GB2079579A - Dry pet foods - Google Patents

Abstract

A dry-type pet food having e.g. up to 10 per cent moisture content, which on re-constitution, before use, with water yields a palatable wet meat-like textured food having determined nutritional/vitamin content, is made either by mixing the ingredients and subsequently drying to the required moisture content, or by blending the dry ingredients. Specified components include meat, fish, bone, blood or soya bean meal, amino acids, milk or dairy by-products, cereals, starches, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, emulsifiers, coagulants and gelling or thickening agents e.g. seaweed, carrageenan, arrow root, CMC or locust bean, guar or xanthan gum.

Description

SPECIFICATION A pet food The present invention relates to the preparation of dry type pet foods which on re-constitution with water before use yield palatable wet meat-like textured foods with known dry matter contents.

Commercial pet foods for dogs and cats fall into four main categories namely (1) complete foods which are usually high in cereal content with protein contents normally ranging from 16 to 28% and oil or fat levels of 3 to 10% for dogs, and up to 30% protein with fat levels of 8 to 15% for cats. Such products are either fully 'expanded' through pressure cookers or contain high levels of steamed and flaked cereals, usually maize or wheat. They are normally fed in the dryform orwatercan be added to form agruel; (2) canned products prepared from wet waste meat offal, condensed whey, and such like waste material of varying composition. Sometimes cereals or starch products are added, and soya protein sometimes in 'textured' form may be added after hydration. Water is added to maintain very high moisture levels which can be as high as 85%.Gelling agents and thickeners are often added to impart textural qualities to the products. These are sealed in cans and cooked. No control can be exercised over the percentage moisture levelidry matter in individual cans. Such products are normally regarded by the purchaser as high protein 'meat' and in feeding are usually supplemented with household wastes, or cereal mixtures normally as a biscuit or other cooked type of cereal in the case of dogs. Cats are often given supplementary milk; (3) semi-moist products with moisture contents of around 25% usually made with soya protein, animal fat, waste meat offals, and a high level of sugar (sucrose) with various additional binders, thickeners, humectants and preservatives added.Such products often have a simulated 'meaty' appearance and again are usually supplemented with the feeding of cereals or household wastes; (4) 'brawns' normally vacuum packed and made from waste animal offal, with variable moisture contents but typically around 60%. Again they are regarded as the protein part of the diet and are supplemented with cereals and household wastes.

Providing sufficient information regarding their nutrients contents is known, dry foods (6-12% moisture range) enable the userto control with a fair degree of accuracty the dry matter intake, and thence the calorific intake, as well as the intake of vital protein and other essential nutrients of his animals. However, many people do not like feeding such foods to their pets. Apart from this, the main disadvantages of feeding household pets on dry, particularly expanded foods, is that the droppings condition can often be too soft; and the desired level of nutrient intake may not be achieved because some dogs apparently do not eat sufficient quantities to maintain a desired condition.

Disadvantages pertaining to canned products and brawns can be the variable composition, and more especially the very variable dry matter content of these products, more particularly oftheformer, which can vary widely from can to can even on the same product. Another obvious disadvantages relating to semi-moist products can be the use of materials (eg sucrose) which may not be in the best interest for the health and nutrition of the animal concerned.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of preparation of dry type pet foods for dogs and cats, the composition and nutritional value of which can be accurately controlled, which on reconstitution with water shortly prior to use yield wet meat-like textured foods of high palatability and in which the dry matter and moisture contents can be accurately controlled, thus enabling the user to control with a high degree of accuracy the nutrients intakes of animals so fed.

According to the present invention there is provided a method for the preparation of a dry type pet food comprising blending together foodstuff and feed supplements and partially drying the blend whereby there is obtained a dry type pet food which on re-constitution with water, before use, yields a wet meat-like food with determined nutritional/vitamin content.

According to the present invention there is provided a method for the preparation of a dry type pet food comprising blending a mixture of fats and oils, dried proteinaceous materials of animal and/or veg- etable origin, amino acids, dried milk products and/or dairy by-products, cereals, starches, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, emulsifiers, coagulants, and optionally, edible colouring materials and flavouring materials with a gelling agent and at least one thickening agent whilst maintaining a total moisture content of less than 10% by weight and a pH of not more than 7.

