Small Furry Nutrition

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Justin Heaton — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:40:18 GMT

Hiya - glad to hear that you all still support Excel. Am sorry to hear that some of you have moved onto Alstoe. I would be happy to discuss the reasons why you have changed so we can make our Excel products better?

Also, just so you know, Alstoe never made Burgess Excel - we have always manufactured it. Its our little baby! They were only sell it to vets on our behalf. With their new products I do not think that they make it, but am not sure who does. Does anyone know?

Justin

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Charlotte says smile — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:02:02 GMT

Just started feeding mine on the alstoe g-pig and rabbit food, they loved it! never seen them go for pellets quite like it! so at the moment I am quite impressed!

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Fiona Leathers — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:47:20 GMT

We've changed to Alstoe and are getting feedback from the clients! Slightly cheaper too, which is making people happy and according to Alstoe, they used to make the Supa range for Burgess so I'm assuming its the same quality.

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

bongo — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:13:31 GMT

Has anyone come across the new alstoe range for rabbits and gp's. I have changed my pigs over to it and they absolutely love it! its a pelleted range a similar shape to excel but a bit bigger in size. my pigs only get a handful of this between them and in the meantime have oxbow hay (definately would never feed any other type of hay than this-it is the bestest!) and veggies.

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Vicky RVN — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:34:38 GMT

My piglets get excel too...before i knew of selective feeding they were on Gerty Guinea...soon changed that! I like the new excel for guineas, the oregano and blackcurrant one. Smells yum!

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Kate Claxton DipAVN(Med)VN — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:53:56 GMT

Saw Arlo's link back in the Summer and found it laughable then that the company responsible for the selective feeding nightmare that is Russel Rabbit had the nerve to be leading a 'campaign for superior quality nutrition' against Burgess. I would suggest that Step 1 of their campaign should be to take Russel Rabbit off the shelves.....

I've always fed my guinea pigs Excel Supa Guinea or Oxbow Cavy Cuisine, and have found they do very well on both. My pigs also get two meals of fresh veggies a day and hay ad lib.

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Justin Heaton — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:41:57 GMT

Hi All,

I am from Burgess Pet Care - we manufacture Burgess Excel.

I wanted to respond to your comments about the recent Supreme campaign about the content of our food. We have seen the results upon which the paper is based and all of our foods tested were negative for traces of animal and avian DNA.

Additionally we have sent off samples to DEFRA to test and they were confirmed as negative for animal and avian DNA. We manufacture our food in a factory that is audited to human food standard and has received BRC Grade A certification.

As with everyone, we would be very happy to give you a tour of the factory if you wish to audit for yourself. Please contact me if you would like to take up the offer.

I am sure Supreme would be happy to confirm this to you, but we understand that they do not manufacture their own food, but subcontract to an animal feeds supplier.

If you would like any more information please feel free to contact me personally on justin.heaton@burgesspetcare.co.uk. Alternatively I can be reached on 01405 862 241.

Also, incase you don't know, we do a full kit of support material which we give to practices for free - care guides, samples, posters, rabbit digestive system posters, rabbit breed posters, wobblers, money off vouchers etc - if you would like a free kit please either give me a call or alternatively our consumer care line on 0800 413 969.

Look forward to hearing from you

Justin

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Kerry Spain — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:26:19 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]

[quote user="kezzathecat"]I will add to this post in the next few days but have come across some disturbing evidence to show that certain pet food companies are producing food in sub standard manners.[/quote]

This is the same story I posted back in June:

http://www.vetnurse.co.uk/blogs/veterinary_news/archive/2009/06/23/29431.aspx

[/quote]

oh... haha sorry?!

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:43:54 GMT

This is the same story I posted back in June:

http://www.vetnurse.co.uk/blogs/veterinary_news/archive/2009/06/23/29431.aspx

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Fiona Leathers — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:33:05 GMT

Received it! Ta muchly!!

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Kerry Spain — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:36:08 GMT

[quote user="Bouncyfi"]

Can I have it please fiona@vetnurse.co.uk ta muchly

[/quote]

Hi chuck, I've just sent it

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Fiona Leathers — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:07:58 GMT

Can I have it please fiona@vetnurse.co.uk ta muchly

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Kerry Spain — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:25:44 GMT

Interesting eh?

Sorry I couldn't get it to copy properly, if any of you would like the FULL document send me your email address and I can forward it on to you.

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Kerry Spain — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:23:57 GMT

In an industry worth over £600m in Europe, Supreme Petfoods believes it is duty

bound to disclose the results of these tests and reports because they are

significant enough to require immediate investigation on the part of the

authorities and manufacturers.

Therefore, copies of the main report have been passed to DEFRA, Trading

Standards, Pet Advisory Committee, PFMA, BSAVA, RSPCA and other

interested parties. In our opinion, it is evident that immediate action is required to

protect the welfare of small animals and improve the accuracy and clarity of

packaging declarations for all consumers.

Supreme Petfoods Ltd now proposes that all manufacturers producing small

animal diets adopt an accreditation scheme, which forms part of detailed

recommendations as shown below.

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Kerry Spain — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:23:25 GMT

The analysis of 24 rabbit food samples manufactured and marketed by Burgess,

Wagg and Beaphar demonstrated a contamination level so prevalent that traces

of DNA from cattle, pig, chicken or turkey were found in 11 of the samples. These

random samples were taken from retailer’s shelves across the country.

In our opinion, the physiology of herbivores such as rabbits is unsuited to digest

meat. This ignores the ethical question as to whether animal owners would

knowingly feed a product, which could have the potential of containing meat.

