Pet Food Supplement 2024

TruPet® was developed to help modern pet food brands stand out. It’s an industry-leading, pet-specific complete postbiotic that delivers the science-backed health benefits pet parents are seeking within a single easy-to-use ingredient that works in any food format, for dogs and cats.

Make every kibble count.

Sustainable meals with vegetal proteins.

Unlock the power of vegetal proteins and all benefits that come along with it for pets. Provide a balanced and nutritious bowl to keep the four-legged family members healthy through plant-based proteins.

Develop with BENEO to answer the consumers’ needs by replacing animal products with plant-based and naturally sourced ingredients from Faba Beans, Vital Wheat Gluten and Rice Proteins.

Want to know more about BENEO Animal Nutrition? Scan here!

www.beneo.com

Pets in Society

By Ryan Mounsey

Industry Outlook

According to the latest Fortune Business Insights report, the global pet food market was valued at $120.9 billion in 2023 and, in 2024, it is projected to grow $5.8 billion or 4.8 per cent, up to a total value of $126.7 billion. It is predicted that the global pet food industry will exhibit a compound annual growth rate of 5.5 per cent over the course of the next 8 years, reaching $193.65 billion in value by 2032.

The UK Pet Food market data report found the value of the UK pet food industry to be £4.1 billion in 2024, accounting for approximately 4.1 per cent of the total global market.

In terms of the tonnage of pet food produced, the Alltech AgriFood Outlook 2024 showed that, whilst output in 2023 had surpassed that of 2022 levels, production had not increased at the same rate as in recent years and not at the same pace as the value of the industry. Total pet food production across the globe amounted to 34.96 million tonnes in the year under review, an increase of 0.26 million tonnes or 0.74 per cent from a year previous.

However, the Alltech Agri-Food Outlook 2024 also highlighted that Europe was the only region where pet food production had declined from a year earlier. The 10.97 million tonnes of output recorded from the continent in 2023 was 0.31 million tonnes or 2.7 per cent down on 2022 production. The report cited “Supply-chain disruptions and inflationary pressures” as the key factors contributing to the decrease. This downturn brought European production lower than that of North America, which rose by 0.14 million tonnes or 1.2 per cent to 11.34 million tonnes and was the largest pet food producing region in 2023.

There was continued strong growth in production in the AsiaPacific region, where the manufacture of pet feed rose by 0.06 million tonnes or 2.41 per cent to 2.51 million tonnes of output. Once again, this increase was a result of the increasing number of households in

the region that now owned a pet. However, with the pet population reaching 220 million in 2022 and growing year on year since then, and despite the growing pet food production in the area, the region still remains heavily reliant on importing pet food from other producing regions around the globe.

Elsewhere in the world, production in Africa, at 0.82 million tonnes and in the Middle East, at 0.11 million tonnes, both remained in line with their year previous outputs. On the other hand, pet food production from Oceania increased notably in the timeframe of the survey, rising by 0.04 million tonnes or 7.57 per cent, to 0.54 million tonnes of output.

Pet Populations - 2024

UK Pet Food has recently released its Pet Data Report for 2024, which is discussed in greater detail on page 8. The report included the UK pet population statistics and, as has been the case since 2021 with the onset of the pandemic, the survey was conducted online rather than face to face; it included answers from just under 9,000 households.

The total, non-aquatic, pet population in the UK according to the 2024 figures stood at 36 million, a decrease of 2 million or 5.3 per cent from the same survey a year earlier. However, the number of households owning pets rose from 16.2 million in 2023, to 17.2 million in the current figures, an increase of 6.2 per cent.

The UK population of both dogs and cats had increased from year earlier levels by 1.5 million. The dog population rose by 12.5 per cent to 13.5 million and the cat population rose by 13.6 per cent to 12.5 million. Numbers of indoor birds also grew from a year earlier, doing so by a marked 15.4 per cent or 200,000 to reach 1.3 million birds. In contrast, small pet numbers had decreased sharply from a year previously, with rabbit numbers dropping by a third or 500,000 to 1,000,000; guinea pig numbers by 30.0 per cent or 300,000 to 700,000; and hamsters by a third or 300,000 to 600,000.

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Overall, 60 per cent of UK residents own at least one pet. Dogs remained the UK’s most popular pet, with 36 per cent of households surveyed owning at least one dog, up from 31 per cent a year earlier. Cat ownership was up to 29 per cent of households, climbing from 26 per cent a year previous. 21 per of households were home to an indoor fish tank, with a further 13 per cent keeping fish in an outdoor pond. 3 per cent of households kept indoor birds. As a result of the decline in small pet ownership rabbits were now present in just 1.6 per cent of households, down from 2.8 per cent in 2023; 1.5 per cent of people kept hamsters, down from 2.1 per cent last year; and guinea pigs were now living with 1.2 per cent of the population, dropping from 1.8 per cent a year previously.

The State of Pet Homelessness Project

Earlier this year a global coalition of animal welfare experts in partnership with Mars released the results from the largest ever international study into pet homelessness: ‘The State of Pet Homelessness Project’.

The project set out to understand the true scale of pet homelessness and the factors that contribute to it, whilst also helping to formulate an informed and targeted action plan to reduce pet homelessness and ensure pets get the care they need.

The ‘State of Pet Homelessness Project’ used data from over 900 sources, with almost 30,000 public surveys and 200 expert interviews, to help build a picture of pet homelessness across Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, New Zealand, The Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, the USA, and the UK.

The findings from the countries revealed that almost 35 per cent of cats and dogs are either living on the streets or are currently in a shelter waiting to find a home. From the countries surveyed, there are a total of:

• 143 million dogs living on the street and 12 million dogs in shelters.

• 203 million cats living on the street and 4 million cats in shelters.

Whilst the percentage is lower in the UK, the figure still stands at approximately 5 per cent of the dog and cat population, with 1.1 million or 9 per cent of cats which are either strays or in shelters and 113,000 or 1 per cent of dogs without a home.

Perhaps as concerning as these numbers is the fact that the survey also revealed that, of the 500 pet owners surveyed in the UK, approximately 7 per cent of dog owners or 5 per cent of cat owners were considering giving up their pet in the next year, potentially exacerbating this already sizeable problem. However, a separate set of UK respondents to the project were asked if “they were considering getting a pet in the near future?” and of the 1,100 questioned, 23 per cent said they were considering giving a home to a dog and 17 per cent were considering becoming cat owners. Hopefully, of these potential new owners, a reasonable number will consider adopting one of the homeless pets in the UK in need of a loving family.

Fortunately, there appears to be an increase in the number of mature pets being acquired recently, with over 4.5 million households in the UK adopting a mature pet in 2023. This is a marked and welcome change from the puppy and kitten boom brought about by the pandemic and will hopefully begin to make an impact on the number of homeless pets in the UK, alongside the sensible prevention measures suggested in the report.

For those interested, the full report can be accessed through the Mars or dedicated State of Pet Homelessness websites.

Post Brexit Export Growth?

According to Waller Transport Services, an Ipswich-based logistics firm, there has been a significant increase in the number of pet food brands exporting goods into Europe and beyond since Brexit.

The company has seen a huge uplift in the number of export enquiries since the UK left the European Union and, as a result, has had to adapt their ways of working to ensure that they are overcoming the further complexities of new trade restrictions.

Despite the wider disruptions to business generally in the last few years, Waller Transport Services sales director, Paul Rolfe states: “There are endless opportunities available for British manufacturers looking to export into Europe and further afield.”

But he believes that a lot of companies are “unwittingly put off from exporting items of animal origin because it is deemed to be complicated or expensive.”

However, with simple changes in transportation such as shipping unaccompanied items through Belgium rather than Calais, exporters have been able to save both time and money when sending their

Key benefits

Triple action solution that binds, degrades and transforms mycotoxins

Reduces impact of mycotoxins on pet health and welfare

products to new markets. Paul concludes by saying: “It is hugely exciting to see how simple changes in transportation can change the way that businesses work, and we can help to fly the flag for British companies around the world.”

Happiness Over Health?

A recent survey by Kantar has found that more than half of pet owners would prioritise their pet’s happiness over its health. Of those asked, 63 per cent said that they would rather their pets were happy than at their ideal weight level.

Admittedly, it would appear that most pet owners would not consider there to be any need to compromise their pet’s happiness in the name of dropping a few pounds, as only 8 per cent of UK owners surveyed thought that their dogs needed to lose some

Speciality Ingredients for Pet Foods

weight. Considering that, according to veterinary professionals, the true number of overweight or obese pets in the UK is closer to 45 per cent of the population, the disconnect is somewhat concerning.

Reflecting the growing trend of humanisation, which continues to dominate the pet food sector, a staggering 81 per cent of those surveyed stated that their pet “deserves to have food as varied as I eat” suggesting that a variety of flavours, ingredients, textures and experiences are high on the list of priorities of the modern pet food purchaser. It appears that being able to include a pet in their foodbased activities is increasingly important to owners, presumably unable to resist the plaintive stares of their animal companions. This has given rise to a surge in items such as “pup cups” from drivethroughs and dog friendly ice creams in cafes and this trend shows no signs of slowing down if its prevalence on social media platforms is a reliable indicator. There is now even a range of pet ready meals available through Ocado; whether this is to fit in with the pets’ busy lifestyle or the owners’ remains unclear.

Continuing with the theme of humanisation, we have long seen that pet owner are keen to alter their pets’ diets to more closely reflect their own. This has typically been for ethical reasons, such as an increased emphasis on sustainable ingredients and packaging, or vegan pet owners wishing to source similar diets for their pets. A significant factor in this area could be the religious beliefs of pet owners, and with the launch of two new UK based Halal pet food brands in the past three months, it seems likely to be a growing section of the market.

Dot Com Bubble?

Despite the ever-increasing infiltration of technology into our lives, the trend doesn’t seem to be taking a complete hold of pet food buying behaviours. Since the height of the pandemic in 2021, where online orders accounted for 22.2 per cent of pet food sales, the percentage of people buying their pets’ food online has decreased year on year to 19.5 per cent of total sales in 2023.

This number is predicted to grow each year for the next 5 years, rising to 22.9 per cent of total sales in 2028. However, physical, in person purchasing looks likely to be the dominant sales channel for a long time to come in pet food.

The UK Pet Food Industry is Feeding a Thriving Pet Population

By Nicole Paley, Deputy Chief Executive, UK Pet Food

The pet food industry is undergoing a significant transformation driven by advances in pet nutrition and technology, increasing awareness of pet health and customer preferences.

With a nation of 36 million pets to feed and topics such as sustainability and cost-of-living challenges dominating thinking, the industry is responding with innovative product development and a range of pet foods to suit all preferences and purses.

UK Pet Food is the trade body for the UK pet food industry. Our mission is to advance pet well-being with quality nutrition from a sustainable, progressive pet food industry. We support responsible pet food manufacturing, representing our members’ views and striving to raise standards. Our 100-plus membership is made up of pet food manufacturers, ingredients suppliers, and the wider industry. Collectively, we are responsible for feeding 90% of the pets in the UK.

UK Pet Food Market

With a thriving pet population to serve, the UK pet food market was recently valued at £4.1 billion. The dog food market is valued at around £2 billion and the cat £1.53 billion. The remainder of the market is comprised of bird feed- indoor and outdoor, feed for small mammals and fish.

The UK Pet Population

UK Pet Food is known as the go-to organisation for reporting on the pet population in the UK. We track a diverse and thriving pet population and each spring, we release our latest findings.

Key highlights from our latest research highlight:

• 17.2 million households have a pet (60%).

• There are 13.5 million dogs and 12.5 million cats.

• 38% welcomed a new pet into 10.9 million homes over the last 4 years.

• Fish swimming up the charts are in 21% of homes.

This year’s research revealed a noteworthy gender difference in pet adoption demographics with more men opting to adopt adult cats. Over the past four years, 27% of men have chosen to take on an adult cat as a pet, compared to 18% of women. This translates to 1.5m new male households benefiting from the addition of an adult cat, compared to around 1m female households.

For the first time since the pandemic puppy and kitten boom, UK Pet Food data notes an appreciation for mature pets across all demographics, with a total of around 2.5m households acquiring adult cats and adult dogs have been welcomed into 2.1 million households.

Michael Bellingham, Chief Executive of UK Pet Food, comments: “This year’s findings prove again the huge popularity of pets in the UK. As the owner of an older cat, I was particularly interested to see that more men are adopting older cats! There could be all sorts of reasons for the increasing popularity of our furry and aquatic companions, but this year’s research highlights the profound therapeutic impact of pets. Pets play a significant role in our homes; they help combat loneliness and they can have a positive effect on our mental health. We were pleasantly surprised to see that one-fifth of those questioned are calling for pets to be available on prescription. We couldn’t agree more.”

This year’s Pet Population data is featured as part of the comprehensive ‘Pet Data Report,’ offering insights into UK population data, regional trends, market data, pet nutrition research and more. For further details, visit ukpetfood.org.

Priorities for UK Pet Food in 2024 and Beyond

With a general election this year there will be a new political landscape to navigate. We are now in the 4th year of EU Exit and face new measures affecting trade and the labelling of the goods we put on the market. Trade has been impacted. How we feed our pets is evolving with new formats and alternative ingredients emerging. It’s a noisy environment!

We are a resilient and adaptable industry and at UK Pet Food we will be focused on:

• Ensuring we continue to be a strong voice for the industry on key matters such as facilitating trade and advocating for regulatory alignment with the EU.

• Monitoring for emerging challenges and being ahead of the game.

• Communicating positively and proactively about the ingredients we use and the role of prepared pet food in delivering safe and sustainable nutrition for our pets.

• Building those relationships that are key to achieving our goals. Representing the sector to policymakers is an essential part of what the association does. Last autumn we launched our manifesto at Portcullis House, where we set out our asks of a new government based on four areas: Safe & Sustainable Pet Food, Trade with the EU and Rest of the World, Animal Welfare, and Pets in Society.