The products are prepared by blending mixtures of fats and or oils, dried proteinaceous materials (in the raw, texturised, heat treated, or pre-cooked forms) of animal and or vegetable origin, amino acids, dried milk products and or dairy by products, raw or cooked and dried cereals and their byproducts, starches, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, edible colouring materials if considered necessary and flavouring materials if considered necessary, to desired nutritional specifications.

The moisture content of the dry product is kept by selection of the contents under 10 per cent, typically around 5%. Admixing suitable gelling, and where necessary, thickening agents in amounts appropriate to a given product depending on the absorbancy of the other constituents, so as to yield on cooling, when mixed with specified quantities of hot water, wet meat-like products of high palatability. The products may be of the concentrated protein/fat/mineral/vitamin supplement type for feeding as a supplement to household wastes or cereal type foods, or alternatively may be of the 'complete' type in which raw or pre-cooked cereals and their byproducts are included in the product.

The preferred gelling agent is carrageenan which may be used in the crude form of washed seaweed or as the conventional carrageenan extracts of commerce, and is added in amounts ranging from 0.5 per cent to 3% by weight, depending on the composition of the basal mixture or specification. The choice of thickening agents found suitable is wide having been determined bytheirsmall bulk/thicken ing properties and may be selected but not exclu sively from, for example, arrowroot (1-3% by weight), carboxy methylcelluloses (1-1.5% by weight), and gums such as locust bean gum (carob gum), guar gum and xantham gum in quantities ranging from 0.5 per cent to 2% by weight depend ing on the degree ofthickening required in any given composition. The pH of the material is kept below 7.

The product is prepared by adding to a known weight of the dry mix hot water at temperatures ranging from 80"C to 100"C, preferentially boiling water, in amounts from two to three times the weight of dry material, depending on the final moisture content desired, stirring until thickening occurs in 20-60 seconds, and leaving to cool.

Gelation occurs within a few minutes and the meat-like composition so formed is ready for feeding when cool or up to 48 hours later.

The moisture content of the final products can be accurately held at any desired level between 65 and 75 per cent of the product simply by knowing the weight of dry-matter used and the amount of water added.

Some vitamins are readily destroyed by the heating involved in the cooking of food products and the cooking time as well as the temperatures involved are known to be critical. Vitamin assays on the products described have shown there and the relatively low temperatures employed as hereinbefore stated.

Typical analyses after mixing a 100 gramportion of the dry product with 300 g of boiling water are given below: Wet Product (expressed on dry Dry Product matter basis) VitaminA 15i.u/g 13.1 i.u/g Vitamin E (as alpha tocopherol) 54 mg/kg 51 mg/kg Thiamine 25 mg/kg 20.5 mg/kg Moisture content 5.2% 75.6% Tests with animals have shown excellent growth results. The firmness of the droppings has been a noteworthy feature in all the tests. In many cases especially with dogs, an improvement in hair coat condition has been observed, with much reduced hair fall. Normal whelpings have occured with bitches fed the products over prolonged periods.

The invention will now be described by way of the following examples: EXAMPLE 1 The following mixture was blended: dried beef pieces with herring meal, full fat dried milk and soya bean meal extract. When a homogeneous mixture was obtained, ground flaked maize was blended into the mixture followed by dry beef tallow of feed grade.

Other components were then added to give a final 'dry' mixture composition as follows:- COMPONENT PER CENT BY WEIGHT Dried Beef Pieces 50.00 Herring Meal 15.00 Fatfilled Milk 10.00 Soya Bean Meal (Ext.) 10.00 Ground Flaked Maize 7.475 Feed Grade Tallow 2.00 Dicalcium Phosphate 2.00 Limestone Flour 1.00 Vitamin Supplement 0.50 Carrageenan 1.00 Carob Gum 1.00 Colouring Agen 0.025 100.00 When mixed with hot water at a temperature of from 80 degrees Cto 100 degrees C in an amount of 3 parts by weight of waterto one part dry mixture a pet food suitable for cats is prepared.

In a variation of this example, dried pork pieces - were used instead of the beef and 2 per cent of a gelling agent sold underthe proprietary name FLANOGEN was used in place of the Carageenan and Carob gum.

EXAMPLE 2 The following mixture was blended in the same manner as Example 1 to give a dog food.

