Roo Vs Beef

[Red Fox]

I've always fed Kei beef (mince and/or chunks of rump, topside etc.) as part of his diet and he has done well on it.

We have a local butcher here who specialises in roo products (for both humans and animals) that a lot of people around here use and seem happy with so I decided to give them a go and sent OH down there yesterday to buy a few kilo's of mince and some nice big bones (all for the bargain price of $12!).

Last night I gave Kei half a cup of the mince mixed with his normal dinner and this morning a nice big leg bone, both of which he thourouly enjoyed

Now my question is apart from the price ($3 per kg for roo compared to $12 for beef) is there any advantages/disadvantages to using roo meat over beef? I have in the past read that roo has a higher calcium content and is also leaner and therefore a better choice, but then I've also read that it can contain hydatids (though I'm presuming that meat from a butcher would be pretty clean, especially as they also sell human grade)

My only experience with roo is when I had the cat on it a few years ago and he did not do well at all. BUT I had him on the pre-packaged preservative filled supermarket crap. The meat from this butcher is fresh minced and preservative free.

And before I get flamed for not using bone in pet mince... :D Mince only makes up around 20-30% of Kei's diet. The rest being RMB's(around 50-60%) veggie slops/fish/dairy/offal/eggs etc. So yes he is getting plenty of bone in his diet already

Can anyone offer any pros/cons on the subject?

Thanks

[Vehs]

My Shep mostly gets ckn bones and roo mince - I think he's doing pretty well

I do know that some dogs find it too rich and get the runs

[Sandra777]

I have a bitch who can't eat beef (gets hot spots and itchies) but is fine with roo mince/meat but can't eat roo bones (can eat other bones) so go figure that one!

If it suits the dog (keeps weight, no allergies) and is better for your pocket then it's got to be a good deal IMO!

[Red Fox]

My Shep mostly gets ckn bones and roo mince - I think he's doing pretty well

I do know that some dogs find it too rich and get the runs

Hmm. I thought about that so plan is to introduce it in small amounts and see what happens. Last night 1/2 a cup, a leg bone this-morning and half a cup tonight. So far poop is looking good He has had roo before but only on dried form.

[oakway]

Roo meat is a lean meat. Good for the fatties.

It is not rich as it contains less fat. It is high in protein

and may not agree with some dogs.

Yes it is good for people as it has less fat but do not expect your dog fatten

on such a lean meat.

[Red Fox]

Roo meat is a lean meat. Good for the fatties.

It is not rich as it contains less fat. It is high in protein

and may not agree with some dogs.

Yes it is good for people as it has less fat but do not expect your dog fatten

on such a lean meat.

Thanks Oakway. He's become a bit of a chuma-wumba over winter so maybe it will lean him out a bit.

[puggy_puggy]

The pugs get roo meat every few weeks.

I probably only feed beef once a month if that.

Edited September 26, 2009 by puggy_puggy

[Guest Pandii]

I fed alot of it to the Pei and the Rot, keeps the rot lean but the pei gets a bit to lean so I have to balance it out

[Erny]

Now my question is apart from the price ($3 per kg for roo ....

!! I want your butcher down here!!

My local butchers used to supply roo mince which I fed to my previous girl, but now they only stock the premium roo. I ran out for a couple of days and had to buy that. At $15 or $16 per kilogram and with my boy eating 2 kilograms a day it proved to be an expensive weekend meals-wise.

But not to worry. I made up for that by having toast.

Edited September 26, 2009 by Erny

[Tilly]

I find it gives my older boy the runs so I don't tend to feed it ...

[Red Fox]

Now my question is apart from the price ($3 per kg for roo ....

!! I want your butcher down here!!

My local butchers used to supply roo mince which I fed to my previous girl, but now they only stock the premium roo. I ran out for a couple of days and had to buy that. At $15 or $16 per kilogram and with my boy eating 2 kilograms a day it proved to be an expensive weekend meals-wise.

But not to worry. I made up for that by having toast.

Wow Erny, thats expensive! Your boy eats a lot more than mine too, any more than 1200g of food per day and Kei gets fat

Have to say though I was blown away by the price too. I gave hubby $50 and told him to get 3 or 4 kg and a couple of bones just to see how we go, when he told me it had only cost $12 for the lot I almost fell over!

[Erny]

Wow Erny, thats expensive! Your boy eats a lot more than mine too, any more than 1200g of food per day and Kei gets fat

Yes - he's a thspethal dog . And I promise you, he is no where near fat (not that you suggested he might be, but just to reassure). I am actually quite happy with his weight at the moment. He can't afford to lose any, but I think it is almost on perfect. Other people (perhaps more used to seeing dogs with fat on them) have a tendency to think he is skinny but I don't think he is. More like lean. But yes - that's on 2000g per day at the moment. Plus roo tail bones, although I have run out of those and need to get some more in. Oh - and plus his special medi-treats, which in themselves wouldn't count for much in the 'putting on weight' department. Plus additives.

Apologies for the OT.

Edited September 26, 2009 by Erny

[Red Fox]

Wow Erny, thats expensive! Your boy eats a lot more than mine too, any more than 1200g of food per day and Kei gets fat

Yes - he's a thspethal dog . And I promise you, he is no where near fat (not that you suggested he might be, but just to reassure). I am actually quite happy with his weight at the moment. He can't afford to lose any, but I think it is almost on perfect. Other people (perhaps more used to seeing dogs with fat on them) have a tendency to think he is skinny but I don't think he is. More like lean. But yes - that's on 2000g per day at the moment. Plus roo tail bones, although I have run out of those and need to get some more in. Oh - and plus his special medi-treats, which in themselves wouldn't count for much in the 'putting on weight' department. Plus additives.

Apologies for the OT.

