APR 2023 - International Petfood magazine

Perendale Publishers Ltd

7 St George’s Terrace

St James’ Square, Cheltenham, Glos, GL50 3PT, United Kingdom

Tel: +44 1242 267700

Publisher Roger Gilbert rogerg@perendale.co.uk

Managing Editor Joy Nelloolichalil joyn@perendale.co.uk

Technical Editor Joe Kearns joek@perendale.com

Nutrition Editor

Prof Simon Davies simond@perendale.co.uk

Editorial team

Shannon Parsons shannonp@perendale.co.uk

Niamh Cassidy niamhc@perendale.co.uk

Community Manager

Levana Hall levanah@perendale.co.uk

International Marketing Team

Darren Parris

Tel: +44 7854 436407 darrenp@perendale.co.uk

Latin America Marketing Team

Clarissa Garza de Yta

Tel: +52 669 120 0140 clarissag@perendale.com

Turkey, Eurasia and Middle East Marketing Team

Mehmet Ugur Gürkaynak

Tel: +90 537 3646457 mehmetg@perendale.com

Egyptian Marketing Team

Mohamed Baromh

Tel: +20 100 358 3839 mohamedb@perendale.com

India Marketing Team

Dr T.D. Babu +91 9884114721 tdbabu@aquafeed.org

Asia Marketing Team

Dante Feng Tel: +886 0227930286 dantef@perendale.com

Nigeria Marketing Team

Nathan Nwosu

Tel: +234 8132 478092 nathann@perendale.com

Design Manager

James Taylor jamest@perendale.co.uk

Production Assistant

Cristina María Roldán Otero

Tel: +44 1242 267700 cristinaot@perendale.co.uk

Circulation & Events Manager

Tuti Tan

Tel: +44 1242 267706

tutit@perendale.co.uk

Development Manager

Antoine Tanguy antoinet@perendale.co.uk

FEATURES

14 Protection against stress!

16 Fresh nutrition for happy, healthy pets

20 The Diet of Horses

Cats, cats, cats …

There are over 500 million pet cats globally!

That’s a huge population which requires daily feeding and that is why we focus frequently on cats and their nutritional and health needs as it relates to the production processes used in their food manufacture.

But we should not overlook the nutritional needs of our dogs either and two pages over, Professor Simon Davies reminds readers of key topics that we should be considering when formulating food rations for our pet canines.

Roger Gilbert Publisher – International Petfood

However, this edition has a strong focus on the second most popular pet that families and others keep worldwidethe humble and independently minded cat.

First some interesting cat facts: For example, one year of a cat’s life is equivalent to 15 years of a human’s life; cats have 30 teeth while we humans have 32; the house cat is genetically 95.6 percent tiger; cats can accelerate to 48kph but only hold that for short distances and they can jump five times their height.

This issue’s lead article looks at the impact of cat food on the environment and talks about what we should be aware of in terms of climate-friendly ingredients, etc for their diets. We follow that with a review of how ‘fresh nutrition’ can influence our pet’s health and their happiness with a look at alternative protein sources.

We also publish a feature on diets for horses by our own staff member Kira Thomas before we go into our regular sections on Industry Training, Trouble Shooting, by our editor Joe Kearns, and several products featured in our Production Focus. All these sections provide useful information on how to improve production processes and overcome irritating issues.

Following on we turn our attention to an Industry Profile featuring UK’s 4B Braime Components. And right at the back of this edition, we highlight an interview with Nick Piggott of Nutrition Technologies in Malaysia and record his views on the future of alternative proteins, such as insect meals, in petfoods.

Our last edition

Did you miss our March 2023 edition? If so, don’t panic!

You can still read all of the great quality content that we published last month on our App – which you can download from Apple Store, Google Play or online at: https://magstand.com/petfood – with the latter platform granting you the opportunity to see all of our back editions on the screen of your desktop computer.

What you may have missed…

Vegan Dog Food? All your questions answered!

by Alice Oven, The pack, London, UK

The article investigates how vegan dog food can include everything needed nutritionally, including protein! It also takes a deep dive into the details of what makes high-quality

Events we should follow

Another key section within our April edition is our Event Report pages. As feed manufacturers we highlight events that relate to the production of pet foods in terms of raw materials and equipment used in processing. That is why we carry a report on the GEAPS Exchange (the Grain Elevator and Processing Society) that was held recently in the USA and the VIV Asia show that attracted over 45,000 visitors to its major event in Bangkok last month. Both these expositions - and others - offer an opportunity for petfood producers to gleam ideas and direction from developments occurring in other sectors that will impact petfood production and drive it forward in terms of efficiency, technology and safety. After all we expect our pets to have access to the same high standards that are being achieved in the production of milled food and feed products.

We also carry the Victam Insights newsletter which is another global exposition organiser for the feed manufacturing industry, including the flour and grain milling sectors and storage, handling and packaging in addition to feed ingredient and feed additives. It’s hosting an exposition in Latin America in early October this year called Victam LatAm 2023 - San Paulo, Brazil from October 3-5, 2023.

Don’t overlook our Market Place which offers a range of products, services and ingredient/additive suppliers who support our industry. By following the link (the QR code) you will find each of these companies has its own page on our IPF website.

This is a great source of information and should be used alongside our 2023 International Milling Directory which also includes these companies and others. Again you will find a link to the directory within these pages.

Finally please don’t overlook the opportunity to sign up to receive our IPF monthly free-of-charge by using the Coupon Code HNY23. This can be used for both our English and Spanish editions.

plant protein, and the many health benefits it offers. The question of allergies is answered, as well as the query as to whether an everyday vegan diet is truly effective with the right variety.

To read more, go to: https://issuu.com/international_aquafeed/docs/ipf2303web

The April issue has a number of interesting articles on petfood and horse feeds. Concentrating on the petfood topics and having been involved in the industry for years it always amazing me the new and different approaches to petfood developments. I am still intrigued by the use of insect meal in petfoods let alone human foods. Cat foods evaluated based on their environmental impact is also interesting as petfoods are judged in so many ways then they used to be. Horse feed discussions review the nutritional needs and methods of feeding. The central theme is the nutritional benefits and advancements of the diets for the animals in an environmental manner.

Joseph P Kearns Editor, International Petfood Magazine

the use of meat in wet petfoods, meat being in the 75 percent moisture range thus special Stainless-Steel equipment, refrigeration and higher weights (elevated moisture levels) for shipping would justify this prediction. Also, with dry kibble production the volumes made per hour and the effective shipping methods in existence for grains etc. the dry kibble production cost has always been lower on a pound produced basis. More than likely cost reasons justify the huge tonnage sales of dry petfoods over wet in the market place.

Insect meal as reviewed has a low cost per ton produced when compared to the other proteins normally used in petfoods. Having never worked with this ingredient assumptions are made that it will preform well as long as the basic needs of the production equipment are met. What? Needs of the production equipment? Yes, machines are built to be used to make products and they have ranges of operation. Yes, flexibility is needed but you can’t make an expanded product if you don’t have enough carbohydrate in the formula. Typically, a minimum of 10 to 15 percent starch for a low expanded product and approx. 20 percent starch or more for a more expanded lighter density product. Fat in the formula was another one, gradual inputs created heavier densities to a point where too much fat and the kibble started to not look good or hold together. Typically 17 to 22 percent if your extruded design could handle it.

Over the years the equipment has been improved to have a wider operational working range. One was the preconditioning and possible extrusion as elevated moisture levels. Seeing a major method of selling insect meal is in slurry form is a benefit. With the modern processing methods using computers flow meters etc. the addition of insect meal into a production stream would appear to be easier than expected. Modern extrusion gear has excellent preconditioning where liquids and dry ingredient meet and mix. Depending on plant design this insect slurry should allow for easy in setting up a sanitary method of inclusion. It seems insect meal could possibly have a level of bacteria thus this ingredient should be handled much like a raw meat which is my initial opinion at least.

Environmental petfoods, seems the industry is interested in the real cost of goods in relation to the cost to the planet. As noted, the real cost of wet petfoods is above homemade and dry kibble when discussing the environmental impact dollars by a large margin. It is mentioned that the cost of factory production, packaging and transportation was not included. I would venture to say these costs would be close to a wash. Most of this centered around

An interesting view is there are extrusion machines that can handle extreme levels of meat. It is approaching 200 percent meat of the dry feed flow rate and it is pumped into the conditioning cylinder. To explain, if you were making 10 tonnes per hour dry feed rate then 20 tonnes of meat or other liquid products such as slurries of vegetables etc. would be pumped in. This kind of system uses thermal energy over electrical energy and appears to be an economical method of production based on less kW per ton versus steam inputs between the two styles of systems.

Having mentioned vegetables, it is not unusual in incorporate these ingredients in petfoods. Can be ground dry ingredients or slurries. The development of freeze-dried bits, which have quick rehydration properties, are now mixed in combinations or sold as petfoods on their own. When bring in the use of twin screw extruders the possibilities of make kibbles that look just like carrots, peas and other vegetables does exist due to their control possibilities.

All of the above discussed products as well as any extruded products are influenced by time, temperature, pressure, moisture, energy input and other parameters. When you think of the base items that can vary in an extrusion process, they are feed rate, water and steam inputs, kW from the main drive, screw speed and the mechanical set up and specifically the die. Change the feed rate and screw speed and you effect the pressure and the temperature developed mechanically. Die changes can do the same but if you increase or decrease the screw speed you change the pressure at the die. Water and steam addition have a big input on the cooking process. Steam adds some water but heating is the main desired point. Change the water and the viscosity of the extrudate changes and ability to develop heat from friction. Controlling these points have about 80 percent of the aspects covered to make a great product. When you get down to it the number of possible changes to be made when extruding is minimal. However, they can have big effects on the final product thus computer control to manage these parameters on a micro basis to a set point with low tolerance allows for production control of the product at the highest possible production capacity.

Is your dog top of the class?

Dogs are well known for their ability to remember and for the complex social interaction with their owners. The canine’s ability to demonstrate lifelong learning and affection obviously requires a well-developed brain and a healthy neural system. One can reasonably ask how nutrition and health influences your dog’s IQ.

The brain of dogs is similar to the brain of humans in many ways. It is responsible for various functions like perception, memory, learning, emotions, and decision-making. However, there are some differences in the structure and function of the dog brain, which is specialized for their unique abilities and behaviours. For instance, dogs have a highly developed sense of smell, which is controlled by the olfactory bulb in their brain. This allows them to detect and distinguish a wide range of scents, making them highly effective at tasks like tracking and detection. Dogs also have a specialized area in their brain for processing social cues, which is essential for their ability to communicate and interact with humans and other dogs. In terms of measuring behaviour and well-being in dogs, there are a variety of techniques that can be used:

Behavioural observation: This involves direct observation of a dog’s behaviour, including things like activity level, posture, and vocalizations.

