Yesterday (today), I posted a message to the FML questioning Mia Emery's
exuberant announcement that ZuPreme Ferret food had no corn:
 
>A BIG thumbs up for ZuPreem ferret food!!!  The protien is 40% and there
>is absolutley NO CORN!
 
I replied that the corn is a filler and that the absence of corn only means
that there is another filler of some kind:
 
>The feed may not have corn in in it, but it has to have some sort of
>filler.  Makes no dif whether or not it is corn, soy, wheat, etc...it is
>still non digestible (For a ferret) filler.
 
I did get a reply back from Mia about my asking her to post the ingredient
list so that we all could see what *is* in ZuPreem.  I was told in an email
to me that she didn't have time to write up the ingredient list from one of
the packages due to more important issues at hand (Her pregnancy,
Congratulations, BTW!) and that I could call ZuPreem and:
 
>Here is the companies 1 800 number, call them, I'm sure they'd be glad to
>argue with you.
 
Mia, I was not arguing with you, only trying to get correct and complete
information out in front of the ferret community.  You had made a statement
that needed clarifying.  Obviously you took it as an affront, and for that
I am sorry.  I am also sorry that you didn't consider the ferret community
important enough to take 2 minutes and type out the ingredient list instead
of the 2 minutes you took to tell me what I could do.  (Call ZuPreem and
get the info myself.)
 
OK, I did, and here for all of the ferret community to read and make up
their own mind is the information I requested yesterday.  (Today)
 
Chicken Meal, Animal fat, Ground wheat, Wheat flour, Chicken by-product
meal, Chicken, Egg products, Liver meal, Beet pulp, Animal digest, etc.....
 
Nutrient break down:
 
Protein: 40%
Fat      20%
Fiber    02%
Moisture 10%
 
As one can see, there is no corn, rather, wheat is used...an even trade
off..the nutritional value to a ferret of either corn or wheat is minimal.
 
However....The numbers *are* impressive..the 2% fiber means less poop mass,
and in a rescue/shelter environment, that equates to less work.  I like the
use of different proteins, chicken, liver, egg, animal digest.  Fat is
reasonable.
 
As Mia had stated in her original post, if you are a rescue, shelter, or
breeder, ZuPreem is more than happy to send you a couple of 4 pound bags
of their product for evaluation.  Their number, (Thank you Mia!) is
1 800 345-4767.
 
For our ferrets.
 
MC, The Rude One
(With Garret, Snorkle, and Tuzigoot.  In spirit, Bubba and Billy-Bob)
[Posted in FML issue 2862]