If there’s something everybody agrees on, it’s that dogs love food! The smell of delicious meat gets their mouthwatering and excited for meal time. Dogs also have the benefit of eating different flavors, but the pet food industry is always looking to improve.
One big area where dog food companies can improve is in the meat sources they use and how they source them. It’s important to look for new meat sources that can benefit dogs and support them in living a healthy lifestyle.
Canine Caviar wants to talk about the newest novel meat source, buffalo (often confused with bison). Let’s discuss the benefits of buffalo meat and why you should be giving it to your dog.
About Buffalo – Not the Same as Bison
You might be thinking, “There’s already buffalo kibble out on the market so it isn’t new.” That’s a misconception. What many people think as buffalo are actually called bison! So what’s the difference?
Bison live in North America and parts of Europe. They have woolly fur, a large hump on their back and small sharp horns. Buffalo on the other hand live in southeast Asia and Africa. Buffalo do not have fur or a hump, and their horns are quite long and arched. So when we’re talking about the benefits of buffalo meat, we’re referring to the latter and not bison.
Buffalo meat is a high quality protein source with numerous benefits. A healthy meat, similar to beef, but a better alternative due to outweighing positives. Let’s quickly compare buffalo meat to cow meat and see how they differ.
Buffalo Meat Benefits vs Cow Meat
Which is better, beef or buffalo meat? The answer is buffalo meat and for good reason. Across all cuts, buffalo meat is lower in calories and fat compared to its cousin. It’s also higher in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and omega-6.
The benefits of buffalo compared to beef don’t stop there. Buffalo is higher in iron levels than beef. There is 50% less cholesterol in buffalo than beef or pork and lower sodium levels.
Buffalo isn’t just good for the body but for the planet as well. Cows are the number one polluter of methane gas in the world. Luckily, buffalo grow twice as fast as cows and emit less methane. That means their ecological footprint is smaller unlike cows and pigs.
Benefits of Buffalo Meat for Dogs
Now that we’ve talked about the difference between buffalo and bison and how buffalo is better than beef, it’s time to ask what are the benefits of buffalo meat for our dogs? Here are some of the benefits of buffalo meat.
- Buffalo is a low allergen meat source perfect for dogs with allergies
- Highly digestible for good nutrient absorption and smaller eliminations
- Rich in vitamins B6, B12, and vitamin D
- A good source of calcium, potassium, CoQ10 enzymes, and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids
- 70-90% less fat as compared to beef and pork
- Beneficial to heart health
- High protein meat source
Buffalo Meat Sourcing
It’s important to know where meats are sourced and how they’re sourced. Buffalo come from Southeast Asia which is a big positive. Southeastern countries such as India highly respect bovines and treat them well. They’re raised on open land with natural grass and are not fed added antibiotics, GMO’s or growth hormones.
It is this type of free range environment that makes buffalo such a good protein source. Cows can often be raised in unsatisfactory environments which affect their growth, nutritional value, and taste. Buffalo is able to be so rich in nutrients and healthy due to its excellent environment.
Final Thoughts
Buffalo is a real powerhouse when it comes to nutrition. Benefits of buffalo meat include less fat, cholesterol, sodium, and more protein and nutrients compared to similar meats. Buffalo is making its stride into the pet market and you dog will definitely enjoy it.
Check out the Canine Caviar Blog for more great articles. Learn about the Benefits of Alfalfa or see how Canine Caviar Compares to Raw Dog Food.