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 content.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the dry matter basis formula:

Where:

• \( Nutrient \) — Nutrient percentage as listed on the food label
• \( Moisture \) — Moisture percentage of the food

Explanation: The equation converts the "as fed" nutrient percentage to what it would be if all moisture were removed.

3. Importance of Dry Matter Calculation

Details: Comparing pet foods on a dry matter basis is essential because moisture content varies widely between wet and dry foods, which can make direct label comparisons misleading.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the nutrient percentage (protein, fat, etc.) and moisture percentage from the pet food label. Moisture must be less than 100%.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is dry matter basis important?
A: It allows accurate comparison between different types of pet food (wet vs. dry) by removing the variable of moisture content.

Q2: How do I find the moisture content?
A: Check the guaranteed analysis on the pet food label. Wet foods typically contain 70-85% moisture, dry foods 6-10%.

Q3: What nutrients should I compare?
A: Most commonly protein and fat percentages, but can be applied to any nutrient listed on the label.

Q4: Does this work for all pet foods?
A: Yes, the calculation works for any pet food where you know both the nutrient and moisture percentages.

Q5: What's a typical dry matter protein percentage?
A: High-quality dry foods often have 30-40% protein on a dry matter basis, while wet foods may range 40-60%.