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Muscle Meat

Estimated reading time: 9 min

Muscle meat is the primary component of a raw diet and is essential for a complete and balanced diet. The term “muscle meat” includes ingredients other than boneless muscle meat. Some items are easy to identify, but others may be difficult. Do not get caught up in commercial names for meat and meat-like items because they differ from raw feeding classifications.

There are many ingredients that may cause confusion on their classification because of terminology differences between biology definitions and the meat industry terms. Muscle meats have biological functions within the body and do not secrete fluids needed for biological functions like secreting organs do. In raw diets, the muscle meat category encompasses many ingredients based on their functions.

Boneless Muscle Meat

The primary ingredient is boneless muscle meat.

Raw Animal Fat

Raw animal fat is included in the muscle meat category.

Animal Tongue

Animal tongues are a source of boneless muscle meat and raw animal fat.

Heart

The heart is a muscular organ and is fed as muscle meat in raw diets.

Green Tripe

Unbleached, green tripe is the stomach muscle lining in ruminant animals.

Lungs

Lungs are a muscular organ and are fed as muscle meat in raw diets.

Gizzards

Gizzards are the mechanical stomach in poultry and fowl animals.

Connective Tissues

Cartilage, tendons, and other connective tissues are fed as muscle meat.

Puppies, dogs, and cats have protein requirements to provide amino acids for optimal health. Raw diet ratios include 60-80% muscle meat which is the main source of protein, but also provides other essential nutrients such as water-soluble vitamins and minerals.

Boneless Muscle Meat

One of the easiest and most obvious ingredients for meat includes boneless muscle meat. Raw, boneless muscle meat is the main source of protein in raw diets. Muscle meat is further segmented into white and red meat. The classification of white and red meat are based on the type of fibers muscle tissue is made of. There are fast twitch (white meat) and slow twitch (red meat) muscle fibers.

White Meat Proteins

Chicken

Turkey

Domestic Rabbit

Quail

Cornish Hen

Red Meat Proteins

Duck

Pork

Beef

Lamb

Wild Game

White meat is lighter due to low concentrations of myoglobin in the muscle tissue because fast twitch fibers do not require oxygen to produce energy for muscle contractions.

Red meat is darker due to higher amounts of myoglobin present in the muscle tissue because slow twitch fibers require a rich supply of oxygenated blood to produce sufficient energy for prolonged muscle contractions.

chickenbreast
Chicken Muscle Meat

The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g).

Moisture 74%
Protein 22%
Fat 2.6%
Carbohydrate 0%

Data Source

bonelessporkmeat
Pork Muscle Meat

The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g).

Moisture 67%
Protein 19.7%
Fat 12.6%
Carbohydrate 0%

Data Source

rawbeefcheek
Beef Muscle Meat

The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g).

Moisture 72.8%
Protein 22%
Fat 4%
Carbohydrate 0%

Data Source

Overall, red meat proteins are more nutritious than white meat proteins. Red meats provide more protein, fats, minerals, and water-soluble vitamins in comparison to white meat proteins. However, red meat is more expensive than white meat. It is best to feed a minimum of 50% red meat in a raw diet.

Muscle Meat Variety

There are many other boneless muscle meat proteins that were not covered, but this does not mean they are not suitable and safe options for raw diets. Additionally, the nutritional information on many exotic meats is unavailable to have an accurate assessment on macro and micro nutrients.

Raw Animal Fat

In addition to boneless muscle meat, raw animal fat falls under the meat category in raw diets. Dogs and cats require fat for sufficient levels of energy for physical activity and metabolic processes.

Boneless muscle meat and raw meaty bones (RMB) naturally provide raw fat depending on the protein option. Some muscle meats are very lean, with little to no fat, and other meats include higher amounts of fat.

Lean Proteins

Chicken & Turkey

Domestic Rabbit

Wild Game

Fatty Proteins

Pork

Beef

Lamb

Raw diets made with lean proteins require an additional fat source added into meals to ensure sufficient levels of fat for energy. Sourcing raw animal fat from fatty proteins is an ideal way to increase fat in lean meals or for highly active pets.

rawchickenskin
Chicken Skin & Fat

The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g).

Moisture 54%
Protein 13%
Fat 32%
Carbohydrate 0%

Data Source

rawfat
Pork Jowls

The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g).

