Natural Feeding Methods

Natural feeding practices include feeding animals on grassland which include grass, herb strips for horses (Frape 2004: HATO 2), raw meaty bones for bones (Lonsdale 2011: HATO 2) and natural foods for cats while commercial feeding practices are those that have undergone further processing.

Advantages of natural feeding methods.

Horses

Grass is highly palatable to horses (Frape 2004: HATO 2). Pasture is used as an exercise area for horses especially horses that are used in military campaigns (Frape 2004: HATO 5). Most horse usually need rest and a light exercise in between work. Pasture has a high protein content which varies directly with rainfall and inversely with soil temperatures (Frape 2004: HATO 5).  Grass also contains minerals such as magnesium and potassium which is helpful in the growth of horses. Green leafy materials is also a great source of folic acid and vitamins such as A, B, E and K (Frape 2004: HATO 7). Pasture also contains trace elements such as copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium which are helpful to the horse.

Cats

Raw meaty bones enhance growth (Lonsdale 2011: HATO 1). Natural foods also solve the problem of periodontal disease in cats (Lonsdale 1992: HATO 2).

Dogs

Raw meaty bones for dogs contains proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins and trace elements (Lonsdale 2011: HATO 2).

Disadvantages of natural feeding methods

Horses

Cutting of grasses in form of hay and silage makes the pasture unsuitable for horse grazing (Frape 2004: HATO 16). Grazing also reduces yield for horse (Frape 2004: HATO 18). It is also expensive to buy herb seeds. When herbs depress total yield per hectare of major nutrients when they are present in abundance. The economic worth of herb mixtures is unproven for horses

Cats

Cats have to be tricked to consume food through the use of powerful stimuli Lonsdale 1992: HATO 1). A strict timetable also has to be used such as introducing certain foods after a certain number of days. Example foe a difficult cat, switching of diet to fish and rabbit has to be done after ten days Lonsdale 1992: HATO 1).

Dogs

Commercial foods lack the nutrients needed by the dogs.

Advantages of commercial feeding practices

Horses

It is easy to determine the amount of nutritional value in commercial feeds compared to natural feeds Lonsdale 1992: HATO 2). They are also free from herbs which are likely to cause diseases.  

Dogs

Dogs should not be fed on commercial food as they have no advantages to the dogs.

Cats

Less commercial feeds on cats is useful in feeding the addiction however it should only be given to healthy cats (Lonsdale 2011: HATO 1).

 Disadvantages of commercial feeding practices

Horses

They do not offer as much nutrients as natural methods (Lonsdale 2011: HATO 2)

Dogs

Feeding dogs on junk foods make both their digestive system and repair and maintenance systems to work throughout to compensate for the wrong food (Lonsdale 2011: HATO 2). Processed foods lead to dental diseases and minerals and vitamin additives creates imbalance (Lonsdale 2011: HATO 4)

Cats

Canned foods lead to dental health problems. They also shrink with pain as they bite canned fish (Lonsdale 1992: HATO 2)

References

Frape, 2004. Grassland and Pasture Management. Commonwealth of Australia, p. 55.

References

Frape, 2004. Grassland and Pasture Management. Commonwealth of Australia, p. 55.

Lonsdale, 1992. Dental Health Information. Pandemic Periodontal Disease A Malodorous Condition, 20 August.p. 22.