By steve
We continue our Dog Food Ingredients A to Z series with the letter “Q”. Today’s ingredient is Quail.
What is Quail?
Quail is a collective name for several families of mid-sized birds generally considered in the order Galliformes. A “game” bird, quail is an alternative source of fowl protein.
Common names for Quail
The most common name variations include Old World Quail, New World Quail, which includes Quail found in North and South America.
Why is Quail included in dog food?
Using quail, instead of more typical fowl like chicken, provides a “novel” protein source that can help keep a dog from developing an allergic reaction to frequently fed protein sources or help calm the intestinal system of a dog with an existing food allergy.
Is Quail a commonly used ingredient in dog food?
Quail is very rarely used and is in only a handful of dog foods currently.
Common benefits or risks of Quail
Quail is a relatively low calorie and high in protein food. One ounce of quail has about 66 calories, 7 grams of protein, and 4 grams of fat. It is also a source of the B Vitamins and the minerals phosphorous and iron.
Quail is slightly higher in calories, protein and fat per ounce than is chicken.
Quail, like other novel proteins (e.g. rabbit, venison), can provide an alternative protein source for your dog. Novel proteins like quail can be used to add variety to a dog’s diet and reduce the chances of allergic reaction if used as part of a protein rotational strategy. A rotational strategy is a feeding approach that uses a variety of foods to ensure a balanced diet and proper nutrition, instead of one that uses the same food. Over time, serving the same diet can lead to malnutrition and food allergies. This is why we recommend changing and mixing up your dog’s food every 2-3 months.
Miscellaneous facts about Quail
Although they are capable of short bursts of strong flight New World quails, such as the California Quail, prefer to use their legs and will walk or run from danger, using flight as a last resort for escape.
Slimdoggy Ingredient Comfort Level
Because quail is high in protein and a good source of fat (both of which are important for a dog), Quail gets the Slimdoggy “smiley” rating.
Sources and further reading
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quail
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World_quail
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/poultry-products/798/2
We’re joining the Tasty Tuesday Blog Hop sponsored by Sugar, the Golden Retriever and Kolchak from Kol’s Notes:
From: Dog Food Ingredients A to Z: Quail
