The protein problem: Ingredient shortages and alternative sources

Consumers of pet products are expressing an increasing want for high-quality ingredients and formulas for their companion animals. One of their main concerns? A focus on the protein source.

Although protein can be derived from a plethora of sources—from kangaroo and krill to egg and milk products to pea protein concentrate—the standard of quality must always meet certain criteria to make it to a pet's bowl.
Although protein can be derived from a plethora of sources—from kangaroo and krill to egg and milk products to pea protein concentrate—the standard of quality must always meet certain criteria to make it to a pet's bowl.

Consumers of pet products are expressing an increasing want for high-quality ingredients and formulas for their companion animals. One of their main concerns? A focus on the protein source. What country did it come from? Is it organic or grass-fed? Is it animal or plant or something in between? According to Trevor Faber, MS, in his Petfood Forum presentation Methods to Evaluate Protein Quality Among Animal Protein Sources, our industry has responded by a movement away from rendered by-products, an increased focus on quality and novelty and the use of alternative, unusual protein sources.

Although protein can be derived from a plethora of sources—from kangaroo and krill to egg and milk products to pea protein concentrate—the standard of quality must always meet certain standards, says Faber. These include:

  • Nitrogen and amino acid content
  • Digestibility
  • Bioavailability
  • Ability to aid growth, maintenance and repair of the body

Faber also says alternative proteins can be evaluated for quality by looking at their composition, amino acid score, biological value (BV) and protein efficiency ratio, and through digestibility trials. So how do novel protein-formulated petfoods and treats on the market measure up to more common protein blends? Are they more sustainable, economical or healthful?

Addiction Pet Foods prides itself on being a pioneer when it comes to the use of novel proteins in their dog and cat food formulas. Addiction makes a wild kangaroo dry dog food blend, as well as New Zealand brushtail and unagi (eel) wet cat foods. Their protein sources are from New Zealand, Australia, the US and Canada, and are carefully chosen to ensure that products adhere to their eco-friendly philosophy.

According to the company, kangaroo contains the highest levels of conjugated linoleic acid of any red meat. And because the kangaroo is harvested from the wild, it’s free from antibiotics and hormones and only contains 2% fat, making it ideal for a dog's diet. In 2011, Addiction introduced two cat foods using ingredients never used before in petfood formulas, claims the company. Brushtail is a non-indigenous marsupial that causes widespread damage to farmland and native habitats of New Zealand. It is also a great source of protein with a unique flavor and higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids than any other meat. New Zealand brushtail is an ideal novel protein source for animals sensitive to chicken, beef and lamb. Unagi has high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids as well, and is balanced with seaweed for its rich antioxidant, vitamin, mineral and fiber, says the company.

Another alternative (and sometimes controversial) novel protein popping up in pet treats and foods is raw goat's milk. According to Natural News, goat's milk has vitamins, minerals, trace elements, electrolytes, enzymes, proteins and fatty acids that are easily assimilated by an animal's body. Goat's milk does not contain the complex protein in cow's milk that stimulates allergic reactions, can also boost the immune system and alkalizes the digestive system, helping to increase the pH level in the blood stream.

Additionally, says Natural News, raw goat's milk fights microbes, primarily due to the healthy medium-chained fatty acids it contains, such as capric and caprylic acids. It is very important to note that raw goat's milk is rich in selenium, a necessary bodily nutrient known for its immune-strengthening and antioxidant properties. Raw goat's milk may also be a good alternative for companion animals with sensitive digestive tracts.

Ingredients: The strategic puzzle

BY Marcel Blok

It’s high time to get seriously worried about the main building block of our industry: ingredients, raw materials and/or commodities. Whichever terminology used, the clock is ticking and it’s already five minutes to 12. The time is more than due to stop lip-servicing the issue and start to do something tangible and sustainable to prepare ourselves for a different future.

Dramatic lows in harvests succeed one another with shorter intervals; which implies that there is less time to replenish strategic inventories. More money available on a global scale not only means that people can take better care of their pets, but also means that ingredients which were not in demand for human food until recently now start to become so. The consequence is that less animal by-products will be available for use in petfoods.

The bigger, multinational companies are undoubtedly active in the field of searching for alternatives, but the vast majority of smaller operators simply do not have the funds to invest in any form of fundamental exploration. One might argue that if these companies would pool their funds, the money then available would most likely be sufficient to engage in such exploration. But this kind of cooperation seems to be a bridge too far for the industry; at least on the manufacturing side. So maybe there is a noble role to play for the ingredient suppliers. Because, after all, a sustainable petfood industry is in their best interest, as well.

Let’s look back at the times before the industry started to develop. Dog and cats were fed waste material such as table scraps or leftovers. Because it was gradually better understood that our pets need a more balanced diet, the industry started to develop and offer solutions. What we should now ask ourselves is whether or not human-grade material is required to feed our pets adequately, while providing them with a happy and healthy life. If one realizes that in some markets so-called economy petfoods are formulated according to human-grade standards but are sold at a price that is lower than piglet feed, the question seems valid.

Maybe we can go one step further back and use table waste again. If we realize that in the out-of-home eating industry at least 20% of what has been ordered is actually not eaten, we understand the amount of waste generated. But can this waste—consisting of human-grade protein, fat and carbohydrates—be recycled specifically for petfoods? To serve as a key ingredient or a base ingredient? Are there alternative carbohydrate sources that are now in short supply because they are uncommon, but which can be grown in much bigger quantities in their regions of origin?

It is clear that the time has come to redirect management focus from seeking efficiency improvement in production to seriously researching new opportunities in the procurement of alternative ingredients. Because ingredients are the basis of what we do: We prepare food!

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