Summary:
This 1100-word article gives detailed information on thirty of the most commonly found sources of animal protein found in dog food. It is the first part in a four part series that explains the ingredients found in dog foods. The other three parts are about grains, fruits, and vegetables (part 2); vitamins and minerals (part 3); and preservatives and other additives (part 4). However, each article has been written so it is capable of standing on its own. This article was also written so that it could be used with my article titled “Understanding Pet Food: What They Mean by By-Products and Similar Terms.”

Details or Sample:
When looking at your dog food label, one of the first things you are probably looking at is the source of protein. All dog foods have some source of animal protein in them, but not all dog foods have the same quality of protein.

Dog food is regulated by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). It sets guidelines and definitions for all animal feed, including pet foods. They also define what is meant by certain terms listed on pet food labels such as “by-product” and “meal.” However, they will only give you the technical meanings. For easier reference, here is an explanation of some of the more commonly found source of animal protein found in dog foods.

Animal Digest: According to the AAFCO, this is “material which results from chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and undecomposed animal tissue.” In reality, animal digest is a cooked down broth made from animal tissue without the hair, horns, teeth, hooves, and feathers. It comes primarily from rendering plants, meaning that it is typically from what is referred to as the 4-D animals: dead, dying, diseased, and decayed. Animals processed by rendering plant include road kill, euthanized pets from shelters and veterinary clinics, and similar sources.

Animal Fat: This is fat obtained from animals during the rendering process. Again, the generic term “animal” is used to indicate that the exact animal source is unknown and it may be from a variety of animals, including those less desirable.

Beef: Flesh obtained from cattle that have been slaughtered. It may include the heart, tongue, diaphragm, heart, and esophagus.

Beef Digest: Also written as “digest of beef,” this is the material from beef that results after it has been cooked to make it more digestible.

Beef By-Products: This is what remains after the beef, or meat, has been removed except for the hair, horns, teeth, and hooves. It may include organs, blood, bone, and fatty tissue. Organs are limited to the lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, along with the stomachs and intestines without the contents.

Beef By-Products Digest: Also written as “digest of beef by-products,” this is the material from beef by-products that results after it has been cooked to make it more digestible.

Beef Tallow: Beef tallow is a very hard, fatty substance that looks like bone. It is hard for most dogs to digest, but very palatable. It is typically added for flavor, despite the fact it is high in saturated fats.

Blood Meal: Blood meal is made from dried blood. It is cheap method of adding flavor to dog food that typically comes from rendering plants.

Chicken: Chicken is used to indicate the flesh and skin of chickens with or without accompanying bone.

Chicken By-Product: Once the flesh and skin of a chicken is removed, what remains is considered the by-product. It typically includes the neck, beaks, feet, undeveloped eggs, bones, and intestines of a chicken—everything except the feathers.

Chicken By-Product Meal: If you take chicken by-products, ground them up, and render them, you get chicken by-product meal.

Chicken Liver Meal: Chicken liver meal is ground chicken liver with most of the moisture removed.

Chicken Meal: Chicken meal is ground chicken with most of the moisture removed. It may or may not contain the bones of a chicken.

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Downloads: 1
Written by: DarcyLogan
Available File Types:Text
Words: 1100