April 1 is the start of National Raw Feeding Week, a week during which we’re encouraged to share our knowledge about feeding fresh food to dispel the fear and myths surrounding raw feeding. I planned to publish a daily recipe on social media, but formulating recipes from scratch is difficult. Someone suggested starting with ChatGPT and tweaking each recipe in Animal Diet Formulation Software.
As I was tweaking the recipes, I wondered if this is the future of raw feeding. ChatGPT is a free platform; with the correct prompts, anyone can request recipes. The AI searches the World Wide Web to develop recipes that meet our parameters. But are these recipes balanced?
ChatGPT Parameters for Raw Dog Food Recipes
“Please provide seven raw dog food recipes with various proteins that are balanced according to the NRC guide and don’t contain synthetic ingredients.”
The ingredients were a surprise, and based on the software I use, none of these recipes are “balanced.” However, the software uses AAFCO and FEDIEF guidelines, not NRC. There’s also the issue of accuracy. ChatGPT generally provides accurate information, but this depends on the topic and parameters. It doesn’t produce correct results 100% of the time.
AAFCO vs. FEDIEF vs. NRC Guidelines
The AAFCO, FEDIAF, and NRC guidelines are three major regulatory frameworks for pet nutrition. Each has a different approach to formulating and evaluating pet food standards. I thought that they were closely related, but I was incorrect.
After some research, here’s how they compare:
1. AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials)
Region: Primarily used in the United States.
Role: AAFCO provides guidelines for pet food nutrient profiles but does not regulate pet food directly.
Approach: It establishes minimum and maximum nutrient levels for pet food, ensuring basic nutritional adequacy.
Limitations: It does not conduct its own testing or research but relies on industry and independent studies.
2. FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation)
Region: Used in Europe.
Role: FEDIAF sets pet food guidelines that align with European pet nutrition research and food safety regulations.
Approach: It incorporates minimum and recommended nutrient levels, offering a more comprehensive standard than AAFCO.
Limitations: While voluntary, FEDIAF guidelines are widely adopted by European manufacturers.
3. NRC (National Research Council)
Region: Used globally as a scientific reference.
Role: The NRC provides the most scientific and research-based approach to pet nutrition.
Approach: Unlike AAFCO and FEDIAF, which provide broad guidelines, the NRC publishes detailed nutritional requirements based on species-specific research.
Limitations: It provides recommendations rather than enforceable guidelines and does not account for industry manufacturing constraints.
Key Differences at a Glance:
Guideline | Region | Focus | Approach | Enforce-ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
AAFCO | USA | Minimum requirements | Regulatory & industry-focused | Advisory, but widely followed |
FEDIAF | Europe | Minimum & recommended levels | Industry-focused & science-based | Voluntary but commonly adopted |
NRC | Global | Scientific research | Academic & research-driven | Not enforceable, purely advisory |
Which One is Best?
For regulatory compliance, AAFCO (USA) and FEDIAF (Europe) are the most commonly followed.
For scientific accuracy, NRC provides the most research-backed recommendations.
For pet owners and raw feeders, NRC is often preferred for home-prepared diets due to its detailed nutrient breakdown.
ChatGPT Raw Dog Food Recipes
1 - Beef-Based Raw Dog Food Recipe
Ingredients:
Beef (muscle meat): 1,000g
Beef liver: 100g
Beef kidney: 50g
Beef heart: 100g
Beef bones (e.g., neck bones): 200g
Carrot: 50g (for beta-carotene and fiber)
Spinach: 50g (for calcium, iron, and vitamins)
Pumpkin puree: 100g (for fiber and digestive health)
Eggs: 2 large (for protein and omega fatty acids)
Instructions:
Grind the beef muscle meat, beef liver, kidney, and heart together.
Add the finely chopped beef bones for calcium.
Grate the carrot and spinach and mix into the meat mixture.
Add pumpkin puree and eggs (with shells).
Mix thoroughly and portion into meals.
2. Chicken-Based Raw Dog Food Recipe
Ingredients:
Chicken (muscle meat): 1,000g
Chicken liver: 100g
Chicken heart: 100g
Chicken gizzards: 100g
Chicken bones (e.g., necks, backs): 200g
Sweet potato: 100g (for carbohydrates and fiber)
Zucchini: 50g (for vitamins and minerals)
Blueberries: 50g (for antioxidants)
Eggs: 2 large
Instructions:
Grind chicken meat, liver, heart, and gizzards together.