Shape the Future Direction of the Pet Food Industry

UK Pet Food provides a range of excellent membership benefits including training and educational resources, notably our Pet Food & Nutrition CPD accredited course. Support on technical and regulatory matters, a dedicated committee for sustainability, and a range of information resources including a members-only website and e-news to keep you updated on the latest industry developments. You can take part in many committees and working groups where you can shape the future direction of the sector.

If you are interested in finding out more, please visit: www.ukpetfood.org/membership

To find out more about our range of events: www.ukpetfood.org/events-and-training/member-externalwebinars-events.html

Membership Events

UK Pet Food Announces Rupert Phillips as New Chairman

UK Pet Food is delighted to announce its new Chairman - Rupert Phillips, Managing Director of Pet (UK & Ireland) at Spectrum Brands.

Bringing a wealth of commercial experience and a keen interest in trade, Rupert is well-equipped to lead UK Pet Food alongside the team over the next two years.

During Rupert’s tenure, there will be elections across the globe and a new political landscape to navigate in the UK. The Association itself will be focused on Safety & Standards – one of its core pillars, alongside nutrition and sustainability.

Expressing enthusiasm about his new role, Rupert said: “In this busy environment, my focus alongside the team will be on ensuring we continue to be a strong voice for the industry on matters such as facilitating trade and advocating for regulatory alignment across the EU.”

Michael Bellingham, UK Pet Food CEO elaborated on the task ahead: “Under the headline of Safety & Standards, we will be communicating proactively about the role of prepared pet food in delivering safe and sustainable nutrition for our pets whilst promoting what it means to be a member of UK Pet Food and the best practice our members sign up to.”

Pets Prove the Value of Postbiotics in Diets

By Alana Harvey-White, Commercial Manager Pet & Equine, Cargill Animal Nutrition

Pet parents care increasingly about the well-being of their animals and, as the population of cats and dogs increases, nutrition companies are more aware of meeting their needs with novel pet food ingredients that offer specific health benefits.

According to the latest pet population survey, published by UK Pet Food, the UK dog population has increased from 12 million in 2023 to 13.5 million in 2024. The UK cat population has also grown from 11 million to 12.5 million during the same period.

Survey work has also revealed that pet parents are increasingly aware of the health risks that may affect their pets, and that they want to protect them. They have become more informed about ingredients that can improve the health and wellbeing of their pets. As a result, there

is greater interest in new product development and in novel products, such as postbiotics.

Data from Innova New Product Development Analysis shows that postbiotics are increasingly appearing in pet diets, treats and supplements. It reports a 583% increase in new product claims between 2020 and 2023.

A newcomer to the ‘biotics’ group, postbiotics are the goods that deliver the intended health benefits to the pet’s gut. The more commonly known biotics are prebiotics, which are described as the ‘fuel for living microorganisms’, and probiotics, described as the ‘living microorganisms that make metabolites for the gut’.

New postbiotics

Cargill Animal Nutrition has led the way in developing a range of postbiotics, which is backed by more than 80 years of fermentation research and development work.

Its products are fully aligned with the International Scientific Association of Prebiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) definition. ISAPP formally defined postbiotics in 2022 as a preparation of inanimate microorganisms and or their components that confer health benefits to their host.

Figure 1 shows how every part of the fermented yeast or bacteria cell in Cargill’s postbiotics are fully aligned to the ISAPP postbiotic definition. The yeast is deactivated by heat drying, and the finished postbiotic product contains hundreds of bioactive compounds originating from the fermentation of whole yeast and enriched media.

1

Figure

cerevisiae.

Figure 2 shows how postbiotics fit into the suite of ‘biotic’ pet food ingredients, with TruPet® as an example. Studies have been carried out in dogs and cats using this postbiotic.

Manufacturers are encouraged to select postbiotics that have proven scientific evidence of their efficacy and safety in pets.

Cargill has two widely available postbiotics for pets, TruPet® and Epicor® Pets. Both have been used in extensive trials, with published work on studies using TruPet® in both cats and dogs. This feline research work is unique and illustrates the benefit of this postbiotic to enhancing the health of cats and dogs.

Separate research projects for dogs and cats demonstrate the safety and palatability of the products and their ability to support gut health, immune function, digestive health, breath freshness, and skin and coat condition.

To ensure consistency, Cargill uses high quality, reliable and traceable ingredients in a highly controlled and audited manufacturing process. No grains or soy products are included in its range of postbiotics.

TruPet®

The first of Cargill’s postbiotic products used widely in the pet food market is TruPet®. This is a unique combination of postbiotics where bioactive compounds work naturally with the animals’ biology to maintain immune strength and promote gut health.

TruPet® can be fed to dogs and cats at all health stages. It is proven to be very stable, and it is not compromised by extreme heat, pH or pet

food processing technology, and it has a 24-month shelf life.

Feline studies

New feline research is showing that TruPet® brings health benefits to cats similar to those seen in dogs. This unique research study with cats highlights the improved palatability of the product, which is a leading purchase driver among cat parents.

Research results from a group of 63 healthy adult cats showed a 4:1 preference for diets that included the postbiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP), included in TruPet®, compared to the control.

The postbiotic was fed at 150mg/kg body weight and 300mg/kg body

Figure

weight with results showing a preference for the lower daily feed rate.

The new research also showed improved stool quality and consistency in the group of cats fed the SCFP diet. Compounds associated with odour also decreased, which makes for a more pleasant litter tray.

Results from analyses of faecal samples supports optimal gut function and a more diverse gut microbiome in those cats supplemented with the postbiotic in their diet.

A more balanced immune system was also evident in cats fed a SCFP supplemented diet. This allows the cat to respond to everyday stressors and challenges appropriately, saving energy for living their best lives.

Canine studies

Dogs also exhibited a preference for diets with TruPet®. Tested in a commercial diet with 12 healthy dogs and four treatment levels during a 28-day period, dogs were almost twice as likely to have a preference for the diets supplemented with this postbiotic.

Supplemented diets also improved the smell of dog faeces. As feed rates increased, the indole and phenol content of the faeces, which are responsible for smell, decreased linearly.

The dogs’ gut microbiota also improved compared with the control, with key beneficial microbiota showing significant increases in their populations, while there was a decrease in pathogenic populations.

Studies have also found favourable improvements in blood cell counts among dogs supplemented with the postbiotic suggesting that TruPet® promotes a balanced immune response.

Another study looked at the effect of stress on gut health in a group of 36 working Labrador retrievers for 17 weeks. Faecal characteristics, microbiota and metabolites were monitored in dogs experiencing everyday stressors such as transport and exercise, which are known to disrupt microbiome populations and gut health.

Results showed an increase in the relative population of Lactobacillus, a predominant gut bacterial genus associated with health benefits, in dogs fed the supplemented diet. There was also a relative increase in the Buytricicoccus, a bacterium that produces the nutrition short chain fatty acid, butyrate, for the intestinal lining. Under transport stress, the gut microbiome in postbiotic-treated dogs shifted to a more ’normal’ state.

In this study of working dogs, those fed the postbiotic supplemented diet showed improved vitality, running faster by 1.7%, and running further than the control group.

The results of these trials suggest the enhanced diet supports a higher level of acute inflammatory response to exercise. It also suggests a higher antioxidant capacity with less response in markers from harmful oxidative compounds, which can damage cell membranes. Less cell damage reduces the strain on the immune system and leaves more energy for proactive activities.

A further study of English Pointer dogs found that those supplemented with TruPet® had improved skin and hair coat health from increased sebum concentrations. Sebum lubricates and protects the skin and gives coats a glossy appearance.

Another key outcome of this study supported a more balanced immune response during stress. This was demonstrated by those dogs fed on the postbiotic having lower unstimulated lymphocytes, stimulated IFN-γ secreting T cells and stimulated cytotoxic T cells compared to the dogs fed the control. Conversely, the dogs fed the control had lower stimulated T cells and natural killer cells. Responding appropriately to a stress means energy is not wasted and can be used for exercise and play.

The postbiotic was also shown to support key antioxidant defence systems through modulation of the enzymes SOD and catalase, allowing it to function more efficiently.

EpiCor® Pets

A number of studies using EpiCor® Pets postbiotic in dog food diets demonstrated its benefits to gut health and the immune system and showed the safety of the product in dog food diets.

The first study looked at immunity and the gut microbiome and showed that dogs supplemented with this postbiotic had a higher faecal score – wetter stools – than the control group, but it was still within the optimal range.

Dogs fed EpiCor® Pets were found to have a lower population of undesirable microbial species, including C. perfringens, which suggests there is a beneficial impact on the gut health of the dogs.

Lower total white blood cells were observed in dogs supplemented with EpiCor ® Pets. This was consistent with other studies that hypothesized that increased mucosal immunity may reduce the need for more immune cells and/or immune capacity is enhanced, thereby requiring less immunological cellular architecture.

In an in-home validation of EpiCor® Pets, with 348 pet parents, owners of 27% of the dogs receiving the postbiotic were given a higher overall health rating than the control.

Particularly interesting was that those dogs supplemented with the product were 211% more likely to have fresher breath and 95% more likely to have a higher immunity rating. This was supported by the greater abundance of several beneficial gut commensal species identified in faecal sample tests.

A further trial, that investigated the safety and immune benefits of Epicor® Pets, showed that when it was fed to adult dogs at more than four times the recommended feeding rate of 7mg/kg bodyweight per day it was shown to be safe.

Subsequent trial work to investigate the immune benefits of this postbiotic showed significant changes in IL-4 positive cells, IFN-γ positive cells and serum IgA levels, leading to the conclusion that it may help balance the dog’s immune responses to common environmental challenges.

www.diamondv.com/products/TruPet

Postbiotics in pet food – highlights

• Cats preferred diets with the postbiotic SCFP (in TruPet®) at least four times more than the control diet.

TruPet® was developed to help modern pet food brands stand out. It’s an industry-leading, pet-specific complete postbiotic that delivers the science-backed health benefits pet parents are seeking within a single easy-to-use ingredient that works in any food format, for dogs and cats. Contact

Alana Harvey-White

Alana_white@cargill.com

+44 7818 004351

Marion Turnbull

Marion_turnbull@cargill.com

+44 7818 004363

Natural Astaxanthin to Support Responsible Pet Ownership

By Behnaz Sakershain, PhD. Scientific Affairs Manager, AstaReal

Growing population, non-negligible healthcare demands and environmental impacts

As of 2022, an estimated 91 million European households (46% of all households) owned at least one pet1. It was estimated that there are around 67 million pet dogs and 78 million pet cats in Europe2. The growing number of pets necessitates a greater food production that implies an increasing environmental burden, especially in cases of unsustainable sourcing and practices. In fact, production of companion animal food is considered a “neglected predictor of environmental damage”3. Researchers believe that the environmental paw print from pet foods could be reduced by either lowering the demand or by using alternative sources that are more sustainable3, such as plant-based formulations.

The growing population of pets, while likely contributing to climate change, imposes a greater need for veterinary care as well. Europe is the world’s second-largest animal health market4. The European companion animal healthcare market is expected to reach USD 5.37 billion by the end of 2027, with a potential growth rate of 6.25% over the forecast period4

Along with the rising animal adoption, the growing prevalence of animal diseases and the increasing emphasis on preventative care are also contributing to the European veterinary market’s expansion4.

Lifestyle factors such as food and nutritional support play a key role in disease prevention and maintenance of pets’ health and wellbeing. As pet owners become more aware of the matter, they are seeking high-quality, natural, and organic pet food products with a focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility. This has led to a surge in demand for premium pet food products and services, including specialty diets, functional foods, and supplements5

Today, both pet food formulators and pet owners are more enthusiastically reviewing the science behind the efficacy of the chosen ingredients in pet food and supplements and their environmental credentials to make more responsible decisions.

Microalgae and their derivatives, like astaxanthin, stand out as innovative and highly effective natural and nutritional sources, boasting a superior sustainability profile. Natural astaxanthin is a reddish pigment from the carotenoids family (xanthophylls), responsible for the orange-red colour of salmon and several other marine animals, with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The free radical scavenging capacity of natural astaxanthin is found to be 110 times higher than vitamin E and 6,000 times higher than vitamin C6 Its health-promoting effects in nature were initially observed in wild salmon during their challenging upstream migration. Astaxanthin helps to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, supporting the

salmon’s endurance and overall health during this strenuous journey. If astaxanthin is not present, the salmon will not survive due to the oxidation of their fats. Such positive observations have led to further studies and the recognition of natural astaxanthin’s potential health benefits for humans and pets as well.

The richest source of astaxanthin in nature is the microalgae, Haematococcus Pluvialis . Cultivation of these microalgae and production of natural astaxanthin was commercialised first in Sweden in the early 1990s by AstaReal. Since then, the company has carried out more than 70 clinical studies on the health benefits of astaxanthin in humans and additional studies in animals.

Below, we will discuss some of the commonly disregarded health complications and concerns among pets and the potential of microalgae-derived astaxanthin for addressing them.

Commonly overlooked pet health issues and alleviation by astaxanthin

In general, while maintenance of optimal weight, muscle function, coat lustre and immune health are important at all life stages, health concerns and priorities may differ between younger and older animals. It is known that older pets could generally get affected by higher levels of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, and consequently higher prevalence of related health problems. As pets age, maintenance of cardiometabolic health and ideal weight, gastrointestinal health, joint and bones, and vision and eye health, oral/dental health, as well as brain and cognitive health become a bigger challenge.

Overweight and obesity

Feeding companion animals has traditionally been seen as beneficial for their relationship with humans. However, it is important to note that certain feeding practices could also have adverse effects on pets. Overfeeding or the use of pet foods that are formulated to contain an excess of nutrients and calories beyond the actual needs of the animals are a few examples.

One such consequence is the rising prevalence of obesity in cats and dogs, which poses significant and long-lasting implications for their overall well-being.

In a study conducted in the United Kingdom, around 74% of adult dogs and 40% of juvenile dogs were either obese or overweight7 These figures raise a concern and call for evidence-based and timely nutritional interventions. Overweight and/or obese dogs or cats are more likely to be diagnosed with hyperadrenocorticism, urinary tract disease, diabetes mellitus, respiratory dysfunction, pancreatitis, and neoplasia, as well as hypothyroidism or orthopaedic disorders (osteoarthritis and

cruciate ligament rupture), dermatological conditions, oral conditions, hypertension, or diarrhoea6

Obesity induces low-grade chronic inflammation that in the long run can lead to severe metabolic disorders. So, while prevention is the key, management of consecutive complications through nutritional interventions can contribute to a better quality of life in overweight or obese pets.