Cognitive testing: This involves testing a dog’s cognitive abilities, such as memory and problem-solving skills.

Physiological measures: These include measures like heart rate, cortisol levels, and other biological markers that can indicate the dog’s stress levels. Olfactory testing: this involves testing the dog’s sense of smell and ability to distinguish between different scents.

Nutrition and diet play a critical role in the overall health and well-being of dogs and cats, including their cognitive function and brain health. In this response, here are some examples of how nutrition and diet can influence and enhance cognition and brain health in dogs and cats, as well as some specific ingredients that support neural health and brain chemistry.

1. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that are critical for brain functioand health. They are important for the development and maintenance of the nervous system and can help improve cognitive function and reduce cognitive decline in dogs and cats.

Sources of omega-3 fatty acids include fish oil, flaxseed, and chia seeds.

2. Antioxidants: Antioxidants help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, which can contribute to cognitive decline in dogs and cats. Some examples of antioxidants that can benefit brain health include vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene. These can be found in many fruits and vegetables, including blueberries, spinach, and sweet potatoes.

3. Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs): MCTs are a type of fat that is easily metabolized by the body and can be used as a source of energy for the brain. They have been shown to improve cognitive function in dogs and cats, especially in those with cognitive dysfunction. Sources of MCTs include coconut oil and palm kernel oil.

4. Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 is important for the proper functioning of the nervous system and can help improve cognitive function in dogs and cats. Sources of vitamin B12 include meat, eggs, and dairy products.

5. L-Threanine: L-Threonine is an essential amino acid that can help reduce stress and anxiety in dogs and cats. It has also been shown to improve cognitive function and increase alpha waves in the brain, which are associated with relaxation and mental alertness. L-Theanine can be found in green tea and is also available in supplement form.

6. Phosphatidylserine: Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid that is important for the structure and function of cell membranes in the brain. It has been shown to improve cognitive function in dogs and cats, especially in older animals. Phosphatidylserine can be found in soybeans, egg yolks, and organ meats. In summary, a diet that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, MCTs, vitamin B12, L-Theanine, and phosphatidylserine can help support neural health and brain chemistry in dogs. Including ingredients such as fish oil, blueberries, coconut oil, meat, green tea, and organ meats can provide these essential nutrients for optimal cognitive function and brain health in our furry companions. In the formulation of canine diets we have huge scope for exploration of feed ingredients rich in the correct nutrients. The leading pet nutrition companies are evaluating many different feed additives that can raise the quality of the diet to sustain healthy brain function in our companion animals.

Professor Simon Davies Nutrition Editor, International Petfood

The PetFood Journal

Petfood Journal is a new online publication by Perendale Publishers Ltd., United Kingdom with a distinguished track record of technical and trade magazines in the agricultural sciences. This new peer-reviewed scientific journal will serve academia and the commercial petfood industry with high quality papers relating to the science and technology of petfood development and production for the rapidly expanding companion animal sector. It is envisaged to address fundamental and applied nutritional research addressing requirements for advanced feed production manufacturing for dogs, cats and many other species such as guinea pigs, rabbits, rats and exotics e.g. reptiles, amphibia and fish (aquatics). The journal will embrace information on essential amino acids, proteins and energy sources as well as key vitamins and minerals pertaining to maintenance, growth, feed utilisation efficiency and health. A major area will be studies that focus on feed ingredient assessment and in particular those that are sustainable alternatives to traditional sources. Therefore investigations directed towards plant and next generation proteins like insect meal, algae and microbial sources would be desirable areas. Novel oils and lipids that provide essential fatty acids would be of considerable importance. Studies on functional ingredients affecting the health and immune function of pet animals are attractive. We would welcome papers researching the role of prebiotics, probiotics and phytobiotics on gut health, mucosal immunity and their interaction and modulation of the intestinal microbiota. Petfoods play a significant role in animal behaviour due to palatability and smell. Research on these interactions would be welcome and of interest to the scientific community and stakeholders. Given the diversity of different types of commercial diets ranging from wet, canned and extruded dry diets as well as treats and speciality diets, there is much scope to provide information on these advances. We also cover papers on feed production manufacture such as milling, pelleting, shaping and texture of petfoods such as extrusion. The journal recognises that petfood science & manufacturing technology plays a vital role in promoting the health and well-being of our pets. Optimal feed management and environmental impact of diets are worthy of inclusion.

Manuscripts can consist of scientific work in the form of typical standard papers, short scientific communications or as review articles.

In essence, Petfood Journal will appeal to the veterinary practitioner, scientist, technician, feed manufacturer and at various levels in academia such as undergraduate, masters, PhD students and post-doctoral, researcher, being an invaluable source of validated information and a potential location for their own research findings.

The manuscripts will be fully peer-reviewed by appropriate members of our editorial board and approved finally by the Editor-in Chief. These OA papers will be available on our official website Internationalpetfood.co.uk and printed as well as being downloadable. Links will be provided within our existing International Petfood magazine.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with any queries at journal@perendale.co.uk.

PetDine Secures Second Windsor Colorado Facility

PetDine, one of the largest pet supplements and treat manufacturers in North America, has acquired a second Windsor, CO, facility to provide faster, more efficient support for its clients’ rapid growth. The new US $11.7 million facility, located adjacent to PetDine’s recently opened 105,000 square foot Windsor facility, will add 50,000 square feet of pre- and post-production supply space to support the functional business segment and provide up to 20 new jobs at varying levels to the Northern Colorado area.

PetDine’s contract-manufacturing portfolio continues to expand to now include facilities in Fort Collins, CO, a recently expanded state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Harvard, IL, and the two latest Windsor, CO, facilities, yielding over 375,000 square feet of manufacturing space for its clients’ products.

“PetDine’s top priority is supporting the growth and success of our clients in providing the best products for pets,” says Amy McCarthy, PetDine VP of Pet Nutrition. “In the last year, we have significantly increased our production capacity while pursuing cutting-edge manufacturing practices to exceed client expectations and keep them at the top of their craft.

All products produced at the new Windsor facility will be held to the highest food safety and quality standards. PetDine sources more than 300 high-quality ingredients so all pet food, supplement and treat formulations are unique to each client. PetDine’s leading custom made pet products consist of liquid and powder supplements, soft chews, baked treats, kibble, and more.

ADM acquired a 75 percent ownership stake in PetDine in September 2021, and the new Windsor production expansion is overseen by Todd Davis, PetDine Operations Director for ADM’s pet nutrition business. “Having additional infrastructure to support the current Windsor manufacturing plant will be highly beneficial for PetDine clients,” says Mr Davis.

EU & UK open doors to Malaysian insect products

The European Union has approved Malaysia as a third-party importer of insect-based ingredients. Nutrition Technologies is the first company in Malaysia, approved to import insect meal into EU & UK markets.

In June of 2022 insect producers in Malaysia became eligible to export insect-based material to the EU for the first time, following Malaysia’s inclusion on the list of countries approved to export insects and insect-based products to the EU, joining a small selection of countries including; Canada, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and South Korea, with permission to do so. This is a boon for the Malaysian economy, a major food producer which is heavily reliant on agricultural exports. On the 19 of February 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture approved Nutrition Technologies to export its insect meal and oil into the EU & UK markets, making it one of a handful of companies around the world, and the first in Malaysia with this level of approval.

Previously only available to customers across Asia-Pacific, this development opens the doors to the rapidly growing insect-based petfood sector in Europe, which is leading the way in sustainable petfood production. Nutrition Technologies manufacture and supply insect protein meal, oil

and frass (insect manure) to help feed the growing agriculture and feed industries around the world.

Using a combination of beneficial microbes and Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) using a low-energy, zero-waste production model to grow their insects, the larvae are reared on clean and traceable agroindustrial by-products.

The insect-based products are suitable for application in pet food, livestock and aquatic feed, and have a range of proven functional benefits which improve the animals’ health and growth. The insect meal is also suitable for therapeutic applications in pets that have allergies to common petfood proteins such as beef and lamb. What’s attractive to many manufacturers is the potential impact on GHG emissions that can be achieved through switching to insect-based meats in place of traditional protein sources, as approximately 25 percent of the GHGs associated with meat production is generated through use in petfood. Since tropically farmed insects produce a fraction of the GHG emissions of traditional meat - this can make a big impact on the carbon footprint of petfood production.

The insect meal is produced to the highest international safety & hygiene standards with full batch traceability, where the larvae are fed only vegetable-based agroindustrial materials such as palm and grain by-products. The insect meal is fully compliant with EU regulations, and the facility is both

GMP & HACCP certified.

Nutrition Technologies have a lowenergy tropical production system that uses a unique combination of micro-organisms and Black Soldier Flies to bio convert 60,000 tonnes of waste organic by-products into its value-adding products. As a tropical species, the Black Soldier Fly larvae grow quickly and efficiently in the ambient Malaysian climate, meaning that very little energy is required to grow or breed the flies. This low-energy model means that the company benefits from a very low cost of production, but with the same high standards as any European or North American manufacturer and is able to pass-on those savings to the customer. This makes Nutrition Technologies’ products one of the most competitively priced insect products in the world. The company currently ships industrial volumes of material throughout Asia & South America, from the two-hectare factory in Malaysia.

“This is a significant step forward in giving European petfood manufacturers more sustainable options in their choice of feed ingredients. While there is a rapidly growing demand for sustainable petfood’s, there is very little product available in Europe. This development opens the door for new manufacturers to release insect-based products, and for existing manufacturers to both reduce their costs and improve their environmental footprint,” says Nick Piggott, Co-CEO and Co-founder, Nutrition Technologies.

RawSAFE accreditation

sets high standards for raw petfood manufacturers

The first independent accreditation of its kind has been launched to ensure that pets and working dogs across the UK are fed the best and safest possible raw food.

The mission of RawSAFE is to encourage the highest safety standards and best practice in commercial raw pet food manufacturing by conducting an independent audit and an unannounced spot check of manufacturers annually. Audits are conducted by independent auditors from the largest meat hygiene and food safety inspectorate in Europe. A set of standards, which are reviewed and updated frequently, has been prepared after consultation with experts in human food manufacturing and veterinary professionals.

