How to figure your ratio for calcium and Ph;.
We have all read and been told, we need a ratio of 2:1 in Cal: Phos. But how do we know that is what we are feeding? I wanted to make this as simple as I can, because It can become real confusing real fast...at least for me LOL I hope I got this right lol
We find High phosphorus in hay, cerial grains, feed pellets,BOSS, Beet pulp, Minerals and browse and we get most our calcium from alfalfa. So to figure what you are feeding ratio wise...here is a simple formula:
Add all the Phos. in what is being fed..include hay, grain, minerals, BOSS ect..
Add the Calcium found in all foods fed, including Alfalfa source..
Divide calcium by Phos totals to get your ratio...for ex:
most grass hay 1:1 or less in calcium
alfalfa is aprox 4:1
concentrates Most are already 2:1
SWEETLIX® 16:8 Meat Maker® is a 2:1
Now we Add all calcium and phos. We get 8:4
8 divided by 4 is 2 which makes our ratio 2:1
This is a generic list of course...we each need to evaluate what we are feeding and make necessary adjustments if any
here is another source you might find helpful
http://www.gliderkids-diet.com/RatioExample.pdf
Q: How do I calculate the ratio of calcium to phosphorus when I am feeding several different foods? A: Please keep in mind that it is not just the ratio but the actual amounts of calcium & phosphorus in the foods you combine that you need to be concerned with. Calcium & phosphorus amounts depend on the volume of the foods combined. Ratios do not change with the volume for a single food. To calculate the ratio for a diet that contains several different foods, you must determine the amount of calcium and the amount of phosphorus in the volume of each food you are combining. You then add all the calcium amounts in mg, add all the phosphorus amounts in mg then divide the total mg calcium by the total mg phosphorus to get the first part of the ratio compared to 1 part phosphorus. You cannot simply add ratios to get a combined value. Click here to read examples of the calculations and how adding ratios can give incorrect values. Adding ratios may not give you a real combined ratio. Example using 1 TBS portions of 2 foods: Parsley 2.4:1 ratio 5.18 mg Calcium : 2.18 mg Phosphorus Carrots 1.1:1 ratio 2.56 mg Calcium : 1.24 mg Phosphorus Adding Ratios only 2.4 + 1.1 = 3.5/2 = 1.75:1 adding the C&P amounts (mg) 5.18 mg + 2.56 mg = 7.74 mg Calcium 2.18 mg + 1.24 mg = 3.42 mg Phosphorus 7.74 mg / 3.42 mg = 2.26:1 ratio Another Example of 1 TBS portions of 2 foods: Green Beans 1:1 ratio 2.54 mg Calcium : 2.61 mg Phosphorus Papaya 4.8:1 ratio 2.10 mg Calcium : 0.44 mg Phosphorus If you add Ratios only 4.8+1= 5.8/2 = 2.9:1 adding the C&P amounts (mg) 2.54 mg + 2.10 mg = 4.64 mg Calcium 2.61 mg + 0.44 mg = 3.05 mg Phosphorus 4.64 mg / 3.05 mg = 1.52:1 ratio As you can see - adding ratios ONLY can give you either a high or low value compared to the ratio calculated properly by adding the calcium amount in mg and the phosphorus amounts in mg THEN DIVIDING the total calcium by the total phosphorus. If you use different amounts of each food, the calcium and phosphorus amounts depend on the AMOUNT of the food used in your combination. The RATIO does not change with the amount as both calcium and phosphorus increase proportionately. If you were to use 1 TBS Green Beans combined with 2 TBS Papaya Green Beans .. 1:1 2.54 mg Calcium : 2.61 mg Phosphorus Papaya ...... 4.8:1 4.20 mg Calcium : 0.88 mg Phosphorus If you add Ratios only 4.8+1= 5.8/2 = 2.9:1 (Ratios do not change with volume) adding the C&P amounts (mg) 2.54 mg + 4.20 mg = 6.74 mg Calcium 2.61 mg + 0.88 mg = 3.49 mg Phosphorus 6.74 mg / 3.49 mg = 1.93:1 ratio Compare this with the 1.52:1 ratio for 1 TBS Green Beans and 1 TBS Papaya in the previous example. The ratio changes in relation to the volume
SO if you figure out the ca:p ratio for a tablespoon of BOSS then add another equal part of BOSS to that the Ca:P ratio does not change...however if you add ½ tablespoon to the first tablespoon, then the ratio changes as its not loner equal...
