Pet Food Processing - January 2025 - 43

Feeding trials provide pet food manufacturers an
opportunity to demonstrate that dogs or cats are
able to effectively metabolize a new pet food. "
Austin Therrell, Association of American Feed Control Officials
ments for a certain nutrient, but if the animal is not
able to absorb and use the nutrient properly, they may
be missing out on necessary nutrition. We are starting
to see that different food sources offer variable bioavailabilities
of nutrients. "
Observing pets over time reveals long-term dietary
effects, from changes in feeding habits to sustained acceptance
of formulations. These real-world insights help
manufacturers refine recipes.
" Feeding trials show real-world results that cannot
be seen otherwise, " Hampton said. " In a lab, you cannot
confidently say that a cat or dog prefers a particular
food. We can show that animals can detect small or large
flavor changes and how they change preference and consumption.
The after-effects are also able to be monitored
to give information otherwise not known. "
Challenges and innovations
Despite their importance, trials come with challenges
such as high costs, logistical complexities and ethical
considerations, pushing manufacturers to innovate.
" AAFCO feeding trials, while essential for demonstrating
the nutritional adequacy of pet food, present several
common challenges for manufacturers, " Miller said.
" Identifying healthy, representative animals for the trial
can be difficult, especially when the gestation/lactation
and growth stage is evaluated. AAFCO feeding trials are
resource-intensive, requiring significant time, financial
investment, and logistical planning. This makes it important
to employ experts familiar with AAFCO guidelines to
oversee trial design and execution. Other limitations include
the small sample sizes and limited duration, which
may not fully capture long-term effects or the variability
in individual pet responses, as well as some pet food companies
having objections to using research facilities. "
Feeding trials often focus on baseline metrics, such as
maintaining weight and meeting minimum nutritional
requirements. However, this narrow scope can overlook
other vital aspects of pet health. Broadening the evaluations
can ensure well-rounded health outcomes and improve
the overall reliability of trial results.
" One issue I think is that the guidelines laid out in
the AAFCO publication for feeding trials cover the
bare minimum: does the dog maintain weight and do
their blood chemistries remain within normal ranges.
However, there are many other areas that pet owners
would consider when assessing the health of their pets,
like stool quality, skin and coat condition, and general
activity levels, " Timlin explained.
These gaps in evaluation highlight the need for more
practical approaches during feeding trials. Addressing
real-world variables, such as how animals interact with
feeding setups or how their unique behaviors influence
data reliability, adds depth to these studies.
" Side bias on bowls, fast-eating animals, overeating
animals and older animals present challenges, "
Hampton said. " Retraining is done periodically, and
validating the cats and dogs is necessary to check testing
levels and ensure we provide the best quality data. "
To address challenges such as high costs, logistical
complexities and ethical concerns, the industry is turning
to innovations like biomarker analysis, microbiome
research and wearable technology. These solutions aim to
tackle issues such as refining study methodologies, better
capturing variability in responses, and reducing reliance
on traditional research facilities. This not only enhances
data quality but also helps overcome logistical challenges.
" I think as pet owners become more in tune with their
pet's health, we'll see even more demand from pet food
companies for feeding trials that go beyond the AAFCO
protocol to measure the dog's health, " Timlin said.
" Companies are also wanting more scientific data to support
their diets, especially when it comes to the microbiome,
inflammation and age-specific formulas. Our understanding
of companion animal nutrition is always
improving, and as technology progresses, more advanced
analytical methods become more affordable
and easier to incorporate into these types of studies. "
By leveraging advanced tools like biomarkers
and microbiome analysis, manufacturers are enhancing
the precision and reliability of feeding trials.
Innovations like artificial intelligence-powered
image analysis, long-term trials focused
on chronic diseases, and in-home testing environments
are also reshaping the landscape.
These developments streamline processes,
address ethical concerns and provide actionable
insights, paving the way for a future
where feeding trials not
only improve nutrition
but adapt to evolving
industry standards
and consumer
expectations.
PFP
www.petfoodprocessing.net | Jan-Feb 2025 | PET FOOD PROCESSING 43
Initial, weekly and
final body weights are
recorded in feeding
trials for puppy and
kitten food.
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