How BARFLAB displays NRC, FEDIAF and AAFCO reference values.
BARFLAB analyses 68 parameters for healthy adult dog and cat profiles. Parameters covered by the implemented reference sets labelled NRC 2006, FEDIAF 2021 or AAFCO 2023 can be compared with the available MR, RA and/or SUL values. A missing value means that the given set does not define that threshold; it does not make zero the target.
- 3implemented sets labelled NRC 2006, FEDIAF 2021 and AAFCO 2023
- MR·RA·SULthreshold types available by parameter and set
- 68parameters in the diet analysis
- S–Fdiet score (BARFLAB Score)
Compare nutrition standards for your dog or cat
Enter daily metabolizable energy to see the values BARFLAB uses for healthy adult dogs and cats. Ratios do not change with energy.
The table has been recalculated.
| Nutrient or ratio | MR | RA | SUL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macronutrients and fatty acids | |||
| Protein | 20 g | 25 g | — |
| Fat | 5.5 g | 13.8 g | 82.5 g |
| Linoleic acid | — | 2.8 g | 16.3 g |
| Alpha-linolenic acid | — | 0.11 g | — |
| EPA + DHA | — | 110 mg | 2,800 mg |
| Minerals | |||
| Calcium | 500 mg | 1,000 mg | 4,500 mg |
| Phosphorus | 500 mg | 750 mg | — |
| Potassium | — | 1,000 mg | — |
| Sodium | 75 mg | 200 mg | — |
| Chloride | — | 300 mg | — |
| Magnesium | 45 mg | 150 mg | — |
| Iron | — | 7.5 mg | — |
| Zinc | — | 15 mg | — |
| Copper | — | 1.5 mg | — |
| Manganese | — | 1.2 mg | — |
| Iodine | 175 µg | 220 µg | — |
| Selenium | — | 87.5 µg | — |
| Vitamins and related nutrients | |||
| Vitamin A | — | 1,263 IU | 53,330 IU |
| Vitamin D | — | 136 IU | 800 IU |
| Vitamin E | — | 7.5 mg | — |
| Vitamin K | — | 0.41 mg | — |
| Thiamine (B1) | — | 0.56 mg | — |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 1.05 mg | 1.3 mg | — |
| Niacin (B3) | — | 4.25 mg | — |
| Vitamin B12 | — | 8.75 µg | — |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) | — | 3.75 mg | — |
| Pyridoxine (B6) | — | 0.375 mg | — |
| Folic acid (B9) | — | 67.5 µg | — |
| Choline | — | 425 mg | — |
| Amino acids | |||
| Arginine | 0.7 g | 0.88 g | — |
| Lysine | 0.7 g | 0.88 g | — |
| Methionine | 0.65 g | 0.83 g | — |
| Tryptophan | 0.28 g | 0.35 g | — |
| Threonine | 0.85 g | 1.08 g | — |
| Histidine | 0.37 g | 0.48 g | — |
| Isoleucine | 0.75 g | 0.95 g | — |
| Leucine | 1.35 g | 1.7 g | — |
| Valine | 0.98 g | 1.23 g | — |
| Phenylalanine | 0.9 g | 1.13 g | — |
| Phenylalanine + tyrosine | 1.48 g | 1.85 g | — |
| Methionine + cystine | 1.3 g | 1.63 g | — |
| Ratios | |||
| Calcium : phosphorus | — | — | — |
| Omega-6 : omega-3 | — | — | — |
| Vitamin E : EPA + DHA | — | — | — |
MR = minimum requirement, RA = recommended allowance, SUL = safe upper limit. These are values BARFLAB uses for comparison, not an individual medical recommendation.
The NRC, FEDIAF and AAFCO reference sets displayed by BARFLAB
BARFLAB keeps three implemented reference sets separate. Their labels identify the product sets and publications used; a year does not necessarily mean the underlying profiles were revised in that year:
| BARFLAB label | General role | General scope |
|---|---|---|
| NRC 2006 | scientific requirement reference published in 2006 | dogs and cats |
| FEDIAF 2021 | Nutritional Guidelines, publication October 2021 | European pet food |
| AAFCO 2023 | profiles from the 2016 revision as published in the 2023 Official Publication | US pet food |
The implemented values and their context can differ. BARFLAB shows the three sets at the same time without presenting them as one combined standard.
How to read the MR, RA and SUL thresholds
Reference sources do not publish every kind of threshold for every parameter. Where a value exists, it can serve one of three roles:
| Threshold | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MR | minimum requirement — a result below it may indicate insufficient dietary supply; it is not a diagnosis |
| RA | recommended allowance including a margin |
| SUL | upper boundary — exceeding it needs evaluation and may increase the risk of adverse effects |
A blank value is not zero and not a recommendation. It only means that the selected source does not define that type of threshold for the parameter.
From reference values to a diet score
Reference tables are difficult to use in everyday diet building. BARFLAB compares the entered recipe with available values: the S–F BARFLAB Score gives a quick overview, while the details show the parameter result and product contributions.
An amount change recalculates those contributions live. The Ca:P ratio and values for dog diets and cat diets remain in the appropriate healthy-adult species and selected-set context.
What you see in the standards analysis
- NRC, FEDIAF and AAFCO shown side by side
- the result for each displayed parameter in the relevant energy basis
- the MR, RA and/or SUL values available for that parameter and set
- important ratios, including Ca:P and omega-6:3
- a clear indication of whether the result is below an available minimum, near an available recommended allowance or above an available upper boundary
How do the NRC, FEDIAF and AAFCO standards differ?
Broadly, NRC is a scientific requirement reference, FEDIAF publishes European nutritional guidance for pet food, and AAFCO provides US nutrient profiles. In BARFLAB, FEDIAF 2021 refers to the Nutritional Guidelines publication of October 2021. AAFCO 2023 refers to profiles from the 2016 revision as published in the 2023 Official Publication, not to a new 2023 profile revision. The implemented sets remain separate.
What do the abbreviations MR, RA and SUL mean?
MR is the minimum requirement; a result below it may indicate insufficient dietary supply, not a diagnosis. RA is a recommended allowance including a margin. SUL is an upper boundary whose exceedance needs evaluation and may increase adverse-effect risk. Not every parameter has all three values, and a missing threshold is not zero.
Which reference sets does BARFLAB display?
BARFLAB displays implemented reference sets labelled NRC 2006, FEDIAF 2021 and AAFCO 2023 at the same time. It analyses 68 parameters and compares covered parameters with available MR, RA and/or SUL values in the healthy-adult species context.
Is meeting the standards enough to judge a sick animal?
Not always. Illness and therapeutic diets call for individual consultation — standards for healthy animals may then not apply. BARFLAB helps calculate the data, but it does not replace a diagnosis or clinical management by a vet.
Bibliography
The full list of scientific sources, nutritional standards and composition databases behind BARFLAB's calculations, limits and content.
Bibliography →