We have all read and been told, we need a ratio of 2:1 in Cal: Phos. But how do we know that is what we are feeding? I wanted to make this as simple as I can, because It can become real confusing real fast...at least for me LOL I hope I got this right lol
We find High phosphorus in hay, cerial grains, feed pellets,BOSS, Beet pulp, Minerals and browse and we get most our calcium from alfalfa. So to figure what you are feeding ratio wise...here is a simple formula:
Add all the Phos. in what is being fed..include hay, grain, minerals, BOSS ect..
Add the Calcium found in all foods fed, including Alfalfa source..
Divide calcium by Phos totals to get your ratio...for ex:
most grass hay 1:1 or less in calcium
alfalfa is aprox 4:1
concentrates Most are already 2:1
SWEETLIX® 16:8 Meat Maker® is a 2:1
Now we Add all calcium and phos. We get 8:4
8 divided by 4 is 2 which makes our ratio 2:1
This is a generic list of course...we each need to evaluate what we are feeding and make necessary adjustments if any
here is another source you might find helpful
http://www.gliderkids-diet.com/RatioExample.pdf
Q: How do I calculate the ratio of calcium to phosphorus when I am feeding several different foods? A: Please keep in mind that it is not just the ratio but the actual amounts of calcium & phosphorus in the foods you combine that you need to be concerned with. Calcium & phosphorus amounts depend on the volume of the foods combined. Ratios do not change with the volume for a single food. To calculate the ratio for a diet that contains several different foods, you must determine the amount of calcium and the amount of phosphorus in the volume of each food you are combining. You then add all the calcium amounts in mg, add all the phosphorus amounts in mg then divide the total mg calcium by the total mg phosphorus to get the first part of the ratio compared to 1 part phosphorus. You cannot simply add ratios to get a combined value. Click here to read examples of the calculations and how adding ratios can give incorrect values. Adding ratios may not give you a real combined ratio. Example using 1 TBS portions of 2 foods: Parsley 2.4:1 ratio 5.18 mg Calcium : 2.18 mg Phosphorus Carrots 1.1:1 ratio 2.56 mg Calcium : 1.24 mg Phosphorus Adding Ratios only 2.4 + 1.1 = 3.5/2 = 1.75:1 adding the C&P amounts (mg) 5.18 mg + 2.56 mg = 7.74 mg Calcium 2.18 mg + 1.24 mg = 3.42 mg Phosphorus 7.74 mg / 3.42 mg = 2.26:1 ratio Another Example of 1 TBS portions of 2 foods: Green Beans 1:1 ratio 2.54 mg Calcium : 2.61 mg Phosphorus Papaya 4.8:1 ratio 2.10 mg Calcium : 0.44 mg Phosphorus If you add Ratios only 4.8+1= 5.8/2 = 2.9:1 adding the C&P amounts (mg) 2.54 mg + 2.10 mg = 4.64 mg Calcium 2.61 mg + 0.44 mg = 3.05 mg Phosphorus 4.64 mg / 3.05 mg = 1.52:1 ratio As you can see - adding ratios ONLY can give you either a high or low value compared to the ratio calculated properly by adding the calcium amount in mg and the phosphorus amounts in mg THEN DIVIDING the total calcium by the total phosphorus. If you use different amounts of each food, the calcium and phosphorus amounts depend on the AMOUNT of the food used in your combination. The RATIO does not change with the amount as both calcium and phosphorus increase proportionately. If you were to use 1 TBS Green Beans combined with 2 TBS Papaya Green Beans .. 1:1 2.54 mg Calcium : 2.61 mg Phosphorus Papaya ...... 4.8:1 4.20 mg Calcium : 0.88 mg Phosphorus If you add Ratios only 4.8+1= 5.8/2 = 2.9:1 (Ratios do not change with volume) adding the C&P amounts (mg) 2.54 mg + 4.20 mg = 6.74 mg Calcium 2.61 mg + 0.88 mg = 3.49 mg Phosphorus 6.74 mg / 3.49 mg = 1.93:1 ratio Compare this with the 1.52:1 ratio for 1 TBS Green Beans and 1 TBS Papaya in the previous example. The ratio changes in relation to the volume
SO if you figure out the ca:p ratio for a tablespoon of BOSS then add another equal part of BOSS to that the Ca:P ratio does not change...however if you add ½ tablespoon to the first tablespoon, then the ratio changes as its not loner equal...