Another Question - Venison?

[Kimber & Mac]

Ok, so I am trying to figure out the time and finances of BARF. My dad is a big hunter, and always has plenty of deer meat. I have done some searches and seen that venison is Ok to feed, but what cuts would I want? I mean, he tends to just get a bunch ground, but I cna just have him butcher some of it himself for me.

I haven't read any books yet, I am doing that over Christmas break, so I am sorry if this is premature. BUT - hunting season is over in less than a month, and I want to make sure I have time to ask dad for what I need.

Also, I read on another thread that because venison is so lean I wuld need another fat/protein source. But could I just rotate between the chicken and venison daily or something. Anything to save a student some money:rolleyes:

Again, I am sure these ?'s are in the books, but I want to get a little info now.

Thanks!

 

[cyansky]

Venison is fine. I feed it to Lola when I can get it. Any scrap or non-scrap muscle meat is great. Cut it off the bone and there you go. Just make sure there is no lead (bullet fragments) lodged in the meat anywhere. I also give her the heart and liver. For that matter, if you can get the stomach/contents (tripe), they will love you for it. Venison has some fat on it, so don't worry about that. Just make sure they get a well rounded menu over time with your chicken etc.

Also see if you can get some of the bones for recreational chewing. The heavy leg bones are great.

I was amazed how cheap it is to feed a dog on the natural diet. I figure it is about half of what it would cost to feed with a premium kibble.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[Kimber & Mac]

If I were to get a bone for chewing, what would I do with it? Just chop it off and hand it over, or soak it to get rid of the tissues or what (I obviously don't want a bloody bone floating around my house, LOL). But I had been wondering about that. Mac loves nothing more than a good bone, and since they are so freaking expensive...!

Thanks for the tips!
Kimberly

 

[cyansky]

Give him the bloody old bone and he will love you forever! We give them to Lola right out of the freezer and she has to chew it only on her mat/blanket/pillow (whatever is clean at the time). The bone will keep her happy and busy for a good hour anyway. Not very messy if she stays on the mat, but that is the rule anyway. :D

No, don't remove any of the meat or tissues. That is what they love.

Andrew

 

[cyansky]

Just watch him when he is chewing. If the bones splinter, take it away.

 

[adeinert]

Yes! It's great that you have a venison connection.

I feed my raw bones in a crate or in the grassy part of the yard. They gnaw and chew on it for awhile and I usually refreeze once for another time. Then the crate gets a cleaning.

Desi is in my gallery with a bone and Jillian and he are on the FBR nutrition page with bones.
:cool:
Ashlie
www.flbr.org

 

[Alisha Mobley]

We feed lots of venison during hunting season. My husband brought home a whole deer for the dogs last week.

I feed what ever part I can get...any meat or organs anyone wants to give me. The dogs have had muscle meat, heart, liver, lungs, stomach and brain. (stomach and contents stinks something horrible but the dogs like it).

I used to feed rib bones but last year Buck had to have a bone removed. I've since read that deer bones tend to dry out more quickly which causes splintering (also bones from older animals tend to be more dry) so have stopped feeding the bone. If I had a grinder and could grind them, I woudn't worry. I believe the bone Buck got ahold of was one I had missed laying in the yard but I still avoid them.

I've fed venison many days in a row with no problem...I then feed many days of chicken to get some bone in them. Balance over time.

 

[Kimber & Mac]

Well, it's been a while, but...

It's been a while since I asked this question, and I still haven't started BARFing, but with Moe's allergies, and now living in a house with a yard, etc...I am SERIOUSLY researching and am definitely going to start soon.

So, about the venison. When hunting season starts again (August) should I just have my dad, uncles, etc, throw whatever junk parts and organs they don't want into a cooler for me and me freeze it? (I would wrap it and separate it 1st of course).

Thanks

 

[gmacleod]

I certainly would And the offal is the best parts LOL