Ohly, a provider of yeast-based ingredients and culinary powders for the food, health, animal health and bionutrients industries, conducted a feeding study comparing canine acceptance and preference of kibbles coated with 0.5% OHLY-GO Meaty against an uncoated reference product. The study used meat-free kibbles to isolate the palatability effect of the yeast extract coating.
The study was conducted in August 2025. Dogs were offered both products side-by-side over three consecutive days, with bowl positions rotated to reduce bias. Feed portions were tailored to dog size: small dogs received 120 grams, medium dogs received 220 grams and large dogs received 420 grams. Observations included quantity consumed, product preference and first-bite behavior.
According to the study, dogs demonstrated higher total consumption of the coated kibbles (58% versus 49%) and selected the coated kibbles first 52% of the time. The acceptance level was slightly higher for kibble coated with OHLY-GO Meaty (52% versus 48%). Similar increases were observed in overall preference (50% versus 44%) and first-bite preference (52% versus 46%).
The company said the findings suggest that OHLY-GO Meaty enhances palatability and supports stronger acceptance among dogs.
Yeast extracts such as Ohly-GO KTD and Ohly-GO Meaty contain glutamic acid and nucleotides that develop savory, roasted, umami flavors. The complex taste of yeast extract can mask unwanted flavors, making it useful for masking the bitter taste of medications and improving the palatability of pet supplements.
"Throughout the two studies we conducted across cats and dogs, kibbles coated with OHLY-GO products consistently outperformed reference products in preference, first-bite selection, and voluntary intake," said Dr. Dina Krüger, innovation and health expert at Ohly. "These findings highlight the benefits of using natural yeast-based ingredients to enhance palatability, support consistent nutrient intake, and improve overall diet adherence in companion animals."
