Esbilac Tests Lot 3419E

WildAgain Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc.

Tests comparing Esbilac® made in early 2009 and late 2009
Trending more like the old, but what's in it??

Two separate bags of Lot # 3419E show different ingredients on the label

Solubility tests

Solubility tests were performed reconstituting the Esbilac® powder using water at 125°F and 175°F, and observing any separation when mixing for an immediate use and allowing the formula to rehydrate for 4 hours in the refrigerator. The results are shown and described below. In summary, Lot # 0919E cannot be used as an instant mix, as it develops an unwetted cap, even with the hotter water. At 4 hours rehydration, the formula appears to be fully rehydrated. Lot # 3419E did have about 10% liquified flotation but appeared to be suitably unwetted as an instant mix. However, this lot also benefited from longer hydration time, achieving a more liquified state after 4 hours.

Lot # 0919E (made April 1, 2009)	Lot # 3419E (made December 7, 2009)

Figure 1. Considerable separation is evident when mixed for immediate use. Three separate levels can be seen, including an unwetted cap of white, dry powder at the top of each cylinder; an oil layer in the middle; and a very dilute milk/water solution underneath. When allowed to rehydrate for four hours (2 cylinders on the right), no visible separation was observed.	Figure 2. Still not an instant mix, but some separation is evident when mixed for immediate use. No unwetted cap of dry powder formed, but there was a faint level of flotation at the top which was of semi-liquid nature. When allowed to rehydrate for four hours (2 cylinders on the right), a bright yellow level of liquid was observed near the top of each cylinder.

Proximate Analysis, Minerals and Calories (click lot# below for Midwest Lab report)

The table below indicates the values for test results from Midwest Labs, plus calculated values for components in a formula mixed at a ratio of 1:2 with water using WildAgain's nutrition calculator. The Kcals are calculated using both the standard Atwater calculation as well as the modified Atwater as prescribed by AAFCO.

Component	Lot 0919E	Lot 3419E	Mixed 1:2 water	Lot 0919E	Lot 3419E
Moisture %	5.95	4.40	Solids %	15.0	17.2
Protein %	35.5	38.8	Protein %	5.7	7.0
Acid Hydrolysis Fat %	41.5	42.2	Fat %	6.6	7.6
Carbs (subtraction) %	11.6	9.02	Carbs %	1.9	1.6
Calcium %	1.34	1.29	Calcium %	.2	.2
Phosphorus %	.86	.85	Phosphorus %	.1	.2
Magnesium %	.097	.079	Ca/P Ratio	1.56	1.52
Sodium %	.53	.50	Kcals/cc (Atwater)	.90	1.05
Potassium %	1.23	.87	Kcals/cc (AAFCO)	.82	.95
Peroxide Value	2.56	< 2
Dry wt (1 TBSP)	5.6	6.5
Kcals/gram (Atwater)	5.63	5.85
Kcals/gram (AAFCO)	5.18	5.27
*Cells shaded in light blue indicate values from tests performed by Midwest Labs, Omaha, NE. Click here to see the entire report*

Ingredients

The table below indicates the primary ingredients for the lot number indicated. For Lot # 3419E, two separate ingredient lists were used for two different sized bags of product. For a full list of ingredients for both bag sizes, click on the bag size below for a pdf document.

Lot Number:	Lot 0919E	Lot 3419E (click bag size below for complete label)
Size of container	28 oz. Can	5 lb. Bag	22 lb. Bag
Primary ingredients	Vegetable oil, casein, whey protein concentrate, dried skim milk, butter fat	Vegetable oil, casein, whey protein concentrate, dried skim milk, butter fat	Vegetable oil, dried skim milk, casein, cream
Secondary ingredients	(same as 5# bag at right)	(See bag label for listing of minerals, vitamins and other less prominent ingredients.)	Taurine has been added in this list of ingredients. (See bag label for listing of all other minerals, vitamins and other less prominent ingredients.)

Physical Characteristics

Lot 0919E	Weight (average)	5.6 grams / TBSP (large end of red scoop).
	Texture and handling comments	Somewhat clumpy, generally scoops unevenly and inconsistently.
	Observed measurement variability	Scooping error generally within +/- 4.5%. Low error -12.3%; High error +5.3%.
	Scoop or weigh?	Weighing (rather than scooping) will produce a more accurate measurement.
Lot 3419E	Weight (average)	6.5 grams / TBSP (large end of red scoop).
	Texture and handling comments	Extremely clumpy, scoops very unevenly and inconsistently.
	Observed measurement variability	Scooping error generally within +/- 6.8%. Low error -18.5%; High error +10.8%.
	Scoop or weigh?	Weighing (rather than scooping) will produce a far more accurate measurement.