How to compare the true cost of two kibbles beyond price per kilo?

How to compare: Each kibble is reduced to the cost of covering one day of energy requirement, delivery included. An honest comparison follows four steps: the animal's need, each food's density, each ration, then each cost per day. Price per kilo alone cannot support that comparison (WSAVA, 2021). In depth ### The four-step procedure Comparing two kibbles means neutralising their differences in density and format. Step one, estimate the animal's daily energy requirement. Step two, read each food's density in kcal per 100 g, ideally tested. Step three, divide the need by the density to obtain each ration. Step four, multiply each ration by its price per gram, delivery included. This rigour avoids common traps. Royal Canin Academy details how to calculate the metabolisable energy of a commercial food, which makes two densities comparable (Royal Canin Academy). A useful point: if a product shows only an energy figure from the modified Atwater method, the estimate can drift, because that method tends to underestimate the real kcal in dogs and cats (Petfoodindustry). ### Including all comparable costs A valid comparison adds the product price and the shipping cost, then divides by the number of days covered. A headline price without delivery is not an honest base. Ration tools such as Kibbs or Hector Kitchen help the calculation, but the chosen product's label stays the final reference to verify (Kibbs; Hector Kitchen). Comparison table | Step | Kibble A | Kibble B | |---|---|---| | Animal's need (kcal/day) | identical | identical | | Density (kcal/100 g) | read on the label | read on the label | | Ration (g/day) | need / density | need / density | | Delivered cost per day | ration x price per gram | ration x price per gram |