Barf Feeding

my4labs · Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:29 pm Post subject: Barf Feeding

Hello

How many of you would like to feed the barf diet but cant because of the new licencing laws that the E.U has so generously imposed on us. I used to feed it and my dogs were doing well on it.

What if anything can we do to get it back, the men over in Brussels who bring in the rules, I bet dont even have a dog. They dont know the harm they are causing to animals.

All i want to do is go back to the local arbitoir where I live and resume getting it.

kayc · Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:45 pm Post subject:

Colette, if you wish to feed raw, there is nothing stoping you, just go to your butcher or local supermarket, you will get everything you need from them. If you used to feed BARF you will already know this. The only thing you are unable to get will be green tripe, but this is not nesseccary to feed on a barf diet, as the protein can be gained from other meats. Many people who feed BARF do not feed green tripe, as A) they have to be licensed by DEFRA and B) they cant stand the smell anyway lol Very Happy

What did you feed your dogs when previously feeding BARF

my4labs · Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 10:01 pm Post subject:

Doesnt feeding such a mix of different meats upset the dogs system. Confused

kayc · Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 10:12 pm Post subject:

No, because I am feeding a prey model (spieces appropriate diet). Chopping and changing processed foods can upset digestion, but dogs were not designed to eat processed food in the 1st place. I was feeding dogs raw before 'dog food' was invented. Only it wasn't called BARF, it was simply whatever was available, raw or table scraps Wink

Actually, please read the above as "my father was feeding raw before dog food was invented" lol, I vaguley remember it Razz

megaloo · Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 10:36 pm Post subject:

I can remember the Green tripe . It used to cling for a long time Twisted Evil

kayc · Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 10:41 pm Post subject:

Thankfully, I am one of the lucky (or unlucky) Very Happy

ones who are still able to feed green tripe. Just feed the dogs downwind lol Razz

sue51 · Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 11:57 pm Post subject:

Ewww - used to feed my GSD green tripe - used to have to keep it outside when preparing - even the thought of the smell still turns me. Why are there restrictions on it now?

Sue

kayc · Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 12:38 am Post subject:

Changes in the legislation with regard to raw meats for dogs etc were passed in early 2003 and came into force July 2003 This has been due to the court case regarding the poultry scam shown on TV and such changes were to tighten up on unlicensed pet food suppliers. Although I understand that the company involved in the poultry scam were licensed! From what I was told manufacturers have to be licensed under the new rules, records have to be kept for 2 years giving details of where the meats/by-products have come from and where they end up after processing. The meat/tripe are randomly tested for ecoli and salmonella at 'regulated' EEC abbatoirs. For those of us who only fed meat fit for human consumption, the legislation changed nothing. Also the poultry scam concerned meat ending up in the human food chain with people bleaching the meat, repacking it and selling to to various sources!

All processors of raw pet food have had to be DEFRA licenced for many years.

Regarding the new regulations, 10 samples have to be taken of the product lines be that tripe offal or chicken and tested for Salmonella and Enterobacteriaceae. After these 10 have been cleared one sample a week has to be taken. No stock can be sold until the samples are cleared and any product found to contain these must be condemmed and incinerated. No compensation will be given to the processor. Unfortunately it is highly unlikely that any samples are going to come back clear, therefore this new EU regulation saw the end of the raw pet food trade and many businesses lost their livihood.

This has been brought in because it is believed that humans did not know that they should wash their hands and utensils after handling raw meat!!!

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/by-prods/publicat/ABP%20Regulation%202003.pdf

In Scotland the equivilant of DEFRA is SEERAD Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department.

You can be licensed by DEFRA as and end user, but you will jump through hoops to get it. There's lot of paperwork and red tape and various equipment dedicated to collecting, cutting up and storing the stuff!

Tripe etc cannot be brought into a domestic dwelling. An outside freezer and cutting up area (inside but not in the house). Dedicated knives and containers for collecting it from abattoir - must be marked as not fit for human consumption. Disposal service, if, for instance my freezer failed - can only go to a specialist place I cannot pass it onto friends dogs. Specific disinfectants for cleaning out containers (that kill foot and mouth, fowl pest and all known diseases!). Paperwork must be kept in a special file for examination at any time.

_Mary_ · Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 1:01 am Post subject:

All that just to feed a dog green tripe?!!!, amazing, used to give white tripe to my dogs years ago, but can`t get hold of it these days, that stank too Confused

, they are doing ok on what they do have though.