Moisture 22%
Protein 6%
Fat 69.6%
Carbohydrate 0%

Data Source

rawbeeffat
Beef Fat

The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g).

Moisture 20%
Protein 8%
Fat 70.8%
Carbohydrate 0%

Data Source

Fat has a bad rap and many fail to realize it is a vital component to optimal canine health. Contrary to common belief, fat does not equate to weight gain if the appropriate amount is fed for individual needs without overdoing calories and raw fat is not unhealthy or dangerous.

It is a popular misconception that fat causes pancreatitis in dogs and cats. However, this is not exactly the case in raw diets when appropriate amounts of animal fats are fed in a low carbohydrate diet. Additionally, cooked fats are of concern for dogs and cats.

This is because the act of cooking, particularly with high heat, transforms fats, they oxidize, and become carcinogenic. When high fats, particularly cooked fats, is pared with high carbohydrates, it is a toxic concoction which is excessively stressful on a carnivore’s pancreas. Ultimately, this results in pancreatitis.

Fat Variety

Be sure to feed raw animal fats and avoid cooked animal fats which can cause digestive upset and even pancreatitis. There are many other raw fat options that were not covered, but this does not mean they are not suitable and safe options for raw diets.

Tongue

The tongue of an animal is one large muscle and can be fed as boneless muscle meat for protein and raw fat. In addition to providing protein, raw tongue is fatty muscle meat with a 1:1 protein to fat ratio.

Raw tongue is a good ingredient option for highly active pets and raw keto diets because of the amounts of raw fat it contains. One downside to raw tongue is cost as tongue meat is considered a delicacy in many cultures.

rawtongue
Beef Tongue

The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g).

Moisture 64.5%
Protein 14.9%
Fat 16.1%
Carbohydrate 0%

Data Source

rawporktongue
Pork Tongue

The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g).

Moisture 65.9%
Protein 16%
Fat 17%
Carbohydrate 0%

Data Source

rawlambtongue
Lamb Tongue

The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g).

Moisture 66.6%
Protein 15.7%
Fat 17%
Carbohydrate 0%

Data Source

Raw Tongue Variety

There are many other tongue proteins that were not covered, but this does not mean they are not suitable and safe options for raw diets. Additionally, the nutritional information on many exotic options is unavailable to have an accurate assessment on macro and micro nutrients.

Heart

Often classified as an organ, raw heart is a muscular organ and is fed as a lean muscle meat in raw diets. Out of the meat category, it is recommended that 10-15% includes raw heart. Raw heart provides protein, but contains high levels of B vitamins and minerals.

rawchickenheart
Chicken Heart

The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g).

Moisture 73.6%
Protein 15.6%
Fat 9.3%
Carbohydrate 0%

Data Source

rawporkheart
Pork Heart

The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g).

Moisture 76%
Protein 17%
Fat 4%
Carbohydrate 0%

Data Source

beefheart
Beef Heart

The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g).

Moisture 77%
Protein 17.7%
Fat 3.9%
Carbohydrate 0%

Data Source

Heart Variety

There are many other heart proteins that were not covered, but this does not mean they are not suitable and safe options for raw diets. Additionally, the nutritional information on many exotic heart muscular organs are unavailable to have an accurate assessment on macro and micro nutrients.

Unbleached, Green Tripe

Green tripe is the stomach lining of ruminant animals such as cattle, lamb, and goats. Green tripe has a 1:1 balanced calcium to phosphorus ratio and is a good source of manganese!

rawgreentripe
Beef Green Tripe

The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g).

Moisture 64.7%
Protein 14.9%
Fat 18%
Carbohydrate 0%

Data Source

greentripe
Green Tripe Shades

Green tripe comes in a variety of shades of green. The color of tripe is related to the diet the ruminant consumed. Dark green tripe is from a diet high in grass while lighter colored, yellow tinted tripe is from the inclusion of corn in the animal’s diet.

whitetripe
White, Bleached Tripe

White tripe is often sold in ethnic markets for human consumption which goes through a cleaning process that removes all of the beneficial nutrients green tripe provides. Therefore, it is recommended to feed green tripe.

Ruminant animals have a four chamber stomach, the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum, and the abomasum. Each one of these chambers has a different “texture” to the stomach lining. It is not uncommon to receive a variety of tripe textures when purchasing green tripe for pet consumption.

