Utilization of poultry slaughter byproducts to develop cost effective dried pet food

Kumar, R., Goswami, M., Pathak, V., Bharti, S.K., Verma, A.K., Rajkumar, V. and Patel, P. 2023. Utilization of poultry slaughter byproducts to develop cost effective dried pet food. Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, 23: 165–174.

The present investigation was carried out to utilize poultry byproducts for development of cost-effective pet food. Pet foods were prepared by incorporation of 30, 40 and 50% poultry by-products powder by replacing chicken meat powder and evaluated for various quality characteristics. The proximate composition and nutrient values of pet food were maintained in accordance to AAFCO (2008) and NRC (2006). pH values and ash content increased significantly (P<0.05) whereas baking yield, moisture, protein, fat content and water activity values decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increased level of poultry byproducts powder. Among textural and colour parameters, hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, chewiness and redness values increased significantly (P<0.05) whereas lightness and yellowness values decreased significantly (P<0.05) in treatments. Colour and consistency scores decreased significantly (P<0.05) at higher level of chicken byproducts powder incorporation in pet food, but no significant difference was observed in general appearance, odour, crispiness, meat flavour intensity and overall acceptability scores upto 50% of poultry byproducts powder incorporation. Pet food with 50% by-products powder contained 61.84% MUFA, 10.66% SFA, 1.81% PUFA and 1.81% omega 3 fatty acids, respectively. The production cost of developed pet food was estimated as Rs.205/kg, which was comparatively much lower than control (Rs. 366.31/kg) and commercially available pet food. Therefore, it was concluded that pet food was developed by incorporating 50% poultry byproducts powder as per standards given by AAFCO (2008) and NRC (2006) and cost of this 50% chicken byproducts powder incorporated dried pet food was Rs. 160.68/- less than chicken meat powder incorporated dried pet food.