1. What is the Royal Canin Equation?

The Royal Canin equation calculates gross energy (GE) in pet food from its macronutrient composition. It provides an estimation of the energy content based on protein, fat, nitrogen-free extract, and crude fiber content.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Royal Canin equation:

Where:

• \( protein \) — Protein content (g/100g)
• \( fat \) — Fat content (g/100g)
• \( NFE \) — Nitrogen-free extract (g/100g)
• \( CF \) — Crude fiber (g/100g)

Explanation: The equation uses different energy coefficients for each macronutrient (5.7 kcal/g for protein, 9.4 kcal/g for fat, and 4.1 kcal/g for carbohydrates and fiber) to estimate the total gross energy content.

3. Importance of GE Calculation

Details: Accurate GE estimation is crucial for formulating balanced pet diets, ensuring proper energy intake, and maintaining optimal pet health and weight management.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter all nutrient values in g/100g. Ensure values are non-negative and represent the actual composition of the pet food product.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is nitrogen-free extract (NFE)?
A: NFE represents the carbohydrate content calculated by difference: 100 - (moisture + protein + fat + ash + crude fiber).

Q2: Why different coefficients for different nutrients?
A: Different nutrients provide different amounts of energy when metabolized - fats provide the most energy per gram, followed by proteins and carbohydrates.

Q3: Is this equation specific to certain pet foods?
A: While developed by Royal Canin, this equation can be applied to various complete and balanced pet foods for energy estimation.

Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: This provides a good estimation, but actual metabolizable energy may vary based on digestibility and other factors.

Q5: Should this be used for all pet species?
A: This equation is primarily designed for dog and cat foods. Other species may have different energy utilization patterns.