Nutrient Coverage
Nutrient coverage is a percentage that shows how much of the daily requirement your recipe provides for each nutrient. A coverage of 100% means the recipe provides exactly the minimum requirement. Coverage is calculated by dividing the nutrient amount in your recipe by the NRC 2006 requirement.
How It Works
- 1
Sum Recipe Nutrients
Each ingredient contributes nutrients based on its amount. The system totals all contributions for each nutrient across the entire recipe.
- 2
Determine Daily Requirement
Based on your dog's weight and lifestage, the system calculates daily energy needs and scales NRC requirements accordingly.
- 3
Calculate Coverage Percentage
Coverage = (Recipe Amount ÷ Requirement) × 100. This is calculated independently for each nutrient.
- 4
Display Results
Nutrients are shown with their coverage percentage. Values below 100% indicate gaps; values above 100% indicate surplus.
Example Calculation
Why This Exists
Raw feeding requires understanding whether a recipe meets nutritional needs. Without coverage calculations, there's no objective way to identify which nutrients are lacking or excessive. Coverage percentages provide a standardized way to compare any recipe against established scientific requirements.
Common Misinterpretations
"100% is the target"
100% is the minimum, not the target. Many nutrients are safe and beneficial at 150-200% coverage. NRC minimums prevent deficiency, not optimize health.
"Coverage includes all nutrients"
Coverage can only be calculated for nutrients with known requirements. Some nutrients tracked in USDA data don't have NRC requirements established.
"Low coverage means the food is bad"
Low coverage for a single meal is expected. Balance is assessed over time. A meal with 50% zinc coverage isn't problematic if other meals provide the remainder.