Puppy Nutrition for Healthy Growth and Development

Ensuring a Good Start Puppy nutrition for healthy growth and development

By Sarah-Jane Godfrey, DSM Nutritional Products

The growing period for the puppy, as it is for all animals, is a delicate stage of life. To grow up normally the puppy requires the correct intake of energy, amino acids, fats, macro and micro minerals and also vitamins right from the point of conception. Balanced and optimal nutrition of the puppy with these key nutrients supports normal organ, skeletal, muscle, brain, eye and neural development, in addition to the development and function of the immune system. Nutritional support of the young gastrointestinal tract is also vital to help set up a balanced gut microflora, which is increasingly known to be essential for good all-round health. The precise nutrition of the puppy at the start of their life is their foundation for a long and healthy life as an adult dog.

Puppy Growth

Dogs are amazing! As altricial species, puppies are born blind, deaf, helpless and completely dependent on their mother, yet by the time they have reached adulthood they have increased their body weight by 40 or 50 times that of their birth weight (1). After birth they go through 3 critical stages of life in their first 12 months - the nursing stage, the weaning stage and post weaning stage. Each of these stages bring their own nutritional challenges (2,3).

The nursing stage

During their first few weeks of life puppies spend much of their time sucking milk and sleeping. Once their eyes have opened, normally between 12 to 14 days of age, and the ears by day 20, by day 21 they are well on their way to starting learning about their new world and how to socialise. For the first few weeks of life, puppies are entirely reliant on their mothers’ milk, the quantity and composition of which are affected by the quality of the nutrition that she received during late gestation, and of course, during the present lactation period.

To meet the bitch’s changing needs for energy and other key nutrients, and the development of her nutritionally dependent puppies, pre and postnatally, she must be fed an appropriate amount of food according to the stage of pregnancy or lactation and pup numbers being reared. Nutritionally balanced, all-breed complete puppy diets, or all-life stage foods, rich in quality proteins and essential fats, plus essential minerals and vitamins are considered suitable for the breeding bitch. Feeding the bitch in late pregnancy a calcium supplement is contra indicated as the increased requirement will be met by increased food intakes required in late pregnancy and lactation.

During the last third of gestation, the bitch’s energy requirements and proportionally the protein requirements, increase significantly, rising to 40-60% above maintenance. Practically this means increasing the food intake from those maintenance levels fed during weeks one to six of gestation up to 1.4 and eventually 1.6 times maintenance just before whelping, which is likely at the end of week 9. Often feeding twice per day, or more, is helpful as stomach fill of the bitch may be limited with a large litter. Through early and peak lactation the bitch will again benefit, particularly with a large litter, from being be fed multiple times per day to allow her to take in the large volumes of food required to sustain the huge increase in nutrient demands during these critical time points (4). The bitch’s energy requirements can be calculated using the equations described in Table 1 (5). However, a simplified general rule of thumb during lactation is to feed maintenance levels of food plus 0.55 times maintenance per puppy being reared.

Table 1: Equations for the calculation of the energy requirement for the reproducing bitch

Energy Requirement of the Bitch (kcal/day) Gestation

first 4 weeks of gestation last 5 weeks of gestation 132 kcal/kg BW 0.75

132 kcal/kg BW 0.75 + 26 kcal/kg BW

1 to 4 puppies 5 to 8 puppies

Lactation 145/kg BW 0.75 + 24 n x kg BW x L 145/kg BW 0.75 + (96 + 12 n) x kg BW x L n = number of puppies; L = 0.75 in week 1 of lactation; 0.95 in week 2; 1.1 in week 3 and 1.2 in week 4

The weaning stage

When it comes to the puppy, up to 3 to 4 weeks of age the bitch’s milk is normally sufficient to sustain the nutrient needs for growth; thereafter this is not the case. While suckling even very young puppies will drink water, so it is important that puppies have free access to fresh water

when suckling and during the weaning process to avoid dehydration, which is fatal. Puppies soon learn to drink it! To start a gradual weaning process, along with free access to fresh water, a softened gruel of a complete puppy food should therefore be introduced. As the gastrointestinal tract adapts from a milk based diet to a normal solid diet, the amount of water added to the gruel can be reduced so that by 6 weeks of age the puppies are fully transferred to a nutritionally dense puppy food. Healthy puppies will be eating well between 5-6 weeks of age and weaned by 6-7 weeks, but should not leave their mother for new homes until at least 8 weeks of age (2, 6).

