Duck with Ground Bone

Poultry processors sell popular cuts separately; bony parts such as backs and necks bring less money. Duck suppliers grind flesh and edible bone together, sometimes with organs, and freeze the blend for raw food makers.^5,6,7,11

1. 01 // Source Duck and bone Duck cuts or a dressed whole bird enter the grinder with edible bone and sometimes organs.
2. 02 // Process Ground together A grinder breaks the bone into small pieces and mixes it through the meat and skin.
3. 03 // Process Frozen for shipment Suppliers freeze raw grinds for shipment; recipe makers thaw or portion them for use.
4. 04 // Output Duck bone blend The ground mixture enters a pet food recipe as an animal protein and mineral source.

1. 01

   Adds protein and fat

   Duck flesh supplies amino acids, while skin and other fatty tissue add calories. The amount of each depends on which parts enter the grind.⁵

2. 02

   Supplies bone minerals

   Ground bone adds calcium and phosphorus alongside the meat. The recipe maker must account for both minerals across the finished food, particularly one intended for growing dogs.^4,5,11

3. 03

   Uses lower value cuts

   Grinding gives bony poultry parts a use when they sell for less than popular cuts. Lower ingredient cost is a likely benefit, not a measured saving for duck.^6,11

How much One raw recipe lists duck meat with ground bone at 80% of the formula, including about 10% ground bone.⁸

1. Brands say

   Ground bone supplies calcium and phosphorus

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A certified lab analysis of 1 whole-duck grind found 1.15% calcium and 0.66% phosphorus as fed. Bone supplies minerals, but those figures cannot show whether the finished food meets a dog's full nutrient needs.^5,10,11

2. Brands say

   Duck is safe for dogs with food allergies

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In a 14-dog allergy trial, a duck-and-rice diet was fed for 78 days before corn and soy challenges. Duck itself was not challenged. Its use in that trial does not prove safety for every allergic dog.²

3. Brands say

   Raw duck protein digests better than cooked

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   An 18-beagle trial compared raw and heat-sterilized versions of the same chicken-based formula. The heated food had higher protein digestibility. That result does not measure duck or support a raw duck advantage.¹

4. Brands say

   Ground duck bone cleans dogs' teeth

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A 12-beagle trial measured calculus removal while dogs chewed whole beef bones. Bone ground into food provides no comparable chewing surface. The trial did not test a ground ingredient or show a dental benefit from one.^3,6