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BARFLAB Standard in dog and cat diets

A short guide to the role of BARFLAB Standard in dog and cat nutrition.

BARFLAB Standard

The BARFLAB Standard is our internal diet-quality target. It is based on NRC, FEDIAF and AAFCO, but in several areas BARFLAB is intentionally more demanding [1] [2].

Key points

  • Omega-6:3 We aim for approximately 1:1–3:1. We do not treat 1:1 as a magic number, but a lower predominance of omega-6 and a meaningful share of omega-3 are consistent with the direction described for canine and feline nutrition [3].
  • Ca:P We usually keep it around 1.2–1.4. This range is described as optimal for dogs, while in cats calcium and phosphorus that are too high or poorly balanced are also a real risk [4] [5].
  • EPA+DHA and vitamins A, D, E and K We set these in the safer part of the NRC range, but BARFLAB does not add its own SUL [1].
  • Iodine and B vitamins have a BARFLAB sweet spot: for iodine we use the NRC RA, while for B vitamins MR is 1.5× NRC MR and RA is 2× NRC RA. This quality target helps the generator aim above the minimum. B vitamins are water-soluble, so this buffer from a normal diet is practical [4]. We still choose supplements carefully, but when balancing a diet we prefer a reserve over a result that is exactly on the limit.

What to remember

The BARFLAB row shows our quality target. If it differs from NRC, FEDIAF or AAFCO, it usually represents the sweet spot: the comfortable middle of the range rather than a diet balanced right at the limit.

Sources

  1. National Research Council (2006). Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. National Academies Press. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10668/nutrient-requirements-of-dogs-and-cats
  2. FEDIAF. Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs. https://europeanpetfood.org/self-regulation/nutritional-guidelines/
  3. Burron S. et al. (2024). The balance of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids in canine, feline, and equine nutrition. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11161904/
  4. MSD Veterinary Manual. Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals. https://www.msdvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-small-animals/nutritional-requirements-of-small-animals
  5. Stockman J. et al. (2021). Calcium, Phosphorus, and Vitamin D in Dogs and Cats. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33653533/