The versatility of yeast-based ingredients: from protein source to immune support

The Egyptians used yeast in the production of bread and wine. They have already been recognized for their magical powers and part of their secrets unveiled by Louis Pasteur.

Currently, yeasts are widely applied to animal nutrition as a source of proteins, peptides, free amino acids, nucleotides, B vitamins, prebiotic and immune-functional compounds.

Through the application of biotechnology, selected yeast strains are cultivated in favorable environments, with adequate nutrition and strict food safety protocols that they can generate natural, sustainable, and safe products that meet the demands of the pet food market.

Benefits for pet food

Improving palatability, highly digestible protein, supporting intestinal and overall health are some of the benefits that yeast-based ingredients bring to companion animal nutrition. Yeast-based ingredients are very versatile, Biorigin´s biotechnology brings several solutions to the pet food industry based on the fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Dried yeasts are commonly used in pet food formulation as a source of high palatable protein, and it is added before thermal processing or by coating. Martins et al. (2013) demonstrated that dogs prefer foods made with dried or hydrolyzed yeast in their composition when compared to food without the inclusion of yeast-based ingredients in the dough. Currently, these products are being applied as an alternative protein source due to the concerns about the increasing of animal protein demand in the future, besides meeting the market trends such as “plant-based”, vegan, label-friendly and sustainable.

Palatability

Nowadays, yeast-based solutions can bring even more tasty to the pet food formulation. PalaUp is a line of yeast extract, a well-known ingredient that enhances the savory of human foods, which can be applied to dry or moisture pet food, snacks, and supplements.

PalaUp is rich in natural glutamic acid that confers the pleasant umami taste to the product. Non-published data showed that dogs and cats have preference for yeast extract-based food compared to non-inclusion of yeast extract, the relative consumption rate for dogs was 4:1 (tested food vs control food; Figure 1) while for cats was 2:1 (Figure 2).

These ingredients drive the taste of the pet food to meaty notes with no meaty added to the formulation. Its use as a flavor booster is due to its free amino acids profile that intensify and prolong the pleasant taste in the mouth by boosting the umami flavor.

Other biological compound of the yeast cell wall is the beta-1,3/1,6-glucan, which are the polysaccharides located in the innermost region of the yeast cell wall. This layer is protected by the mannanoligosaccharide layer, and the beta-1,3/1,6-glucan is recognized for their effects on the immune system.

The purification of this molecule is mandatory to its immunity role as an activator of the immune cells, otherwise the layer of mannanoligosaccharides will not allow beta-1,3/1,6-glucan to act directly on the defense cells in the lumen.

Biorigin’s MacroGard is worldwide recognized and has extensive scientific evidence of its effectiveness in several species. The biotechnology applied to MacroGard gives it a high content of bioactive beta-1,3/1,6-glucans and the maintenance of the original structure of this molecule, a factor of extreme importance in the recognition of MacroGard by the immune system.

Yeast-based products are versatile functional ingredients to be applied to companion animal nutrition to reach the demand for high protein source, palatability, intestinal health and improve the immune status of dogs and cats with great potential for innovation. Biorigin’s mission is to promote the health and well-being of people and animals, which is why it invests in research to ensure the effectiveness of its products.