Incineration of BARF is of course part of biologically appropriate raw feeding. After all, with BARF we try to recreate the diet of whole prey animals - and an important part of this is to provide the dog with the nutrients contained in the innards. For this reason, in the medium to long term, innards should make up around 15 percent of the animal portion of the BARF diet. Important: Although tripe and omasum from beef are also innards from a biological point of view, they are not included in this calculation as an independent component. You can also see this breakdown in our BARF calculator .
BARFing offal: what does it include?
When it comes to BARF, the organs that are counted as offal include the heart, liver, kidney, spleen and lungs. Below we would like to introduce the various attributes of offal for dogs in more detail.
The heart has a special position among the offal, as the heart is actually a muscle and therefore also muscle meat. However, as its chemical composition is much closer to other offal than normal muscle meat, it is considered an offal for the BARF diet. It is rich in various B vitamins and vitamins C and E, as well as significant amounts of iron, potassium and selenium, which can all be used for metabolism. In terms of phosphorus content, however, the heart lies between muscle meat and other offal. The heart is also rich in taurine, which makes it an important part of the diet, especially for cats. For dogs, the heart should make up about five percent of the total animal portion.
The liver is also one of the most important organs in BARF. Although the liver is a filter organ, it does not store any toxins itself, which makes it safe for the diet - in the right dosage. The liver should therefore make up about three to five percent of the animal portion of the diet. It contains vitamin A and almost all B vitamins and is rich in various trace elements such as iron, zinc and selenium.
The kidney, like the spleen, is extremely low in fat and contains a lot of protein. Both should therefore be fed about weekly, with a contribution of one to three percent of the animal portion. Kidneys contain B vitamins as well as folic acid, potassium and selenium, while the spleen is ideal for feeding in cases of iron deficiency due to its high iron content. Potassium, copper and zinc are also included.
The lungs provide similar nutritional values to the spleen, but, like the heart, have a special position among the offal. The muscular outer walls are an important part of the lungs, so they are not just an offal. Because the lungs are very low in fat, they are ideal for drying and using as a treat for dogs or for feeding as part of a diet. With their high taurine content, they are also very suitable for cats.
BARFing offal: which animals are suitable?
You want to BARF offal and are wondering which animal it should come from? Basically, there are no major differences in the composition and therefore in how the pet can use it. So if there are food intolerances, you should avoid offal of this type as well as muscle meat and other components of the BARF diet. In our BARF shop, for example, we also offer the corresponding animal offal for many types of meat. Perhaps your pet simply likes certain types better - try out which compositions are best accepted.
BARF: Feeding offal – but how?
Even if your dog accepts BARF well, offal can be a special case. This can be caused by the consistency or because the offal gives off a strong smell. Try cutting up the offal, mincing it or frying it lightly to get your animal used to this type of food. You can buy many offal pieces already chopped up in our BARF online shop . Alternatively, you can also add other ingredients, such as blood or dog sausage. Try it out and see what works.
Do you have any questions about feeding offal? Our team will be happy to help you - contact us by phone or using the contact form.