COMPONENT PER CENT BY WEIGHT Dried Beef Pieces 50.00 Meat and Bone Meal 10.00 Herring Meal 5.00 Soya Bean Meal (ext.) 16.00 Ground Flaked Maize 11.00 Feed Grade Tallow 2.00 Dicalcium Phosphate 3.00 Salt 1.00 Carragennan 0.70 Carob Gum 0.70 Vitamin Supplement 0.50 Colouring Agent 0.10 100.00 EXAMPLE 3 The following mixture was blended in the same manner as Example 1 to give another cat food.

COMPONENTS PER CENT BY WEIGHT Herring Meal 30.00 Fat Filled Milk 20.00 Soya Bean Meal (Ext.) 20.00 Ground Flaked Maize 12.45 "Dry" Tallow (95 per cent Fat) 12.00 Carrageenan 2.00 Vitamin Supplement 0.50 Colouring Agent 0.05 Flavouring Agent 1.00 100.00 In variation of Example 3,10 per cent heat treated full fat soya bean is used in place of 8 per cent soya bean meal axrd 2 per cent tallow.

EXAMPLE4 The following mixture was blended in the same manner as in Example 1 to give a dog food.

COMPONENTS PER CENT BY WEIGHT Meat and Bone Meal 20.00 Herring Meal 10.00 Ext. Soya Bean Meal 42.00 Ground Flaked Maize 1.45 'Dry' Tallow (Beef Fat) 17.00 Dicalcium Phosphate 3.00 Salt 1.00 Vitamin Supplement 0.50 Carrageenan 2.00 ,CarrnbGum 2.00 Flavouring Agent 1.00 Colouring Agent 0.50 100.00 EXAMPLE 5 The following mixture was blended in the same manner as in Example 1 to give a dog food.

COMPONENTS PER CENT BY WEIGHT Meat Pieces 15.00 Herring Meal 3.00 Meat and Bone Meal 5.00 Soya Bean Meal 9.00 Wheat Germ 5.00 Bran 5.00 Ground/Flaked Maize or Wheat 50.30 Pollard or Wheat Middlings 2.00 Dicalcium Phosphate 2.00 Salt 0.60 Flanogen 2.00 Vitamin Supplement 0.50 Colouring 0.10 Flavouring 0.50 100.00 In the examples above, where Carrageenan is used, it also includes Potassium Chloride to assist the Carrageenan to gel.

