Alltech offers live streaming of International Symposium, May 19-22

Alltech's 29th Annual International Symposium is set to take place May 19-22 in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. For those that are unable to attend in person, the event will have live-streaming and on-demand videos of select presentations, blog posts, photos and more daily on the Symposium Live! Web page. 
Sessions will be streamed live during the following times: 

• Monday, May 20: Opening Session at 9:00 a.m. ET, Press Conference at 11:30 a.m. ET
• Tuesday, May 21: The Food Session at 8:30 a.m. ET
• Wednesday, May 22: Closing Session at 9:00 a.m. ET
Resources will be made available in both English and Spanish.

Royal Canin survey looks at factors influencing petfood, pet choice

In a recent survey, petfood manufacturer Royal Canin set out to determine America's favorite breeds, uncover how "dog people" differ from "cat people," factors that come into play when choosing a pet and what influences pet owners' petfood choices. 
The survey found that more than 55 percent of cat owners rank appearance as the most important factor when choosing a feline friend, while nearly 62 percent of dog owners look at size when choosing a dog. The survey found that cat and dog owners are similar in that nearly half (40 percent) of cat owners and a third (28 percent) of dog owners say a "mixed-breed" pet is their favorite type of cat or dog. 
“It’s interesting to learn how different cat and dog owners can be when choosing, and making decisions for, their pets,” said Dr. Brent Mayabb, veterinarian and manager of education and development at Royal Canin. “Whatever factors come into play, understanding an animal’s physical and physiological traits is critical to providing the best care.” 
When asked how they select a petfood, more than half of dog owners (56 percent) and cat owners (53 percent) said nutritional factors were most important. 
“This is encouraging, as it shows that owners understand the importance of feeding pets according to their unique nutritional needs,” said Mayabb. “Whether they own a pure breed or a mixed-breed, owners should always aim to provide the most precise care and nutrition for their four-legged friends.”

Key nutrients in a pet's diet may boost immune system effectiveness

In a recent blog on petMD.com, Jennifer Coates, DVM, shares her knowledge in the field of immunonutrition, which deals with supplementing a pet’s diet with certain nutrients’ to boost the immune system’s effectiveness.
The veterinarian says that the gastrointestinal tract is home to more than 65 percent of the body’s immune cells, which means optimal nutrition and a well-functioning immune system are important. According to a 2011 article published in Topics in Companion Animal Medicine: “Lowered immune status because of life stage or naturally occurring stress is characterized by reduced capacity to process and present foreign antigens to immune cells, resulting in a less-efficient or altered immune response that leads to increased susceptibility to infections and an increase in autoimmunity and cancers. Beyond providing essential nutrients, diet can actively influence the immune system…”
Diet interacts with the immune system at multiple levels, says Dr. Coates. Basic nutrients are provided; then, higher levels of key nutrients like protein, vitamins and minerals are provided; followed by more focused modulation of the immune system. So, it is important that pet owners ensure their dog or cat’s diet provides this “higher levels of key nutrients.”
Dr. Coates says one way to ensure these nutrients are provided by the petfood is to look for a food where ingredients like flax seed, soybeans, chicken, salmon and eggs are listed toward the top of the ingredient list. These ingredients are often high in arginine, an amino acid linked to increased T-cell immune function, which directs and regulates the body’s immune responses.
Certain fatty acids, such as the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentanoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, are also important ingredients in petfood. These omega-3 fatty acids compete with arachadonic acid, a “pro-inflammatory” fatty acid, thus helping to reduce inflammation in the body. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in certain fish oils and flax seeds. Dr. Coates cautions, however, that dogs, and to a greater extent, cats, have trouble metabolizing omega-3 fatty acids from flax.
Finally, she says vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, C and E, selenium and zinc, are antioxidants that, when included in petfood, can protect the body against damage from free radicals, a natural end-product of metabolism. These important vitamins and minerals can be found in petfood and should be listed in the ingredients list as supplements in the form of fruits, vegetables and other natural ingredients. 

Cargill granted US patent for petfood cooking process

Cargill was granted a US patent for the exclusive cooking process it developed for making its Loyall premium petfood.
Cargill's Opti-Cook process, for which the patent was granted, works by using a combined steam and pressure cooking system and Near-Infrared Reflective Spectroscopy technology. NIRS technology uses light waves to measure the chemical composition of nutrients in every cooked batch of Loyall pet food. All nine Loyall petfood formulas use the Opti-Cook process, according to Cargill.
"It is well known that in order for cats and dogs to digest the starch in dry pet food, it must be cooked properly," said Mark Newcomb, technology director for Cargill Animal Nutrition. "If it is under- or over-cooked, pets may have digestive problems. But until now, there was no quick way to measure the chemical change that occurs in starch during cooking. With this technology, Cargill does not have long waits for lab results on samples- we can rapidly determine if pet food has been properly cooked and ensure consistent quality in every batch."

