For breeding programmes
Feeding a breeding programme
A pregnant or nursing female and her young need a formula declared for those stages — not every food qualifies. This page shows how to read that declaration on the label, and lists the products in our range that carry it.
The thing that matters most
Read the AAFCO statement
A complete food carries a line stating which AAFCO nutrient profile it meets, and for which life stage. That line is not marketing copy — it is how you tell whether a food is suitable for an animal that is pregnant, nursing or still growing.
The three you will see
| The label says | What it means |
|---|---|
| All life stages all life stages |
Suitable for pregnancy, lactation and growth, as well as adult animals. |
| Growth and reproduction growth / reproduction |
Formulated specifically for the reproductive stages and for the young. |
| Adult maintenance adult maintenance |
NOT for pregnancy, lactation or growth, however good the ingredient list looks. |
Our range currently includes 15 products in the adult-maintenance group. Every product page reproduces this declaration in full.
At a glance
Products declared for the breeding stages
Taken straight from the AAFCO declaration printed on each product. We are still adding that declaration for the remaining brands, so a product without it yet will not appear here.
Stage by stage
From mating to weaning
-
01
Before mating and through the first two thirds
Keep the normal ration and keep the female in working condition. Overfeeding here does nothing for the litter, and an overweight dam has a harder whelping.
-
02
The last three weeks
This is when the foetuses grow fastest and energy needs climb noticeably. Raise the ration gradually and split it into smaller, more frequent meals — there is simply less room for a full stomach.
-
03
Nursing and lactation
The most demanding stage of the whole life cycle, more so than pregnancy itself. Many breeders feed the dam free-choice on an all-life-stages formula through this period, with clean water always available.
-
04
Weaning
The young start on softened food from around the third or fourth week while still nursing. Using the same formula the dam is on, moistened, means their digestion only has to adapt once.
This is general guidance. Actual amounts depend on breed, litter size and the individual animal, so watch the dam’s condition and work with the vet who looks after your programme — particularly if she is losing weight while nursing.