Manufacturers who successfully pass the audit can add the RawSAFE Certification Mark to their products, assuring consumers of the highest level of quality and protection for their pets. The integrity of this mark is legally enforced to stop fraudulent advertising by manufacturers who either fail the audit or who choose not to be audited.

Two UK-based pet food manufacturers – Bella & Duke in Inverkeithing and Paleo Rudge in Waterlooville – have become the first to achieve RawSAFE accreditation, which is supported by the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS).

RawSAFE is run by veterinary professionals to support vets, manufacturers, consumers, pets and working dogs across the UK. Collaborating with experts in human food manufacturing, the company has examined existing accreditation standards within the industry.

The resulting RawSAFE standards match those required for human food production and have relevant adaptations to safely accommodate various ingredients used in pet food – but less commonly eaten by humans – such as

dog, they can be sure that it has been manufactured with safety in mind.

“RawSAFE aims to encourage positive, constructive and science-based interaction between the veterinary profession and commercial raw pet food manufacturers. We have the safety of our animal companions and their human guardians at the heart of everything we do.”

The RFVS defines the gold standard diet for dogs and cats as comprising fresh, raw meaty bones, meats, organ meats, fruits and vegetables, minimally processed by mincing and freezing.

This diet, which contains no added synthetic supplements, additives or preservatives, is said to be biologically appropriate for the anatomy and physiology of dogs and cats. This reduces inflammation and disease of the digestive tract and the body as a whole whilst fulfilling their welfare needs, thus improving everything from the dental to mental health of dogs and cats.

Last November, RawSAFE shared a stand with RFVS at London Vet Show 2022 where there was standing room only for two presentations by RFVS president Dr Amaya Espindola.

“We didn’t stop talking to vets and nurses the entire time the show was open and almost all of them were asking really constructive questions about how they can better understand and support their increasing numbers of raw feeding clients,” says the directors of RawSAFE.

“Without exception, they understood the importance of RawSAFE and we’ve had a very busy time talking to veterinary professionals and journalists since the event.

“It was very clear that such reassurance was essential to even the most open minded of the vets that we spoke to. Their concerns are absolutely valid in relation to poorly manufactured foods, hence why we look to set the excellent manufacturers clearly apart.

“We were delighted to hear time and again that they would be recommending accredited products to their clients in the future.

“It was also pleasing to hear from one applicant that they had received an enquiry asking if they were RawSAFE accredited, as the potential customer’s vet had insisted, they should only use a RawSAFE certified product.”

UK natural pet food brand receives UK £6 million investment

Natural pet food brand

Scrumbles received a £6 million ($7.2 million USD) investment from growth capital investors BGF. The brand will use the investment to expand its senior team and to support its growth in omni-channel.

Based in London, Scrumbles was founded in 2018 by husband-andwife duo Jack Walker and Aneisha Soobroyen, chief executive officer. The couple was prompted to create Scrumbles after their pets experienced digestive health issues. Mr Walker and Ms Soobroyen leveraged their extensive FMGC experience to establish the brand. Scrumbles offers tailored-made food for cats and dogs in a range of high-quality, natural recipes.

Products include dry and wet formulas, treats and functional diets made with probiotics to support gut and digestive health. The brand’s formulas are available at major UK retailers, including Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsburys, Pets at Home and others. Scrumbles also operates a direct-toconsumer (DTC) channel and has a strong online sales presence.

As well as supporting pets through its formulations, Scrumbles also seeks to support the environment.

The brand achieved B Corp certification in 2018 and received recertification this year for its continued practices toward accountability and transparency.

BGF’s investment was led by an all-female investor team: Daina Spedding, Isabella Fox and

Daria Polunina. According to BGF, Scrumbles has experienced significant growth, with its revenue tripling since launch.

“BGF is thrilled to be backing Scrumbles, an exciting business with an ambitious growth strategy,” says Ms Spedding. “Pet nutrition is a resilient and growing market and Scrumbles is well positioned to serve the increasing demand for healthier, natural food for pets. We look forward to supporting Aneisha and Jack as they continue to expand the business and build on their significant success to date.”

Scrumbles will use BGF’s investment to hire a new finance director and increase its marketing to support expansion throughout all of its sales channels.

Protection against stress!

By Maike RAKEBRANDT, Senior Product Management

The horse’s digestive tract is very sensitive and prone to disturbances. It can be very easily thrown out of balance by management errors such as husbandry or feeding mistakes. Brewers’ yeast is a well-known feedstuff with a long tradition in horse feeding. Its use is often recommended in scientific literature, e.g. for:

• digestive disorders, damage to the intestinal flora, loss of appetite or general poor performance (COENEN & VERVUERT, 2020)

• tendency to colic or diarrhea (ZENTEK et al. 2008, COENEN & VERVUERT, 2020)

• rations rich in concentrated feed and poor in structure (COENEN & VERVUERT, 2020)

• rations with low hay quality (MORGAN et al., 2007)

Practice-tested!

In a practical test with Leiber YeaFi® BT – brewers’ yeast, 20 young warmblood horses were exposed to different stress factors within a very short period of time. Simultaneously with the change of husbandry (pasture a stable husbandry) a change of feed (grass a concentrate and hay) took place. In addition, the training started.

Changes in husbandry – or even feeding management can result in digestive disorders. Assessment of faecal consistency is a means of evaluating the health of the horse, in addition to the external appearance and willingness of the animal to perform. Changes in faecal consistency indicate, among other

things, changes in the digestive process and thus provide early indications of any digestive disorders.

Stabilisation of faecal consistency during feed changes

The use of Leiber YeaFi® BT showed positive effects with regard to faecal consistency already within a short period of time (1–4 weeks) (see Figure 1).

When switching from a low-structure diet (pasture) to a highstructure diet (hay), there is a risk of very dry faeces and even constipation. In the field trial, control and experimental groups differed significantly in faecal consistency. Leiber YeaFi® BT fed horses showed an optimal to softer faeces, while the control group showed significantly drier faeces and thus a tendency to constipation.

The examination of the faeces for short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) also showed a higher SCFA production (+32 percent) in the Leiber YeaFi® BT group compared to the control group (+11.6 percent). In the large intestine, cellolytic bacteria degrade cellulose and hemicellulose to short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). These serve the horse, among other things, for energy supply (propionate) and promote intestinal health (butyrate). The horse can cover up to 70 percent of the daily energy supply in the maintenance metabolism by SCFA production.

Better digestibility!

In a study by MORGAN et al. (2007), the effect of brewers’ yeast on the digestion of different roughage qualities was

Equine & Pet, Leiber GmbH, Germany

investigated in horses. The experiment showed that the use of brewers’ yeast increased the digestibility of low roughage qualities. Feeding low crude fibre qualities with the addition of brewers’ yeast, showed a significant increase in protein digestibility and significantly higher digestibility of cell wall components such as NDF (Neutral Detergent Fibre) and hemicelluloses. According to MORGAN et al. (2007), brewers’ yeast can thus positively influence the digestion of low quality hay.

Stabilization of body mass with increasing work performance

Indications of better nutrient conversion by Leiber YeaFi® BT – brewers’ yeast were also shown in the practical trial with the young horses. In the assessment of body mass, subcutaneous fat thickness was measured by ultrasound in addition to the BCS (Body Condition Scores) (NORDHOFF, 2014). This measurement is used to objectively assess body constitution. The subcutaneous fat thickness of the horses in the experimental group was significantly increased at all three measurement points during the entire experimental period (see Figure 2). The result clearly shows: despite increasing workload, the horses of the test group built up body fat. Horses in stressful situations thus benefit from daily Leiber YeaFi® BT feeding.

Impressive young horses!

The good physical condition of the Leiber YeaFi® BT fed horses was also confirmed by the riders. After each training session, they filled out a questionnaire without knowing, which horse was or was not in the experimental group. The riders rated the young horses in the experimental group as having better looseness and rideability (see Figure 3). In addition, the horses showed a very good nutritional condition and excellent overall impression during the entire trial period.

Better coat quality and better overall impression

An improved overall impression due to Leiber YeaFi® BT was also shown in a 9-month practical trial with old horses. Here, almost all participants described a poor overall impression and especially a poor coat quality of their horses in the preliminary report. After the end of the trial, the horses in the experimental group (Leiber YeaFi® BT – brewers’ yeast) not only showed a faster coat change. 75% also showed a significantly better coat quality, shinier or smoother coat and a significantly better overall impression (see Figure 4–6) than horses without brewers’ yeast addition.

Leiber YeaFi® BT:

• stabilization of faeces consistency during feed conversion

• stabilization of body mass with increasing performance

• better looseness and rideability

• better coat quality and better overall impression

Figure 2: Measurement of subcutaneous fat thickness

Figure 1: Changes in stool consistency

Figure 3: Assessment of work behaviour and handling

Fresh nutrition for happy, healthy pets

How fresh innovation is boosting pet health?

Over half the world’s population now owns a pet, with cats and dogs the most popular companions. Today’s pets are often treated on a par with cherished family members! Just as pet owners scrutinise the nutritional values and sustainability credentials of their own food, they also want the finest for their faithful friends. They are engaged by powerful messages supporting prolonged pet health and preservation of the planet. How can pet food manufacturers respond to this humanisation trend? And importantly, how can they convince owners to transition to a different food?

by Suzanne van den Eshof, Marketing and business development director, Protix, Netherlands

Growing demand

In the crowded and competitive pet food market, global spending is expected to increase annually by 11.11 percent (CAGR 2023-2027) according to Statista. This is mainly driven by demographic changes such as the increase in the number of single-person households, and pet food humanisation: adoring pet parents are prepared to spend on premium products that are good for their pets and good for the planet.

Freshness first

Insect-based innovation

The answer actually comes naturally – in the form of the black soldier fly (Latin name: (Hermetia illucens) and its use in innovative pet food formulations. Protix is at the forefront of black soldier fly (BSF)-based ingredients and is launching fresh PureeX®, an appetising fresh insect meat. This ingredient offers all the health benefits of insect protein and lipids and promises maximum nutritional value with minimum processing. Moreover, in common with all Protix’s insect-based ingredients, fresh PureeX boasts a low footprint. It is spot on for pet food manufacturers seeking to tap into the humanisation trend with fresh, healthy and sustainable pet food.

Fresh ingredients feed into consumer desire to treat their beloved companions with the same benefits they buy for themselves. To produce fresh PureeX, insects are processed quickly in a simple process with a minimum number of steps. The rapid processing of minced insect meat results in a product which is low in biogenic amines, a commonly used measure of freshness. It makes fresh PureeX a safe, authentic and honest ingredient with minimal processing-induced damage to valuable nutrients.