Natural compounds, like astaxanthin, have been proposed as potential therapeutic agents in the prevention of metabolic disorders in companion animals.

In a study on beagle dogs, supplementation with 0.3 mg/kg of AstaReal® Astaxanthin per day for 6 weeks in healthy dogs and 8 weeks in obese dogs induced the elevation of antioxidant function and of liver function by ameliorating lipid metabolism8. In healthy dogs, plasma triglycerides (TG) decreased 37% (p<0.05) from baseline. Malondialdehyde (MDA; a marker for oxidative stress) decreased 40% (p<0.01) from baseline, and 40% compared to the control group after 6 weeks of astaxanthin supplementation. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; an indicator of inflammation) decreased 36% from baseline in the astaxanthin group, and 50% at 6 weeks compared to the control group. In obese dogs, TG values decreased after 8 weeks of AstaReal® Astaxanthin supplementation; Alanine aminotransferase (ALT; a cholesterol indicator), decreased in all 5 dogs, and LDH values decreased in 4 out 5 dogs. Changes in values of TG, ALT, MDA and LDH were more pronounced in obese dogs than in healthy dogs8

Vision and eye health

Just like humans, pets can develop vision problems that can significantly impact their quality of life. One of the main eye problems that seemingly becomes more prevalent as the pets age is keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), commonly known as “dry eye”. This condition is primarily caused by immune-mediated destruction of tear-producing glands. Additional causes of KCS include systemic diseases and some drug agents9 Inadequate tear production can lead to inflammation of the cornea and surrounding eye tissues and make the pet’s eyes prone to frequent ulcers and infections8. As oxidative stress contributes to the onset and progression of dry eye 10 , integrating antioxidant supplementation into multimodal dry eye management in veterinary medicine can be deemed beneficial. This can aid in mitigating oxidative stress and minimising damage to the ocular surface. In a veterinary clinical study evaluating the effect of an antioxidant blend containing astaxanthin from Haematococcus Pluvialis , 50 dogs of different breeds affected by immune-mediated KCS were randomly assigned to receive either a standard diet (control, n=25) or the nutraceutical diet (antioxidant group, n=25), both combined with standard immunosuppressive therapy over a 60-day

period. An overall significant improvement of all clinical parameters and no food-related adverse reactions were observed in the antioxidant group (p< 0.0001). Dry eye-induced inflammation decreased by 72% only in the antioxidant group. Tear production more than doubled in the antioxidant group over 60 days, with no change in tear production in the control group. Mucous discharge scores decreased by 83% in the antioxidant group after 60 days, with no change in the control group11. It is important to highlight that the dogs experienced a quick return of symptoms after discontinuing antioxidant supplementation. When the supplement was reintroduced along with medication, symptoms improved. This suggests that antioxidant supplementation can be beneficial in treating KCS in dogs that do not respond well to conventional medications.

Immune function

The overall goal of health-promoting interventions, being either for young or older pets, is to maintain balanced immune responses.

Due to the high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the cell membranes, immune cells are particularly sensitive to oxidative damage induced by, for instance, overproduction of free radicals.

Park et al. has already demonstrated that domestic dogs and cats are able to absorb astaxanthin into the bloodstream following oral

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administration; the astaxanthin is then taken up by all organelles of blood leukocytes (disease-fighting cells, known also as white blood cells)12. White blood cells are part of the immune system and involve in both the innate and humoral immune responses.

Studies indicate that astaxanthin can protect immune cells against oxidative damage, and may accelerate immune response, strengthen, and balance the immune function and enhance antibody production. In one study, researchers looked at the effects of astaxanthin on immune function in female beagle dogs13. The researchers gave the dogs either 0, 10, 20 or 40 mg astaxanthin per day for 12 weeks. The dogs getting moderate doses of astaxanthin (10 and 20 mg) showed enhanced immune responses to a vaccine. Their lymphocytes had a more efficient proliferation rate, resulting in higher cell counts. Natural killer cells, which hunt down infected or abnormal cells, had higher cytotoxic activity - their ability to kill target cells. Dogs getting astaxanthin also had lower blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, when challenged with the vaccine. This suggests astaxanthin was able to reduce excessive immune activation. The researchers also looked at DNA damage using a biomarker called 8-OHdG, which increases when DNA is oxidatively damaged. Astaxanthin supplementation led to a decrease in the levels of this biomarker, indicating protection against oxidative damage to DNA.

In another study on cats, researchers studied domestic shorthair cats fed different doses of astaxanthin (0, 1, 5 or 10 mg per day) for 12 weeks. The higher the dose, the more astaxanthin accumulated in the cats’ blood. Cats getting astaxanthin had stronger responses to immune challenges. Their immune cells proliferated more and were better at killing infected cells. More helper T cells circulated, though cytotoxic and activated lymphocyte levels stayed the same. Astaxanthin also increased antibody levels. The cats had higher IgG and IgM, the main antibody types produced after vaccination. Overall, these studies have provided some promising evidence that antioxidant supplements like astaxanthin may boost both cell-mediated and antibody immunity and reduce oxidative stress in a safe manner in pets.

Emerging evidence for additional benefits of astaxanthin supplementation in pets

By combating free radicals and reducing oxidative stress, natural astaxanthin may potentially contribute to skin health (increase elasticity and reduce dryness) and result in a shinier and more vibrant coat in companion animals. In a case study, Furuya et al. reported that supplementation of dogs affected by Cushing’s Disease with 2 mg astaxanthin per day for 6 weeks, alongside the pharmacological treatment, improved the dogs’ coat lustre dramatically compared to the non-treated group14

Moreover, in a study by Zanghi et al., the effect of the addition of astaxanthin (0.08 mg/kg or 1.8 mg) from H. pluvialis to the supplemental carbohydrate and protein bar fed to exercise-conditioned adult HuskyPointer dogs was evaluated over a 3-day exercise plan15. Astaxanthin supplemented bars maximised pre-exercise plasma triglyceride concentration and prevented the exercise-induced decrease in plasma glucose concentration observed in the dogs fed the supplemental bar without astaxanthin and control dogs. This suggests that astaxanthin

can induce the use of fat as an energy source, so sustaining blood sugar can enhance endurance.

In summary, research findings in dogs and cats have sparked interest in microalgae-derived astaxanthin as a more sustainable and planet-friendly antioxidant with health and anti-aging benefits. Astaxanthin supplementation could provide health advantages for both young and old pets if suitable doses are administered under veterinary guidance.

References

[1] Statista. Pets & Animal Supplies. Estimated number of households owning at least one pet animal in Europe from 2010 to 2022. (Accessed on Feb 14, 2024). https://www.statista.com/statistics/515192/householdsowning-a-pet-europe/

[2] Statista. Pets & Animal Supplies. Number of pet animals in European Union in 2022, by animal type. (Accessed on Feb 14, 2024). https:// www.statista.com/statistics/515010/pet-population-european-unioneu-by-animal/

[3] Protopopova A et al. Climate Change and Companion Animals: Identifying Links and Opportunities for Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies. Integr Comp Biol. 2021;61(1):166–181.

[4] EuroDev BV. Exploring the Veterinary Industry In Europe. Last updated on Oct 25, 2023. (Accessed on Feb 15, 2024). https://www. eurodev.com/blog/veterinary-industry-in-europe-trends

[5] ReportLinker. Pet Care in Europe Market Overview 2023-2027. (Accessed on Feb 15, 2024). https://www.reportlinker.com/marketreport/Pet-Care

[6] Nishida Y, Yamashita E, Wataru M. Quenching activities of common hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants against singlet oxygen using chemiluminescence detection system. Carotenoid Science: an interdisciplinary journal of research on carotenoids. 2007;11:16–20.

[7] German et al. Dangerous trends in pet obesity. Vet Rec. 2018;182(1):25.

[8] Murai et al. Effects of astaxanthin supplementation in healthy and obese dogs. Vet Med (Auckl). 2019;10:29-35.

[9] Hisey et al. A comparative review of evaporative dry eye disease and meibomian gland dysfunction in dogs and humans. Vet Ophthalmol. 2023;26 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):16-30.

[10] Böhm et al. Oxidative stress in the eye and its role in the pathophysiology of ocular diseases. Redox Biology. 2023;68:102967.

[11] Destefanis et al. Clinical evaluation of a nutraceutical diet as an adjuvant to pharmacological treatment in dogs affected by Keratoconjunctivitis sicca. BMC Vet Res. 2016;12(1):214.

[12] Park et al. Astaxanthin uptake in domestic dogs and cats. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2010;7:52.

[13] Chew et al. Dietary astaxanthin enhances immune response in dogs. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2011;140(3-4):199-206.

[14] Furuya et al. Lipid metabolism improvement following astaxanthin administration in dogs with Cushing’s Disease: A case study. The J Trad Vet Med. 2015;23:81. (Available in Japanese)

[15] Zanghi et al. Effects of postexercise feeding of a supplemental carbohydrate and protein bar with or without astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis to exercise-conditioned dogs. Am J Vet Res. 2015 Apr;76(4):338-50.

Find out about the latest trends and developments in your industry. Discover a wide range of innovative products and services for pets. Experience on-site what makes the world‘s leading event Interzoo so unique. The world market is present here – for your success!

How to Stay Competitive and Profitable in Feed and Petfood Production?

With BESTMIX Software

In an ever-evolving landscape, feed and pet food producers face a myriad of challenges, from managing raw material variability and fluctuating prices, to meeting stringent quality standards, labour shortages, and many more. How can you stay competitive and profitable in such a dynamic environment? Enter industry-specific software, that helps meet the demands of the industry. Here are the most essential functionalities that help you stay competitive and keep your customers happy.

• Procision: Managing complex raw material variability, balancing cost-effectiveness with product quality, and ensuring operational efficiency are very challenging for feed and pet food producers. BESTMIX Procision provides the solution by optimising raw material usage, reducing the need for safety margins, and streamlining operations. Incorporating Procision into your operations guarantees cost savings, consistent product quality, improved operational efficiency, transparency, traceability, and adaptability to market fluctuations.

• Multiblend: Optimally redistribute allocation of ingredients, even in volatile markets. Easily (re)calculate recipes, assess buying opportunities, and make swift and informed purchasing decisions. In a world where adaptability and data-driven insights are paramount, BESTMIX® Multiblend is the key to overcoming challenges, making sound decisions, and securing your business’s future in the ever-changing feed and petfood producing markets.

• Blend Optimisation: Enhancing Efficiency and Cost Savings in the Pet Food and Premix Industry. By using Blend optimisation

10 essential software features that every feed and pet food producer needs Ensure

you design blends or premixes that can be tailored to serve multiple end products. By embracing this innovative approach, manufacturers can simultaneously enhance their efficiency and lower production costs while reducing their environmental impact. This not only secures a brighter future for the industry but also ensures that our beloved pets receive the best nutrition possible.

• Ration calculation: Effortlessly handle all aspects of formulation, while empowering advisors and sales teams with integrated ration functionality for individual animal precision. BESTMIX® Recipe Management offers a groundbreaking solution, uniting multiple species and different industry standard models in one central platform. Premix and feed manufacturers can effortlessly handle all aspects of formulation, while empowering advisors and sales teams with integrated ration functionality for individual animal precision. Tailor your approach with a choice of standard animal models or create custom ones, bridging the gap between manufacturers and farmers.

• Quality Control: Start getting real, tangible returns out of your quality data. Spend your time more efficiently by automating sample management and thus leaving more time to actually improve your quality processes based on data driven decisions. Quality control within our industry comes with a set of complex challenges ranging from risk mitigation at ingredient sourcing, overseeing the quality of (semi-) finished products, keeping up with quality standards and legislation, etc. Our cloudbased quality control software solution is tailored specifically to surmount these challenges indigenous to the industry.

• Bestmix Identification : a game-changer for the premix industry, offering a swift and efficient solution to ensure precise raw material verification at the intake gate. Elevate your quality assurance, avoid costly recalls, and solidify your position as a symbol of excellence in the food and feed industry. In an industry where raw materials can be visually deceptive but have a profound impact when mixed incorrectly, accurate identification is of high importance. Bestmix Identification acts as a guardian at the intake gate, preventing faulty raw material intake that could compromise end product quality.

• Compliant Labeling: Easily create labels that meet UK, EU, US, and Canadian regulations with Bestmix Recipe Management software. With our Labelling-as-a-Service functionality, you can seamlessly integrate BESTMIX ERP or other, third-party software to automate your label generation process.

• Cloud solution: In a world where connectivity is key, Bestmix’s SaaS platform ensures your team is always connected, collaborating seamlessly, and driving productivity, no matter where they are located – in the plant or out rationing in the field. Embrace the power of delighting your customers in real-time and gaining a real competitive advantage. In this dynamic and rapidly evolving feed industry, the future isn’t a distant vision—it’s here and now, and it’s powered by Bestmix Software. As the trailblazer in Cloud and SaaS solutions,

Bestmix is shaping the way forward, with a complete solution - revolutionising how feed businesses operate and succeed.

• Sustainability: How to reduce environmental impact, boost animal health, and maintain cost-efficiency? As to sustainable production: what is required from legislation and from the market? How can I implement it in my company?

At what cost? Why should I even consider introducing sustainability in my company? Discover how our cuttingedge technology empowers you to reduce environmental impact, boost animal health, and maintain cost-efficiency. Contact us at hello@bestmix.com to find out more.

• ERP suite: streamlining procurement, sales, operations, finance, and risk management processes. In the nutrition industry, achieving operational excellence is key to staying competitive and driving growth. BESTMIX ERP Suite empowers businesses to achieve efficiency, compliance, and customer satisfaction. Industry best practice solutions cover critical areas such as recall and traceability, safety and compliance, quality and production, recipe development, label management, customer and product pricing, transport and distribution, and warehouse management.

