Cargill and Famsun achieve industrial-scale production of ultra-high fresh meat kibble
Fresh meat inclusion in extruded kibble has crossed a new threshold with rates topping 120%.
Cargill has reached industrial-scale production of extruded pet food with fresh meat inclusion levels above 120%, following a joint development effort with equipment manufacturer Famsun.
The milestone is the result of pilot trials conducted at Famsun’s facilities in July 2024, where fresh meat addition rates as high as 130% were achieved for both cat and dog food formulas. After equipment upgrades at Cargill’s Jiaxing plant in China, the first full-scale production run took place in September 2024, accompanied by palatability and feeding trials.
Based on protein content and feeding performance data, the formulas were refined during the production process. Final fresh meat addition levels settled at 127% for cat food and 123% for dog food – figures that translate into visible white meat fibers in the finished kibble.
Ultra-high fresh meat kibble discharged from the extruder
Overcoming technical challenges
Extruding pet food at such high fresh meat ratios presents significant processing hurdles. At a fresh meat ratio of 127%, post-extrusion moisture content exceeds 45%, producing soft, sticky kibble that cannot be conveyed or spread using standard equipment.
Production interface: dog food (left) & cat food (right)
Famsun addressed this with a dual-drying system – a pre-dryer followed by a conventional dryer – that preserves kibble shape while maintaining moisture uniformity within ±0.75%.
According to the companies, the extrusion process also offers nutritional advantages. It enables proteins to bind with starch matrices, shortens the molecular structures of proteins and fats, deactivates anti-nutritional factors, and improves digestibility and nutrient absorption.
A continuing trend
The development reflects a broader trajectory in pet food manufacturing In China, where fresh meat inclusion rates have risen steadily over the past several years – progressing from 30–40% to 60–70%, then 90–100%, and now beyond 120%.
Cargill and Famsun have formalized their collaboration through a Joint Innovation Center focused on advancing fresh meat extrusion technology.
The two companies say they plan to continue their partnership, with Cargill focusing on market development for high-meat pet food and Famsun investing in further R&D on the processing side.