Keeping Fido and Tabby Fit & Trim
Consumer interest in healthy eating is a family affair, even extending to their four-legged pets. On Tuesday afternoon from 1:15 –2:45 pm in Room 287, Session 275 Novel Application of Functional Ingredient Technology in Product Development of Pet Foods will present pet food products using novel and exotic functional ingredients related to key areas of pet health, such as cognition, oral care, and renal function. Discussion will center on industry challenges and solutions related to sourcing, formulation, processing, and palatability of successful products.
Presenter Mark Waldron, Nestlé Purina PetCare, will focus on the unique differences between dogs and cats with respect to lipid metabolism and highlight recent findings with respect to the use of novel fatty acids. Specifically, he will discuss the use of medium-chain triglycerides in both dogs and cats and the use of gamma-linolenic acid as an alternate source of arachidonic acid in cats.
Dale A. Hill, ADM Alliance Nutrition Inc., will explore a recent research study (at the Colo. State Univ. College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Cancer Center), which compared a traditional meat-grain 27-12 canine diet to a nutrient-matched dried cooked navy bean diet (navy beans incorporated at 25% of diet) in a double-blind study. Key processing observations were 1) navy beans have minimal affect on extruded kibble color; 2) additional water is needed during extrusion of high-bean diets as compared to traditional meat and grain ingredients; and 3) the navy bean diet extruded similar to the control diet. Of particular interest, no difference in flatulence was reported in dogs fed the bean diet and the control diet. Based on these criteria, dried cooked navy beans is a safe and effective novel dietary ingredient for canine diets.
David Cai, Ph.D., BASF, will discuss scientific evidence on the use of natural-sourced specialty functional ingredients into next-generation pet food products and supplement formulations for pet health, along with latest clinical research on these ingredients in pet animals, mainly cats and dogs. In addition to the scientific research, he will also present market research and trends in this segment.