The post weaning stage

Once the puppy has completely left its mother, it enters the post weaning stage. It is very important not to coincide weaning and leaving the dam with a change to the diet. Keeping the puppy on the same puppy food until they are established in their new homes is very important, to help manage the risk of digestive disturbance. Proper feeding of the puppy according to its adult size, breed and the age at which maturity is attained, is essential. Toy, small breeds and medium breeds reach adulthood between 9-12 months, whereas large and giant dog breeds are not considered mature until 18 to 24 months of age (7). The energy requirements of puppies can be calculated according to stage of growth versus their adult weight by using the equations described in Table 2 (5).

Table 2. Determination of the energy requirement of a growing puppy

Puppy Stage of Growth (% of adult weight) New Born Up to 50% 50 to 80 % 80 to 100 % Energy requirement kcal/kg BW 0.75

25 kcal/100 g BW 210 kcal/kg

0.75

175 kcal/kg

0.75

140 kcal/kg

0.75

The daily food allowance of the puppy should be adjusted accordingly so that the puppy follows a normal growth curve, according to its expected adult weight. Puppy weight can be plotted against published growth charts to check it is progressing in the expected way. (https://www.waltham.com/resources/waltham-growth-charts/ (6)

Strong Skeletal Development

Diet, genetics and the environment are all factors that can impact on puppy skeletal development, and when issues occur, the condition known as developmental orthopaedic disease (DOD) (8) can arise, particularly in large breed puppies. This is a condition associated with irregular synthesis of the cartilage, improper bone-remodelling and growth of low density bone, resulting in bone deformity, joint swelling and pain. High protein intake, in itself, is not as previously believed a factor linked to DOD (9). Excess energy intake or over nutrition is the issue, as it exacerbates rapid early bone growth rate, increases remodelling rates and consequently the development of low density bone, less able to support a heavy and very active puppy (10,11). In

addition to excessive energy intake, high calcium intake is well known to predispose the large breed puppy to DOD (12,13). Whilst only detected on x-ray, bone changes have been reported in smaller breed beagles when fed excess dietary calcium, indicating other genetic predisposition for DOD (14). Feeding a calcium supplement in addition to a correctly formulated puppy diet is therefore not required and detrimental to any puppy’s long term skeletal health.

In the case of insufficient calcium intake, and, or excessive dietary phosphorous intake, nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism occurs (15). This leads to poor mineralisation of the bones and softening as calcium is released. Vitamin D is also essential for normal calcium and phosphorus homeostasis in the body, and therefore bone mineralisation. Dogs have low levels of 7-dehydrocholesterol in their skin, which means their ability to convert the 7-dehydrocholesterol that is present, to cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) is highly inefficient (16). Incidences of bone development issues and rickets are reported in the literature where puppies have been raised on unbalanced diets, with inappropriate mineral and inadequate vitamin D content (17). It therefore is clear that attaining the correct dietary calcium intake is essential, along with phosphorous and vitamin D to build strong joints and bones in the growing puppy.

It is however important to remember that many other nutrients are also required for normal bone development. Zinc, along with phosphorus and magnesium form a complex with calcium in the bone matrix and is a co-factor in around 200 enzymes involved in cell replication, carbohydrate and protein metabolism. As a co-factor of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase, zinc is required for the mineralization bone (18). It is also known that diets containing excess calcium and phytate reduce the bioavailability of dietary zinc. Supplementation of puppy diets with a zinc chelate may therefore be of benefit in some circumstances to ensure zinc bioavailability (19,20) along with zinc sulphate which has been shown to be a superior zinc source compared with zinc oxide (21).

Copper supports normal collagen and elastin formation, through the copper dependent enzyme lysyl oxidase, with deficiency causing bone abnormalities in growing dogs (22,23). Manganese also supports normal bone formation by acting as a co-enzyme in glycosyl transferases in the metabolism of the ground substance for cartilage. Adequate

iodine intake is important for normal development of bone, in that it is required by the thyroid glands for production of thyroid hormones. The thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3) particularly and thyroxine (T4) supports normal cartilage maturation, capillary penetration and bone mineralisation (24). Vitamin A supports normal bone growth and metabolism, with deficiency leading to irregular remodelling of bone in the dog. Incidentally, excess vitamin A also negatively affects this process, so diets for reproduction and growth need to be appropriately supplemented (25).