Demand for quality, nutritional and healthy pet food remains high despite inflation.

Support pets’ health and make every kibble count together with BENEO.

BENEO-Animal Nutrition offers a broad range of natural ingredients with nutritional benefits. It extends BENEO’s unique expertise in human food to the world of pet food, livestock feed and aqua feed. The product range is comprised of vegetable proteins, digestible carbohydrates, prebiotic chicory root fibres and specialty rice ingredients. With consumers worldwide becoming more and more invested in their pets’ health, BENEO conducted a survey amongst pet owners to learn more about their current behaviour and view on high-quality vegetal proteins.*

Dr Maygane Ronsmans, Product Manager Animal Nutrition at BENEO, is happy that the survey results confirmed that pet owners are highly invested in their pet’s health. She says: “The findings of this latest pet owner survey highlight that even in times of inflation, nutritional value and health remain a priority for pet food purchasers. With “high in protein” being a popular ingredient claim and pet owners being more attentive to sustainability, BENEO’s vegetal proteins are valuable assets in pet food producers’ toolboxes.”

Dr Maygane Ronsmans, Product Manager Animal Nutrition

* This new global survey has been conducted in 2023 by the market research agency FMCG Gurus, on behalf of BENEO, with 2,500 dog and cat owners in the US, Brazil, UK, Germany, and China.

Quality over price

So despite inflation and price increases on pet food, owners continue to want the best for their pets. The results speak for themselves with more than 4 in 5 owners considering their pet’s health to be as important as their own. Also, almost 8 in 10 cat and dog owners expect the same quality standards from the food they choose for their pet as for their own food. This explains why price is considered less important when buying pet food compared to ingredient quality, nutritional value, taste and health claims.

Quality, nutritional value and taste beat price for pet food shoppers

What attributes are very important for you when choosing food for your pet?

Sustainability aspect

Besides caring for their own pets, more than half of cat and dog owners consider plant-based proteins to be better for the environment. So it comes as no surprise that vegetal ingredient sources with sustainability credentials are of increasing relevance. Natural and high-quality vegetal proteins are a valuable resource for manufacturers, allowing them to cater to pet owners’ interests, whilst formulating nutritious and sustainable pet food recipes.

A diverse portfolio to suit in any formulation

With a range of versatile solutions that can also be combined, BENEO’s vegetal proteins provide high-quality concentrated and non-GMO sources, with excellent amino acid profiles which enable the development of plant-based or hybrid pet foods. Its rice protein, vital wheat gluten and faba bean protein concentrate also offer high to very high digestibility.

BENEO’s faba bean protein concentrate is a good alternative to animal and soy proteins and is suitable for “no grain” claims in pet food. In addition, faba beans benefit from strong sustainability credentials since they help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at farm level and are locally sourced in Germany. Furthermore, the production process for BENEO’s faba bean ingredients has been chosen for its low energy and water consumption in comparison to alternative processes.

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Pet food manufacturers can also benefit from BENEO’s rice protein and vital wheat gluten, both providing a high protein density of over 80%. Being hypoallergenic and well digestible, rice protein is particularly suitable for pets with allergies, as well as sensitive pets such as puppies and older animals. Vital wheat gluten exhibits excellent digestibility and also strong viscoelastic properties that can improve the texture of different types of pet food and offer great technological and application benefits.

All in all, Dr Maygane Ronsmans concludes that BENEO’s versatile range of plant-based ingredients offer technical, nutritional and health-promoting benefits. With its longstanding expertise in healthy nutrition, BENEO is well equipped to help manufacturers bring to market innovative and relevant pet food products that meet consumer demand, even in a tough economic climate.

Bovine Colostrum

The Key to Powerful Immunity

By Oliver Caiger-Smith, Technical Sales Manager UK and Ireland, Biochem

The immune system is a remarkable defense mechanism that protects against harmful pathogens—both viruses and bacteria. It works tirelessly, using an intricate network of cells and tissues to detect and destroy invading microorganisms.

The immune system

The organs, cells, and proteins that make up the immune system are divided into two parts; the innate and the adaptive immune system. These two parts function together. Innate immunity is the first line of defense against invading pathogens. It provides immediate, nonspecific protection. It includes physical barriers like the skin, as well as cellular and molecular components such as phagocytes, natural killer cells, and cytokines. Adaptive immunity is a more specific and targeted response that develops over time. It develops in response to exposure to an antigen and involves the production of antibodies.

Adaptive immunity can be further segmented into passive and active immunity. Active immunity is long lasting and is developed by the animals own immune system in response to exposure to a pathogen. Passive immunity, in contrast, is a temporary immunity that is attained from outside the body. Although temporary, passive immunity is extremely important.

Puppies and kittens are born with a naive immune system. Unlike humans, canine and feline placenta are relatively impermeable to maternal antibodies. In fact, it is suggested that, at most, only ten percent of maternal antibodies pass through the placenta to the puppy or kitten. Therefore, these neonate kittens and puppies have insufficient immune protection immediately after birth. Consequently, the only way a newborn cat or dog can build up passive immunity is through sufficient and timely colostrum intake.

Colostrum is the first secretion from the mammary gland produced by female mammals in the days following the birth of their offspring. This thick fluid is rich in nutrients, antibodies and other immune components, making it essential for the survival and health of newborn puppies and kittens. Indeed, colostrum is up to 4 times higher in protein content than milk. Immunoglobulin makes up twenty to thirty percent of this protein and provide passive immunity for the newborn. This protects the neonate until their own immune system develops.

When it all goes wrong

Given the importance of colostrum for the health and survival of newborn puppies and kittens, it is essential that they receive it as soon

as possible. The first twelve to sixteen hours after birth are critical; this is when the intestine can absorb colostrum immunoglobulins. After this time, the intestine barrier closes and no more antibodies can be transmitted. Unfortunately, not all puppies and kittens receive colostrum in time and in sufficient quantity and quality.

The reasons behind a lack of colostrum can be numerous. It may be from maternal or neonatal factors and is similar in dogs and cats. Maternal factors include first whelping or queening, poor or absent colostrum, concurrent diseases or inflammation. Dystocia or c-section birth can also be contributing factors. Alternatively, the newborn puppy or kitten may be weak or hypothermic and not able to nurse properly. In fact, large litters and the accompanying long parturition times may facilitate low colostrum intake in the last born.

It is also common for even healthy, nursing puppies and kittens to not receive sufficient antibodies. This can happen if the mother’s colostrum quality is poor. Colostrum immunoglobulin levels may also vary among breeds. In one study of passive transfer in puppies, it was determined that out of thirty four litters, only about fourty four percent had sufficient passive transfers in all the puppies. Therefore, it is important to provide the newborn with a suitable substitute. Furthermore, some studies have shown that not only is there are a variability in colostrum quality among bitches, there may even be variability in the colostrum quality among the mammary glands on one bitch.

Bovine colostrum can help

Failure of passive transfer of immunity is life threatening. Newborns are at an increased risk of infection. Colostrum is an excellent source of energy. Without adequate intake, neonatal puppies, and kittens can show a lack of energy and vitality, leading to developmental deficiencies. Studies have revealed that immunoglobulin concentration is significantly correlated with weight gain by the second day of life. Approximately tewnty percent of puppies and kittens die before they are three weeks old.

Bovine colostrum is a natural, nutrient rich maternal glandular secretion produced by cows during the first couple of milkings after giving birth. However, even after the second milking, the IgG content has rapidly decreased. Like bitch and queen colostrum, bovine colostrum contains a high concentration of immunoglobulins, growth factors and other important nutrients that strengthen and enhance the immune system. One such component is lactoferrin. It has

antibacterial and antiviral activities in the intestine, in part due to a direct effect on pathogens. Lactoferrin inhibits bacterial growth through iron deprivation and reduces viral load through increased immune system activation. Moreover, lactoferrin can stimulate intestinal cell proliferation and differentiation. One of the main benefits of bovine colostrum is its high concentration of immunoglobulins. When given within the first few hours after birth, these antibodies provide crucial passive immunity. After that, colostrum provides important local protection in the intestinal tract.

Mind the gap!

The level of passive immunity depends on the amount of colostrum ingested, its quality—that is, its IgG content—and the time of ingestion. Passive immunity is not lasting. As the puppy or kitten matures, the level of maternal antibodies in its bloodstream gradually declines, while the animal‘s own immune system becomes more developed and capable of producing its own antibodies. This gradual decline in maternal antibodies and development of the animal‘s own immune system creates an immunity gap. This gap is essentially the time where maternal antibodies are too low to provide protection and the animal’s own immune system is not producing enough antibodies to be protective (Figure 1).

During this time, the animal is susceptible to infection from the same foreign antigens against which passive immunity was previously protective. The immunity gap can range from a few weeks to several months. This underscores the importance of good colostrum intake.

Ensuring a high level of circulating antibodies can work toward narrowing the immunity gap.

Not only for the very young

Not only very young pets profit from colostrum supplementation— animals of all ages can benefit. For example, older kittens supplemented with bovine colostrum have been shown to have a more stable gut microbiota from the local protection from the immunoglobulins compared to those not receiving bovine colostrum. In response to vaccination, supplemented kittens had significantly higher antibody titers than their unsupplemented counterparts. This result has also been shown in adult dogs. Those receiving bovine colostrum had a faster, stronger and longer lasting immune response to vaccinations.

Bovine colostrum has also been shown to improve fecal consistency in older puppies. Diarrhea is a common issue during weaning. Changes in diet and separation from the mother occur when the immune system is not fully competent and passive immunity is waning. This combination increases the susceptibility of the puppy to infections and gastrointestinal problems.

Recent research has shown that bovine colostrum can also benefit aging and recovering animals. As dogs and cats age, their immune systems diminish, leaving them more susceptible to infections and illnesses (Figure 2). Similarly, when recovering from an illness or injury, their bodies may require extra support to heal properly. Bovine colostrum provides these animals with nutrients and compounds to strengthen their immune system and promote faster healing.

Figure 1: The immunity gap

Figure 2: The immune system develops and ages

LALPROBIOME Heat-Treated Bacterial Strains Support Gut Barrier Function

By Hannah Elliot, Monogastric Technical Manager, Lallemand

The Lactobacillus genus contains the most widely used and welldocumented strains of probiotics, but there are several practical limitations to their commercial application in animal feeds. The nutraceutical potential of heat-treated microbials (‘postbiotics’) processed from specific strains of bacteria is rapidly emerging. Heat-treated probiotic cells are recognised to contribute to immunomodulation, protection against enteropathogens and the maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity. At Lallemand, we implement a specific gentle heat treatment process inactivating microbial cells, which results in a shelf-stable bacterial cell still able to support pet health.

Lallemand Animal Nutrition recently conducted a study in collaboration with the University of Plymouth to compare the beneficial effect of dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus-based products, either live (probiotic) or LALPROBIOME heat-treated (postbiotic), in supporting gut barrier integrity using zebrafish as a vertebrate model.

Gut barrier function: why is it important?

Pathogens have two main pathways for entry into the body: the skin and mucosal surfaces. The gastrointestinal tract is constantly challenged by multiple stimuli, required to discriminate against pathogens and food antigens, and encounters more antigens than any other bodily site. Gut barrier function and integrity is crucial for homeostasis and immune functioning. The microbiota, mucus and epithelial cells all act as physical and chemical barriers to protect immuno-competent cells within the gut and the internal body itself.

Goblet cells (GCs) are specialised epithelial cells that line the mucosal surface and are integral for the secretion of mucus. Mucus forms part of the biochemical barrier found within the gut and acts as a sieve-like structure to allow passage of small and selected molecules, while separating and protecting epithelial cells from the microbiota and any potential pathogens. Beyond barrier maintenance, GCs also

play a role in innate immunity, acting as antigen sensors. A higher density and coverage of GCs indicates the maintenance of a functional mucus barrier. After the mucus barrier, intestinal epithelial cells form a physical barrier to restrict and control the paracellular diffusion of essential ions, nutrients, microorganisms and toxins. In humans, the intestinal epithelium spans between 200-400m2 and consists of a single layer of cells. Between cells, multi-protein complexes (tight junctions), dynamically regulate barrier integrity and are the rate-limiting factor for permeability. Zonula-Occludens (ZO) is an essential protein for the formation and maintenance of these junctions and is ubiquitously expressed in epithelial cells.

Interestingly, groups supplemented with LALPROBIOME heattreated Lactobacillus helveticus HA-122 (LHPost) and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HA-119 (LPPost) showed a significant increase in GC coverage and density at gut level compared to the Control group and the live LALPROBIOME Lactobacillus helveticus HA-122 (LHPro) fed group. A higher density and coverage of GCs is indicative of the ability of LALPROBIOME heat-treated strains to enhance the functional mucus barrier. The gene expression of ZO (2a) was significantly upregulated in all treatment groups, with a 1.6 to 2-fold increase in comparison to the Control group.

The gut mucosal system: a unique network

Approximately 70% of the immune cells are located within the gut, acting as an immunological barrier. The intestinal immune system is a complex network dedicated to the defence of the body against pathogens while maintaining tolerance to beneficial microbes and food antigens. Several specialised cells (lymphocytes, dendritic cells and macrophages) are involved in this system, including, intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IELs). IELs are found within the epithelial layer of the intestinal mucosa and

play a crucial role in immune surveillance, maintaining gut homeostasis, and responding to pathogens or other challenges. CD4+ and CD8+ are two subsets of IELs:

• CD4+ T cells can include various subsets, which can help maintain tolerance to dietary antigens and commensal bacteria, participate in immune responses against pathogens, or assist in inflammatory processes.

• CD8+ T cells are often cytotoxic T cells, capable of directly killing infected or aberrant (abnormal) host cells.

The trial showed higher mucosal IEL numbers in all supplemented groups as well as an elevation in lymphocyte populations for all groups. There was a significant increase in CD8 cells when zebrafish were fed LALPROBIOME Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HA-119 (LPPost). This demonstrates the impact of LALPROBIOME postbiotic bacterial strains on gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT).

Why Zebrafish?