Happy and healthy

Health claims are also a big draw for consumers, and an important differentiator for pet manufacturers. Fresh PureeX offers all the health benefits of ingredients derived from the black soldier fly. Initial studies point to good digestibility, an anti-microbial effect, and a stronger antioxidant activity than commonly used pet food ingredients. It potentially thus contributes to pet longevity and wellbeing.

added health benefit versus chicken or fish meal and may result in pets staying healthier for longer.

Scientifically backed

Protix has collaborated on two lab studies which point to the added benefit of the antioxidant activity of PureeX.

Completed in 2020, the first study involved a series of lab tests to assess PureeX and another insect-based ingredient on their own. One of the tests shows that PureeX was able to suppress the negative effect of pro-oxidant molecules by 90 percent. Chicken meal and fish meal, on the other hand, may even trigger the production of the harmful pro-oxidant molecules by 5-15 percent.

In 2022, Protix completed a second study with pet food manufacturer Yora. The aim of this lab test was to assess insect-based cat and dog food. When compared against other commercially available top-end and veterinary-approved cat foods, a better antioxidant effect was identified. An important measure here is Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production inhibition. ROS are a type of unstable molecule that can induce oxidative damage. The results show that the insect ingredient samples resulted in an approximately 80 percent suppression of the negative effects of pro-oxidant molecules versus the control sample; in non-insect-based

cat food, approximately 70 percent cellular ROS production suppression was reported. The figures for dogs are comparable to other premium and super premium brands (insect-based and noninsect-based) of dog foods in the market, which is an outstanding result.

Creating a lower footprint with insects

Sustainability is high on the agenda for many consumers, whether buying for themselves or their pets. With a low ‘pawprint’, PureeX scores highly here, which is largely down to the amazing powers of the industrious black soldier fly it’s derived from. The black soldier fly has a remarkable capacity to turn organic waste into valuable biomass. As a ‘super composter’, the flies will devour virtually anything, allowing for a circular food chain that exploits organic waste streams that would otherwise be unused. They require little space, land or water, and significantly reduce the impact on global warming in comparison with other sources of protein and lipids. PureeX reduces the CO2 footprint by 24-fold compared with poultry meat which is often used in pet food as a high-moisture protein source (0.439 CO2 equivalent for PureeX compared with 10.33 CO2 equivalent for poultry meat). This impressive figure follows a recently published independent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) conducted by the highly regarded Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik (DIL). PureeX thus helps to address consumer concerns about deforestation, water scarcity, global warming and loss of biodiversity. And it’s tasty too!

Palatable for pets and owners

Pet parents may laugh as their dog or cat attempts to catch a passing bug. Yet the idea of actively feeding insects can be a barrier. Manufacturers need to overcome consumers’ fear of seeing identifiable insect components in food. In fact, the insects in fresh PureeX are incorporated in purée form, and the resulting products resemble regular extruded dry kibble, dry, semi-moist, oven-baked snacks or wet food.

As any pet owner knows, switching to a new brand of food is not a decision taken lightly. End product palatability is very important because whatever the appealing nutritional value of a product, if a pet simply turns up its nose, the consumer is dissatisfied and the brand suffers harm. Palatability tests show excellent results, especially dogs like it.

Trusted to deliver

Fresh PureeX adds a new dimension in freshness and makes it easier to transition to a low-footprint pet food that is genuinely natural and healthy. Major brands are already incorporating fresh PureeX in their wet and dry formulations and reaping the benefits of a sustainable ingredient that is good for pets and for the planet. One challenge facing manufacturers is the reliable volume supply of consistently highquality ingredients. With state-of the-art facilities on an unprecedented scale, and international expansion plans underway, Protix is leading the way in insect-based nutrition. The company is on the verge of changing the world with insect-based ingredients and promises excellent availability and an appealing price-quality ratio.

Flying high into the future

The black soldier fly is hailed as the missing link in the food and feed system, and key in bringing the food system back into balance with nature. Harnessing the fly’s incredible ability to turn organic waste into high-quality proteins and lipids can reduce the footprint of our food system and provide much-needed nutrition to the world sustainably.

The black soldier fly can be processed into a range of ingredients for both wet and dry pet food formulations. As the latest addition to a diverse portfolio already consisting of ProteinX®, LipidX® and frozen PureeX, fresh PureeX helps to deliver pet food that is sustainable and beneficial for pets. Production involves minimal processing, and much-loved pets can tuck into a tasty treat as nature intended. At the same time, their adoring parents can enjoy a pet full of energy and vibrancy, while manufacturers can rely on the same premium quality time after time. Fresh PureeX marks a further step towards restoring the natural order of the world through sustainable, natural ingredients.

The diet of horses

What do horses’ diets consist of and how to ensure the correct nutrients are consumed

by Kira Thomas, International Petfood contributor, UK

Horses were first domesticated in around 3500 BC, likely by Botai hunter- gatherers, who used them as transport for hunting. Although we cannot retrieve information about what the horses ate at this time, we can infer that horse diets in the past mainly consisted of oats, hay, straw, and cut grass, with other feed being introduced later on like bran, alfalfa, peas, a mixture of grains and ground legumes as humans began to tame them. As horses have become more domesticated- being used for horse racing, hunting, and horse riding as a general sport- horse feed has become significantly more important as buyers are looking for the most nutritious, effective brands and forms of horse feed to ensure that their horses are strong and healthy enough to carry out the activities they are used for. Therefore, varieties of horse feed have been developed and manufactured using different techniques.

Adaptations

Horses are non-ruminant herbivores (hind-gut fermenters). They have very small stomachs; they are usually only able to hold around 2-4 gallons of food depending on the size and age of the horse. Horses (also known, more specifically, as ‘Equine’) do not have the ability to regurgitate food and so if they overeat, vomiting is not an option for them, therefore demonstrating the importance of a horses diet. Furthermore, Equines have evolved to not have a gallbladder, so horses can not utilise fats in this

way- instead it travels directly to the small intestine- hence their diets consist of 2-4 perecent fat. If too much fat is consumed, there could possibly be an increased risk of health issues i.e., arthritis and Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) resulting in the horse’s quality of life being damaged.

A balanced diet

Horses require six prime categories of nutrients/food groups to survive; this includes: water, fats, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Arguably the most significant categories to animal feed producers are carbohydrates and proteins. Carbohydrates are broken down into 2 sub-categories which are soluble and insoluble carbohydrates. Soluble carbohydrates, like starch and sugars are broken down into glucose in the small intestine and absorbed into the blood. Proteins, which make up 8-10 percent of an adult Equines’ diet; the main building blocks of protein are amino acids. Soybean meal and alfalfa are effective sources of protein that can be easily added to the diet. As we know, most horses, due to their use in the racing and hunting industries, lead highly metabolically active lives and so require a large amount of energy. Despite the fact that most of a horse’s energy is acquired by carbohydrates, fat is actually the densest source, with 9 Mcal/kg of energy (3 times that of carbohydrates in any grain). Most feeds contain 2-6 percent of fat but feeds with higher fat contents can be double this value. In addition, fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K are needed in small amounts and their role is to maintain optimal health in horses like strengthening the immune system, keeping their hooves, skin and bones healthy and helping muscle contractions along with

repairing muscle cells, tissues and organs.

Supplements

It is common for 10 to 20 percent of yearlings to respond favourably to supplementation even when fed a mix calculated to meet minimal requirements. Supplements are used especially when the horse has specific medical concerns or to enhance performance. Soybean is the most used protein (around 44 percent crude protein) supplement due to its accurate ratio, according to horses’ nutritional needs, of essential amino acids. Cottonseed and peanut meal are higher in crude protein- around 50 percent, however, are not as commonly used. Similarly, Brewers grains (a by-product of the brewers industry) is lower in crude proteins but is high in fat, at 13 percent, is also a supplement of protein for horses although they are used more scarcely.

Fat supplements can be added to a horse’s diet to reduce the amount of concentrate needed to reduce the amount of concentrate needed to meet the energy requirements for a horse. In terms of feed, they reduce the powdery nature of it by introducing moisture, meaning the feed is digested more easily. The most common fat supplement used in horse feed is vegetable oil. Interestingly, for show horses, it increases the quality of the horse’s fur- essentially conditioning it.

Forms of feed

Horses’ diets mainly consist of grass as they spend around 16 hours, on average, grazing pastureland. Consequently, most feeds contain a large percentage of grass. Chaff horse feed is dried and cut grass with a coating of molasses added. It is a bulking agent which is added to other feeds to encourage chewing which results in a slow consumption of the feed and leads to good digestion and prevents choking. It is a great derivation of fibre and complex so a slow-release source of energy.

Sugar Beet horse feed is a by-product of the sugar extraction industry. Similarly, it provides fibre and slow-release energy to attend to the huge energy expenditure of horses. To ensure it is easily digested, you can soak it in water for a few minutes to add moisture and to break it up.

Alfalfa horse feed comprises the same benefits as chaff although it is also a good source of protein and calcium. It should be served along with another main feed. Straight horse feed is typically one ingredient such as wheat, bran, oats, barley and maize. This is usually fed in line with another feed as they do not give your horse all of the vitamins essential and adds an extra source of energy to the feed. This can be individualised to

your horse by serving it alongside another food, when that feed is higher in a specific nutritional group that your horse may be lacking.

Horses like fruits and vegetables as they add moisture to the feed, however they can be dangerous due to the choking hazard when consuming large pieces. If these are consumed in excess, they can also lead to gas and colonic problems. If you do feed your horse fruit or vegetables, remember to remove the stones as they can contain arsenic or cyanide components that are toxic and potentially fatal to horses when consumed in larger quantities.

Pellets

The ‘best feed for your horse’ is an abstract concept as the needs for horses can vary depending on the species, age and metabolic rate of the horse. Pelleted feeds are made by grinding up grains, proteins, vitamins and minerals, then using heat and moisture to form them into the pellet shape. One popular reason for feeding horses in the form of pellets is due to the homogeneous nature they arrive in. This prevents the horse from picking out elements of the meal they dislike and therefore they consume the nutrients required in the correct ratios. A type of pellet that is continually mentioned is Alfalfa pellets. This feed, like others, is cut and dried and should never really be given on its own, but instead with other feeds. Alfalfa is a good source of protein and calcium for horses- especially foals due to the fact they are growingwhen given to a horse as a bulk feed. However, feeding alfalfa hay on its own may provide an excessive amount of digestible energy, which can lead to a fast growth rate, increasing the risk of developmental orthopaedic disease. Alfalfa can also be difficult to nurture as it requires good drainage and soil fertility to prosper.

