With 9 dogs at home, there is no way I can afford the ultra premium foods. I used to feed Canidae and Blue Buffalo, but once I got involved in rescue I also have to help buy food for the 250 dogs at our shelter and I have to hit a happy medium somewhere. I had been feeding Purina One to my personal dogs, and they did not particularly like it. the manager at our local feed store recommended Loyall which costs $26 for a 40 pound bag. He gave me some samples, and the whole gang loved it. I went to the website and it doesn't sound like bad stuff--not in the league with canidae, but not bad. And even Bull who is very picky is eating it well and having firm poops. Even the premium foods consistently gave him "soft serve".
Anyone tried this? Please understand that I wish I could feed the very highest quality available to everyone , but with 9 personal pets, and 250 + shelter dogs, we are doing the best we can. I try to research what I feed and give the best I can with the funds I have, so any input is appreciated!
Thanks!

It does have poultry by-products as the first ingredient in it. I personally don't feed my dogs anything with by-products in it.

Here is the ingredients from the Adult Active formula.

INGREDIENTS

Poultry by-product meal (natural source of glucosamine and omega-6 fatty acids), whole wheat, wheat flour, poultry fat (naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols), brewers rice, corn gluten meal, beet pulp, natural chicken flavoring, flaxseed (natural source of omega-3 fatty acids), spray-dried egg, aspergillus meal (natural source of glucosamine), bentonite, potassium chloride, menhaden fishmeal (natural source of glucosamine), sodium hexametaphosphate, calcium propionate (a preservative), dried brewers yeast, salt, yucca schidigera extract, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, niacin supplement, riboflavin supplement, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, thiamine, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, folic acid), minerals (zinc amino acid complex, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, iron amino acid complex, copper sulfate, manganese amino acid complex, manganese sulfate, ethylenediamine dihyroiodide, sodium selenite)

It looks fine to me. I wouldn't worry about the by-product thing; by-products are just things like organs, eggs, feet, heads etc. Stuff that some people feed to their pets regularly in raw form. I think it's good that the by-products are in meal form so that the nutrient content is more concentrated. I would say that if your dogs do well on it and it works with your budget then use it. If you still feel uncomfortable using it and are looking for alternatives then you might want to check out the Diamond line of products or Costco brand dog food.

Audrey

It doesn't even have a meat source of any kind. I would consider one of the Diamond formulas myself before feeding Loyall to my dogs. Its looking pretty consistant with Dog Chow.

Wellll then -- neither does Diamond Chicken.

Ingredients:
Chicken by-product meal, wheat flour, whole grain ground corn, rice bran, whole grain brown rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), beet pulp, egg product, fish meal, flaxseed, natural chicken flavor. Vitamins, minerals and chelated minerals.

The Diamond Naturals do have meat and meal and run about $32 for 42# -- just a tad more. They are much better foods. You lso might want to see if the pet/feed store and manufacturer will let you order by the pallet.

You could go with the Diamond Naturals.

For us, we do not use anything with by-products in it. As well as anything with wheat, corn or soy products. We stick with Oatmeal and brown rice. This is just our personal opinion on dog food. As for treats, the last six months I have been making our own at home. I use only organic products. It cost more to make but I know what is going into them. And I don't think it will be to long before I start making our own food either. Just tired of the recalls.

Aren't organs considered meat? Because that's what by-products are, organs and other stuff. I don't really see why poultry by-product meal would have any less protein or other nutrients than meal made from skeletal meat. From a "green" standpoint, I'm really glad that by-products are put to use. I think it's much better to use as much as you can from something rather than throwing it away. Just my 2 cents.

Audrey

By-products are meat, and probably more nutritious than muscle meat.

A former farmer on the board has pointed out that for grains sourced in the U.S., oatmeal, barley, rice, and the exotics (quinoa, etc.) are less likely to have fungal issues due to the smaller scale of farming, processing, storing ..... Otherwise, there's really nothing to choose between those grains and corn or wheat (or potatoes!) -- it's all about what your individual dog tolerates. Corn is perhaps the most nutritious of the commonly used carbohydrate sources.

...but people have been drinking the uber premimum "no corn, no wheat, no soy" kool ade. I'll never forget when I was on a premium food comparison chart and every time food was in someone elses food it was labeled "cheap filler" when it was in their product it magically became "for quick energy and a shiny coat". Go figure. If you are going to feed nine dogs and help feed 250 others, corn will probably be in there somewhere....

I agree. My dogs have eaten food with corn in it and have done just fine. Eagle Pack actually uses a lot of corn in their regular line of dog feeds and I consider their food to be of excellent quality. Just because a handful of dogs can't tolerate corn or wheat or soy doesn't mean that those ingredients are evil. That would be like saying none of us should eat peanut butter because some people are allergic.

Audrey

ETA: If anyone wants to read some very cynical material on dog food check out the following links:

http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2008/...-like-wolf.html

http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2008/...s-dog-food.html

Thanks so much for the comments and advice! So far the verdict is still out. My senior corgi Maisie had some soft poop yesterday but seemed to feel fine. May have nothing to do with the new food since Maisie demands several treats (age does have its perks!) every time she comes in from a walk and I may have overdone the treats a little. I am going to feed what I already have and see how the gang does. I may try Diamond if I can get it locally for a price I can afford.

I agree with Nelson. My dogs do fabulous on EP natural. They are not bothered by the corn in it at all. Also my mom's dog thrives on Science Diet Lamb and rice which probably has more corn than rice and also has wheat (which offends many people). If it works, then it's good. Her dog, Kelly, lived to be 15 on it.

A correction from my post above, the Diamond Naturals would be my choice if I choice to feed that.

By-products are the left over stuff - the muscle is considered the meat

# Digest of Beef By-Products - material from beef which results from chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and undecomposed tissue from non-rendered clean parts, other than meat, from cattle which includes, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defated low-temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. It does not include hair, horns, teeth and hoofs.

# Digest of Poultry By-Products - material which results from chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and undecomposed tissue from non-rendered clean parts of carcasses of slaughtered poultry such as heads, feet, viscera, free from fecal content and foreign matter except in such trace amounts as might occur unavoidably in good factory practice.

Some of the cheaper food is per served with chemicals that are not the best for our pets.

For a cheap decent food, Kirkland is, I think, the best you can do. It's been wonderful for our two, it's cheaper per bag than anything but the REALLY cheap Purina stuff and it's got plenty of meat in it. I think Costco has special programs for not-for profit organizations: I know my Dad got a cheap membership through his work with Scouts Canada. Even if they don't in your area, the $50 membership will save you a LOT of money in dog food. 40lbs for $25 isn't bad.

ETA: Kirkland also doesn't have corn in it, whether it's good or bad. It's the only food rated well that is below about $45 a bag on ANY rating that I've seen.

I agree Kirkland seems the best to me. I was introduced by another grey owner and looked into it. My guy is doing great on it and as I am expecting a foster in a few weeks, I feel very confident that she will do well on it as well.
It is 24.00 for 40 lbs and they have great dog beds for $17.00. The $50.00 membership was well worth it, I have already saved enough to cover it and am only 2 months into it.
Good luck!

Digest is not the same thing as byproducts. Digest is a flavoring extract. Byproducts are largely organ meats. Lots of vitamins, amino acids, protein, etc. in organ meats .

I vote for Kirkland, too! I'm surprised nobody brought it up sooner.

I agree with the Kirkland folks, a great price and great food.

However, I just switched Carl to California Natural Herring and Sweet Potato, for a bunch of reasons that only seem to be relevant to his body chemistry. I switched him reluctantly, I may be able to go back to the Lamb and Veggies in the future.