Since 1960’s, the 3R’s principle (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) has been recognised as a scientific standard for the ethical use of animals and is required in the legislation framework of animal experimentation worldwide. Animal models remain an essential measure in helping researchers to identify and understand biological mechanisms and disease progression, as well as develop new therapeutic possibilities. Mammalian models are replaced by animals considered as less sentient and the use of zebrafish (Danio rerio) has exponentially increased among the scientific community over recent decades. Zebrafish genetic, anatomical and physiological homology to mammals provides an alternative model to rodents and provides superior information to in vitro modelling. Due to the considerable benefits, Lallemand are using zebrafish in many of their research projects.

The gut immune response: mucosal markers

Delving deeper into the immune system and cell functioning, we can also explore specific markers for certain aspects of gut immune responses, such as antimicrobial defence (lysozyme) cellular processes involved in immune regulation, and tissue remodelling (cathepsin). Lysozymes are antimicrobial enzymes secreted into the mucus layer by epithelial cells, IELs and paneth cells in the small intestine. They are part of the innate immune system, attacking the cell walls of bacteria, especially gram-positive bacteria and are a natural form of protection against pathogens such as streptococcus. Cathepsins are involved in the regulation of tight junction proteins such as occludin and claudins. These two specific markers were significantly upregulated in both postbiotic groups during the trial. These results confirm the capacity of LALPROBIOME postbiotic strains to stimulate specific immune processes in the gut micro-environment.

Conclusion

Using the zebrafish model as a recognised mammalian model of research, this study demonstrates the potential of selected LALPROBIOME probiotic and postbiotic bacterial strains to support gut barrier integrity and natural defences which are crucial factors in supporting pet gastrointestinal homeostasis and immunity.

What is LALPROBIOME?

LALPROBIOME is Lallemand Animal Nutrition’s platform of innovative microbial solutions that leverage the natural power of yeast and bacteria to support pet health and well-being. Lallemand’s decades of yeast and bacteria strain selection, development, and application in human and animal nutrition, enables LALPROBIOME to offer a broad range of microbial solutions to meet the needs of pets and their owners today and for the future. From digestive care to immune support, antioxidant optimisation to cognitive function, LALPROBIOME pet solutions can help you elevate and differentiate your brands with novel ingredients that support unique and specific benefits.

For more information about LALPROBIOME pet solutions, or any question about this article, please visit: www.lallemandanimalnutrition.com Connect with us at pet@lallemand.com

Why Mineral Source Matters

in keeping pets healthy and looking their best

By Gavin Boerboom, Global program manager trace minerals, Trouw Nutrition

Why is skin health important?

Pet parents all want to see their pets happy, enjoying life, and looking great. A shiny coat, healthy paws and strong nails are visual signs we look for when determining if our pets are doing well.

Beyond these aesthetics, the skin and coat of animals play a huge role in many vital functions and is the largest organ within an animal’s body. It can provide protection against the environment, allows the animal to sense its environment through touch and enables them to regulate their temperature.

The skin itself is made up of 3 major layers: the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutis. The epidermis is the outermost layer and one of its major roles is protection. This layer is continuously being renewed, with new cells being formed near the base, which then migrate upwards, creating a compact layer of dead cells at the skin surface. This layer provides the needed protection against for example pathogens. The dermis is the layer under the epidermis, and it provides support to the epidermis. Blood vessels, nerves, and immune cells are present here. The subcutis, the innermost layer is the layer that contains fat and muscles. This layer provides insulation, can absorb shocks and serves as a reservoir for fluids and electrolytes.

Overall, this organ plays a huge role in the health and immunity of our pets. As such, it is important to ensure optimal intake of key nutrients that are required for proper skin development and maintenance.

The role of trace minerals in maintaining health

Trace minerals play a critical role in the overall health and immunity of animals. All organisms contain widely varying amounts and proportions of mineral elements. Zinc for example serves as a cofactor for over 300 enzymes and 2,000 transcription factors. Trace minerals can be

characterised to perform four broad types of functions as related to animal nutrition:

1. Structural: minerals such as copper, calcium, manganese and zinc can form structural components., e.g. bones and teeth.

2. Physiological: minerals are present in tissue to control physiological processes such as membrane permeability, acidbase balance and maintenance of osmotic pressure.

3. Catalytic: minerals can act as catalysts in enzyme and endocrine systems in both an anabolic as well as a catabolic manner.

4. Regulatory: minerals can regulate cell replication and differentiation.

Small amounts require precision

Given the importance of trace minerals for health and immunity, it is important that the metal that is contained within the trace mineral is available for the animal to absorb. When we look at the intake of Zn in a 10kg dog coning food for a month (+/-6kg), the amount of Zn coned is roughly equivalent to 1 gram, not more than the weight of a paperclip! It is therefore important that the trace mineral source being fed is available to the animal to cone when it is needed.

The availability of trace minerals that are added to the diet, however, can suffer from low availability. This is because trace metals can bind to other feed ingredients, thereby becoming unavailable to the animal for absorption. This happens because metals like to be bound to something, and often bind with those dietary nutrients that pull the strongest. Inorganic trace minerals, the source that is often used, suffer heavily from this. Sulphate trace minerals are weakly bound mineral complexes that have a high reactivity in premixes and foods. This not only affects their own availability but also the availability or efficacy of other essential food ingredients such as fat, vitamins, enzymes, etc. to the pet. Additionally, minerals can compete with each other for absorption in the gut.

Trace mineral source matters

To ensure maximum availability of the mineral it is important to feed it in a form that is highly stable and tightly bound via covalent bonds to its central ligand. The stronger the bond, the higher the chances of meeting animal requirements. That is why the feed industry developed organic trace minerals.

Organic trace minerals are minerals that are bound to an organic ingredient, leading to a more stable complex, ensuring increased availability. While this might sound simple, the reality is a bit more complicated.

When looking at organic trace mineral sources, we see clear differences between the different products available. More specifically, not all bonds are equal in strength. This is important, as the strength of the bond is an important indicator of product stability, and therefore, trace metal availability for the pet. The figure below shows the results of a binding strength analysis (chelation strength) that was done on different trace mineral products (Figure 1).

As can be seen, the chelation strength of the Selko® Optimin® trace mineral is much higher than what is shown for the other mineral sources tested. Optimin® trace minerals are unique in being bound to multiple oligo-peptides and amino acids rather than single amino-acid linked compounds, which you would commonly see in other organic trace minerals. This provides the metal with a stronger connection with the ligands, due to a higher affinity present between the metal and the ligand.

While chelation strength is important, it is also important that the complex arrives at the site of absorption as an intact complex. Since minerals are absorbed in the gut (intestinal tract), they first need to pass through the acidic environment of the stomach. At low pH, some of these complexes start to break down, leading to the release of the metal (Figure 2). This means the protection the product offers is no longer available.

Figure 2. Amount of chelated Zinc after gastric pH of different mineral products.

This improved chelation strength and complex stability leads to the trace metal becoming more available to the animal for absorption and utilisation. Figure 3 shows this effect clearly when looking at blood zinc levels in piglets fed different sources of trace minerals.

Figure 3. Amount of Zinc in plasma of piglets fed different sources of trace minerals.

Given the important role of trace minerals in the quality of skin and coat, one would expect to see differences in skin and coat quality. Figure 4 is an image taken from a study in which Optimin® Mn, Zn and Cu were fed to pregnant bitches. All Optimin® trace minerals are strongly chelated minerals, which maintain their stability throughout the pet food manufacturing process and do not adversely affect the shelf life of the product. The result is improved nutritional superiority in terms of bioavailability and performance when fed.

Besides increasing the availability of trace minerals for animal utilisation, the stable complex contained in all Optimin® trace minerals also ensures that each Optimin® trace mineral is kept in its stable, nonreactive form during feed production and digestion. This ensures that the interactions with other essential feed ingredients such as vitamins and fats is significantly reduced.

This is an important benefit given the critical role these ingredients play in pets’ health and well-being. Furthermore, fat that oxidizes can lead to rancidity, negatively affecting the taste of food. Pets are sensitive to this and will therefore show reduced acceptability of these type of foods.

Generally speaking, trace minerals are often forgotten when people make dietary formulation or product choices. Even though they are added at low amounts, they can have an enormous impact on the well-being of our pets. Hence, it is important to take them into consideration, to ensure you are feeding the best-in-class solution. Optimins® trace minerals can be that best-in-class product that enables a higher probability of nutritional success, supporting your pet’s health and appearance.

Figure 1. Results of a chelation strength analysis of different trace mineral sources.

Figure 4. Electron microscopy picture of hair of dogs fed Mn, Cu and Zn from inorganic or Optimin trace minerals.

SmartShieldCA

Protecting pets from the rising threat of mycotoxins

By Victoria Thornber, Companion Animal Manager Devenish

With multiple global reports showing increasing levels of mycotoxins, it is important we provide pet owners with a level of protection against the threat of ill health. SmartShieldCA can do just that.

SmartShieldCA is a new-generation solution, with a triple-action formula targeted at those mycotoxins that have the biggest influence on pet health and welfare.

Low levels, big impact

There are over 500 known mycotoxins. Of the ‘big six’, only one - Aflatoxin, has legal limits. But research by Devenish, in collaboration with Prof Chris Elliott and his team at Queen’s University, Belfast (QUB), has shown that even below these levels, mycotoxins can impact animal health.

This first of its kind, 3-year longitudinal study showed a correlation between mycotoxin levels and animal performance. In a pet context, this would result in reduced animal health and welfare7

Mycotoxin levels across trial

Impact of mycotoxins on performance

Efficacy of SmartShield to Bind Emerging Mycotoxins

Emerging mycotoxins are a group of mycotoxins, which have attracted increasing interest due to their frequent occurrence in animal feed and feed ingredients, and potential toxic effects on animal health, welfare and performance. Enniatins, sterigmatocystin and beauvericin are

The ‘big six’

Aflatoxin: the only mycotoxin with a legal maximum for pet food. It is carcinogenic (both acute and chronic) and is toxic to the liver. The actual number of animals affected by aflatoxins will be far more than the total number reported in acute poisoning cases1

Fumonisins B1+B2: cause restriction of blood vessels to the digestive system and body tissues, which leads to reduced nutrient supply, malnourishment and impaired growth. It exerts a toxic effect on the kidneys and liver and suppresses the immune system.

Ochratoxin: the initial toxic symptoms of ochratoxin poisoning in all species include anorexia, polydipsia, polyuria and dehydration, and are associated with renal damage.

Deoxynivalenol (DON): DON is part of the trichothecenes, toxic substances which attach to the ribosome, blocking RNA formation and cell replication. This is most acutely noticeable in fast-replicating cells (e.g., gut and immune cells), impacting digestion and immunity, resulting in reduced performance and increased risk of illness2,3,4,5,6

T2HT2: part of the same group as DON, causing symptoms of gastrointestinal distress, bloody diarrhoea and immune suppression. Particularly formed in maize in a cool, wet season.

Zearalenone (ZON): The molecular structure has a likeness to oestrogen, and low doses ( 1 mg/kg feed) may cause infertility, affecting ovulation, conception, implantation, fetal development and the newborn’s viability.

some of the most frequently occurring emerging mycotoxins in feed. Due to insufficient occurrence and toxicological data, regulations are yet to be set for this group of mycotoxins. However, a number of studies now available suggest they have the potential to cause a wide range of deleterious effects on animal health, particularly when they co-occur with regulated mycotoxins such as fumonisins, T-2/ HT-2, ochratoxins and zearalenone.

Devenish conducted further research with Queen’s University to assess the efficacy of SmartShield to bind and reduce the levels of enniatins (A, A1, B and B1), sterigmatocystin and beauvericin in feed. SmartShield was assessed in vitro, using buffer solutions and in QUB’s novel gastrointestinal tract (GIT) model designed to simulate the GIT of monogastric animals. Under buffer conditions, results

showed adsorption rates of more than 95% for enniatins (A, A1, B and B1), sterigmatocystin and beauvericin8.

The data also showed the ability of SmartShield to simultaneously reduce the availability of enniatins (A, A1, B and B1), sterigmatocystin and beauvericin in the GIT model, which is highly significant, making SmartShield the first mycotoxin binder to be shown to function in this manner.

Animal-specific toxicity

Research has shown that different species are affected differently by mycotoxins. SmartShield CA is unique in that it is specifically formulated to target those mycotoxins that impact pet health the most.

Mycotoxin sources

Mycotoxin-producing moulds can grow on various feedstuffs including grains. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), approximately 25% of the world’s crops are affected annually by mycotoxins, the majority of which is caused by the ‘big six’. The environment plays a role in the development of these moulds. Whether materials are sourced locally or from different geographical areas and climates, will impact their likely mycotoxin challenge.

The mould Aspergillus favours warm and dry geographical areas and produces aflatoxin in multiple forms (B1, B2, G1, G2). In contrast, Fusarium favours growing conditions that are cool and wet further away from the equator producing multiple of the ‘big six’, excluding ochratoxin. Penicillium favours storage conditions where it produces ochratoxin. The change in global weather conditions has accordingly seen a movement in the geographical location of mould development, alongside its corresponding mycotoxin presence. The presence of mycotoxins encountered in pet food manufacturing therefore sees a shift, even if the sourcing location does not change.

Widespread contamination in pet food

Once mycotoxins are formed there is little that can be done to deactivate them mechanically. Mycotoxins are highly stable, even throughout the extrusion process. Aflatoxins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes, zearalenone and fumonisins have been detected in food for dogs, cats, birds, rodents, fish and horses with different prevalences across regions, including the UK, EU and the Americas9,10,11,12,13

Reviews14,15,16 of pet food from 1993-2015 found the majority of pet food samples tested positive for assessed mycotoxins within recommended limits. In Italy, of 64 extruded cat foods17, eight exceeded EU guidance values and three exceeded legal limits for AFB1, while 91% tested positive for DON, 98% for fumonisins, and 75% for ZON.

Of 48 extruded dog foods 18 in Turkey, no guidance values were exceeded, while 100% tested positive for DON, 88% for fumonisins, 81% for ochratoxin, and 52% showed contamination by three different types of mycotoxins. 21 dog foods19 averaged Aflatoxin contamination at 6.69 (+/- 1.65) µg/kg, but none exceeded the legal limit of 10 µg/kg.

