Beaphar Care+ Hamster Food

[Anthorn]

Originally Posted by Munchalot

My internet is being very slow, and I can't find a page that sells this food which displays the compositions. But if my memory serves, the composition list goes something like:

(EDIT (found info))
Cereals, derivatives of vegetable origin, meat and animal derivatives, seeds, minerals, vegetable protein extracts, Yucca Schidigera, algae (Spirulina 0.01%).

As we all know, the word 'derivative' is a broad umbrella term used in the food industry, to avoid putting the phrase 'by-product' on the packaging. Basically, trying to hide the fact that it's all waste matter bought cheaply off the human food production line.
The vegetable derivatives will be peelings, stalks, husks, pieces that were not passes as suitable for human consumption, starch and fat extraction, ect.
The animal derivatives will be waste from the slaughter house. Because it just says 'meat and animal derivatives' it does not specify source, so matter from literally ANY animal can be used. It will be the waste from carcasses that are unsuitable for human consumption, e.g. heads, hooves, claws, feathers, hair, eyes, bowl/stomach contents and rendered fat from the carcass, which is often rancid and plain disgusting.


Because it is formed of waste matter and bulking agents, there is very little nutrional value. Plus, whatever nutrients that were present will have been destroyed in the processing, e.g. vitamins. This means that in order to call it 'complete' they have to artificially add these nutrients back into the food by way of chemical form. The fact that the packaging does not give detail on the nutritional additives is not encouraging.

So, to some up, this is a very cheaply produced feed that is made dominantly of cheap cereals and by-products, and whatever nutrtional value is present has been artificially added.

This is the main reason why I do not like pelleted/biscuit mixes, and instead opt for feed with whole natural components.
And as a note, Pets at Home produce very cheap, and rather basic or even poor quality feed - then charge you an arm and a leg for it. :L

I posted the ingredients list earlier in the "Hamster Nuggets Or Muesli" thread on this very forum. But the whole of your appraisal is an assumption and not a fact. Just because the ingredients list is vague doesn't necessarily mean that there is in there what you say is in there. But "animal derivatives" is used in many part of the food industry including food for human consumption. Commercially produced sausages for example are composed of an unidentifiable slurry.

[Silver]

Euwww

Now that's tea bags & Sausages I will never look at the same again!

*Silver wrinkles her nose up at the sausages defrosting in the fridge*

xxx

[Munchalot]

Originally Posted by Anthorn

I posted the ingredients list earlier in the "Hamster Nuggets Or Muesli" thread on this very forum. But the whole of your appraisal is an assumption and not a fact. Just because the ingredients list is vague doesn't necessarily mean that there is in there what you say is in there. But "animal derivatives" is used in many part of the food industry including food for human consumption. Commercially produced sausages for example are composed of an unidentifiable slurry.

Yeah, by-products are indeed used in human food. But not the same derivatives. Animals do not have the food standards we do, so if there are by-products in our own food then those in the food of animals really is scraping the barrel. You're right, you cannot guarantee this is whats in it - that is the point. They use broad umbrella terms so you never really know just what is in your food. These are examples.

I'm not going to argue with you, but I will say this. I get this EVERY day in the pet shop I work in. I try to advise people on how it is, and try to tell them what is good for their animal and what is not, but some people never listen. They seem to think that just because they buy it, just because their pets like it, for some reason they think that means there is no way that it can be bad for them.

The manager of our pet shop has even invested in our own dog food - a recipe he has created himself under the guidance of small dedicated nutrtionists, BECAUSE of how shady the pet food industry is. He knows the facts, he knows the legislation, and I know it too.

It is not an assumption. This is how disgusting the pet food industry is. You should know by know that any mass-produced product is made with profit in mind, not your fluffy little pet.


I'm sorry about the rant, but it does my head in.

[racinghamster]

I won`t eat processed meat now because I just don`t agree with the processes or the welfare issues. If I eat chicken, it has to look like chicken! If it`s covered in breadcrumbs or reformed, I steer clear.

I don`t like the fact that on bags of animal feed they use terms like `derivatives` or `meal` because it tells us nothing about the quality at all. It`s common knowledge that we just read that as, "we cut off all the garbage and put it into animal feed". You can live on it, but we sadly can`t control what those standards really are. All we can really do is use our knowledge and buy the best where possible.

[Call me Alison]

Unfortunately all my hams hated this with a passion and the smell I found really off putting xxxx

[Amethyst_ice]

Can I remind members to:

1. Keep on topic

2. Remember that this is a family forum with many young members reading

This thread started to drift onto animal husbandry/meat production topics where the original title had no warning of disturbing content.

Please remember that HC is meant for light off topic discussions and if disturbing topics come into main threads either members need to be careful what they type or go discuss such issues on other appropriate forums.

Please help the mod team keep HC friendly and happy for all x

[Anthorn]

Ok back to topic.

Re. the smell of Beaphar Care +, really it's the hamster that should be considered and not the owner. In my experience hamsters love the smell of it.

Re. Ingredients, well at least Beaphar are honest and as I have shown the term, "animal derivatives" is not really al that relevant because it's also in the human food chain. But it's animal feed and also we are paying a couple of quid for a 250g bag so we can't really expect prime chicken breast.

But let's compare Beaphar Care + with probably the most often recommended all-in-one feed, Supreme Science Selective:

Beaphar Care + for Hamsters (values taken from the 250g pack)

Nutrition:
Crude Protein = 21%
Crude Fibre = 10%
Crude oils and fats = 5.3%
Crude ash = 5.3%
Ca 0.8%, Na 0.31%, P 0.61%, Mg 0.22%, K 1.09%

Composition:
Cereals, derivatives of vegetable origin, seeds, vegetable protein extracts, meat and animal derivatives, minerals, Yucca schidigera, Algae (Spirulina 0.01%),

Supreme Science Selective for Hamsters
Values from their web site: Science Selective Hamster | Supreme Pet Foods

COMPOSITION:
Wholemeal wheat flour, soybean meal, barley, oats, linseed, soya oil, dicalcium phosphate, limestone flour, salt.

NUTRITIONAL ADDITIVES/Kg:
Vitamin A 15000 IU, Vitamin D3 1500 IU

ANALYTICAL CONSTITUENTS:
Protein 19.0%, Crude fibre 5.0%, Fat content 5.0%, Inorganic matter 5.5%.

If I was a hamster given the choice between the two I know which one I would choose, Beaphar Care +.

[Gizmoandfriends]

I used to use the gerbil, degu one and i still use the ferret one, they all (apart from ferret one) smell nice!

[HollyHamster]

I dunno, Anthorn. The very high protein and fiber levels make me think twice about getting something like Beaphar. Too much protien, like in Beaphar, while maybe acceptable for a younger hamster, isn't great for an older hamster's kidneys and liver. They would shut down with such high levels. As for the fiber, I would worry that 10% is too high and would cause digestive issues.

Thankfully, I don't have to choose because I use Hazel Hamster food and that's the best in the US.

[Sasquatch]

I've never used this food because I've heard so many bad reviews of it. i'll just stick to harry hamster i think.