Add ground chicken bones for calcium.
Chop and mix in sweet potato, zucchini, and blueberries.
Add eggs, shell included, for additional nutrients.
Thoroughly combine and portion into daily servings.
3. Turkey-Based Raw Dog Food Recipe
Ingredients:
Turkey (muscle meat): 1,000g
Turkey liver: 100g
Turkey heart: 100g
Turkey gizzards: 100g
Turkey necks (or bones): 200g
Carrot: 50g
Spinach: 50g
Apple (peeled and chopped): 50g (for fiber and vitamins)
Eggs: 2 large
Instructions:
Grind the turkey meat, liver, heart, and gizzards.
Mix ground turkey bones for calcium content.
Shred and combine carrot, spinach, and apple.
Add eggs with shells and mix.
Portion into meal-sized servings.
4. Lamb-Based Raw Dog Food Recipe
Ingredients:
Lamb (muscle meat): 1,000g
Lamb liver: 100g
Lamb kidney: 50g
Lamb heart: 100g
Lamb bones: 200g
Broccoli: 50g (for fiber and antioxidants)
Cabbage: 50g (for vitamins and fiber)
Carrot: 50g
Eggs: 2 large
Instructions:
Grind lamb muscle meat, liver, kidney, and heart together.
Add ground lamb bones for calcium.
Chop and mix broccoli, cabbage, and carrot.
Add eggs with shells for additional nutrients.
Mix thoroughly and portion into servings.
5. Venison-Based Raw Dog Food Recipe
Ingredients:
Venison (muscle meat): 1,000g
Venison liver: 100g
Venison heart: 100g
Venison kidney: 50g
Venison bones: 200g
Sweet potato: 100g
Parsley: 20g (for vitamin K and antioxidants)
Blueberries: 50g
Eggs: 2 large
Instructions:
Grind venison muscle meat, liver, heart, and kidney.
Add ground venison bones for calcium.
Chop and mix sweet potato, parsley, and blueberries.
Add eggs with shells.
Thoroughly mix and portion into servings.
6. Rabbit-Based Raw Dog Food Recipe
Ingredients:
Rabbit (muscle meat): 1,000g
Rabbit liver: 100g
Rabbit heart: 100g
Rabbit kidneys: 50g
Rabbit bones (back, neck): 200g
Carrot: 50g
Cucumber: 50g (for hydration and fiber)
Kale: 50g (for vitamins and minerals)
Eggs: 2 large
Instructions:
Grind rabbit muscle meat, liver, heart, and kidneys together.
Add ground rabbit bones for calcium.
Shred and mix in carrot, cucumber, and kale.
Add eggs (with shells).
Combine everything and divide into servings.
7. Pork-Based Raw Dog Food Recipe
Ingredients:
Pork (muscle meat): 1,000g
Pork liver: 100g
Pork heart: 100g
Pork kidney: 50g
Pork bones: 200g
Pumpkin puree: 100g
Spinach: 50g
Strawberries: 50g (for antioxidants)
Eggs: 2 large
Instructions:
Grind pork muscle meat, liver, heart, and kidney.
Grind pork bones for calcium.
Chop and mix pumpkin, spinach, and strawberries.
Add eggs, shell included.
Mix everything well and portion into meals.
Raw Dog Food Recipe Notes
Ground bones provide calcium for all recipes. Ensure that bones are ground to a fine texture to avoid choking hazards.
Eggs are added for protein and healthy fats. You can include the shell for additional calcium.
Vegetables and fruits offer fiber and vitamins. Make sure these ingredients are chopped or pureed for easier digestion.
If you're feeding these meals on a long-term basis, consider rotating proteins and vegetables to ensure a variety of nutrients.
These recipes were created because I was curious, not because they should be followed. Please consult with a veterinary nutritionist to ensure your dog’s specific dietary needs are met. In the meantime, I’ll continue running each recipe through the formulation software to see what needs to be added.
What do you think? Would you trust AI to formulate recipes for your dog?