I'm glad to hear he's doing well. A skinny Ridgie is MUCH better than a fat one (well not too skinny but you know what I mean )

[corvus]

I have also heard it doesn't agree with some dogs, but my dogs don't have any problems with it. They tend to get sick of it if I feed a lot, but otherwise, no problems with it. They don't get sick of beef, though.

Kangaroo is a sustainable meat. It's good for the environment and free of chemicals. I researched the internal parasites thing before I went onto raw and was satisfied that my chances of buying meat even pet grade with internal parasites was slim. At any rate, my dogs are regularly wormed (as I'm sure yours are as well).

Roo mince here costs about $3.80 a kilo if I buy it from Cliff at Just Food 4 Dogs, but I ran out of mince this week and picked some up from the pet food store for about $5 a kilo. It's more expensive than beef here. I've been thinking of mixing some roo in with my beef to make up for some of the overly fatty batches I get sometimes.

[Erny]

Thanks SK. Yes - I am seeing signs of improvement and am very pleased with them, although cautious not to celebrate too soon. And I do know what you mean by "too skinny". Been there. Seen that.

I'm sorry yet again to have dragged your thread OT. My knowledge/understanding of roo (vs beef) is that it is better for digestion. I believe most of the 'game' meats are. I tell you who would be able to give you a more detailed and precise answer to your query would be Dr. Bruce Syme at Vets All Natural. He's a big believer in feeding roo and would know of its effects on the canine digestive tract by comparison to other meats such as beef, better than anyone I know.

I'm sure he wouldn't mind you shooting him an email to ask. He's OS at the moment though.

[Erny]

Oh .... here you go.

From another forum (oops! Am I breaking rules here?) and an answer to a question similar to yours, answered by Vets All Natural. I was going to put the link up because it discusses other foods as well (including tripe, chicken, beef), but not sure I haven't already crossed the line too far. Troy - if that is the case please let me know and I will delete. Or you can .

"8. KANGAROO :

We now come to my preferred choice of meats - kangaroo. Fresh kangaroo meat has been widely used in Australia as fresh pet meat for over 30 years, and more recently, it has made significant in-roads into the pet food industry, with sales of roo meat in supermarkets escalating dramatically over the past 5 years.

Kangaroo meat is widely available in Australia at most pet supply outlets, and in supermarkets. Due to increasing demand, the price of kangaroo has unfortunately increased significantly over the past 2 years, now retailing for $4.00 + per kg. Roo meat has never really been used in processed canned and dry foods, most likely due to cost and price levels, as the beef by-products they do use are cheaper for the major can manufacturers to source.

Nutritionally, kangaroo meat is superior to all the farmed meats. It is low in fat (3 - 4%), high in protein, and high in vitamins and minerals. Because kangaroo is not farmed, the meat is truly free range, and organic. Kangaroos graze on a very wide variety of pastures, wild grasses, shrubs and trees, and as a result of this variety, they enjoy excellent health, and their meat has a wide array of macro and micro nutrients.

Kangaroo is a highly suitable meat source, and is a natural prey animal of the wild Australian dogs - the Dingo. Kangaroo is considered a "cooling" meat, as it lives in a very dry and arid environment, and as such, is ideal for treating pets with food allergies. Also, because it has never been widely used in processed pet foods, it is also a very unique source of animal protein, and is very valuable when formulating a diet for pets with food allergies.

Kangaroo is not farmed in Australia, hence the meat itself is considered "wild game" meat, and is, by nature, free range and organic. Kangaroo numbers have escalated in Australia since the 19th Century, with modern farming practices opening up large areas of grazing land.

Culling of kangaroos is vital, both to prevent over-competition with domesticated farm animals (primarily sheep and cattle), but also to prevent massive overpopulation in good seasons, where kangaroo numbers can escalate out of control. Culling of Kangaroos is a very closely controlled, government regulated, exercise. Every year, aerial surveillance is undertaken to record accurate population numbers, and a cull quota is established for each state, to maintain an appropriate sustainable base population. Kangaroos are shot in the wild by professionally accredited shooters; every shooter is licensed and must purchase government issued ear tags, which are immediately attached to any kangaroo that is taken. It is the specific number of tags issued that, in turn, control the cull numbers. Kangaroos must be killed with a single clean head shot. There is no stressful period of mustering, handling or transport involved at all.

The kangaroos are transported to a local chilled container, which is then transported to the local processing plant. Every animal is inspected by a government appointed meat inspector, and then approved for processing. Carcasses to be used for human consumption are processed in separate production areas, and have a second inspection before being cleared for HC. The quality of meat used for HC is no different to that harvested for pet food, and differs only in the processing and inspection stages.

SUMMARY - KANGAROO

Without a doubt, the best fresh meat available for pets, anywhere in the world. We are indeed fortunate in this country to have such a high quality meat source, correctly handled and inspected, that is available at a price where the choice cuts of meat itself can be used for pet food.

Perfectly suited for both dogs and cats - rates as THE BEST."

[Red Fox]

Thanks Erny

[Guest belgian.blue]

My girl gets a mix between lamb and goat raw chunks, both at $3.O5kg

The shop also stocks roo, so my next visit I will get a few roo and she will have that a couple of times a week. Wanted to wait until she was over 12 months to start feeding roo and now I think is a good time. Since she had the big OP I find she puts on weight easily [like her mum apparently ], so roo will suit her well.

They also sometimes have horse meat, I would NEVER feed my dog horse [i adore horses] but does anyone know the fat and protein in horse meat? I'm curious.

eta - I don't eat beef myself, so my dog doesn't.

Edited September 26, 2009 by belgian.blue

[ridgiemum]

I tried my ridgeback on roo meat from the butcher & she would not touch it, the cats liked it though.