Scheduled eating

It is okay to treat your horse now and then but try and stick to a regular routine consisting mainly of grass or hay as they can acquire most of their nutrients from natural sources. Also, avoid dairy products as, like the majority of animals, horses are lactose intolerant.

Furthermore, in a healthy feeding schedule, horses are fed frequent small meals throughout the day. Not enough forage (below 2 percent of their body weight) or a diet lacking crucial food types can cause chronic stress. Other causes of stress in horses can be a change in diet or altering their feeding schedule, so if you travel with your horse, be sure to take feed from home and try to feed them at similar times and at a regular occurrence as it could otherwise lead to stress.

International Petfood comes to you either in print or digitally Whichever way you want to receive, please sign up on our Flickread for your personal copy which will give you access, from your desktop, to our back-issue library.

https://flickread.com/edition/Petfood

The App can be downloaded from your favourite app store.

We invite you to use the code below for a free edition of our magazine either mailed to you or via our App

Use coupon code: HNY23

Industry Training

Small Animal Nutrition

This course provides comprehensive knowledge of small animal nutrition. This discipline has advanced exponentially during recent years. It is now well recognised, both by veterinary staff and pet owners, that optimal feeding plays a vital role in helping to reduce the risk of common health problems at different life stages. Nutrition is also vital to convalescence and management of a wide range of clinical conditions.

Providing the correct nutritional advice is now considered to be a very important aspect of pet care. The task of formulating a feeding plan is often delegated to nursing staff who are directly involved with the care of hospitalised patients. Veterinary nurses. Veterinary nurses/technicians/paraprofessionals also play an important role in communicating with owners and providing feeding advice for pets at home.

The course will review and improve the learner’s understanding and knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry of small animals in relation to pet nutrition and introduce students to basic nutrition and life-stage feeding of dogs, cats, and exotic pets.

It provides participants with the opportunity to study a wide range of pet food choices, complete nutritional calculations and interpret commercial labels, as well as familiarising delegates with new diets such as raw meaty, vegetarian, and vegan so they can discuss these options in a constructive and non-judgemental way.

Included is an introduction to the concepts of key nutritional factors so that delegates can use this knowledge to offer sound nutritional advice and formulate optimal feeding pans for well pets and those affected by a range of frequently encountered clinical conditions.

This is an interactive course in which topics and practice cases are presented and explained by the instructor. The course is made up of four two-day attendance courses. The modules should be taken in order to allow delegates maximum benefit from the programme. For those wishing to complete the whole course and sit the final examination, you must complete all four two-day modules within three years.

This course is suitable for veterinary nurses/technicians/paraprofessionals.

Electronic and downloadable comprehensive course notes are provided for each module via our online platform Moodle. Refreshments are available throughout the day and lunch is included on all face-to face modules.

The tutors for this course include Clare Spencer, Veterinary Surgeon and Affairs Manager for a premium pet food manufacturer, Frances Dunn, Internal Medical Consultant for Axiom Veterinary Laboratories, and Richard A. Saunders, Veterinarian at Bristol Zoo Gardens and Clinical Teacher at the University of Bristol.

The course is taking place in Swindon, UK, from 9 October 2023 - 29 May 2024. IT consists of 8 modules, to achieve a NCert/ VPPCert in Small Animal Nutrition, and costs £2839 to attend.

The programme course fees include registration with ISVPS and all the examination and assessment fees. Delegates will also be provided additional study skills sessions aiding the delegate to develop their reflective skills. This will help them in their clinical assessments and revision of their learning, which can be used within their future career.

Troubleshooting

Meat Inclusion in Extrusion

An interesting topic and one deserving some attention. The “meat” typically Stored in frozen blocks is thawed to temperature just above freezing which grinded easier usually metal checked and ground into a pumpable slurry. Equalising the moisture content to a standard the meat is now ready to send to the process. It can go to the extruder directly but usually a counter flow heat exchanger is used to elevate the meat temperature. Higher capacities are possible in the extruder if it does not have to heat the meat. A special pump for viscous materials is used to meter the meat into the conditioning cylinder. Levels pumped in will depend on the design and ability of the cylinder to handle meats.

Now for the extrusion aspect of dealing with meat. Most extrusion designs have a limit on water usage and still make an acceptable kibble shape. Earlier mentioning the equalisation of moisture in the meat is generally done so that the extrusion process is stable. If the moisture in the meat pumped in varies then the kibble density, appearance and moisture will vary out of the extruder over time. The limit of meat used depends on the moisture in the meat. Meat usually has somewhere in the area of 65 to 75 percent water. Typical moisture contents during extrusion vary but are in the area of let’s say 20 to 35 percent moisture. Typical dry formulas would have a moisture content of 10 to 12 percent which means you can add approximately 25 percent meat in a single screw and 30 percent in a twin screw which is 66.7 percent moisture which would yield respectively 10.9 to 13.7 percent meat in the final kibble. As you can see on a standard basis a twin can handle a bit more meat than a single screw but in both of these cases these are very traditional standard extruders.

There were some limitations with this above process as it was used for years but the desire for higher meat products pushed continued research. The development of advanced preconditioning where high levels of meat added did not clump or ball up assisted greatly. The changes allowed for high meat inclusion and a free-flowing powder like material out of the conditioner to the extruder. Extruders then reared up and said no you can’t do that; you are not going to send me a high moisture very slippery formula and expect me to generate friction to cook this product when meat levels were pushed! So, some changes occurred, more flow disruption with various screw and kneading lobe in the barrel allowed for handling a slightly higher level of meat in the formula.

In conclusion, systems exist which cook a wide range of meat inclusion petfoods. Development of thermal energy extrusion processes are allowing meat levels to be pushed to unheard levels which are getting close to 65 to 75 percent meat formulations. See March issue 2022 for an article on a demo on 110 percent (% of dry feed) meat inclusion.

Previously on Troubleshooting...

1. Density

An examination of product density and its relationship with moisture levels, heating, cooling feeder screw rate and automation.

2. Non-uniform and rough appearance

A guide to understanding the science involved in improving the art of making products of all the same size.

3. Extrusion dies

This article takes a look at aspects of the process including high, medium and low shear as well the adjustments required when producing feed for small mammals.

4. Dryers

The dryer is without a doubt one of the machines in the system which greatly impacts the bottom line.

5. The Extruder Barrel - Part 1

Forming extruders are used for some select products – thus this part of the discussion centres on single and twin designs.

6. Cook in the Extruder Barrel – part 2

As discussed last month, the extruder barrel has a number of functions, but the main goal is to finalise the cook, yield the desired shape with the density target.

7. Coating

The coating process has a few areas of importance, with this edition of ‘Troubleshooting’ exploring the most important of these.

8. Expanded cat food

Dry expanded cat food production is similar to dog food production, but there are some differences, with this edition exploring a choice selection of these.

9.

Extrusion during operation

This month we discuss steam input into the conditioner. During the water addition process, the steam is usually in the two-bar range.

Innovations this month April 2023

This month’s Production Showcase section features equipment and ingredients that will help in the production of petfood, taking you right from the recipe book, right up until until your product is ready to leave your factory door.

If you would like your product or service to appear on this page in a future edition of International Petfood magazine, then please contact us at editorial@perendale.co.uk

Extruder Barrels by Extru-tech

Extru-tech extruder barrels are already designed for broad production capabilities with maximum efficiency and minimal metal-to-metal wear. However, to further eliminate pathogens in the extruder barrel, extrutech advanced feature extruders utilize a modified barrel profile and increased steam injection into the barrel. Each extruder model can be equipped with multiple barrel length packages, each designed for the production of specific product types. Naturally, all extruder screws and liners continue to be constructed of high quality, wear-resistant stainless steel alloys that are subsequently polished, heattreated to required hardness specifications and then parallel ground to ensure proper fit between barrel components.

From unprecedented production capacities to exacting finished product quality, Extru-Tech Extrusion Cooking Systems have established the industry standards for performance and value. Extru-Tech’s Advanced Feature Extrusion systems were designed with two important criteria. The unit needed to be quick and easy to clean, and it needed to allow customers to control, reduce or eliminate contaminants in the system. http://extru-techinc.com/products/extruders/system--5

FOCUS

Screw feeder weighing machine by PLP Systems

Through different weighing systems, which can be the weighing screw or weighing belt combined with hoppers designed according to the customer’s needs, we can create batch dosing systems to handle any type of material with different quantities.

Screw

feeder weighing machine

- The weighing screw machine, entirely made in stainless steel is complete with N°3 load cells and an encoder for the detection of weight and speed.

- According to the clients need, the weighing screw can be customized and the diameter of the screw and the rotations can be modified.

- The weighing screw automatically can totalize the quantity of the dosed product, indicating the instantaneous delivery rate and the frequency output

https://plp-systems.com/systems-and-machinery/powders-continuousdosing/screw-feeder-weighing-machine/

Large chamber mill FD by Tietjen

With the large chamber mill FD, Tietjen presents the latest of its hammer mills optimised for fine grinding of petfood. It achieves a very high throughput of over 15 t/h and reaches a high fineness at the same time.

For the large chamber mill FD, Tietjen has enhanced its proven design. The durable, optimised rotor design is dynamically balanced and now allows, depending on the recipe, a loading of more than 15 t/h with almost the same installation space compared to other large-capacity mills from Tietjen. The new optimised design and the optional enlargement of the impact zone ensure the very high fineness of the ground material with simultaneous high loading.

Particle sizes of < 500 µm at a fineness of 99 percent are achieved even for demanding petfood recipes.

In combination with a metering screw and the new air-gravity separator AGS AD, the efficiency of the grinding system is increased even further.

https://www.tietjenoriginal.com/tietjen-stelltneuentwicklungen-auf-dervictam-vor/

Pellet Mill by Amandus Kahl

The KAHL pellet machines facilitate storage and transport of your bulk products and product mixtures.

Particularly fine-particle or dusty products are often a challenge when it comes to storage. Both the porosity and the volume require special measures – also during transport. The KAHL pellet mills help you to save operating, transport and above all storage costs. Products with different structures, bulk densities, binding strength and particle sizes are no problem for the flat die pellet machines. It is also irrelevant whether the products are powdery, fibrous, lumpy or pasty.