There are laws in the United States which prohibit slaughterhouses and butchers from selling green tripe to the public due to USDA and FDA regulations. Similarly, many other countries have limitations on the sale of green tripe. Typically, green tripe can only be sourced through pet food suppliers and is unobtainable in local grocery markets.

Tripe Variety

There are many other ruminant animals that provide green tripe that were not covered but this does not mean they are not suitable and safe options for raw diets. Additionally, the nutritional information on green tripe is mostly unavailable to have an accurate assessment on macro and micro nutrients.

Lungs

Similar to raw heart, raw lungs are often considered as an organ, but are a muscular organ and is fed as lean muscle meat in raw diets. Raw lungs are a good source of protein, selenium, and iron, but sourcing raw lungs can prove difficult to many raw feeders without access to ethnic markets or raw pet food suppliers.

rawlung
Beef Lung

The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g).

Moisture 79%
Protein 16%
Fat 2.5%
Carbohydrate 0%

Data Source

rawlung
Pork Lung

The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g).

Moisture 79.5%
Protein 14%
Fat 2.7%
Carbohydrate 0%

Data Source

rawporklung
Lamb Lung

The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g).

Moisture 79.7%
Protein 16.7%
Fat 2.6%
Carbohydrate 0%

Data Source

Lung Variety

There are many other lung proteins that were not covered, but this does not mean they are not suitable and safe options for raw diets. Additionally, the nutritional information on exotic lung muscular organs are unavailable to have an accurate assessment on macro and micro nutrients.

Gizzards

The gizzard (giblet) is the mechanical stomach of poultry and fowl birds. They are fed as boneless lean muscle meat in raw diets as a source of protein, but are not a crucial ingredient to creating a balanced diet. However, gizzards are relatively inexpensive and easy to source, which is useful to maintain lower monthly budget costs.

rawgizzards
Chicken Gizzards

The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g).

Moisture 79%
Protein 17.6%
Fat 2%
Carbohydrate 0%

Data Source

rawturkeygizzards
Turkey Gizzards

The amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbs are based on 1oz (28g).

Moisture 77%
Protein 18.8%
Fat 3%
Carbohydrate 0%

Data Source

rawduckgizzards
Duck Gizzards

The nutritional data on duck gizzards is unavailable. However the data from chicken and turkey gizzards can be used in place of duck gizzards for meal formulation.

Miscellaneous Muscle Meat Ingredients

The muscle meat category in raw diets encompasses many ingredients that are well known as well as uncommon items. In addition to boneless muscle meat, fat, and muscular organs include off-cut items that fall within the muscle meat category for raw diets.

rawuterus

Uterus

Uterus is the reproductive muscle in female animals and are fed as lean muscle meat in raw diet as a source of protein, but are not a crucial ingredient to creating a balanced diet. Uterus is another difficult ingredient to source but is typically found in ethnic markets.

muscle meat for dogs in raw feeding

Cartilage: Trachea, Gullets, & Animal Ears

Many pet parents are familiar with dehydrated pig ears sold in pet stores, but these items provide a benefit in raw diets! Similar to dehydrated ears – raw trachea, gullets, and ears are primarily cartilage which provides high amounts of dietary chondroitin for joint support. Chondroitin is one of the main building blocks of cartilage in joints. Therefore, dogs and cats with joint issues benefit from diets that include foods with cartilage.

rawpizzle

Pizzle

Pizzle (penis) is the reproductive muscle in male animals and is fed as lean muscle meat in raw diets as a source of protein, but are not a crucial ingredient to creating a balanced diet. Pizzle is another difficult ingredient to source, but is typically found in ethnic markets.

rawtendon

Tendons

Small tendons are often included in boneless muscle meat and raw meaty bones (RMB) because they are the connective tissues holding joints together and muscles onto bones. Tendons are another beneficial food source for pets with joint issues because tendons are a good source of collagen!

CLOSING COMMENTS

The main component of raw diets consists of muscle meat to ensure sufficient levels of protein and amino acids are provided for optimal health. Outside of boneless muscle meat and muscular organs, ingredients such as raw fat and cartilage are classified as muscle meats in raw diets.

A raw diet should have a minimum of 50% red muscle meat to provide higher levels of minerals and water-soluble vitamins for a balanced diet. Additionally, the raw diet should provide raw fat to ensure appropriate calories are provided to maintain stable and consistent energy levels.