Horizon Pet Nutrition launches grain-free pet food formula

Pet food manufacturer Horizon Pet Nutrition recently launched a new grain-free pet food formula, Pulsar.
According to Jeff English, Horizon Pet Nutrition co-founder, the new grain-free pet food replaces traditional grains with alternative ingredients such as potato and tapioca, but is still offered at an affordable price for consumers. The primary source of carbohydrates in the Pulsar formula is pulses, which are the edible seeds of legume plants, like peas and red lentils, the company says. The Pulsar formula is available in both chicken and fish protein recipes. 

10 tips for maintaining a pet's healthy body weight

A Florida, USA, veterinarian is offering 10 tips for pet owners on how much pet food should be fed to their dog or cat to maintain a healthy body weight.
The first rule, according to Dr. Patty Khuly, is that regardless of which pet food brand, be sure to invest in a diet that is nutritionally balanced. For cats, Dr. Khuly says to add moisture to the feline food because a 2010 UK study found that at the end, cats fed moistened diets were more active and weighed less. She says pet owners must measure out their pet's food with a proper measuring tool to ensure the right portion. Pet owners should be consistent about the pet food brand and formula they feed or the way home-cooked petfood is prepared. Dr. Khuly also says pet owners should ask their vet to provide their pet's body condition score, which is an indicator of the need to lose weight if it is high. It may also be necessary to increase or decrease the petfood amounts over time, until reaching the perfect portion.  Pet owners should not forget that treats contain calories too, which also affect a pet's weight. Also to ensure a healthy weight, pet owners should consider the amount of exercise their pet receives in determining the proper amount of food to feed. As pets age, their metabolism slows down, so pet owners should watch for these changes, Dr. Khuly says. Finally, she says that pet owners need to remember that all animals are different, and so, will have different nutritional needs.

Wenger to hold pet food safety seminar in March

Wenger Manufacturing Inc. will hold a Food Safety Seminar for the pet food industry from March 27-29, at its Sabetha, Kansas, USA, petfood extrusion facility.
The pet food safety seminar will be hosted by the company's Corporate Project Services division, made up of industry professionals. The group will share food safety information as it applies directly to each step of the pet food production process, from plant design and sourcing raw materials, to production, sanitation and packaging. The seminar will consist of classroom instruction and practical demonstration at Wenger's Technical Center Extrusion Lab. 

Help Petfood Forum Asia assist local Thai animal organizations

After record flooding in Bangkok last fall, many dogs and cats living on the streets were left without food or care. Organizations that help care for these pets in good times and bad still need help feeding and relocating them. SCADBangkok (SCAD stands for Soi Cats and Dogs, with "Soi" being the Thai word for alley) can use donations of dry and wet cat food, plus wet dog food, as well as monetary donations. The Soi Dog Foundation also needs financial support and pet food donations.
As part of PetfoodForum Asia in Bangkok on February 16, we will be collecting donations and forwarding to these two organizations, or you can donate directly to them. Please consider helping out!

Royal Canin pet food focuses on cat, dog breed-specific nutrition

French-based pet food manufacturer, Royal Canin, has found its way into the petfood market with a focus on specially formulated pet food diets for specific dog and cat breeds, as well as for pets of different ages and sizes. 
Through the Royal Canin pet food brand, parent company Mars Inc. has been able to gain market share with pet food manufacturer Nestle Purina, according to analysts. In 2006, market researcher packaged facts estimated that Mars held 12 percent market share compared to Nestle Purina's 32 percent market share; Mars has since increased its market share to an estimated 17 percent compared to Nestle's 35 percent market share. Royal Canin petfood is distributed through three channels: animal breeders, veterinary offices and specialty pet retailers, such as Petco and PetSmart, while Nestle Purina petfood is also available at grocery stores.
"There's been a huge trend of customers scaling up to premium products, not just out of indulgence, but a lot of the products have functional angles, and that jives well with what Royal Canin has always done," said David Lummis, senior pet market analyst at Packaged Facts. Royal Canin also offers training classes for both its employees and its customers, including petfood store buyers, veterinarians and breeders, at its St. Charles, Missouri, USA headquarters. "We want an educated recommender," said Ann Hudson, Royal Canin's corporate affairs director. The company does not use marketing studies to decide where to invest in new product development, but rather its employees focus on the needs of pets and how to respond to those needs, according to Joe Flanigan, general manager of Royal Canin US. "We know we want to care for the 200 million pets in the US, and our goal simply is to care for more of them," Flanigan said.  "The health angle has become more important," Lummis said. "What it means is, if a company's marketing can convey the health benefits of their product, that's a way of making these foods less of a discretionary expense. Consumers may cut back on (pet) toys, but not on food." 

Pet product retail, consumer trends report released by Packaged Facts

Packaged Facts released a new report, Pet Product Retail Channel and Consumer Shopping Trends, which says pet product retailers and marketers should re-evaluate strategic options to keep up with the increasingly competitive pet product marketplace.
The report suggests options for remaining competitive in the market, including: competing on price; incorporating premium or natural products into offerings; improving merchandising, marketing and promotions; promoting pet treats; and becoming "destination information" sources.  According to the report, three long-term factors have greatly increased competition: the expansion of big-box pet specialty chains; the growth of mass merchandisers and supercenters; and the rise of the Internet. In the short term, budget constraints have changed the way consumers buy and what they buy, proving they are willing to switch channels and brands to make ends meet or satisfy shifting priorities.
The full report may be purchased online from Packaged Facts. 

Animal Cancer Center seeks overweight dogs for pet food study

Colorado State University researchers are seeking overweight dogs to participate in a new weight-loss study, conducted by the Animal Cancer Center, to determine if a new petfood can be digested more easily and is effective in reducing hunger.
During the study, dogs will be given three regular blood tests for signs that the food also helps prevent cancer and is suitable for dogs with allergies. The dogs will also receive the specially formulated diet for one month. Participating dogs will be required to visit the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA for the blood tests and physical exams. Pet owners will be required to measure their pet's food intake and collect fecal samples.
To participate, dogs must be otherwise in good health, be between 2 and 7 years old, weigh more than 22 pounds, and have a body-condition score between six and nine. Participating owners will get a US$50 credit toward any services or product offered at the teaching hospital. For more information on the trial, call +1.970.297.4144  or email cadie.ollila@colostate.edu.