The following products are mainly pelleted: Compound feed, raw materials and mineral mixes as well as byproducts in flour and oil mills or malthouses. Also straw, wood, biomass and dried sludge.

https://www.akahl.com/en/ machines/pelleting/pelletmill/

AIRFLOW II conveyor dryer by Wenger

The AIRFLOW II conveyor dryer has a controlled, balanced airflow for Uniform Product Drying, with horizontal and vertical dryers and 1-3 passes available. It comes with customisable controls, configuration, material and size, and technical assistance available 24 hours a day. The dryer is designed to scale for increased production needs, with heated airflow from both sides of the dryer, and minimises uneven drying across the bed, eliminating the need for air diverters.

https://wenger.com/extruders-dryers/dryers-ovens/airflow-ii

4B Braime Components Better by design

Founded in the UK in 1971, 4B Braime Components, Ltd. has been an industry leader in developing high quality, innovative, and dependable material handling components for the agricultural and industrial sector. 4B has the world’s largest range of bucket elevator components, leading the field in elevator bucket and elevator bolt design and manufacturing the highest quality forged conveyor chains and elevator belting, suitable for the toughest applications.

Their electronics division specializes in level controls, intelligent sensors and safety control systems for bucket elevators and conveyors. 4B components prevent costly downtime and minimize the risk of explosions in hazardous areas. With over 130 years of engineering experience in the bulk handling industry and subsidiaries on all continents along with a worldwide network of distributors, 4B can provide practical solutions for any application no matter the location. With an extensive range of ATEX/IECEx/ CSA-approved hazard monitoring systems, misalignment switches, bearing temperature monitors and level indicators, 4B can offer anything from a replacement sensor to a fully integrated hazard monitoring system that can be operated either as a stand-alone system or connected to a PLC or 4B’s cloud-based Hazardmon system. With subsidiaries on all continents along with a worldwide network of distributors, including USA, UK, France, Deutschland, Africa, Asia, China, Australia, 4B can provide practical solutions for any application no matter the location.

Ensuring their clients have safe, reliable and efficient products is a 4B priority. Continuous research and development maintain 4B products at the cutting edge of technology. The 4B group is committed to keep up its

investment in innovation and looks forward to a bright future.

The 4B Braime Group, a British PLC listed on the London Stock Exchange, has just celebrated its 130th anniversary this year. The company has been a pioneer of the material handling industry, introducing the first pressed seamless steel elevator bucket back in 1909 and since then leading the field in elevator bucket design. Innovation has always been at the heart of the group’s ethos, and maintaining their tradition of making better products by Engineering Design, 4B has contributed many innovative products and solutions to the material handling industry, including: the Starco elevator bucket (the world’s first low profile elevator bucket using centrifugal discharge on a parabolic elevator head which revolutionized the way bucket elevators work until today), the Bolt ‘n’ Go chain system (a revolutionary assembly method for drop forged chains using bolt-on flights instead of welding), the Watchdog Elite bucket elevator monitoring system (the world’s first hazard monitoring system that could monitor a complete bucket elevator or conveyor system), and most recently Hazardmon, a cloud-based hard monitoring solution.

The 4B Braime Group has a rich heritage, tracing back its origins to the 19th century, when oilcans made in a small workshop by Thomas Braime quickly gained a reputation for quality. Thomas, the eldest son of a veterinary surgeon, was apprenticed to McLaren, an engineering company manufacturing steam traction engine, but after losing his thumb in an accident, was inspired to look for effective ways to apply oil to machinery. In 1888, he set up production in Hunslet, Leeds, using the new pressings technology. His younger

brother Harry, also a skilled engineer, joined him as partner. The rise of the motor industry increased demand for metal pressings and larger premises were soon needed for the expanding business.

The current Braime buildings, with its attractive red brick and terracotta frontage, was constructed between 1911 and 1914. During the First World War,

the company played an important role in armament provision, training women as skilled munition workers. The group’s headquarters remains in its listed buildings on Hunslet Road; the beautiful interiors are often used in film sets. However, today, the group is truly international with subsidiaries in North America, Europe, China, South East Asia, Africa and Australia.

GEAPS Exchange

Draws attendees from 45 US states, 20 nations

by Niamh Cassidy,

Geaps Exchange took place in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, from February 25 to 28 Kansas City convention centre. The grain elevator and processing society held another successful event in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

With over 350 exhibitors at the show, Expo Hall – the atmosphere was truly buzzing from beginning to end. GEAPS announced recently they welcomed 3333 attendees overall, 364 exhibitors, from 45 US States and 20 Nations. The social and extremely educational event was prosperous and productive for all those wanting to create and maintain great business relationships.

Geaps, aka the Grain Elevator and Processing Society, are a professional association, a knowledge resource comprised of individuals working in the grain handling and processing industry.

The event included many different mixers and social events, and sessions took place in training rooms and the expo hall, showcasing trends and innovations in the industry, from operations to management. Innovation stations held throughout each day, talks and demonstrations on safety, grain operations and maintenance, as well as employee development help.

The itinerary was full of inspirational and informative talks and demonstrations. Sunday was opened with a keynote session from Dan Cnossen (Navy SEAL and 7-time Paralympic

Medallist). Each day included a grain entrapment rescue demo in the expo hall that consistently gathered crowds. Tuesday closed with a closing celebration, including a talk from ‘Strongman’ Eric Moss (Author and World Record Holder).

“Exchange is an opportunity for all our exhibitors to tell their own stories about what new things they have. Our exhibitors take a lot of pride in their booths and really work to give our attendees a great representation of what they do and how they can be of service,” said Adrianne Fjerstad-Miller, GEAPS’ Conference and Expo Director. “Yes, Exchange is about relationships and connecting with customers but it’s also such a wonderful opportunity for our exhibitors to showcase the best of themselves.”

It was standing room only when Kansas native Dan Cnossen delivered his keynote speech Sunday morning. Cnossen (ka-na-sen) is a true patriot, a Navy SEAL, a war veteran, a survivor, a Harvard graduate and Paralympian with the medals to prove it! His presentation was a wonderful way to begin Exchange.

The event featured four education tracks this year designed to meet the needs of grain professionals. Maintenance; Employee Development; Safety; and Grain Operations. Attendees packed training rooms as they were able to focus on one track or sample them all.

International Petfood, UK

In addition to great education, GEAPS Exchange 2023 included an Expo Hall filled with technology and services to make grain operations safer and more efficient; education on the latest trends and best practices and social events that help reinforce business relationships.

Milling and Grain met with many new and familiar faces, including Essmueller, i-Grain, Vibrafloor, Tapco, and Vortex, among many more. We had the pleasure of talking to Johnny Wheat, President of 4B Components, who showed us around the companies new exciting Codaflex 1024. As well as being small and compact, this encoder can function to all three outputs, and is calibrated from the outside; a feature that will save a lot of time in the process and make operations much easier.

We also spoke to the new Chief Technology Officer for OPI Systems, Adam Weiss, who told us about the benefits of their Grain Moisture and Temperature Cable. OPI systems, a pioneer of digital cables since 1984, handles grain management solutions, and their moisture and temperature cable doesn’t have nodes pulling it down, working well to prevent harvest loss. OPI are currently rebranding, with a renewed focus on the US specifically.

Exchange 2024 is scheduled for February 24-27 back at Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, MO. Booth sales for the event open later this year, with registration opening later in the fall.

30th Anniversary VIV Asia 2023

by Shannon Parsons,

VIV Asia 2023 was an incredible success with an amazing number of attendees and exhibitors. Held in Bangkok, Thailand at the IMPACT Challenger, the B2B event spanned over three days from March 8-10, with an additional day for a few conferences on March 7.

The complete feed to food global trade show saw a staggering number of attendees with a registered 47,527 visitors from 112 countries and 1,186 exhibitors from 57 countries. The exhibition was split into sections, ranging from animal health, farm production, aquaculture, machinery and more in a space of 31,544sqm across three Challenger halls. Many of the exhibitors had a range of products on display, such as machinery and feed, and some even gave free samples to their products to the visitors.

Plus, with VIV Asia offering over 120 conferences and sessions, there were a range of topics for everyone to have at least one event that would interest the. Each conference covered the latest information and insights into the newest insights, innovations, and technologies. Some of the conferences that were held were ‘How to Build your Sustainable Dairy Farm’ by Global Dairy Farmers, ‘Trends, Challenges and Opportunities of Alternative Proteins in Asia’ and many more, along with some created by our own company.

“VIV Asia is the first VIV show in 2023 and it represents – and rightfully so – our goal to connect the markets, and enhance industry trade both locally and globally,” stated Birgit Horn, Managing Director of VIV Worldwide, during the event.

Milling and Grain magazine, UK

Our Conferences

Perendale Publishers, parent company to International Petfood magazine, organised three separate conferences: Aquatic, 7th Annual Aquafeed Extrusion (7AQE), and Build My Feed Mill. All three conferences were an incredible successful, with two of them being a full house and the third being half full at minimum.

Aquatic and 7AQE were both held on the same day, March 7, and lasted the whole day. VIV and Progressus worked together with Perendale to organise Aquatic while Dr Mian Riaz of Texas A&M University worked with us on 7AQE. Both conferences were a great starter to VIV Asia which began the day after on March 8.

Build My Feed Mill was a two-hour conference held on the morning of March 10 that was solely organised by Perendale. This was an amazing conference with full attendance and a fantastic way to end the exhibition.

Full reports on the three conferences will appear in the next edition of International Petfood so make sure you read the next edition to find out more.

30th Anniversary

VIV Asia 2023 celebrated the 30th anniversary of VIV in the Challenger 3, VIV Square on the second day of the event, March 9. The celebration began with a spectacular dance performance, followed by a warm welcome to all attendees with free food, drinks and gifts upon entry into the VIV Square.

Managing Director of VIV Worldwide, VNU Europe, Mrs Birgit Horn, then introduced the small event and presented Mr Chris Jackson, Export Manager for UKTAG, the UK’s Technology for Agriculture and Genetics organisation, an award. For Chris’ ‘outstanding contribution to VIV and the food-to-feed industry’ along with being the UK’s representation for guidance and commitment to VIV since its inception in 1993 in Japan, he was awarded with a trophy and travelsized suitcase as a sign of appreciation from VNU.

Following this, it was announced by Mr Igor Palka, Managing Director of VNU Asia Pacific and Mr Jose Gerardo Feliciano, Vice President of United Broiler Association, that ILDEX Philippines and the Philippine Poultry Show will be combining into one event- Philippine Poultry Show & ILDEX Philippines 2023. This is a wonderful partnership between the two events and a huge development for the industry too as it will bring together more companies to create newer and better connections than before. Finally, there were two competitions to end the celebrations- a quiz on Kahoot regarding VIV and a lucky prize draw. International Petfood were incredibly lucky and are so thankful for their prizes as all three members of our team who attended this celebration all managed to win, with Shannon winning twice from both the quiz and lucky draw.

