ-BRV-200900005 © 2020 Intervet International B.V. All rights reserved.
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changing diets too early may impact the dog’s optimal growth and development. Inadequate nutrition during the juvenile stage can leave dogs susceptible to poor growth rate (low levels of zinc, iron, protein or Vitamin A), poor bone structure (imbalance of calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin D) and reduced stamina (low levels of iron, fat and protein). It is strongly recommended they are fed a specific puppy diet until they have completed growing. Supplementation of specific nutrients is not recommended due to the high risk of overdosing or upsetting the balance of nutrients, which can cause lifelong and irreversible issues. For
example, while a deficiency of calcium can cause soft bones and increased fractures, an excess of calcium can cause joint problems and osteoarthritis in later life, especially if it is not balanced appropriately with phosphorus. Optimal nutrition is more important than maximal nutrition, meaning it is vital to not overfeed a puppy. Obesity can cause health issues throughout life. A scientifically-formulated puppy food takes the guesswork out of what nutrition to provide the pup, including the volume of each meal. When choosing what food to buy, look for high quality ingredients, such as
meat and brown rice, which are highly digestible, and for elevated levels of essential fats, DHA, zinc, manganese and Vitamin A. A good choice is a ‘complete and balanced’ ration formulated specifically for puppies. • Scott Williams is CopRice’s nutritional and technical manager for companion animals.
Massey University says there are minimum levels for all of the essential elements in the AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) regulations. New Zealand pet food conforms to these standards. – Editor.
Summary of nutritional information provided by dog food suppliers Fat (%)
Protein (%)
Fibre (%)
Carbohydrates (%)
Moisture (%)
M Energy (k/cal kg)
Acana Prairie Poultry
17
29
5
29.5
12
3493
BlackHawk Working Dog Adult Formula
22
32
3
23
10
4090
Champ Max Biscuits
15
20
2.5 max
40
10
3200
CopRice Working Dog Adult Beef
15
25
3.8
37
12
3850
CopRice Working Dog Adult Chicken
15
25
3.8
38
12
3850
CopRice Working Dog Puppy
15
29
3.8
36
12
3550
CopRice Working Dog Senior
10
24
4.5
43
12
3200
31.3
10 max
3768
33.2 DM%
9
Product name
Dogpro Original Working Dog
11
23
2
Dogpro Plus Working Dog Active
15
25
2
Eukanuba Premium Performance
20 min
30 min
4 crude max
17
30
2
Hills Science Diet Adult Active
27.2 DM%
31.7 DM%
1.8 DM%
K9 Natural Frozen Beef Feast
Game On
3600 4211
37 min
35 min
2.6
3.7
8 max
5269
Mighty Mix Frozen + Large Dog
53
25
5.1
11.7
31.1
5800
Mighty Mix Frozen Concentrate
53
25
5.1
11.7
31.1
5800
12
23
1.9
42.3
11
3729
20 min
30 min
3.0 max
23
10 max
3920
15
24
2.5
45
9
3600
8 min
21.5 min
1.09 max
65
No data
4000
15
25
2
PRO PLAN Performance All Sizes All Ages
21
30
3 max
31.1
8.5
3900
PRO PLAN Performance Extreme 32/30
30
32
2 max
22.6
7
4640
Royal Canin Endurance 4800
30
32
6
15.9
8 max
4549
Mighty Mix Large Dog Formula Nutrience Performance 30/20 Formula Pedigree Working Dog Formula Possyum Supreme Premium Greyhound Racer for Endurance, stamina & speed
10 min
21 min
1.1 max
62
No data
4000
TUX Energy
18
20
4 max
46.4
8.7
3750
TUX Energy Extra
20
25
4 max
36
8.5
3840
Superior Chunky Original
15 min
30 min
4 max
No data
10 max
3187
Wag Garlic & Rice
28
39
3.7
17
Dry basis
4400
Wag Original
28
39
3.7
18
Dry basis
4350
Ultra Active Working Dog
NOTES
• Content of fat, protein and other ingredients may be specific i.e 20%; or vague i.e at least 20% or up to 20%. • Fat provides the energy for endurance work. Veterinary Enterprises Group (VetEnt) guidelines say hardworking farm dogs should have at least 20% animal fat. • Good-quality protein is needed for repair and recovery. VetEnt’s recommends a minimum of 30% animal protein. • Fibre is the indigestible carbohydrate portion and as a general rule should not be more than 10%.
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• Carbohydrates are needed for sprint type energy. • Energy: Farm dogs get most of their energy from fat. Energy may be quoted as “energy”, “gross energy”, “digestible energy” or the most relevant, “metabolisable energy (ME)” which is the energy available to the dog. Energy requirements should consider the intensity, frequency and duration of work. • The consensus of most veterinarians is that a working dog’s diet should be based on high fat and protein and “low” or “low to moderate” carbohydrate. • Nutritional data is presented on a drymatter basis.
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Grant McMaster General Manager, Closeburn Station Central Otago
Farm life is unpredictable. 72
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With the right food, you can rely on your dogs every day. Grant McMaster has been a farmer for over 40 years. He knows only too well how uncertain farm life can be. Black Hawk Working Dog has been developed specifically for New Zealand working dogs. Packed with 32% real meat proteins and 22% high quality fats, the formula promotes strong, lean muscles and provides sustainable energy throughout the day. ®
® Black Hawk and other associated trademarks are registered trademarks of Masterpet Australia Pty Ltd.
Since Grant has been feeding Black Hawk Working Dog to his dogs, he’s noticed a real difference – “you can see them improving in their muscling, their coats are shinier and they have more energy.”
Available at your rural vet clinic.
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workingfarmdogs.co.nz
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