Timothy-based vs alfalfa based pellets

[eycamry]

Recently I have started a local business selling cavy and bunny pellets and have done some research on those as well. Everything I read stated that timothy-hay based pellets are better for adult cavies and bunnies. There are alfalfa-based pellets for young ones and nursing moms. It made me starting to wonder why chinchllas are always on alfalfa-based pellets. Oxbow only has one type of chin pellets which is alfalfa-based. Do chins require more proteins that the other small animals?

In another post, I asked about Kaytee Timothy Complete chin pellets. Why is that such a bad feed? I know people are generally against Kaytee, and I fully understand that we should not be feeding our chins the "colorful" food with many treats. However, has anyone had any bad experience with KTC, or is it simply because everyone said it is bad, it must be bad...

I am just curious, not that I am switching to KTC.

 

[aznmexaggie]

Most chins do fine on alfalfa-based pellets and it is essential for young, pregnant, or nursing chinchillas to be on an alfalfa-based pellet as they need the extra minerals and protein. There are situations where a chinchilla should be put on a timothy-based pellet such as those chins who are prone to getting stones, are geriatric, or have some type of medical problem requiring a lower energy and higher fiber diet. When on a timothy-based pellet, they should still get timothy hay (they need the benefits for dental and GI health) although some alfalfa hay should be provided as well.

As far as Kaytee goes, here are the ingredients to the Timothy Complete Chin food:

Sun-cured timothy grass hay, dehydrated alfalfa meal, dehulled soybean meal, wheat middlings, ground wheat, ground oats, oat hulls, dried beet pulp, dried cane molasses, dicalcium phosphate, salt, soy oil, wheat germ meal, carbon carbonate, dl-methionine, vitamin A supplement, choline chloride, yucca schidigera extract, riboflavin supplement, ferrous carbonate, ethyoxyquin (a preservative), vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin E supplement, manganous oxide, zinc oxide, niacin, copper oxide, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity) cholecalciferol (source of vitamin D3), calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, calcium iodate, biotin, folic acid, dried A. oryzae fermentation extract (source of protease), dried bacillus coagulans fermentation product, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, cobalt carbonate, sodium selenite.

Crude protein (min)…16.0%,
crude fat (min) 2.5%,
crude fiber (max) 22.0%,
moisture (max) 12.0%

And here are the ingredients to Oxbow Chinchilla Deluxe:

Ingredients

Alfalfa Meal, Soybean Hulls, Wheat Middlings, Soybean Meal, Limestone, Salt, L-ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Vitamin C), Cane Molasses, Yeast Culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement (tocopherol), Ascorbic Acid, Colloidal Silica, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Riboflavin, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, Thiamine, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Pyrodoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite, Magnesium Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Cobalt Carbonate, Manganese Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Mineral Oil, Calcium Iodate, Potassium Chloride

Guarenteed Analysis

* Crude Protein, min 16.00%
* Crude Fat, min 2.50%
* Crude Fiber, min 18.00%, max 23.00%
* Moisture, max 10.00%
* Calcium, min 0.75%, max 1.25%
* Phosphorus, min 0.25%
* Salt, min 0.50%, max 1.00%
* Vitamin A, IU/KG 20,000
* Vitamin D, IU/KG 880
* Vitamin E, IU/KG 140
* Copper, mg/kg 10

For whatever reason, Kaytee claims their Timothy Complete is a lower protein and lower calcium food but they don't list the calcium percentages and Oxbow's crude protein is at the same moderate level. Kaytee must have changed their formulas because I believe they used to contain corn but they still use the synthetic chemical preservative, ethoxyquin, which is a controversial ingredient in the pet food industry.

 

[Idgie]

From purely a pet owner/practical point of view, it is easier to feed alfalfa based pellets because it is easier to feed timothy/grass hay. And I wouldn't be sure if I had timothy based pellets if I should feed alfalfa hay? And alfalfa isn't as easy to find or as cheap.