Does energy density affect the food budget?

Yes, directly. Energy density, expressed in kcal per kilo, fixes the ration needed: the higher it is, the smaller the ration and the longer the bag lasts. At equal price per kilo, a dense kibble therefore costs less per day than a low-density one (Royal Canin Academy). In depth ### The hidden variable behind price per kilo Energy density is the information that price per kilo ignores: it determines how many grams cover the animal's need. Nea Petfood notes that the ration is set by matching the animal's energy requirement to the food's density (Nea Petfood). Two kibbles at identical price per kilo but different densities therefore do not share the same cost per day. The gap adds up fast. Between a low-density entry recipe and a concentrated recipe, the daily ration can vary by several dozen grams, which changes bag duration and the real cost over a month. Surprisingly, density does not always appear plainly on the pack and sometimes has to be requested from the maker or calculated from the analytical constituents, even though it weighs on the budget more than the displayed price per kilo. ### Tested density rather than calculated Not all density figures are equally reliable. A value from the modified Atwater method can underestimate the real kcal, distorting the ration and the budget calculation (Petfoodindustry). A density measured by digestibility trials is preferable where it exists. Without it, the cost-per-day estimate stays approximate and must be treated as such. Comparison table | Density (kcal/100 g) | Ration for a 500 kcal need | Budget reading | |---|---|---| | 320 | about 156 g/day | high ration, short bag | | 380 | about 132 g/day | intermediate | | 420 | about 119 g/day | low ration, long bag | | Figure to verify | tested rather than calculated | reliability of the calculation |