The following examples further illustrate dry type pet food mixtures according to the invention EXAMPLE 6 (Dog Food Concentrate) Dried Meat Pieces or Mince or Meal 50.00 Meat and Bone Meal 10.00 Herring Meal 5.00 Soya Bean Meal (ext44%protein) 16.00 Wheat Germ 5.00 Ground Flaked Maize 3.92 Animal Fat 2.00 Dicalcium phosphate 4.00 Salt 1.00 d.l. methionine 0.24 Colouring material 0.10 Vitamin/Mineral supplement 0.50 Butylated Hydroxy Toluene 0.40 Carrageenan 1.00 Locust Bean Gum orGuarGum 1.00 Potassium chloride 0.20 EXAMPLE 7 (Dog Food Concentrate) Dried Meat pieces/mince/ Meal 40.00 Meat and Bone Meal 10.00 Herring Meal 5.00 Soya Bean Meal (ext 44% protein) 16.00 Wheat Germ 4.56 Full fat soya bean meal (heat treated) 14.40 Animal Fat 2.00 Dicalcium phosphate 4.00 Salt 1.00 d.l. methionine 0.20 Vitamin/Mineral supplement 0.50 Butylated Hydroxy Toluene 0.40 Colouring material 0.10 Carrageenan 1.00 Locustbean/Guar gum 1.00 Potassium chloride 0.20 EXAMPLE8 (Dog Food Concentrate) Dried Meat Pieces/mince/ meal 20.00 Meat and Bone Meal 12.50 Herring Meal 6.00 Blood Meal 2.00 Soya bean meal (ext 50% protein) 21.40 Full fat Soya bean meal (heat treated) 20.00 Wheat Germ 3.00 d.l. methionine 0.26 Animal Fat 7.00 Dicalcium phosphate 2.50 Salt 1.00 Colouring material 0.10 Vitamin/Mineral supplement 0.50 Butylated HydroxyToluene or Hydroxyanisole) 0.04 Carrageenan 1.00 Arrowroot 2.50 Potassium chloride 0.20 ,EXAMPLE9 (Dog Food Concentrate) Dried Meat pieces/mince/ meal 10.00 Texturised Vegetable protein 25.00 Meat and Bone Meal 15.00 Herring meal 6.00 Blood Meal 2.00 Soya bean meal (ext 44%) 4.90 Full fat Soya bean meal (heat treated) 10.00 Pruteen 5.00 Wheat Germ 5.12 Animal Fat 11.00 Dicalcium phosphate 2.50 Salt 1.00 d.l. methionine 0.28 Vitamin/Mineral supplement 0.50 Colouring 0.10 Butylated HydroxyToluene 0.40 Carrageenan 1.25 Potassium chloride 0.25 EXAMPLE 10 (Dog Food Concentrate) Meat and Bone Meal 20.00 Herring Meal 10.00 Pruteen 4.00 Soya bean meal (ext 50% protein) 35.61 Full fat soyabean meal (heat treated) 10.00 Animal fat 15.00 Dicalcium phosphate 0.50 Salt 1.00 Vitamin/mineral supplement 0.50 Colouring material 0.10 Butylated HydroxyToluene 0.04 Carrageenan 1.00 Locust bean gum 1.00 Potassium chloride 0.25 EXAMPLE 71 (Complete Dog Food) Meat and Bone Meal 10.00 Herring Meal 5.00 Soya bean meal (ext 50% protein) 11.00 Full fat Soya bean meal (heat treated) 10.00 Wheat germ 5.00 Bran 5.00 Animal fat 3.50 Flaked Maize/Flaked Wheat/ Kibbled biscuits 45.08 Pollard 3.00 Salt 0.30 Vitamin/Mineral Supplement 0.50 Colouring material 0.10 Butylated Hydroxy Toluene 0.02 Carrageenan 1.25 Potassium chloride 0.25 EXAMPLE 12 (Complete Cat Food) Dried Meat pieces/mince/ meal 50.00 Herring Meal 15.00 Fat Filled Milk 10.00 Soya bean meal (exit44%) 10.00 Wheat germ 5.00 Ground Flaked Maize 3.96 Limestone Flour 1.00 Dicalcium phosphate 2.00 Vitamin/Mineral supplement 0.50 Colouring material 0.02 Butylated HydroxyToluene 0.02 Carrageenan 1.00 Locust Bean Gum 1.00 Potassium chloride 0.25 Lactic acid (optional) 0.25 The examples given for Dog Food Concentrate and Complete Cat Food were formulated to given specifications for moisture, protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, salt and energy level. Dried meat pieces vary markedly in analysis ranging from as low as 52% protein to well over 60% and fat levels vary from as high as 40% down to 25 or 30%. The formulations can be adjusted to maintain any given specification, for example, typically 45% protein, 20% fat, 5% mois ture, etc. In the examples quoted the analysis of the meat pieces used vary from one example to another.

The above-described invention is advantageous since it gives the pet owner more control over the dry-matter content of the food fed to the pet, and also the moisture content can be controlled by varying the amount of water used in the re-constitution of the dry-matter.

Claims (9)

1. A method for the preparation of a dry type pet food comprising blending together foodstuff and feed supplements and partially drying the blend whereby there is obtained a dry type pet food which on re-constitution with water, before use, yields a wet meat-like food with determined nutritional/vitamin content.

2. A method for the preparation of a dry type pet food comprising blending a mixture of fats and oils, dried proteinaceous materials of animal and/or vegetable origin, amino acids, dried milk products and/or dairy by-products, cereals, starches, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, emulsifiers, coagulants and optionally, edible colouring materials and flavouring materials with a gelling agent and at least one thickening agent whilst maintaining a total moisture content of less than 10% by weight and a pH of not more than 7.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the gelling agent is added in an amount of from 0.5 to 3% by weight.

4. A method according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the gelling agent is crude, washed and crushed or shredded seaweed.

5. A method according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the gelling agent is a carrageenan extract.

6. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the thickener is arrowroot present in an amount of from 1 to 3% by weight.

7. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the thickener is carboxymethylcel lulose present in an amount of from 1 to 1.5% by weight.

8. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the thickener is selected from locust bean gum, guar gum and xanthan gum in an amount of from 0.5 to 2% by weight

9. A dry type pet food whenever prepared by a method according to any one of Examples 1 to 12 hereinbefore.