Sharp Eyes and Sharp Brain Function

There is much publicity and evidence regarding the importance of omega 3’s for our health and wellbeing (26), particularly relating to the long chain polyunsaturated omega 3 fatty acid (LCPUFA-n3) called DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) for human mothers and their babies due to its essential role in neural and eye development (27). Its essentiality is the same for breeding bitches and growing puppies. Although DHA can be obtained through an elongation process from the shorter chain omega 3 ALA (alpha linolenic acid), it is inefficient, due to the presence of the omega-6 fatty acids that are converted to their corresponding active products via the same enzyme systems. Using ALA in the breeding bitch diet does not therefore effectively support optimal milk quality in terms of its essential DHA content (28). Feeding pre-formed DHA to the bitch, and to the puppy post weaning is therefore the preferred nutritional strategy when it comes to delivering the optimal nourishment required to ensure optimal retinal, visual and neural development, and is a nutrient linked to the improved trainability of puppies (29,30,31).

The Immune Gap

The new-borns’ immune system is immature. They are initially reliant on the antibodies transmitted by the mother during gestation. After about 4-8 weeks after birth the count of antibodies provided by the mother falls below a protection threshold, whilst the immune system of the puppy is barely developed, resulting in an immunity gap. Within subsequent weeks young animals develop their own immune system in response to antigenic stress. In order to allow the immune system to optimally respond during the early weeks, appropriate nutrition for the mother during gestation as well as the puppy during the early neonatal and growth period is essential.

Antioxidants are well known to help support the immune system function. Ascorbic acid levels are high in phagocytic cells. Macrophages and neutrophils generate free radicals when stimulated as part of the normal immune response, this is called the oxidative burst and is used to kill bacterial pathogens. The immune response can deplete the body’s antioxidant levels without adequate dietary antioxidants. Free radicals, produced by the oxidative burst by macrophages, if unchecked can cause damage to the immune cells and reduce their functionality. Ascorbic acid can help protect these cells from oxidative damage (32), along with vitamin E. Neutrophils from vitamin E deficient animals have been shown to have increased amounts of peroxidized lipids in their membranes (33). Carotenoids also act as strong antioxidants, with beta-carotene supplementation shown to stimulate both cellular and humoral immune responses in young dogs (34). Taurine is also a nutrient which should be considered important for normal immune function due to its antioxidant properties (35).

Effective immune support is about providing a complementary balance of essential dietary antioxidants and associated other nutrients. Dietary support may directly affect antioxidant availability, for example vitamin E, indirectly through a failure to support the maintenance of antioxidant enzyme systems through selenium dependent glutathione peroxidase (36). Any shortfall in the maintenance of the antioxidant chain can result, for example in the failure of the reduction of the vitamin E radical back to vitamin E, though vitamin C, thus leaving it as a prooxidant. This is why there is a need for a cocktail of antioxidants, with other essential nutrients, present in a system rather than any single supplemental antioxidant to excess. Supplementation with a cocktail of antioxidants has been demonstrated to support a better immune response in puppies when vaccinated, confirmed by an increase the number of memory T cells (37).The AOX combination consisted of vitamin E at 500 IU/kg dry matter (DM), vitamin C at 70 mg/kg DM, beta-carotene (0.4 mg/kg DM) and selenium (0.8 mg/kg DM). In addition to antioxidants, other nutrients required for normal immune cell function and modulation include vitamin D, vitamin A, B6, B12, folic acid, zinc, iron, copper, magnesium and also omega 3 fatty acids (38,39). There are clearly reported benefits of the use of beta glucan in puppy feeding to enhance response to vaccination (40). Complementary antioxidants and other specific nutrients therefore have an important role to play in development and normal function of the immune system of the young puppy.

