Improving the sustainability of ingredients
The growing demand for nutritionally optimal and palatable raw pet food ingredients is challenging to meet ethically, environmentally and economically. There are alternative, sustainable options but they require optimal cooperation along the value chain.
Search for sustainable alternatives
A sustainable pet food ingredient limits global warming, protects the ecosystem and respects natural resources. Sustainable raw ingredients must come from defined sources. All this may raise the overall costs of pet food products because all pet food ingredients are not born equal, when it comes to sustainability.
Suitable and optimal manufacturing techniques in the upstream and the downstream processes of commercially available pet food ingredients can yield sustainable alternatives.
Sustainability of rendering
Rendered products could be considered as sustainable, when produced in the upstream processes in a responsible way, since they reduce waste from slaughterhouses. In downstream processes, rendered products are valuable pet food ingredients, and may become even more valuable when hydrolysed.
When compared with rendered vegetal products, feather, fat and blood products are relatively low carbon footprint ingredients used in the pet food industry. They can compete with high energy density and other highly digestible nutrients, essential amino acids and phosphorus. Therefore, rendered products are suitable for high density pet food formulations.
What is needed, is for pet food producers to work together with the rendering industry to focus on responsible production of the by-products and the creation of added value by mixing enzymatically treated animal and cereal by-products, such as wheat bran for phosphorus and proteins. The superior ingredients that result may boost the entire value chain and so compensate the negative effects of producing the by-products.
Perks of a prebiotics diet
Another consideration is ensuring the optimal utilisation of nutrients from the sustainable ingredients. During weaning of pets, the microbiome is key to maintaining good health. When solid pet food is introduced, the gastrointestinal tract may fail due to the invasion of pathogens. This, in turn, can lead to decreased digestion efficiency and contribute to decline in the well-being of the pet animals.
Intake of prebiotics modulates the intestinal microbiota and changes composition of the microbiota. Prebiotics are indigestible to pets. However, they are available as an energy source to the bacteria inhabiting the lower gastrointestinal tract. So keeping healthy gut bacteria contributes to sustainability of ingredients through ensuring optimal nutritional uptake.
Creating value
Sustainable, alternative ingredients can be obtained through improved operational steps, multi-stakeholder harmonised methodologies, and shared high-quality data with the final user. Once the final user sees the value creation, sustainability will become a priority.