Duck in dog, cat food: The other red meat?

Duck appears to be here to stay as an alternative meat/protein source in pet foods.

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It is important to note that duck is not a 100% white fiber meat like chicken. Rather, it has higher red muscle fiber in the breast and should be considered a red meat, according to research. | AndreySt, Bigstock.com
It is important to note that duck is not a 100% white fiber meat like chicken. Rather, it has higher red muscle fiber in the breast and should be considered a red meat, according to research. | AndreySt, Bigstock.com

Duck has become a very popular ingredient in many cat and dog foods, especially novel protein and limited-ingredient diets. Duck and Rice, Duck and Potato or Sweet Potato, and Duck and Oats seem to be the most common pairings for dry, canned and treat products in this category. From a processing and nutritional perspective, one might be tempted to consider duck as a surrogate for chicken and turkey. However, we have to extrapolate from the few studies in human foods and a couple for “prey” diets to understand how duck might perform in pet foods. Then there is the question of whether duck functions in the way pet owners expect.

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