Securing Digestive Stability

Establishment of a healthy and stable gut microflora in early life is important. The gut microflora is now known not just to affect the nutritional status or gastro-intestinal (GI) tract health as is, but has wide reaching effects on developmental, immunological, and other physiologic processes in animals, thereby contributing to the lifetime health of the host (41). Until a puppy has established a stable gut microflora and its immature gut and associated enzyme secretions have correspondingly adapted from the requirement to digest a milk protein, lactose based diet to a solid one, with new nutrient sources, a

puppy is at risk of digestive upset. The use of prebiotic fibres that can be fermented and utilised as an energy source by the bacterial species associated with good gut health, such as lactobacilli, is one way to help in the establishment of a more stable gut microflora and better immunity, leaving the host more able to resist infection by pathogenic species (42, 43, 44). In addition to this effect, the fermentation of prebiotics results in increased production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) which can be used by the enterocytes as an energy supply (45). Commonly used prebiotics in pet nutrition include inulin, fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS), short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS) and xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS). Mannan-oligosaccharides, derived from yeast cell walls are also widely used in pet food diets and have the ability to agglutinate and interfere with intestinal binding and colonization of harmful microbial species, promotion of the immune response and beneficial modulation of the microbial population in the gut (46). The use of FOS and MOS together has been demonstrated to give complementary benefits in terms of their effects on measures of gut and immune health (47). It therefore makes sense to use combination of complementary prebiotic sources in puppy diets to better support overall gut health and puppy wellbeing.

Pet owner needs for puppy diets

A DSM survey (2015) found that American dog owners linked early life nutrition of their pets to the promotion of good health in later life (Figure 1). They also strongly agreed that puppies need a special diet to grow into healthy adult dogs, linking advanced nutrition to a long life. It therefore makes sense for pet food brand owners to invest in the latest nutritional science to increase their brands’ appeal to the new pet parent seeking the best food options for their new puppy, just as they would for their child. Pet owner lifetime brand loyalty starts with a pet food delivering its nutritional promises right from the start.

Figure 1: Responses of US dog owners to a DSM survey examining pet parent attitudes to feeding puppies (% agreement with the statement)

Summary

Combined with the correct training and socialisation in the early weeks and months of life, it is clear that the optimal supply of key nutrients is required to help the puppy to grow up into a healthy and happy member of the family. To check that your premix and puppy foods deliver the right nutrition that they should, along with the healthy benefits that pet parents want, please speak to your local DSM representative on how to “Support a Good Start”.

References

1. Wortinger, Ann, and Kara Burns. Nutrition and Disease management for veterinary technicians and nurses. John Wiley & Sons, 2015 p.113. 2. Debraekeleer, Jacques, Kathy L. Gross, and Steven C. Zicker. “Feeding

Nursing and Orphaned Puppies from Birth to Weaning.” Small Animal Clinical

Nutrition, ed 5 (2010): Chapter 16, p295 - 309. 3. Shaw, Julie, and Debbie Martin, eds. Canine and feline behavior for veterinary technicians and nurses. John Wiley & Sons, 2014 p.44 4. Greco, Deborah S. “Nutritional supplements for pregnant and lactating bitches.” Theriogenology 70.3 (2008): 393-396. 5. FEDIAF. Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs. (Fédération Européenne de l’Industrie des Aliments pour

Animaux Familiers, March, 2018). 6. https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health/for-breeders/taking-care-of-yourpuppy-from-birth-to-weaning/ 7. Linda P. Case, Leighann Daristotle, Michael G. Hayek, Melody Foess

Raasch,Chapter 22 - Growth,Editor(s): Linda P. Case, Leighann Daristotle,

Michael G. Hayek, Melody Foess Raasch, Canine and Feline Nutrition (Third

Edition), Mosby, 2011, Pages 221-237 8. Larsen, Jennifer. “Feeding large-breed puppies.” Compend Cont Educ Vet 32 (2010): E1-E4. 9. Nap, Richard C., et al. “Growth and skeletal development in Great Dane pups fed different levels of protein intake.” The Journal of nutrition 121.suppl_11 (1991): S107-S113 10. Hedhammar, Ake, F. M. Wu, and L. Krook. “Overnutrition and skeletal disease: an experimental study in growing Great Dane dogs. X. Discussion.” Cornell veterinarian (1974). 11. Dämmrich K. Relationship between nutrition and bone growth in large and giant dogs. J Nutr. 1991;121(11 Suppl):S114-S121. 12. Lauten SD, Cox NR, Brawner WR Jr, et al. Influence of dietary calcium and phosphorus content in a fixed ratio on growth and development in Great Danes.

