This experiment evaluated the effects of including the enzyme β-mannanase in dog diets based on poultry by-product meal (PBM) or soybean meal (SBM). The second objective was to evaluate three methods for determining energy and nutrient digestibility values in diets fed to dogs: total fecal collection (TFC), use of acid-insoluble ash (AIA) or crude fiber (CF) as a marker.

Nearly 60 members of the American Feed Industry Association’s board of directors met to discuss issues of mutual concern and make their concerns known to legislators during the annual spring meeting near Washington, D.C., USA. On May 16, board members visited Capitol Hill and members of Congress to publicize the association's positions on proposed legislation that would impact the feed and feed ingredient industry.

US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recently visited a high school in rural Des Moines, Iowa, USA, telling students that manufacturing jobs are returning to the Midwest, such as those at local manufacturer Kemin Industries, which he also visited. Vilsack told the students that the high-tech manufacturing jobs of today require math and engineering skills while working to research and develop plant molecules used in the company's production of petfood ingredients and products for animal nutrition. 

Recent reports from the US Department of Agriculture offer good news for petfood manufacturers that use corn- or wheat-based ingredients in their formulations: Planting of corn and wheat in the US is ahead of schedule so far this year thanks to favorable weather. As of April 15, about 37% of the spring wheat crop had been seeded and 17% of the corn crop had been planted, according to reports.

A Q-and-A article in Natural Pet Product Merchandiser discussed with petfood industry professionals the role of functional foods in the retail sector, how to market the products and most effective ways to get customers to switch to these products. Q-and-A panelists included two petfood manufacturers and two pet product retailers: Gary Bursell, CEO of Steve's Real Food; Jennifer Fadal, owner of Wag Natural Pet Boutique; Dale Greenbury, president of Full Petential; and Lisa Pearce, owner of Green Pawz Pet Supply.   

The International Grains Program at Kansas State University launched a new blog with animal feed industry information as well as posts specific to the program's focus of feed manufacturing and grain management, flour milling and grain processing, and grain marketing and risk management. “We are excited about this opportunity to engage with our audience in a different capacity,” said Mark Fowler, IGP associate director.