I'm feeding Orijen Large Breed Puppy dry kibble, and Nature's Variety raw frozen patties. I now have access to the BarfWorld Barf Diet raw patties. I noticed the BARF patties have cultured kefir in them, but the Nature's Variety patties do not have any probiotics at all. Is either of these better than the other?

Also, I've seen a lot of freeze dried food, and it does seem a bit expensive. Of course, I'm not factoring in that the water has been removed. I'm looking at AFS, Natural Balance, and the Nature's Variety freeze dried. Is there any benefit to using this over frozen raw, besides the storage issue. What does the price difference work out to in the end? I would assume that freeze drying is not a cheap process and that I will pay for it.

Plain kefir is good stuff so that would be a plus in my book. Of course you can always add it (or yogurt) to any food.

My only question would be if the freezing process kills off the very thing that makes kefir so beneficial....all those live, active cultures.

I've never fed freeze-dried food but I would assume, too, that it is more expensive.

 Quote: Sarah Morris

Plain kefir is good stuff so that would be a plus in my book. Of course you can always add it (or yogurt) to any food.

My only question would be if the freezing process kills off the very thing that makes kefir so beneficial....all those live, active cultures.

Here's a thread that mentions freezing kefir: http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/184107/page/0/fpart/2

BTW, it is cheap, exceptionally easy to propagate, my dog loves it, and it seems to make a real difference to both his allergies and his digestion. When I ran out for a few weeks I noticed a definite increase in itching as well as some diarrhea that cleared up within a few days of getting my supply restored. I got mine from: http://happyherbalist.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=47

Thanks, Anita

Can you taste the difference from Cow kefir and goat kefir?

Just curious

I don't know. Probably smells goaty and tastes tangy. I haven't dared try it

Goat yogurt is terrific, even though I hesitated forever.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Goat yogurt is terrific, even though I hesitated forever.

We have Whole Foods here. Think I could find it there? (it's a bit out of my way, but goat yogurt (or kefir) sounds interesting.)

 Quote: Lynne Barrows

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Goat yogurt is terrific, even though I hesitated forever.

We have Whole Foods here. Think I could find it there? (it's a bit out of my way, but goat yogurt (or kefir) sounds interesting.)

Definitely. They have a good yogurt selection.

Even the small local chain of health food stores in my town (three stores) has at least a dozen very good yogurts, including two goat milk and a buffalo milk.

The goat one I bought (I can't remember the name) has a little goat on the front.

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I don't know. Probably smells goaty and tastes tangy. I haven't dared try it

For all you poor pitiful people stuck in your house/apartment/condo-with a neighbor in your back pocket, enough pavement to make a person insane, and tiny bits of uninhabited areas you call lawns and parks--who's livestock experience is limited to the petting zoo as a kid....if you're lucky----

Billy goats older than one year are stinky vulgar creatures (we don't milk them at any age), nanny goats do not stink (we milk them). Goat milk only stinks when it has soured or been cultured into odoriferous cheese, but then so does cow milk.

The nastiest milk in the world is cow's milk in the spring when they have been eating wild garlic (take your garlic press and put a few drops in a glass of milk to get an idea of the taste).

Kefir and yogurt of any variety is tangy.

Freezing will not kill yogurt, kefir, or cheese cultures.

Goat meat tastes just as good as beef, chicken, rabbit or any other meat you or your dog like to eat. If your dog refuses to eat goat meat it isn't the goat's fault.

I have to confess that I would not give a billy goat hide to any dog I live with, although the dogs wouldn't mind.