The Power of the STAMINA Diet
STAMINA is specifically formulated to sustain the energy and endurance of your working farm dogs throughout even the longest working day. Whether it’s in the yards or in the paddock, STAMINA will keep them going to get the job done.
Medallion has worked with New Zealand based animal scientists to specifically research dog nutrition for working dogs in NZ and overseas. Having identified the ideal NZ working farm dog diet, that key information was used to formulate STAMINA dog food.
Research showed that the optimal working dog diet comprises high-fat, high-protein dog food, with low carbohydrates. Here’s the science behind that finding.
45% High Fat Content
Dogs use fat as their main energy source during exercise, so working dogs require a high fat diet to perform at their best. Generally, as the amount of exercise increases, so should the fat content of the working dog diet.
- Dietary fat increases energy density of food and ‘fat adaptation’ (the ability to convert fat into energy) delivers a more abundant energy supply and increased energy levels than a high carbohydrate diet.
- Increased fat in a dog’s diet also enhances fatty acid availability and by utilising free fatty acids for energy, more limited stores of energy (including muscle glycogen) are spared, and the onset of fatigue is subsequently delayed.
- Dietary fat increases the palatability of the food, and together with the energy density of food, allows the dog to eat sufficient calories without having to ingest large volumes of food.
- The high palatability of fat also encourages eating in times of stress and fatigue.
- Increasing the level of fat in a dog food usually increases the food’s digestibility.
40% High Protein Content
- High protein reduces muscle fatigue, so can reduce both bone and soft tissue injuries in working dogs.
- High protein intake is important for muscle building and healing and maintaining many other normal body functions.
- Working dogs have higher requirements for dietary protein than companion dogs due to the increased protein synthesis and degradation caused by exercise.
- Synthesis of protein increases with exercise.* Protein synthesis also increases to replace proteins and amino acids catabolised (the breakdown of complex molecules to their constituent parts – simpler ones - glucose, amino acids and fatty acids, together with the release of energy).
*Studies have shown that protein utilisation is not only greater in exercising versus sedentary dogs, but also with the duration of the exercise.
Still not convinced? Hear what other farmers have to say about STAMINA.