A Comparative Study on Animal Nutrition: Natural vs. Commercial Diets

This report provides an overview of animal nutrition, focusing on the comparison between natural and commercial feeding practices for animals such as dogs, cats, and horses. It highlights the nutrient values found in both types of diets, including proteins, fats, and essential vitamins and minerals. The report discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each approach, addressing the benefits of commercial diets, such as high energy values and medicated proportions of nutrients, as well as the potential drawbacks, including deficiencies in essential fatty acids and the risk of certain deficiencies. Conversely, it details the benefits of natural feeding, such as the presence of a balanced proportion of nutrients and easier digestibility, while also acknowledging its limitations, such as potential calcium and phosphorus deficiencies. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding these differences to make informed decisions about animal nutrition to ensure holistic development and health.

Animal Nutrition

Introduction
The consumers’ interest is growing rapidly over the issue of animal nutrition.It has become
the most rational topic for consumers to be aware of the various types of animal nutrition.
The demand for natural nutrition is growing high due to the risks associated with commercial
diets. This study is comprised with the information regarding the basic nutrition and nutrient
values for the cats, dogs and horses. The advantages and disadvantages of both natural
feeding and commercial feeding will be highlighted to make the right choice when it comes
to feeding animals like dogs, horses and cats. The study will carry the information on the
effectiveness of animal nutrition and nutrient deficiency in the onset of animal patients.
Picture: Animal nutrition
Source: Holistic Animal Therapy Organisation official
Analysis
The nutrient requirements depend on the psychological aspects of the animals. However, a
maintenance level of feeding is required for the animals to retain their body composition. The
nutrient perspective can be divided into two parts natural feeding practice and commercial
feeding practice having both advantages and disadvantages.
 Difference between commercial and natural feeding practice
The commercial feeding practice containsless natural nutrient values like protein, fat and
lipids and contains more dietary fats. On the contrary, natural feeding practice contains
1 | P a g e

retinol, ergocalciferol, tocopherol phosphorus and calcium that contain a high nutrient value
with least side effects (Hato.com.au, 2018).
 Advantage of the commercial feeding practice
It contains high energetic values that are required for the healthy growth of the animals.
(Hato.com.au, 2018). The medicated proportion of carbohydrate, fats and proteins are helpful
to increase the nutrient value of the animals. The availability of phosphorus in commercial
foods influences the protein value.(Hato.com.au, 2018).
 Disadvantage of the commercial feeding practice
As per the AAFCO guideline, excess intake of commercial foods may result in the Taurine
deficiency in the cat’s body that severely affect the metabolic rate. The horses require highly
valued protein that cannot be derived from the commercials foods (Hato.com.au, 2018).The
lack of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids are unavailable in the commercial foods that can
create several digestive issues for the animals (Hato.com.au, 2018).
 Advantage of the natural feeding practice
The natural feedingcontains an exact proportion of protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and
minerals that promote healthy growth. The natural feeding includes fish, meats, rice and
corns (Hato.com.au, 2018). The availability of the monosaccharide in the natural feeding
controls the units of glucose, fructose and galactose to retain the natural growth process.
Moreover, natural foods are easy digestive(Hato.com.au, 2018). Boiled meat and leguminous
plants contain proteins that are required for the growth of bone density and energy. The
natural feeding contains amino acids that are required to control the metabolic rate and blood
pressure. (Hato.com.au, 2018). The holistic requirement of animal nutrition can be fulfilled
by natural feeding.
2 | P a g e

Picture: Source of natural feeding for animals
Source: Holistic Animal Therapy Organisation official
 Disadvantage of the natural feeding practice
The natural feeding is low calcium diet which is not sufficient for the growth of the animals
(Hato.com.au, 2018). Lack of Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) abrupt the bone stimulation of the
animals ageing 12-15 weeks. The natural feeding does not contain phosphorouswhich may
result in hyperparathyroidismfor large breed dogs(Hato.com.au, 2018).
Conclusion
Both the natural and commercial diets are essentially required for the holistic development of
the animals. The intakes of calcium, vitamins, minerals, proteins and fats should be required
for effective animal nutrition.
3 | P a g e

Reference list
Hato.com.au. (2018). HATO - Holistic Animal Therapy Organisation - Home. [online]
Available at: http://www.hato.com.au/ [Accessed 29 Nov. 2018].
4 | P a g e