Beaphar Care + Rabbit, marketed in the UK as a “super premium” complete diet,

declares 22% crude fibre on pack but measured an average of 14.9%, which is

outside legal tolerance. This potentially misleads consumers.

Burgess’ new rabbit diets state an analysis level for something they call

“Beneficial fibre”. There is no statutory definition for this term, but the Feeding

Stuffs Regulations state that crude fibre is the only declarable definition in the

statutory statement.

Added sugar offers no known benefits, but nor is there any legally required

declaration for some products. Complementary molassed diets should declare

total sugar as sucrose. The regulations permit raw materials to be ‘categorised’

therefore enabling some high sugar ingredients to be declared as ‘derivatives of

vegetable origin’.

The highest average levels of sugar were found in Wagg Optimum (4.57%),

Beaphar Care + (5.00%), Burgess Supa Fruiti (5.10%), Beaphar Extra Vital

(5.35%) and Burgess Excel (4.04%).

The new Burgess Excel Junior & Dwarf Rabbit diet contains the probiotic

Saccharomyces cerevisia.

This is listed only for use within feeds for the purpose

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Kerry Spain — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:16:33 GMT

ok as promised here is the information, produced by Supreme Petfoods:-

(I may have to post in sections as I can't seem to keep the resolution of the document when copying and pasting)

Executive Summary

The recent decision by Supreme Petfoods to benchmark its competitors’ key food

products has resulted in the discovery of apparent contraventions of current

legislation.

Supreme has always had ‘the wellbeing of small animals’ as its ethos and has

continuously striven to produce the highest quality foods available, for the benefit

of the animal and the trust of the consumer.

A claim of quality is always difficult to substantiate without proof. Many new and

established competitors have been making similar quality claims for their

products, but Supreme felt some of these were open to question. It was for this

reason that Supreme requested Campden BRI to conduct independent testing.

The key highlights of those results are:

•

Contamination from meat sources found in competitors’ products.

•

Some fibre levels that were substantially below legal tolerance compared

with declared levels.

•

Terms like ‘beneficial fibre’ in the statutory statement, which appear to be

unapproved descriptions.

•

Levels of sugar, given the recent campaign for rabbit obesity, which could

be of potential concern to veterinarians and owners.

•

Use of a probiotic authorised only for use within feeds for fattening, but

found in pet rabbit diets.

•

Claim for ‘complete food’ when only 8% fibre is declared on pack.

•

Potential risk to human health as competitors’ rabbit food is sold VAT free

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Fiona Leathers — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:13:09 GMT

Can I say that rabbits should have unlimited access to hay & grass and should not be restricted to "size of their body". Owners would probably take this to the extreme and do exactly that, leaving bunnies with empty tums! In fact, in an ideal world, clients would feed only hay or grass and stuff the pellets, wild rabbits seem to manage ok!

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Saskia Quinn — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:16:41 GMT

[quote user="Charlotte says smile"]

[quote user="SaskiaVN"]

I have either read on the internet or in a magazine that Burgess supa excel supposedly had meat derivatives in their excel range. Needless to say, I was not amused

[/quote]

I used to feed excel until I read that as I was slightly unsure about this I changed over to science select, I fed this to my guinea pig. I always advise a pellet food, and for G-pigs I aways recommend that clients check the vitamin C matches with the daily required amount, I generally go by the rule for amounts to feed rabbits daily requitrment of pellets should be the amount the size of their head and the hay amount should be the size of their body.

[/quote]

Thats a good tip about the feeding, thanks and I am also going to move away from Burgess Excel and on to the science select

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

chris beasley — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:54:38 GMT

The amount to feed guide is a new one to me- But its a great idea.

Will be using that one in future if you dont mind!

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Charlotte says smile — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:42:34 GMT

[quote user="SaskiaVN"]

I have either read on the internet or in a magazine that Burgess supa excel supposedly had meat derivatives in their excel range. Needless to say, I was not amused

[/quote]

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Saskia Quinn — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:15:24 GMT

I have either read on the internet or in a magazine that Burgess supa excel supposedly had meat derivatives in their excel range. Needless to say, I was not amused

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Kerry Spain — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:42:53 GMT

I will add to this post in the next few days but have come across some disturbing evidence to show that certain pet food companies are producing food in sub standard manners.

For example MEAT derivatives have been found in some herbie food and the fibre content has been much lower than stated. I've just been checking thats its ok for me to divulge the information with the powers that be until then I can't really say much more.

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Vicky RVN — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:56:26 GMT

As others have said, the correct dried food for the species, pellets for selective feeders rather than mixes. For bunnies and guinea pigs i recommend excel supreme. Use it for my pigs are they do well on it. Plenty of fibre for those needing it, and fresh fruit/veg as appropriate for the species.

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

Maisy — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:53:07 GMT

Rabbits and guinea pigs-Supreme select. I feed this to my own (picky) rabbits and feel happy recommending it to some degree. The buns only get an eggcup amount per day, its mainly hay and fresh foods so the pellets aren't that essential.

Other small creatures it depends on their dietary needs. My hamsters and mice are on Pets at Home own brand mix and as they're greedy little things, haven't had a problem with selective feeding! All my animals are fed a variable diet though and try to use pellets as a small addition to their overall diet.

Re: Small Furry Nutrition

albatross — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:46:33 GMT

the relevant food for the species.

And preferably an extruded single pellet for those species that are selective feeders and only choose the nicest pieces rather than the best nutritionally.
Or alternatively a mixed feed but feed exactly as directed rather than top up bowls continuously.
Plenty of hay or grass or other fibre depending on species.
And fresh fruit or veg according to species - and don't overdo it depending on species again.