Am J Vet Res. 2002;63(7):1036-1047. doi:10.2460/ajvr.2002.63.1036 13. Goedegebuure, S. A., and H. A. W. Hazewinkel. “Morphological findings in young dogs chronically fed a diet containing excess calcium.” Veterinary pathology 23.5 (1986): 594-605. 14. Dobenecker, B., et al. “Calcium-excess causes subclinical changes of bone growth in Beagles but not in Foxhound-crossbred dogs, as measured in

X-rays.” Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition 90.9-10 (2006): 394-401. 15. Cline, Jill. “Calcium and vitamin d metabolism, deficiency, and excess.” Topics in companion animal medicine 27.4 (2012): 159-164. 16. Krook L, Whalen JP. Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism in the animal kingdom: report of two cases. Clin Imaging. 2010;34(6):458-461. 17. Tal M, Parr JM, MacKenzie S, Verbrugghe A. Dietary imbalances in a large breed puppy, leading to compression fractures, vitamin D deficiency, and suspected nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism. Can Vet J. 2018;59(1):36-42. 18. Rossi, Laura, et al. “Reduced growth and skeletal changes in zinc-deficient growing rats are due to impaired growth plate activity and inanition.” The

Journal of nutrition 131.4 (2001): 1142-1146. 19. Wedekind, Karen J., and Stephen R. Lowry. “Are organic zinc sources efficacious in puppies?.” The Journal of nutrition 128.12 (1998): 2593S2595S. 20. Lowe, John A., Julian Wiseman, and D. J. A. Cole. “Zinc source influences zinc retention in hair and hair growth in the dog.” The Journal of nutrition 124. suppl_12 (1994): 2575S-2576S. 21. Wedekind, K. J., A. E. Hortin, and D. H. Baker. “Methodology for assessing zinc bioavailability: efficacy estimates for zinc-methionine, zinc sulfate, and zinc oxide.” Journal of animal science 70.1 (1992): 178-187. 22. BAXTER JH, VAN WYK JJ. A bone disorder associated with copper deficiency.

I. Gross morphological, roentgenological, and chemical observations. Bull

Johns Hopkins Hosp. 1953;93(1):1-23. 23. Zentek, Jürgen, and Helmut Meyer. “Investigations on copper deficiency in growing dogs.” The Journal of nutrition 121.suppl_11 (1991): S83-S84. 24. Richardson DC, Zentek J, Hazewinkel et al. Developmental orthopedic disease of dogs. In: Hand MS, Thatcher CD, Remillard RL, et al., eds. Small animal clinical nutrition. 5th ed. Topeka, Kan: Mark Morris Institute, 2010; 667-693. 25. National Research Council. Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats.

Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. 2006. p 197 26. Shahidi, Fereidoon, and Priyatharini Ambigaipalan. “Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and their health benefits.” Annual review of food science and technology 9 (2018): 345-381. 27. Mun, Jonathan G., et al. “Choline and DHA in Maternal and Infant Nutrition:

Synergistic Implications in Brain and Eye Health.” Nutrients 11.5 (2019): 1125. 28. Bauer JE, Heinemann KM, Bigley KE, Lees GE, Waldron MK. (2004) Maternal

Diet α-Linolenic Acid during Gestation and Lactation Does Not Increase

Docosahexaenoic Acid in Canine Milk . J Nutr 134:2035S-2038S.

29. Heinemann KM, Waldron MK, Bigley KE, Lees GE, Bauer JE. (2005) Long

Chain (n-3) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Are More Efficient than α-Linolenic

Acid in Improving Electroretinogram Responses of Puppies Exposed during

Gestation, Lactation, and Weaning. J Nutr 135: 1960-1966. 30. Bauer JE, Heinemann KM, Lees GE, Waldron MK. (2006) Retinal Functions of Young Dogs Are Improved and Maternal Plasma Phospholipids Are Altered with Diets Containing Long-Chain n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids during

Gestation, Lactation, and after Weaning. J Nutr 136:1991S-1994S. 31. Zicker SC. Jewell DE. Yamka RM. Milgram NW. (2012) Evaluation of cognitive learning, memory, psychomotor, immunologic, and retinal functions in healthy puppies fed foods fortified with docosahexaenoic acid-rich fish oil from 8 to 52 weeks of age. JAVMA 241:583-594. 32. McDowell, Lee Russell. Vitamins in animal and human nutrition. John Wiley & Sons, 2008. 33. Bendich, Adrianne. “Antioxidant micronutrients and immune responses.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 587.1 (1990): 168-180 34. Chew, Boon P., et al. “Dietary β-carotene stimulates cell-mediated and humoral immune response in dogs.” The journal of nutrition 130.8 (2000): 1910-1913. 35. Marcinkiewicz, Janusz, and Ewa Kontny. “Taurine, taurine derivatives and immune system.” Taurine in health and disease, Transworld Research