These studies indicate that mycotoxins are continually a challenge and therefore it is advisable to include a mycotoxin binder in your petfood formulations at all times to reduce the potential impact on our pets.

SmartShieldCA: a triple action solution

SmartShieldCA offers three methods of deactivating mycotoxins: binding, degradation and transformation. The mycotoxin determines which method is most effective, but the pH and transit time through the digestive system of the host play an important role.

Binding

For pets, SmartShieldCA contains a blend of five minerals which adsorb polar mycotoxins and derivatives, combined with two types of specifically treated MOS to bind non-polar mycotoxins.

A blend of highly adsorbent materials to bind a wide range of mycotoxins and their derivatives to render them harmless to the animal.

As an example, the polar aflatoxin readily binds to a substrate, but if this bond is weak, it readily lets go again when pH changes later in the digestive system. Also, it may change its binding to another substrate with a higher binding strength – including bodily cells of the animal tissue.

Transformation

Deoxynivalenol does not bind at all, and its molecule needs active restructuring for deactivation and disposal.

Transformation of mycotoxin molecules is done through a single cut or inserting a bond at the molecular level. This creates a new molecular shape that as a result becomes bindable, whereas the parent molecule was not. This is the case for Deoxynivalenol and T2, where a single transformation renders the mycotoxin inactive.

Degradation

A single transformation is not sufficient for some mycotoxins and those molecules need degrading instead. Degradation is the process of cutting the mycotoxin molecule by more than one single cut. This happens with zearalenone, which is partially bindable by MOS, but not enough to reduce its toxicity. Degradation makes zearalenone 100% bindable by the binders in SmartShieldCA.

The molecule is progressively cut to the carbon skeleton that can either be utilised by gut bacteria or can go into the carbon cycle of the host animal and be used for anything else that has a carbon skeleton, such as an amino acid or sugar.

SmartShieldCA can help protect your petfood

To find out more about how SmartShieldCA can provide your feed and pets protection from the rising threat of mycotoxins, speak to your Devenish Account Manager or call 02890 755566.

*References available upon request.

Botanical extracts

The next generation of antioxidants

By Cristina Murcia García, PhD, Technical Service Manager, Kemin Nutrisurance EMEA

Dr. Cristina Murcia García gained her PhD in Chemistry with focus on redox reactions from the University of Bonn (Germany). Since then, she has specialized in managing oxidation in rendering and pet food products. She works as Technical Service Manager for Kemin Nutrisurance Europe where she provides solutions to improve raw materials and pet food safety and shelf-life. Besides, she develops tailor-made trials and protocols for customers and holds customer specific trainings on topics like oxidation, freshness, and food safety.

Introduction

Botanical extracts are natural ingredients that contain diverse polyphenol type molecules. Some are well known for their endogenous and exogenous antioxidant abilities. However, when speaking under the feed and pet food regulatory framework of the European Union, so far only one natural product is registered as an antioxidant, and this is mixed-tocopherols. Some botanical extracts are registered but classified as flavoring compoundsi

This article will focus on the exogenous antioxidant capacity of rosemary and olive extracts and the main reaction mechanism of their active molecules with the highest antioxidant potential.

Rosemary Extract

Even if rosemary extract is well known for its great antioxidant activity for controlling oxidation of fats, oils and fat-rich matrices, in feed and pet food regulation it is still classified as a flavoring compoundi.

Rosemary extract contains different diterpene molecules with antioxidant activity, from these, the one with the highest antioxidant effect is carnosic acid. Other molecules such as carnosol, rosmanol or epirosmanol have some antioxidant capacities but it is less significant than carnosic acid. The reason for that is that all the above are decomposition products of carnosic acid, as we will see while explaining the simplified chemical reaction mechanisms.

Oxygen Scavenger Mechanism:

To prevent oxidation, rosemary extract, or specifically, carnosic acid can scavenge singlet oxygen, an excited form of oxygen, and free radicals. While doing this, carnosic acid will oxidize itself to

form a carnosic acid quinone that by action of temperature or other catalysts will be transformed into carnosol. The carnosol molecule will further follow this path and will oxidise itself to be transformed into epirosmanol or rosmanol, depending on the stereochemistry of the reaction.ii,iii See figure 1.

Hydrogen Transfer Mechanism:

Carnosic acid can also neutralize free radicals by following a different mechanism, by donating hydrogen atoms to stabilize lipid molecules (in figure 2 represented as ROOH). This type of mechanism is called the hydrogen transfer mechanism. Here carnosic acid can neutralize the free radical activity of two lipid radical molecules (ROO°) to form a carnosic acid quinone. Like in the previous mechanism, the carnosic acid quinone can be transformed into carnosol to provide additional antioxidant activity. Or the mechanism can follow a different pathway and lipid radicals can be stabilized by forming an epoxy quinone. In mary, the key message here is that one molecule of carnosic acid can neutralize two lipid radical moleculesii

Figure 1. Proposed oxygen quenching mechanism of rosemary extract.

Figure 2. Proposed hydrogen transfer mechanism of rosemary extract.

What we can learn from the chemistry explained here is that carnosic acid can generate a variety of secondary antioxidants. This unique cascade-type process is likely to amplify the antioxidative power of carnosic acid and hence of rosemary extract and to constitute an effective defence mechanismiii. In , the main driver for the antioxidant activity of rosemary extract is carnosic acid. This means the higher the carnosic acid concentration in a rosemary extract, the better will be its antioxidant activity. The rest of the phenolic diterpenes will also have some antioxidant activity but lower than carnosic acid because, as we have seen, they are degradation products from the carnosic acid molecule. Besides, rosemary extracts also contain other antioxidants such as rosmarinic acid bringing more antioxidant power to the overall activity of this botanical extract.

Olive extract

Olive extract is another natural ingredient very well known for its health benefits and widely used for centuries in the countries of the Mediterranean area.

Apart from its health or endogenous antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, recent research has shown the potential benefit of using olive extract as an exogenous antioxidant to prevent oxidation of fats, oils and fat containing matrices.

Since olives are a raw material extensively used in human nutrition, the question arose if it could be economically suitable as an ingredient for the feed and pet food industries. Not all parts of the olive tree are used at the moment for human conption. Among others, there are the leaves and there is the waste of the olive fruit after production of olive oil. Both co-products are rich in polyphenols with potential antioxidant activity.

In olive materials, we can find two interesting molecules for our antioxidant purpose: oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol. These two catechols have shown endogenous and exogenous free radical scavenging activityiv

Although we can find both active ingredients in olive leaf and fruit, olive leaves are rich in oleuropein while olive fruits main ingredient is hydroxytyrosol.

Oleuropein has shown an important antimicrobial effect as well as some endogenous antioxidant activityv. Nowadays there are a number of supplements in the market for human but also for petfood claiming an immune system boost thanks to the properties of oleuropein (just

type on your web browser pet food supplement with oleuropein and you will find several companies offering such products). Unfortunately, as a technological additive to control oxidation of fats and oils, oleuropein as such has shown poor antioxidant activity in comparison with hydroxytyrosol and other known antioxidantsvi

On the contrary, hydroxytyrosol has been demonstrated to be an ideal candidate to be considered as an exogenous antioxidant to prevent the oxidation of feed and pet food relevant matricesvii,viii

A few studies have proposed the mode of action of hydroxytyrosol, mainly by using radical scavenging reaction mechanism in which the hydroxytyrosol molecule can neutralize lipid radicals (ROO°). See figure 4.

Kemin internal results have shown that the antioxidant activity of olive fruit extract can be enhanced by combination with known natural antioxidant molecules and that contrary to rosemary extract and carnosic acid, higher amounts of hydroxytyrosol in an olive extract do not necessarily mean better antioxidant activityix

Several studies have shown that olive fruit extract containing hydroxytyrosol shows antioxidant activity comparable to that of pure hydroxytyrosol, perhaps due to the presence of active derivatives of hydroxytyrosol and other phenolic compounds which promote synergistic effects in the extract that are not available when using the pure molecule.

Further research is needed to elucidate the mode of action of the antioxidants present in the olive extract.

References

i. https://ec.europa.eu/food/food-feed-portal/screen/feed-additives/ search accessed on 11th November 2023

ii.T. Masuda, Y. Inaba, Y. Takeda, J. Agric. Food Chem, 2001,49,55605565;; S. L. Richheimer, M. W. Bernart, G. A. King, M. C. Kent, D. T. Bailey, J. Am. Oil. Chem. Soc. 1996, 73, 507-514;

iii. M. Loussouarn, L. Krieger-Liszkay, A. Bily, S. Birtić, M. Havaux, Plant Physiol. 2017 Nov;175(3):1381-1394

iv. M. Fiorini, V. Crognaletti, O. Sabry, P. Fattori, Processes 2021, 9, 433.

v. D. Borjan, M. Leitgeb, Molecules 2020, 25, 5946

vi. M.H. Gordon, F. Paiva-Martins, M. Almeida, J. Agric. Food Chem., 2001, 49, 2480-2485

vii. A.Y. V. Theah, T. O. Akanbi, Antioxidants 2023, 12, 929

viii. L. Martínez-Zamora, R. Peñalver, G. Ros, G. Nieto, Foods. 2021

Oct 28;10(11):2611

ix. Kemin R&D internal results

Figure 3 Chemical structures of oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol.

Figure 4 . Proposed radical scavenging mechanism of hydroxytyrosol.

Functional Pet Products Extend Health & Wellness to the Entire Family

By Guillaume Maio, Marketing Manager for Pet Nutrition, EMEA, ADM

In recent years, European pet owners have forged a stronger bond with their pets: cats and dogs are simply part of the family. Just as nutrition is playing a much greater role in their own healthy lifestyles, pet owners increasingly seek high-quality products to support the holistic well-being of their pets. In a recent ADM Outside Voice℠ global survey, 85% of coners agreed that proper nutrition and supplements are as important for their pets as they are for themselves, and 79% say they would spend money on preventative healthcare for their pets to try and avoid larger vet bills1. Today’s pet products are designed to align more closely with premium human foods and supplements, from natural, recognizable ingredients to targeted benefits supported by rigorous scientific evidence.

This rising demand presents an enormous opportunity for pet brands. For instance, the pet health and supplement market in the UK is estimated to grow by a CAGR of 8.6% through 20262. The range of offerings is expanding as well, particularly with the introduction of functional treats. Functional soft chews enable dog and cat owners to reward their pets while providing nutritional support, and pet supplements deliver wellness support without extra calories. Functional treats for dogs and cats in the UK market each have a forecasted CAGR of over 12% through 20262. Pet supplements are also predicted to show steady growth in the same period, at 7.5% for dogs and 6.3% for cats, although the pet supplement coner is currently more niche within the UK market2

Pet owners have been increasingly opting for functional treats due to their convenience in providing wellness support to their furry companions, which has led to the explosive growth of these products. Soft chews are the leading format for functional treats, followed by sticks and biscuits2. Flavour is of high importance to capture pet satisfaction, and treat taste profiles often centre around chicken, fish and other meats, as well as fruits and vegetables.

Elements of Well-Being

Many European coners are proactively looking into new products for their dogs and/or cats. Over half (53%) of UK pet owners are most likely to get information about pet nutrition from websites when compared to other markets1. Conversely, the majority of pet owners living in Germany, France and Poland tend to rely on veterinarians and pet stores for recommendations1

Whether in treat or traditional supplement format, wellness claims are the key to success with shoppers. In fact, 97% of coners report that the primary health benefit claimed on packaging informs their purchasing decisions for dog functional treats2. Pet parents are most interested in claims that support pet mobility, daily wellness, digestion, skin care, calming and healthy aging2. However, coners can be sceptical of product claims. Coners perceive claims, such as “clinically tested,” “scientifically studied,” and “vet recommended” as evidence of a products’ effectiveness3. Additionally, 60% of global pet owners say branded health ingredients in pet products are important 4 , as many believe them to be more trustworthy.

ADM helps pet brands gain credibility and differentiate in the marketplace with an array of turnkey solutions that support highly sought-after wellness claims and are compliant with European regulations. These six functional formulas are available as both soft chews and supplements:

• Calming, supports balanced behaviour

• Digestion, supports gut health

• Longevity, supports well-being of aging dogs

• Mobility, supports joint health

• Skin, supports healthy skin

• Wellness, supports daily well-being

Furthermore, ADM can tailor its solutions to be consistent with brand values, such as grain-free, sustainable, vegan or ancestral diet product positioning. Products are produced at Safe Quality Food (SQF)-certified production facilities with validated packaging, labels and quality. ADM uses a cold extrusion manufacturing process –without the use of heat, water or gumming agents – to create soft chews. This technique preserves the texture, flavour and benefits of functional ingredients that might be susceptible to heat processes.

Science-Backed Solutions

Certain functional ingredients that are highly popular among humans can also be effective for dogs and cats, contributing to a coherent product offering for the entire family. Microbiome solutions are a prime example. Coners increasingly associate the gut, skin and oral microbiomes with overall well-being. Conditions within these microbiome environments can affect digestion, immune function, metabolic health and more – in people and their pets.

A vast library of microbial strains is available in prebiotic, probiotic, postbiotic and synbiotic forms, and many more are yet to be explored.

• Prebiotics: a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit5

• Probiotics: live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host5

• Postbiotics: a preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/ or their components that confers a health benefit on the host5

• Synbiotics: a mixture, comprising live microorganisms and substrate(s) selectively utilized by host microorganisms, that confers a health benefit on the host5

With the field of microbiome solutions still in its early days, limited research has been conducted regarding the use of probiotics and postbiotics and their effects on canine health. Sophie Nixon, Ph.D., the Head of Clinical Research for Pet & Animal Well-being at ADM, oversaw an exploratory, first-in-species study with adult dogs to evaluate the effects of daily supplementation of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT8145 (BPL1™)*, in both live probiotic and heat-treated postbiotic forms6. Data indicates that both the probiotic and postbiotic versions of BPL1™ can safely be supplemented in healthy adult dogs, with changes observed in faecal short-chain fatty acids, bacterial composition and faecal metagenome, when compared to control6. A further clinical study is ongoing to assess additional physiological outcomes.