Triumphant Time

This year, VIV Asia was held in a new location and despite this, the animal protein sector responded to this change incredibly with attendance from both exhibitors and attendees not being affected negatively and remaining high. The show also offered free transportation to and from the event with the use of a shuttle bus to the sky train stations located throughout Bangkok to assist anyone who struggled to find transport as the area had lots of traffic.

“It’s always pleasing when a new trade fair is warmly received, and this was certainly the case with this first edition of Meat Pro Asia,” adds Mr Richard Li, Executive Director, Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. The halls were packed every single day with attendees and exhibitors, with many companies to visit and conferences to attend. We managed to meet a lot of these companies, such as Ottevanger, Dr Eckel, PLP Liquid Systems and so many more. We reinforced our relationships with our Global friends and created new ones too.

We also conducted multiple interviews with various companies, ADM’s Vice President of Feed Additives- BK Chew and Famsun’s Director- Liu Guandao along with audible interviews with ADM’s technical sales managers- Gunduz Ilsever and Luiz Souza. You will be able to see these interviews soon on our websites, future editions of International Petfood and our socials.

Next Time

The next VIV Asia will be held in 2025 on March 12 – 14, however the next VIV event will be VIV Nanjing 2023 on 6 -8 September in Nanjing, China. VIV is run by the amazing organisers VNU Worldwide who organise multiple events per year, all of which being successful. VNU will be hosting another event sooner than VIV Nanjing though called Philippine Poultry Show & ILDEX Philippines 2023 on June 7 – 9 in Manila, Philippines.

If you have any reports, press releases or editorial about VIV Asia 2023 that you would like shared then please send it to editorial@perendale.co.uk and we will be happy to share it for you on our websites and social media. We hope to see you soon at future events...

FEED PROCESSING market outlook in Latin America and beyond

Feed milling is the process of grinding and processing feed ingredients into a form that is suitable for animal consumption. Milling is therefore a critical step in the production of animal feed, as it creates a uniform mixture that is easy for animals to digest. Various materials are milled, fed and weighed, and mixed together including additives to obtain the end product. The feed milling process can be divided into five main stages: raw material handling, grinding, mixing, cooling and pelleting.

Pellets held the biggest market share, according to a survey by Verified Market Research. The pellets market size was estimated at US$8.23 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5 percent from 2022 to 2030.

Pellet feed is more popular than other types of feed because it is high in protein, easy to digest, and degrades the higher protein in smaller amounts. Pellet is further subdivided into crumbles, flour, mills, and others. The advantages of pelleted feed, such as improved feed consumption and increased animal weight gain, are what essentially drive the need for feed pelletising. Pellet production is increasing significantly as a result of the expanding demand for nutrient-dense feed, which also encourages company investment in the animal feed pellet processing sector. Additionally, providing mixed nutrients in every pellet, enhancing storage capacity, lowering transportation costs, and improving feed handling are some of the advantages that have encouraged the popularity of animal pellets. There is a growing focus on the nutritional value of the food animals consume. Also, there is a growing demand for feed mills due to the following reasons: farmers stepping back, the total animal population and the increasing need for high-quality feed. Operations of the global feed processing market has been segmented into manual, semi-automatic, and automatic where technology has become a significant

trend. Higher processing capacity, more efficient processing of more products per hour, and a higher consistency of quality is strived for.

On October 3 – 5, 2023, Victam is hosting the first Victam LatAm event in São Paulo, Brazil! This event for all segments of the animal feed production is co-located with two dedicated events for flour processing and handling events, GRAPAS and GEAPS. Conferences, seminars and round table sessions are organised together with key partners (such as RTRS and Perendale among others) including topics such as feed mills maximised and sustainable production. Victam LatAm event forms a complete and unique marketplace and will fill the gap in the Latin American market.

According to the Latin America Animal Feed Market Outlook 2027 research report, Latin America is the fastest enlarging market for animal feed processing. It is estimated to grow with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.21percent for the forecasted period. Currently, Brazil is the leader of Latin American market holding more than 40 percent in the animal feed (processing) market.

Since September, when the event was launched together with our Founding companies Andritz, CPM, Famsun, Wenger and Zheng Chang, almost 100 companies already confirmed their participation. CPM Europe is one of the world’s leading suppliers of technologies, solutions, services and industrial equipment for the animal and aqua feed industries. With over 80 years of experience in the feed industry, our extensive expertise allows us to offer specialist solutions for the processing of compound feed. This includes poultry, such as chickens and turkeys, ruminant animals such as cows, goats and sheep, as well as monogastric animals such as horses and pigs. We are pleased to have them join us on our Latin-American journey and to hear more about their feed processing approach.

Interwiew With CPM

What makes participating to this upcoming event in LatAm different than the other events?

Latin America is increasingly seen, by many, as the main supplier of food to many regions in the world. Latin America is one of the world’s largest grain producers, led by Brazil as the world’s leading soybean producer. Adding to all this, there is a very structured growth in the Pet Food sector in Latin America, projecting a CAGR of 7.6 percent for Brazil alone. This healthy economic climate is the reason why this region is so interesting to investors and offers a lot of business opportunities.

What are your expectations of Victam LatAm? What outcome do you expect?

We believe this is the right time to find customers and prospects, as well as business partners. CPM is always aiming to build long-term relationships and understand how we can better serve our customers by analysing and understanding their needs and presenting them with solutions. We believe that a good face-to-face discussion is a perfect way to do this. We expect that VICTAM LatAm will open up great business possibilities, by attracting the right audience and providing the tools for exhibitors and visitors to meet each other. In addition, we expect that VICTAM LatAm will enable us to showcase our solutions which are of the highest quality and reliability that the industry can offer.

In what way is Victam contributing to your success?

VICTAM is a well-known global event that enables visitors to discover the latest innovations and technologies and find great business opportunities. We expect VICTAM LatAm will do the same for Latin America and we look forward to meeting visitors from all Latin American countries. VICTAM LatAm visitors looking for the newest solutions in feed plants will certainly find them with CPM.

How do you incentivise sustainability?

We don’t just believe in sustainability; we make it happen. We are committed to making the world a better place for current and future generations. This is why, among other initiatives, we actively promote rework and waste recycling. When it comes to our equipment, we continuously innovate to reduce the energy consumption of our equipment.

What is the biggest challenge within the industry that you are currently facing?

There are two big challenges that the industry is currently facing:

Continuous evolving need for improved sanitary and food grade products

Higher capacity at specific recipes and granulation

What is/are CPM’s most recent milestone(s)and what distinguishes you from others?

We recently acquired Bliss Industries, a majority supplier of grinding equipment for and lead supplier of new petfood facilities in the North American petfood industry.

Some of the things that distinguish us from others are:

The process knowledge that we have accumulated by serving the animal feed and pet food industries for many years.

The focus on customer unique needs and requirements

Automation and controls for complete facility through our Beta Raven brand

Can you tell us a little bit more about your R&D processes?

We would like to invite all readers to join us at our booth so we can talk details because there is a lot to share about this topic. Just a tip of the iceberg, we have various patented technologies for equipment, processes, and parts. Also, we are expanding R&D test centers in multiple company locations around the world.

How are you coping with new trends and technologies?

Through our culture of innovation, we are constantly inventing new ways to meeting customer-specific requirement and needs.

There are a few technologies we can name that we are focussed on:

Sanitary processing, improved cleanability, operator safety, plant safety. R&D testing for customer-specific formulations. Using complete facility controls to shift toward automation through our Beta Raven brand

Resulting in improved reliability and operations efficiency. Blending, batching and weighing is a current trend with automation and important due to restricted diets.

How do you think that new innovations and technologies will impact the industry in 5 years?

Because we continuously aim to improve our business, we reinvent ourselves every 4-5 year. The petfood industry has evolved more toward a “human” diet and we will continue to develop healthy eating trends for pets. With the global markets continuing to domesticate animals, the demand for high-quality petfood is growing.