Network (2011): 000-000. 36. Sharadamma, K. C., et al. “Role of selenium in pets health and nutrition: A review.” Asian Journal of Animal Sciences 5.1 (2011): 64-70. 37. Khoo, C., et al. “The role of supplementary dietary antioxidants on immune response in puppies.” Vet Ther 6.1 (2005): 43-56. 38. Gombart, Adrian F., Adeline Pierre, and Silvia Maggini. “A Review of

Micronutrients and the Immune System–Working in Harmony to Reduce the

Risk of Infection.” Nutrients 12.1 (2020): 236. 39. Kearns, Robert J., et al. “Effect of age, breed and dietary omega-6 (n-6): omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid ratio on immune function, eicosanoid production, and lipid peroxidation in young and aged dogs.” Veterinary Immunology and

Immunopathology 69.2-4 (1999): 165-183. 40. Haladová, Eva, et al. “Immunomodulatory effect of glucan on specific and nonspecific immunity after vaccination in puppies.” Acta Veterinaria Hungarica 59.1 (2011): 77-86. 41. Hooda, Seema, et al. “Current state of knowledge: the canine gastrointestinal microbiome.” Animal health research reviews 13.1 (2012): 78-88. 42. Buddington, Randal K. “Postnatal changes in bacterial populations in the gastrointestinal tract of dogs.” American journal of veterinary research 64.5 (2003): 646-651. 43. Baffoni, Loredana. “Probiotics and Prebiotics for the Health of Companion

Animals.” Probiotics and Prebiotics in Animal Health and Food Safety.

Springer, Cham, 2018. 175-195. 44. Apanavicius, Carolyn J., et al. “Fructan supplementation and infection affect food intake, fever, and epithelial sloughing from Salmonella challenge in weanling puppies.” The Journal of nutrition 137.8 (2007): 1923-1930. 45. Barry, K. A., et al. “Low-level fructan supplementation of dogs enhances nutrient digestion and modifies stool metabolite concentrations, but does not alter fecal microbiota populations.” Journal of animal science 87.10 (2009): 3244-3252. 46. Swanson, KELLY S., and GEORGE C. FAHEY Jr. “The role of yeasts in companion animal nutrition.” Nutritional Biotechnology in the Feed and Food

Industries. Proceedings of Alltech’s 20th Annual Symposium: Re-imagining the Feed Industry. 2004. 47. Swanson, Kelly S., et al. “Supplemental fructooligosaccharides and mannanoligosaccharides influence immune function, ileal and total tract nutrient digestibilities, microbial populations and concentrations of protein catabolites in the large bowel of dogs.” The Journal of nutrition 132.5 (2002): 980-989.

Legal Disclaimer

DSM has used diligent care to ensure that the information provided herein is accurate and up-to-date, however, DSM makes no representation or warranty, either expressly or implied, of the accuracy, reliability, or completeness thereof. The information provided herein contains scientific and product information for business to business use and does not constitute or provide scientific or medical advice, diagnosis or recommendation for treatment. Country or region-specific information should be considered when labelling or advertising to final consumer. In no event shall DSM be liable for any damages arising from or reliance upon, or use of, any information provided herein. The content of this document is subject to change without further notice. Please contact your local DSM representative for further details. All trademarks listed in this document are either (registered) trademarks of, or trademarks licensed by, the DSM group of companies in the Netherlands and/or other countries, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

© DSM Nutritional Products Ltd 2020. DSM Nutritional Products AG, Wurmisweg 576, CH-4303 Kaiseraugst, Switzerland

Advanced control systems for Feed and Grain plants

Mill efficiencies through innovation

DSL Systems has been automating feed mills since 1979 and is now recognised as the UK market leader. Over the years, the solutions have become increasingly comprehensive and sophisticated to improve mill efficiency. DSL’s latest AutoPilot4Feed system can control all areas of a mill and may also include production planning, lot traceability, maintenance, driver self-service, warehouse tracking and mill performance (OEE) options. Please contact us to arrange a demonstration and find out how we can improve your mill.

Hassle-Free changeover Excellent 24 hour support

DSL Systems Ltd, Adbolton Lane, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 5AS, England. T: +44 (0) 115 981 3700 I E: mail@dsl-systems.com For efficient innovation at your fingertips go to www.dsl-systems.com

Good return on investment