It is this groundbreaking knowledge that fuels the development of ADM’s functional ingredient solutions across human, pet and animal nutrition**. For example, its turnkey Digestion formula for dog treats

and supplement sachets contains several inactivated biotic strains that comply with European regulations and can support digestive, oral, skin or immune health. Inactivated Bifidobacterium longum CECT7347 (ES1†) may support gut barrier function, per in vitro data7, and the efficacy of the live probiotic Bacillus velezensis DSM 15544‡ as a zootechnical additive (a gut flora stabilizer) was confirmed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). In addition, Digestion soft chews and supplements contain other functional ingredient solutions such as Fibersol®§‖, a prebiotic dietary fibre.

Effective Formulations

Approximately 1 in 3 European pet owners have purchased biotics at least once a year because of a recommendation1. Notably, Polish respondents were the most likely of all surveyed markets to believe prebiotics, probiotics and/or postbiotics work as claimed1. Expanding coner awareness of the microbiome and benefits of biotics for pets will help increase pet parents’ likelihood of adding these ingredients to their pet’s diet.

Pet brands that focus on quality ingredients and uniquely beneficial product features will have an effective strategy to stand out on a crowded shelf. It also helps to have a partner that draws on diverse human and animal nutrition expertise, as well as a comprehensive portfolio of ingredients that delivers on nutrition, function and coner appeal. These are effective elements for brands to deliver on evolving pet owner demands and promote brand loyalty.

Endnotes

*BPL1® is a trademark registered for Biopolis, S.L. in the EU and other countries.

**Local regulations must be reviewed to confirm permissibility of ingredients for each category.

†ES1 (Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum CECT7347) is used by ADM Biopolis under license from CSIC.

‡In the UK this strain is named Bacillus subtilis C-3102 (DSM 15544) and in the EU it’s named Bacillus velezensis DSM 15544.

§Fibersol® is a trademark registered for Matsutani Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. in the EU, used under license by ADM.

‖Local regulations must be reviewed to confirm dietary fibre status.

References

1ADM Outside Voice℠

2Euromonitor Consulting

3Mintel, U.S. Pet Owners Survey, 2021

4FMCG Gurus, Pet Care Health, 2022

5International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP)

6Manuscript undergoing peer review

7Martorell, P. et al. Heat-Treated Bifidobacterium longum CECT-7347: A Whole-Cell Postbiotic with Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and GutBarrier Protection Properties. Antioxidants 2021, 10, 536.

Humanising Petfood Formulations with sustainability, traceability and transparency front of mind

With Ronald Figee, Commercial Development Manager, biomega®

The pet humanisation trend continues to evolve and nowhere is this clearer than in the new term ‘Granddog’ – a direct wordplay on the more traditional ‘Grandkids.’

Although tongue-in-cheek, it is reflective of the growing humanisation movement in pet care that, according to market research by Euromonitor’s Voice of the Consumer: Lifestyles Survey, is not showing any signs of slowing down soon. The report indicates that 71% of pet owners globally now view their pets as family members – adapting their food and physical health routines to reflect this close bond.1

Today, on average, individuals spend more time at home with their pets. This is primarily due to changes in flexible working arrangements, post-COVID-19. However, these consumers often tend to be more aware that the nutritional choices they make for their pets not only affect their health and wellbeing but could have a direct impact on the environment too.

Finding a balance between great nutrition and ongoing requirements for a sustainable, traceable, and transparent ingredient supply chain, is one of the main drivers in pet nutrition innovation today.

As the culture around pet ownership and nutritional choices continues to shift, pet owners are doing their research when it comes to what they are feeding their pets: more shoppers are reading labels and setting high nutritional and clean label standards for the products they buy – just like they do when buying groceries for their consumption.2

In the future, ingredient suppliers, processors, and pet food brands can look forward to fantastic opportunities in new product development, particularly for products that deliver the innovation and quality demanded by informed consumers when feeding their pets.

Setting the scene

Today’s discerning consumer is aware of the possible health risks of hyper-processed products and will continue to reevaluate their food choices, seeking out replacements that offer healthy functionality. This requirement is now seen in the pet food aisle, particularly for products that offer a functional and preventative health positioning.3

“We expect that pet food and snack claims will continue to veer towards the natural and sustainable, while functionality around immune health, a healthy gut microbiome, and healthy ageing will continue to be focus points for the pet food industry.4 But this rests on having access to good quality raw materials,” says Ronald Figee, Commercial Development Manager

at biomega®

“The ability to upcycle Atlantic salmon side streams through biotechnology processes, such as our continuous enzymatic hydrolysis, into salmon protein, peptides and oils, has been a game changer for the industry.”

Figee further emphasises the critical role of maintaining optimal nutrient profiles in pet food to unlock various health benefits that promote longevity.

“Salmon protein, peptides and oils are ideal ingredients for pet food, manufacturers that can now harness the fantastic nutrient content in these products, including protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B12, B6, and D, and minerals like selenium and potassium when developing new products. Optimal nutrient profiles can result in numerous health and wellness benefits, such as improvements in joint health and aiding the immune system, to support pets to live longer lives.

“Much like humans, the nutritional requirements of our pets change as they age and their metabolism slows down. This makes products such as salmon peptides a great ingredient choice in pet food solutions designed for elderly pets. They offer great functionality, and easy digestibility coupled with optimum nutrition, while still being gentle on the gut,” he notes.

Balancing sustainability, traceability & trust

As a protein source, salmon is low on greenhouse gas emissions but high on nutritional value, but modern-day and conventional consumption practices often result in a significant loss of these valuable nutrients.

It is estimated that up to 35% of the global harvest from fisheries

and aquaculture is lost or discarded in the supply chain,5 marking a clear imperative for innovative solutions that minimise waste and environmental impact.

“The ability to use food grade salmon raw materials for the production of salmon protein, peptides and oils for the human nutrition, pet food and aquaculture sectors has enabled a great shift in how brands can approach their manufacturing operations, since it also plays an important part in creating a circular food system,” Figee explains.

“Proprietary biotechnology, including the tech we use at biomega® , can transform high-quality raw materials into premium pet food ingredients in modern food grade biorefineries. Using best-in-class technology, we can respond to customers’ needs for premium quality products that offer full traceability, transparency, and sustainability and affirm our commitment to contributing to a healthier and more sustainable

industry. In the long term, this will ensure that the environmental impacts of our industry, production, and business activities are reduced wherever possible,” he concludes.

As ambassadors for the circular economy, biomega® is working on its second Environmental, Social and Governance report. Through its work on several EU commissioned projects – like LIFE CONQUER and CONVEY – the company is working to reduce its environmental impact. As such, it has recently installed a water recirculation process at the newly built Hirtshals facility to reduce water intake and will use surplus windmill energy to produce hydrogen, which can be used on demand to reduce carbon footprint.

Therefore, it’s clear that sustainability, traceability, and transparency is imperative to the pet food industry. Moving forward, it’s expected to see more brands looking for ingredients that can claim sustainability and transparency while putting the health and wellness of pets first.

References:

1. Humanisation a Key Driver of Pet Product Sales Euromonitor.com, accessed March 2024

2,3. Pet Humanization Impacting Consumer Trends - Circana, accessed March 2024

4. Humanisation a Key Driver of Pet Product Sales - Euromonitor.com, accessed March 2024

5. To feed the world, we need to waste less fish. Here’s how | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

FEDIAF Introduces New Manifesto

FEDIAF’s new Secretary General, Sonia Franck, has launched the organisations new manifesto.

FEDIAF represents 18 countries and approximately 95% of the pet food market in Europe, playing a crucial role in feeding Europe’s 340 million pets. The Manifesto advocates for essential considerations from policymakers. The key points of the manifesto include are listed below.

1. Safe and Nutritious Pet Food for pets across the EU:

FEDIAF call on policy makers to provide a supportive regulatory framework for pet food and insist that the industry must be considered a priority. They state it is key the industry retains access to energy and key ingredients such as Category 3 animal fats & feed additives.

The pet food sector has faced severe disruption caused by geopolitical developments. Russia’s war in the Ukraine has impacted energy supplies in addition to the availability of raw materials, which have in turn affected the pet food supply chain.

2. Pets play an important role in society:

FEDIAF call on everyone, including policy makers, to recognise the benefits of pet interaction and promote responsible pet ownership. They also call for policy makers to understand the critical role that good nutrition has to play in pet welfare.

91 million European households (46%) have a pet. All pets play an important role in society; they provide companionship in addition to developing unique and special bonds with their owners.

3. Sustainability from farm to bowl:

FEDIAF call on policy makers to recognise the value of the Pet Food industry in their contribution to a circular economy with the creation of a supportive regulatory environment. They also call for a harmonised approach to measuring ‘Product Environmental Footprint’ and support for our packaging and sustainability goals.

The Pet Food Industry is committed to the responsible use of resources and minimising our environmental impact. FEDIAF proudly partnered with the European Commission during the pilot phase of the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCRs), which we are currently updating. Some companies already use life cycle analysis on their products to substantiate their environmental claims. FEDIAF believe a harmonised and robust methodology is key in order to measure and improve our environmental impact plus it allows consumers to compare products. During Green claimsdirective discussions, we call on policymakers to strengthen recognition of this methodology and category rules across all EU member states to ensure a harmonized legislative approach.

Safety in Wet Pet Food Production

By Miriam Krechlok, Segment Marketing Manager, Mettler-Toledo Product Inspection

I n today’s pet-centric world, where our furry companions are considered family, pet owners expect top-notch quality and safety in their pets’ food. In fact, in a recent survey, almost all owners – 99% viewed their pet as ‘part of the family’1. Wet pet food manufacturers understand the importance of meeting these high standards while safeguarding their brand reputation. To achieve this, they rely on advanced Product Inspection technologies tailored to the unique challenges of wet pet food production and their different types of packaging like cans, pouches or glass.

Combating Rising Costs and Increased Productivity

Producing wet pet food at scale requires high manufacturing throughput without compromising on safety or quality. This delicate balance demands efficient processes that minimise downtime and maximise productivity. Product Inspection technologies play a crucial role in streamlining production, making sure that each step—from ingredient processing to packaging—is optimised for efficiency and safety. By detecting contaminants and facilitating compliance with regulatory standards, these technologies help manufacturers reduce costly recalls and uphold brand integrity.

Enhancing Product Safety and Quality Assurance

Safety is paramount in pet food production, mirroring the stringent regulations and compliance rules governing human food. Product Inspection technologies, including metal detection and x-ray inspection solutions, are instrumental in identifying foreign objects, as well as checkweighing systems to monitor fill level and weight, meaning that each batch of wet pet food meets the highest safety standards. Moreover, Product Inspection equipment is designed to accommodate harsh environments and rigorous washdown processes, minimising the risk of biological contamination. By conducting thorough quality assurance checks throughout the production process, manufacturers can confidently deliver safe and reliable products to pet owners worldwide.

Preserving Label Integrity and Offering Compliance

Package design and presentation plays a vital role in attracting consumers and safeguarding product integrity. Product Inspection technologies with vision inspection help manufacturers maintain label integrity by detecting defects such as misprints, smudges or inaccuracies.

This not only enhances the overall aesthetic appeal of the product but also meets regulatory compliance by accurately displaying crucial information such as ingredient lists, nutritional facts and expiration dates. By incorporating these advanced inspection systems into their production processes, manufacturers can uphold their commitment to quality and transparency, fostering trust among consumers and meeting regulatory standards with precision and efficiency.

Demonstrating Product Conformity – Case Study: Pro Pet

Pro Pet, a renowned manufacturer of premium cat and dog snacks based in Austria, showcases the critical role of hygienic design solutions in pet food manufacturing. Through the integration of advanced product inspection systems from Mettler-Toledo, Pro Pet defends the safety and reliability of its products across every stage of production. Utilising a range of Product Inspection technologies, including metal detection, x-ray inspection, checkweighing and data management software, Pro Pet meticulously safeguards its products from the grinding phase to the final packaging stage. These innovative systems not only identify foreign contaminants and maintain product integrity but also provide them with information to optimise production processes and for quality control, underscoring Pro Pet’s unwavering dedication to providing high-quality products.

“Weight is always an issue for us. Fluctuations inevitably arise during the production process – just think of the drying chambers – and these can also vary from one product batch to the next. That’s why we have to keep a close eye on it throughout the entire production line. The challenge is to optimise how processes are controlled so as to avoid excessive overfilling whilst also ensuring that none of the products fall below the specified fill weight”, says Markus Gillitschka, System Administrator at Pro Pet Austria. “The checkweighers from Mettler-Toledo provide us with important data for quality control and potential process optimisations – be it quantities, belt speeds, rework quantities or data for batch tracing in case of any complaints”.

“The x-rays give us a high degree of certainty when it comes to counting components such as cat sticks, as we are able to immediately identify packages containing too few pieces”, says Markus Gillitschka System Administrator at Pro Pet Austria. “If the minimum weight is not reached, the checkweigher will intervene and remove the product from the line”.

Since 2019, Pro Pet has been recording, monitoring and documenting the production data provided by the inspection systems using Mettler-Toledo ProdX™. In real time, ProdX™ monitors and reports on all production parameters such as quantities, weight and batch information, all data records on the quantity and cause of rejected product units, as well as any data relating to the control and performance tests of the inspection systems. The documentation requirements for audits are thus highly automated, saving both time and money. “This reduction of workload is something we could only dream of when we were still recording everything by hand”, recalls Markus Gillitschka. “And let’s face it: Even the auditor prefers not to receive manual records or Excel spreadsheets. A clear summary of all the data relevant to the audit, read out directly from the machine, is of a completely different calibre as a documentation method”.