•

•

•

•

•

2023 April

14- 16

Pet Health Expo

Los Angeles, USA

www. pethealthexpo.com

2023 May

1-3

Petfood Forum

Kansas City, Missouri, USA

www.petfoodforumevents.com

3-4

Petcare Innovation Europe

Berlin, Germany

www.kisacoresearch.com

Industry Events

2023 October

2-5

VICTAM LatAm

Sao Paulo, Brazil

www.victamlatam.com

3-4

Pet-Aqua Feed Production Conference

Sao Paulo, Brazil

www.internationalpetfood.com/event/pet-aqua-feed-productionconference/

12-15

Petzoo Eurasia

Istanbul, Turkiye, www.petfuari.com

25-27

Petfair SE Asia

Bangkok, Thailand www.petfair-sea.com

5-6

Pet World Arabia

Dubai, UAE

www.petworldarabia.com/index.php

15-17

Zoomark International Bologna, Italy

www.expobeds.com

19-21

PetExpo Romania

Bucharest, Romania www.petexpo.ro/english/

2023 August

16-18 Pet South America

Sao Paulo, Brazil www.petsa.com

16-18

Superzoo Las Vegas, USA

www.superzoo.org

Bagging systems

FAWEMA +49 2263 716-0 www.fawema.com

Bulk storage

Silo Construction & Engineering +32 51723128 www.sce.be

Symaga +34 926640475 www.symaga.com

TSC Silos +31 543 473979 www.tsc-silos.com

Van Aarsen International +31 475 579 444 www.aarsen.com

Computer software

Inteqnion +31 543 49 44 66 www.inteqnion.com

Van Aarsen International +31 475 579 444 www.aarsen.com

Coolers & driers

Extru-Tech +785 284 2153 www.extru-techinc.com

FrigorTec GmbH +49 7520 91482-0 www.frigortec.com

FAMSUN

+86 85828888 www.famsungroup.com

Van Aarsen International +31 475 579 444 www.aarsen.com

Dosing

Van Aarsen International +31 475 579 444 www.aarsen.com

Elevator buckets

4B Braime +44 113 246 1800 www.go4b.com

Tapco Inc

+1 314 739 9191 www.tapcoinc.com

Elevator & conveyor components

4B Braime

+44 113 246 1800 www.go4b.com

Equipment

Tapco Inc +1 314 739 9191 www.tapcoinc.com

Van Aarsen International +31 475 579 444 www.aarsen.com

Hammermills

Dinnissen Process Technology +31 (0)77 467 35 55 www.dinnissen.com

Inspection

Dinnissen Process Technology +31 (0)77 467 35 55 www.dinnissen.com

Extruders Almex +31 575 572666 www.almex.nl

IDAH +866 39 902701 www.idah.com

Feed milling

Dinnissen Process Technology +31 (0)77 467 35 55 www.dinnissen.com

PLP +39 05 23 89 16 29 www.plp-systems.com

vibronet-Gräf GmbH & Co.KG +49 6441 62031 www.vibronet.com

Zheng Chang +86 2164184200 www.zhengchang.com

Feed Mill Automation

Van Aarsen International +31 475 579 444 www.aarsen.com

Grain handling systems Symaga +34 926640475 www.symaga.com

Tapco Inc +1 314 739 9191 www.tapcoinc.com

Labelling

Minebea Intec +44 121 779 3131

www.minebea-intec.com

Minebea Intec +44 121 779 3131 www.minebea-intec.com

Laboratory equipment

Tekpro +44 1692 403403 www.tekpro.com

Packaging

Dinnissen Process Technology +31 (0)77 467 35 55 www.dinnissen.com

Sifters

Dinnissen Process Technology +31 (0)77 467 35 55 www.dinnissen.com

Weighing

Minebea Intec +44 121 779 3131 www.minebea-intec.com

Yeast products

Minebea Intec +44 121 779 3131 www.minebea-intec.com

To get your company included in the market place, please contact the PetFood team on +44 1242 267700 or writes to tutit@perendale.co.uk.

The Market Place lists leading manufacturers of equipment used for the production of petfood. To be included in the Market Place please contact Tuti Tan at tutit@perendale.co.uk.

the interview Nick Piggott

Co-CEO, Nutrition Technologies, Malaysia

Nick Piggott is the Co-Chief Executive Officer of Nutrition Technologies based in Johor, Malaysia. He is also the President of Asian Food & Feed Insect Association, Leading the AFFIA Executive Committee to develop, promote and represent the Association members through the international platform. He has a bachelor’s degree in Marketing Communications from University of Leicester and Masters in Charity management from London South Bank University.

You have had rich career in the industry. What initially lead you to this field?

I was working for the UN in West Africa on a maternal & newborn health programme in 2014, where I was exposed to the growing ‘protein gap’ between what we currently produce, and the forecast demand. At the same time I saw an FAO report indicating that insect bioconversion could be a potential bridge between food wastage and food shortage, so I decided to join an insect manufacturing company. At that point there were no companies operating at any meaningful scale, so I saw the opportunity to set something up with my now business partner Tom, who was also working at the UN at the time.

In recent years what are the most critical developments that you have witnessed in the sector?

The two biggest challenges for the uptake of insectmeal in the petfood sector have been price and available volume of products. 30 percent of all petfood is manufactured in Europe, and until the recent change in regulations, petfood manufacturers were limited to sourcing from European insect manufacturers. This meant that the available supply of material was extremely limited to a small number of manufacturers, and petfood manufacturers had to pay high prices for European-manufactured goods. The reason that European production is so expensive, is that BSF are a tropical species - they grow optimally in intense sunlight and warm, wet climate. Replicating these conditions in Europe is expensive and energy intensive. In reducing the energy required to produce the insects you can both reduce the cost significantly, but also have a much lower environmental footprint.

The other major development is in the use of botanicals and natural supplements in formulations. There is a growing understanding of the value of natural ingredients such as ginseng, turmeric, in place of artificial or heavily processed supplements like glucosamine. This is a trend that has spilled over from human nutrition in recent years and is likely to continue. This is good news for pet owners but is likely to exacerbate the conflict between agriculture for human vs animal nutrition unless supplies are carefully managed.

You were awarded the UNGCMYB Sustainability icon award in the SME category. How were you selected, and how has it impacted your team?

This Award was established to recognise the impact that SMEs, and individuals within SMEs, can have on an industry-level. The idea is that SMEs have a broad reach in terms of contact points within their industry and across value chains, and that demonstrating leadership in sustainability, through innovation, product development, new policies etc can have a far reaching effectmuch more than just within that one organisation. That recognition for us last year was extremely motivating for everyone at Nutrition Technologies - the UN is obviously a very prestigious organisation, and to be recognised as a leader within our industry was very pleasing for everyone here.

What are opportunities for solution innovations that support sustainable goals in current industry?

I think there are significant further gains to be made in nutrition and formulation, which can be facilitated through more transparent reporting of sustainability metrics by suppliers. In other industries (like aquaculture) some feed manufacturers require suppliers to submit independently developed Product LifeCycle Assessments (LCAs), which essentially indicate what impact a particular material has on the environment. They then use this as part of the evaluation of new materials and new suppliers, and (in some cases) will select one supplier over another based on their sustainability scores. LCAs can be expensive though, so some suppliers are reluctant to invest in doing one - the industry needs to demand this level of transparency on sustainability claims.

Another opportunity is packaging. While the EU recently set targets for reducing packaging waste by requiring future food packaging to be recyclable, this will help but won’t be the solution. There are lots of developments going on around biomaterials - algae-based bioplastic for example, as well as a huge amount of work going into recycling agro-industrial materials into value-added products. Finding ways to use organic by-products and converting them into safe, hygienic packaging materials will be a huge step forwards in the industry’s overall sustainability.

Going forward, what aspects of petfood nutrition would you like to see addressed and why?

I’d like people to stop thinking about insects as being ‘new’ or ‘novel’ for pets. Both dogs & cats naturally produce chitinase, the enzyme that breaks down the biopolymer ‘chitin’. Chitin is predominantly found in crustaceans (shrimp & crabs), fungi (mushrooms & yeast), and insects, suggesting that they have evolved eating insects as part of their ancestral diets. And because they are part of their natural diets, insectmeal is as digestible as venison or poultrymeal, meaning that the animals eating insect-based food are gaining as much nutrition from this more sustainable ingredient as they would from more common petfood ingredients. So even though insects have only recently become a feature on the ingedient lists of petfood products, they have been in the natural, ancestral diets of dogs and cats throughout history.

Where do you think the industry will be by 2050?

I think that ‘sustainable’ and ‘planet friendly’ will no longer be marketing value-adds, as these will have become the baseline requirements for getting a product on the market. All packaging and ingredients will be fully traceable to source, with very clear indications of the environmental impact of the product, with probably more detail on each individual component (eg the exact impact of the fish/wheat/venison/insect ingredient). I think functional nutrition will play a much bigger role than it currently does. Beneficial ingredients that naturally support joint & bone health, gut health, or reduce the need for antibiotics and other treatments will be much more widespread throughout petfood products, and there’s likely to be more individualisation of products for individual animals, again following the trend we see in personalised nutrition in humans.

THE INDUSTRY FACES

Voff appoints new CEO

Voff Premium Pet Food appointed Anders Kristiansen to chief executive officer on March 1. Mr Kristiansen succeeds Mårten Bernow, who served as the company’s CEO since 2019.

Mr Kristiansen has extensive experience in leading large consumer goods companies and international startups. Prior to joining Voff, he served as CEO of Esprit, New Look, Bestseller Fashion Group, Staples and Lyreco. He has also held leadership positions at Hofmann and Orkla.

“We believe that Anders’ background and experience as a senior executive within several international consumer goods companies makes him highly qualified to take over as CEO of Voff in this next phase of the company’s journey,” says Asbjørn Hyldgaard, chairman of Voff and partner at Axcel, parent company of Voff. “The board welcomes Anders Kristiansen and expects that Voff will continue to thrive in its expansion journey under his leadership. At Voff, Mr Kristiansen will lead the company’s growth strategy as it seeks to become a leader in the European market.

NORPEL appoints Michael Tierney to CCO

Northern Pelagic Group, LLC (NORPEL) recently promoted Michael Tierney to chief commercial officer. In his new role, Mr Tierney will lead NORPEL’s commercial activities, directing its business development, sales, procurement, supply chain, innovation and more.Mr Tierney originally joined NORPEL in 2017. He most recently served as the company’s senior vice president of business development, in which he played a key role in driving the company’s growth. During the past five years, Tierney helped diversify NORPEL’s product base and established partnerships with several pet food processors. As chief commercial officer, Mr Tierney will help expand NORPEL’s reach by focusing on product development, partnerships and customer service.

Pet supplement company names new VP of sales

Pet wellness company Austin and Kat™ recently appointed Tim McGee to vice president of sales. Mr McGee will help lead the pet company’s sales and education team, as well as strengthen its distribution portfolio.

Prior to joining Austin and Kat, Mr McGee operated a consulting business where he developed sales and marketing strategies for Califia Farms and ‘nuun’ Hydration. At ‘nuun’, he worked with the company’s Founder and Chief Executive Office Tim Moxey, creating a national and international distribution network and executing marketing strategies to enable ‘nuun’ to become a leader in market share within the hydration supplement sector.

Mr McGee also worked for PepsiCo in various sales, marketing and operational roles for more than 25 years.

Primal Pet Group announces new leadership appointments

Primal Pet Group, which is backed by Kinderhook Industries, LLC, and includes the Primal Pet Foods, Himalayan Pet Supply and Prairie Dog Pet Products businesses, has announced new executive leadership appointments, effective April 1, 2023. Jon M. Balousek was named Chief Executive Officer to lead the vision and strategy for the full portfolio of leading pet care brands as the company enters its next phase of sustainable growth.

An experienced consumer products company leader, Mr Balousek has a strong track record of building brands and driving profitable growth in highly competitive categories. Most recently, he was leading corporate development for Central Garden and Pet, which gave him new insights into the dynamic pet care industry. Prior to that, Mr Balousek spent the majority of his career with The Clorox Company where he was accountable for driving sales and profit for five distinct business units and overseeing 3,000 employees and 13 manufacturing facilities.

With experience leading strategy and execution, brand management, employee engagement, and environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG), Mr Balousek will be responsible for the overall business and all key functions for Primal Pet Group. He will partner closely with Matt Pirz who will continue to focus on driving growth for the Primal Pet Foods business, with Matt Koss, who founded Primal Pet Foods in 2001, and with Suman Shrestha, who founded Himalayan in 2008, to help advance their vision and reach more consumers with their pioneering brands.

Improve silo tightness. Double Vertical Joint.

· Tightness is improved. Double sealing on both sides of the screws.

· Butyl rolls are supplied with double strip to improve assembly times.