Morrisons fights pet obesity with portion control labels on petfood

Morrisons became the first supermarket to print portion control labels on its petfood products, in an effort to control rising obesity in dogs and cats, according to UK's mailonline.com.
"We’ve had feedback from our customers which says that they are often in the dark about how much food they should be buying and giving their pet," said John Cannan, product development manager for petfood at Morrisons.
The MailOnline article cites research that found 36% of dogs and 29% of cats treated by veterinarians are obese. To fight obesity and pet depression, veterinarians say small dogs need at least 30 minutes of exercise daily and large dogs require more than this. The article points out that giving a cat one saucer of milk is the equivalent of four cheeseburgers, which emphasizes the importance of controlling what pets eat.

Safety speaker announced for Virtual Petfood Forum: Innovation

All the media coverage over the past few weeks about the huge recall of eggs contaminated with Salmonella -- not to mention the continuing spate of much smaller, less serious, mainly precautionary petfood recalls -- ensures safety stays top of mind.
But how can you be sure your safety practices are as robust as possible? Are there other protocols or technologies you should consider?
You can find out by signing up for Virtual Petfood Forum: Innovation on October 21. It's free and completely online, so you don't need to leave your office or home to participate.
One of the five expert presentations will be by Jim Marsden, PhD, Regent's Distinguished Professor of Food Safety and Security and associate director of the Biosecurity Research Institute, both at Kansas State University. His research has focused on the safety of food products, particularly controlling dangerous bacteria and other contaminants in meat, and he's now applying that research to petfood.
The other presentations during Virtual Petfood Forum will be:
*Innovation in nutrition and ingredients by Serge Boutet, agronomist and manager of petfoods and nutriton for Mondou Ltd.;
*Innovation in petfood packaging by Scott Whiteside, PhD, associate professor of the Department of Packaging Science and associate director of the Center for Flexible Packaging, both at Clemson University;
*Innovation in marketing: exploring social and online media by Julie Lenzer Kirk, CEO and chief Muse of Path Forward International; and
*Innovation in petfood processing by Mian Riaz, PhD, director of the Food Protein R&D Center at Texas A&M University.
Besides viewing the presentations and participating in live Q&A with the speakers, you can also chat live with other industry peers and with leading industry suppliers from around the world.
You can come and go throughout the day as your schedule permits -- or, if you can't participate on October 21, you can view an archive of the event for 90 days afterward. Sign up today!

Pet Store Pro adds nutrition chapter to online training

Pet Store Pro has added a nutrition segment to its free, online training center for US pet industry retailers.
The nutrition module was designed to be brand-neutral. Its purpose is to educate retailers and their employees about the different nutritional aspects addressed by various petfoods.
The nutritional module prepares employees to be able to read and understand petfood labels, including ingredients and major nutrients; answer questions from customers about different types of diets like grain-free, breed-specific or all-natural; and help customers choose the best food for their specific pets, based on factors such as lifestage and size.
Pet Store Pro website's home page was redesigned in conjunction with the nutrition module addition, making it easier to access separate resources for store owners, training managers and employees.

Blog: What to look for in senior pet diets

A blog from Dream Dogs recently stressed the importance of senior dogs getting proper petfood nutrition. It recommended looking for petfood that has high quality meat protein, low fat and salt content, and less calories.

Dr. Edward Moser shares pet nutrition advice

Wellness Natural Pet Food’s veterinary nutritionist Dr. Edward Moser shared his advice for finding a proper diet for a dog or cat in honor of National Nutrition Month.
Dr. Moser counseled owners to carefully consider what’s in their pets’ food bowls, making sure the petfood is nutritionally balanced and every ingredient has a purpose. He recommended feeding petfood made with natural ingredients that owners can identify.

Column: Meat pet diets impact environment

In The Green Lantern, a weekly environmental column, author Nina Shen Rastogi debated the impact of the carnivorous diets of pets on the environment.
She contended that the process of pets consuming offal that humans would not eat recycles animal parts while on the other hand, it takes resources like feed, land, fertilizer to produce such meat.
Her suggestions to pet owners on how to cut back their pets’ carbon paw print were to reduce the pets’ consumption of meat and/or feed pets with leftover human food, like meat and vegteables that would otherwise be thrown away.

Pudgy pets support group works with petfood company

Smith Veterinary Hospital in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, has created a Chub Club to offer support to owners of pets that need to lose weight, according to The Canadian Press.
Jennifer Febel, a practice manager at the hospital, said the club offers mostly nutritional counseling, but it is working with an unspecified petfood company to devise a website allowing pet owners to access tips.

The 'catch me if you can' B vitamin

Thiamine, an essential ingredient for cats and dogs, can be lost during typical petfood production. Read the full column in Petfood Industry.