Conclusion

Product Inspection technologies are indispensable tools in wet pet food production, providing manufacturers with the means to combat rising costs, increase productivity and achieve product safety and quality. These technologies aid in compliance with industry regulations and retailer codes of practice. By adhering to these guidelines and investing in advanced inspection solutions, manufacturers demonstrate their commitment to pet health and well-being for the furrier side of the family. For more information click visit www.mt.com/pi-petfoodeguide1

References

https://europeanpetfood.org/pet-food-facts/pet-food-trends/

Inspired Pet Nutrition announces £30+ million investment to expand capabilities and capacity in Thirsk and Kinmel factories respectively.

Yorkshire-based pet food company Inspired Pet Nutrition has announced an investment of over £30 million in new technologies designed to significantly expand technical capability, potential product range and capacity.

IPN has invested more than £6m at its wet food facility to more than double its capacity. The company has also invested close to £25m at its Thirsk-based factory to increase its technical capability, product range and use of fresh ingredients.

Embracing the latest technologies and state-of-the-art equipment, the company is investing to ensure its portfolio of brands and products are consistently offering the highest possible quality, taste, and healthy nutrition.

Despite this, two trends in the pet food industry are driving the need for investment: premiumisation and humanisation. Owners not only want the highest-quality nutrition for their pets but want to feed them recognisable ingredients and fresh recipes with high meat contents.

IPN, owner of brands including Harringtons and Wagg, is one of the UK businesses continuing to invest in capital despite a turbulent economy to ensure customers still find value for money in its family of brands; its wide portfolio ranging from affordable to uber premium ensures there’s an accessible option for every pet owner, no matter their individual price point.

Along with improving existing manufacturing processes, the investment will see the company upstreaming its supply chain; in doing so, IPN can ensure the use of the best quality ingredients.

It comes just months after Inspired Pet Nutrition celebrated 100 years in business, evolving from a family-founded animal feeds company in 1923 to where it is now, with great grandson of founder James R Page, Richard Page, at the helm as Chairman.

IPN acquired Pet Food UK in 2020, expanding its brand portfolio to include Barking Heads, Meowing Heads and AATU. It recently

announced the achievement of becoming a £200m sales business, with ambitions of exceeding £500m of sales within the next five years.

Chief Operating Officer Anthony Stones comments on what the investment represents for the business:

“This valuable investment represents IPN’s core values in providing accessible, affordable nutrition. We’ve been developing our recipes and portfolio of brands for a century now and are constantly looking for ways to improve our offering for pet parents. By investing in our technical capabilities and upstreaming our supply chain, we have better control over the quality of our recipes and greater traceability of our ingredients.

“Alongside this, we’re increasing the size of our technical team and will have a new laboratory. We’re also investing in real-time testing equipment – and all this means that there’s continuous improvements both to our products and manufacturing processes.

“Our mission has always been to offer the best quality product possible for any given price point to consumers, and this investment represents our desire to constantly improve on this proposition with a sole intention – to keep pets healthy and owners happy.”

BELLA & DUKE APPOINTS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Rosyth-based pet food and wellbeing company, Bella & Duke, announced the appointment of James Sturrock as Chief Executive. The news comes as former CEO and co-founder Mark Scott moves to a non-executive director role.

Following a record-breaking year as the company, which delivered over 15 million of its meals across the UK in 2023, Sturrock will lead the company as it moves to its next chapter of growth and development.

Sturrock joins Bella & Duke with a wealth of experience overseeing periods of growth in revenue and profitability with disruptor brands Moonpig and Eve sleep, and most recently overseeing the digital transformation and significant growth as Group CEO at flooring retailer Tapi Carpets & Floors. Sturrock joins Bella & Duke to support the company in achieving its ambitious goals in the industry.

Mark Scott, who Founded Bella & Duke with Tony Ottley in 2016, has seen the business expand from just two people at Blairgowrie to 133 employees and was named among the Most Ambitious Business Leaders in the UK, as one of just five businesses in Scotland named in the 2023 LDC Top 50 list. The LDC Top 50 list celebrates the entrepreneurs reshaping the way business is done, to address the needs of a rapidly changing world.

Bella & Duke were also named Manufacturer of the Year 2023 at the recent Pet Industry Federation Awards 2023, having brought manufacturing in house only 2 years ago. The industry awards recognise and celebrate excellence within the pet industry, showcasing the remarkable individuals and businesses who uphold the highest standards of quality that drive the industry forward.

James Sturrock commented: “Joining Bella & Duke and taking on the role of Chief Executive is a privilege and incredibly exciting. It has been fantastic to witness the growth of the company in the past seven years, since Mark and Tony founded it in 2016, and my role will focus on building on this momentum.”

Mark Scott, Founder at Bella & Duke, said; “Since starting Bella & Duke with Tony back in 2016 it has been a long but incredibly rewarding experience seeing our vision grow year on year, and I will still be heavily involved in the business. As a business that is purpose-led, with an incredible team and loyal community, it was really important to us to protect that, which is why James was the perfect choice with his excellent experience and customer centric approach. This is an incredibly exciting time for the business, and I’m delighted to be welcoming James to Bella & Duke as we embark on our next chapter.”

ASSISI PET CARE ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF BURNS PET NUTRITION

The Directors of Assisi Pet Care Group Limited are delighted to announce the acquisition Burns Pet Nutrition, for an undisclosed sum.

Burns Pet Nutrition was founded 30 years ago by John Burns MBE. A qualified vet, John Burns developed formulations which are focussed on pet health, in order to solve the common problems that he was seeing in his vet practice. Today, the Burns brand of pet food is well known for its high quality dry and wet dog food products as well as its recently introduced range of products for cats.

Peter Mangion, founder and CEO of Assisi Pet Care said: “We are delighted to be adding the highly regarded Burns brand to the Assisi portfolio of brands but are equally pleased to be welcoming the fantastic Burns Pet Nutrition team to our organisation. The Burns brand is a perfect fit for Assisi in that animal health and well-being are central to the brand’s proposition. I am delighted that through this acquisition, we will add some excellent people in product development, marketing, sales, finance and operations functions, based in Kidwelly, Wales. We look forward to working with our new colleagues as we integrate the Burns brand into the Assisi portfolio and strengthen our offer to our customers across Europe. The acquisition of Burns Pet Nutrition is the first transaction since the recent investment in Assisi by Wind Point Partners and signals our commitment to execute on our growth strategy in the European Pet Care market”.

John Burns, founder of Burns Pet Nutrition said: “After 30 years of owning and growing Burns Pet Nutrition I feel that is time for me to retire and hand over the reins. It has been a joyful and, at times, difficult journey I have had a great deal of support from many people and organisations over the years and I would like to extend my grateful thanks to all of them.

I am delighted that Assisi Pet Care is a good fit for Burns and they will grow the Burns brand in a responsible, ethical way.”

MARS AND DIGITALIS VENTURES LAUNCH $300M FUND TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PETS

Mars, Incorporated and Digitalis Ventures have announced the launch of Companion Fund II, a $300 million dollar venture capital fund that will back founders whose companies are leveraging breakthrough science, technology and design to improve the lives of pets, pet owners and veterinarians. This second fund follows the first Companion Fund, a $100m fund launched in 2018.

Loïc Moutault, Global President Mars Petcare said: “Our goal is to support pet care founders accelerating the trajectory of startups, helping to fuel the growth of pet care businesses and to contribute to the future of the pet care industry. We’re excited to support entrepreneurs and innovators in creating new products and services that deliver on our purpose: ‘A Better World for Pets.’”

Companion Fund II will provide venture capital to a range of enterprises developing veterinary diagnostics, veterinary medicine,

information technologies, online platforms and more. The new fund will be independently managed by Digitalis Ventures focusing on both early and growth-stage startups with an ambition to support portfolio companies with differentiated expertise throughout their development while allowing them to maintain their independence, speed, and flexibility.

“With our second Companion Fund, we are eager to support the next wave of great ideas for advancing animal health at scale,” said Geoffrey W. Smith, Founder and Managing Partner of Digitalis Ventures. “Our partnership with Mars makes these advances possible.”

Since its inception, Companion Fund has quickly become one of the world’s leading investment funds for early-stage pet care start-ups, with investments in innovative companies such as Smalls, MySimplePetLab and Scratch. Companion Fund II will support even more startups through their growth phases – confirming Mars’ ongoing commitment to support pet care innovators and its long-term partnership with Digitalis Ventures.

Plans are for the Fund to invest in animal health companies based primarily in the United States and Europe. Digitalis Ventures is encouraging founders of early-stage animal health firms seeking venture capital to visit: digitalisventures.com/animal-health for more information.

BURGESS PET CARE LANDS MAJOR LISTINGS WITH MORRISONS

Burgess Pet Care has landed several new listings for Excel, its food for small animals, with fellow Yorkshire-based Morrisons.

From mid-March, six new SKUs including Burgess Rabbit Nuggets with Mint, Burgess Guinea Pig Nuggets with Mint, Forage and Feast Hay Bars and Luscious Leaves will land on Morrisons’ shelves across hundreds of stores nationwide, with an in-store media plan to complement the launch and future promotional activity.

The expansion of the Burgess Excel range in Morrisons comes due to the supermarket’s informed decision to remove muesli-based small animal pet food from its shelves, in line with Burgess’ ‘Stamp out Selective Feeding’ initiative.

Annabel Coleman, Burgess Excel Brand Manager, said: “We couldn’t be happier that Morrisons has chosen to expand the Burgess Excel range across hundreds of its UK stores, coinciding with Excel’s 25th anniversary this year. Our nuggets have been specifically produced to prevent selective feeding and help to keep small pets happy and healthy. We are also incredibly pleased that Morrisons has taken the decision to remove Muesli-based products from its shelves, helping us and small animal owners to continue feeding our small animals correctly.”

UK START-UP SELECTED TO JOIN PRESTIGIOUS PURINA ACCELERATOR PROGRAMME

Purina has unveiled that UK start-up PetInstincts is one of eight participants in its ‘Unleashed by Purina’ accelerator programme. The programme, now in its fifth year, supports and propels new generations of disruptive pet-tech and pet-care start-ups, to help fulfil their potential.

The Unleashed programme is powered by the Purina Accelerator Lab. By offering resources to start-ups that are integrating technology into pet-care products and services in novel and innovative ways, the Lab contributes to the growth of the pet-care start-up ecosystem.

Purina provides each start-up on the Unleashed programme with a personalized scaling package that includes business and technology assistance tailored to their specific stage of growth. The companies also receive expert coaching and access to Purina’s deep commercial insights to help drive their growth.

The programme lasts 20 weeks, with mentoring and support offered from a range of Purina experts alongside industry experts. Drawing on almost 130 years of Purina history and powerful R&D and commercial capabilities, the programme includes a structured and funded project of up to £44,600 (CHF 50,000)1 per start-up to help them realise their ambitions.

Anil Puri, founder and director of PetInstincts, added: “I’m so incredibly honoured to be a part of the Unleashed cohort. It’s unbelievable to think that the startup that I dreamed up at university, is now partnering with one of the global leaders in our industry. For us, this level of recognition, support, and collaboration at such a scale means everything. During the programme we’ll be working on some very exciting projects, diving down the rabbit hole of pet care and co-creating the wonderland that is a future where pets and their owners worldwide are happier and healthier.”

Calum Macrae, Director for Purina UK&I, said: “As we navigate a post-pandemic world, support for pets and their owners is more important than ever. With many pet owners returning to work spaces rather than working at home, the innovative use of tech solutions by PetInstincts to make sure our pets are happy when we can’t be with them all the time, is so valuable. I’m really proud that Purina is actively supporting great new entrepreneurial ideas like these, which ultimately will help improve the lives of pets and the people who love them, through our innovative Unleashed programme. I look forward to seeing the 2024 cohort grow through the programme.”

The start-ups participating in Unleashed by Purina 2024 include:

• Pezz Life Vienna, Austria: Easy-to-use, at-home diagnostics and preventative care for your pet’s healthy life

• Petexplorer Athens, Greece: Modern online marketplace for pet parents, seamless connection with pet care industry professionals

• PetInstincts London, UK: Smart enrichment tools for easier and happier lives for pets and their owners

• Arbiom Paris, France: Sylpro, high quality and sustainable protein ingredient for your pets

• Sylvester AI Calgary, Canada: Every day visual pain assessment, bringing cats and their caregivers closer together

• CuidaMiMascota Monterrey, Mexico: Connecting pets with trusted sitters: your convenience, their well-being

• Zazuu Sao Paolo, Brazil: The go-to app for all pet-related needs

• ZumVet Singapore: Personalised vetcare from the comfort of your home

Unleashed success stories

Since its inception, Unleashed has accelerated 33 start-ups, including BorrowMyDoggy, a UK startup who connect dog owners with local dog borrowers for walks, weekends and holidays were able to expand and develop different areas of their business, including accelerating their B2B offer as part of ‘Unleashed’.

Dogami, a Swiss entertainment company was part of the 2023 programme, developed a mobile-first web3 game featuring dog avatars and has now experienced exponential growth in customer base, celebrating five million races completed.

Since participating in Unleashed, VetChip, an animal health monitoring business, has secured series A Funding. The business had also accelerated the development of its technology and is continuing to expand having established two technology trial sites in the US with plans to bring more online in the next 12 months.

To find out more about Unleashed by Purina, please visit: www. unleashedbypurina.com.

MANAGEMENT CHANGES AT FISH4PETS

Fish4Pets Ltd. has announced that Graham Smith, who has been with the organisation for thirteen years, retired as CEO in December. His successor, Sarah Fowler, took over the role of CEO on 1st March 2023. Sarah has had a very successful career in the pet industry, having previously worked as Commercial Director with Vital Pet Products, and joined Fish4Pets five years ago as Sales Director.

Since Graham’s appointment as CEO in 2010, Fish4Pets has experienced impressive year-on-year growth, and now exports to over 30 countries. Thanks to major investments from new investors, DSD, and existing shareholder FKRA in Norway, the UK-based organisation opened a state-of-art warehouse and office facility in 2022 and has made 23 new hires in various strategic roles support the company’s impressive future growth plans.

Simon Nagle also joins the organisation as Chief Commercial Officer and Global VP of Sales to replace Sarah and support continued worldwide sales development.

Graham will remain in the company supporting Sarah, managing specific regions, and maintaining his position as a statutory director in the company’s supervisory board until his retirement.

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