The Philippines gets Animal Planet endorsed petfood

According to a news report, Nature’s Plan, a natural US petfood approved by television channel Animal Planet, will now be available in the Philippines. The company has partnered with local petfood maker Pet One Inc. to distribute its products.
Made from natural ingredients, Nature’s Plan does not contain corn, wheat or by-products, according to the company. The line is tailored to the size, breed and age of dogs.
Nature’s Plan will be available in veterinary clinics only.

AFIA launches Web site for safe feed program

The American Feed Industry Association launched a new Web site that provides details about the Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program.
An explanation of the program and testimonials from feed-industry experts are among the materials available on the new site, which can be found at www.safefeedsafefood.org.
The Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program is a voluntary, third-party-certified program for mills and other facilities that produce livestock feed, petfood and related ingredients. About 330 US and Canadian facilities are certified by the program. An international version of the program will launch later this year.

Purina introduces new treat for cats

Purina has recently launched its Fancy Feast Appetizers for cats, according to a news report. Purina claims it took a team of 40 about three-and-a-half years to develop a cat food and introduce it to the US$17 billion US petfood industry. The company is launching a national ad campaign beginning next month to market the product as a premium brand.
In early 2007, Purina hosted a focus group in St. Louis, to identify what consumers wanted for their cats. That was when the idea of an appetizer came up. The company then worked on packaging prototypes and eight varieties of appetizers, including "tender Tongol tuna," "white meat chicken" and "steamed Tilapia."
Despite the recession, petfood sales registered 5.5% growth last year compared with 2007, according to Packaged Facts. The US pet cat population grew to an estimated 83 million last year.

Clinical Nutrition Case Challenge taking submissions

Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. is now taking submissions for consideration for the 2009-2010 Evidence-Based Clinical Nutrition Case Challenge until January 31, 2010.
The challenge is part of the Hill's/VCA Intern Partnership Program, which seeks to raise awareness of nutrition in clinical case management.
This year’s challenge includes an additional category for VCA residents who want to compete in the evidence-based clinical case challenge.
For more information, visit www.hillsvet.com.

Canidae expands with five new formulas

Canidae All Natural Pet Foods announced that its line of all-natural petfood expanded to include new wet flavors: two grain-free formulas and a beef/fish formula for dogs, and two grain-free formulas for cats.
"Our nutritional experts have spent over a year developing these new wet formulas," said Jason Castillo, Canidae controller. "All five of these new formulas are designed … to be extremely palatable."
The extended line will arrive at retailers throughout North America in July.

PFI responds to study of fluoride in dog foods

The Pet Food Institute issued a statement June 30 in response to the Environmental Working Group's study of the amount of fluoride in 10 national brands of dog food, saying the report "makes a scientifically invalid extrapolation on the safe consumption level of fluoride for dogs based upon the established level for the water that people drink" and that it includes no new research beyond its own test results.
According to EWG, the study showed that eight of the brands contained fluoride amounts between 1.6 and 2.5 times higher than the US Environmental Protection Agency's maximum legal dose in drinking water. The EWG questioned whether the levels of fluoride found in the foods were safe for pets.
"The biology of humans is very different from the biology of dogs," the PFI said in the statement, calling the report "high on sensationalism, low on fact."
The EWG also claimed that bone meal and animal by-products were the "likely source of the fluoride contamination" and suggested that dog owners purchase petfoods that do not contain bone meal and other animal by-products to "protect pets from excessive fluoride exposures."
"Many petfood products contain bone meal and other animal by-products because they are critical sources of quality nutrition for dogs," the PFI's statement read. "Bone meal and other animal by-products are allowed for use in dog food by the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture, the same agencies that regulate human foods."
To view the PFI's full statement, click here.

Vet recommends reduced-calorie diets for fat pets

Between 30 and 40% of New Zealand’s pets are now overweight, according to veterinarian Alex Melrose’s recent column.
Since obesity can lead to disease and take years off of a pet’s life, Melrose recommended putting pets on reduced-calorie diets and encouraging them to gradually increase their exercise.

NSF, American Society for Nutrition to administer new program

NSF International and the American Society for Nutrition announced their joint roles in administering a new nutritional front-of-package labeling program, the Smart Choices Program.
The program will provide manufacturers and retailers with a front-of-pack icon plus calorie information that helps consumers recognize smarter food and beverage products within product categories.
The goal is to bring consistency and clarity to the US marketplace, while providing an opportunity for manufacturers to communicate with consumers about better-for-you products.
"NSF International’s core business is certifying products and writing standards for food, water and consumer goods in order to protect public health,” said Nancy Culotta, NSF vice president. "We look forward to working with ASN to administer the program and ultimately help educate consumers on nutritional labeling."