Beet pulp intake and hairball faecal excretion in mixed-breed shorthaired cats

Determining the protocol requirements of in-home cat food digestibility testing

In-home cat food digestibility testing has the potential to yield data that are highly representative of the pet population for which the food is intended. However, no standardized and validated in-home digestibility test protocols are currently available. Such protocols for in-home testing should address key factors that explain variation in cat food digestibility values and here we investigated the required period of adaptation, fecal collection and sample sizes. Thirty privately-owned indoor housed cats of various breeds (20♀ 10♂, 5.9 ± 3.9 yr, 4.5 ± 1.3 kg) received a relatively low and high digestible complete dry extruded food with the marker titanium (Ti) dioxide. Foods were given in a cross-over design of 2 periods of 8 consecutive days each. Owners collected feces daily for the determination of daily fecal Ti concentrations and digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, crude fat, and gross energy. Data originating from 26 cats were analyzed as mixed models and broken line regressions to investigate the required adaptation and fecal collection period. Bootstrap sampling was used to assess the impact of increasing the number of fecal collection days and sample size on the precision of the digestibility estimates. Feces were collected on 347 out of 416 study days (16 days/cat; 26 cats), implying the necessity for multiple collection days to account for cats not defecating every day. Cats showed stable fecal marker concentrations from day 2 onwards when fed the low digestible food and from 3 onwards when fed the high digestible food. Digestibility values were stable from day 1, 2 or 3 onwards, depending on the test food and nutrient. Increasing the number of fecal collection days from 1 to 6 days did not result in more precise digestibility estimates, whereas increasing the number of animals from 5 to 25 cats did. For future in-home digestibility tests of cat food, the findings support a minimum of 2 adaptation days and 3 fecal collection days. Appropriate sample sizes depend on the test food, the nutrient of interest, and the acceptable margin of error. The findings of this study support the protocol development for future in-home digestibility testing of cat foods.

Effect of Different Fiber Sources as Additives to Wet Food for Beagle Dogs on Diet Acceptance, Digestibility, and Fecal Quality

In order to enhance the health and welfare of obese dogs and to facilitate the required loss of body weight, commercial diets are produced with fibrous ingredients. Cellulose is a common dietary fiber used mainly in powdered form. However, other processing forms and fibers are available as fibrous additives. This work aimed to test the effects of different fiber sources on apparent total tract digestibility and fecal quality in dogs. Four diets were fed to eight dogs (experimental design: 4 × 4 Latin square) for a 14-day period each. In addition to a basal diet (CO), three experimental diets varying in fiber sources were used: powdered cellulose (CE), granulated cellulose (GC), and lignocellulose (LC). Dogs fed the CO had lower crude fiber digestibility than those fed the other experimental diets (p < 0.0033). Dogs fed diets supplemented with fiber sources had lower gross energy digestibility (range: 76.2-77.3%) compared with those fed the CO (84.4%). In all groups, the fecal score (consistency and shape) ranged within the optimal values; solely wet fecal output was increased for the fiber groups compared with those on the CO. This study demonstrated that various sources of fiber such as GC and LC can be used as alternatives to CE without restrictions.

Animal dietary exposure in the risk assessment of feed derived from genetically modified plants

EFSA carries out the risk assessment of genetically modified plants for food and feed uses under Regulation (EU) No 503/2013. Exposure assessment - anticipated intake/extend of use shall be an essential element of the risk assessment of genetically modified feeds, as required by Regulation (EU) No 503/2013. Estimates of animal dietary exposure to newly expressed proteins should be determined to cover average consumption across all the different species, age, physiological and productive phases of farmed and companion animals, and identify and consider particular consumer groups with expected higher exposure. This statement is aimed at facilitating the reporting of the information that applicants need to provide on expected animal dietary exposure to newly expressed proteins and to increase harmonisation of the application dossiers to be assessed by the EFSA GMO Panel. Advice is provided on the selection of proper feed consumption and feed concentration data, and on the reporting of exposure's estimates. An overview of the different uncertainties that may be linked to the estimations is provided. This statement also explains how to access an Excel calculator which should be used in future applications as basis to provide a more consistent presentation of estimates of expected animal dietary exposure.

Dietary fiber aids in the management of canine and feline gastrointestinal disease

Dietary fiber describes a diverse assortment of nondigestible carbohydrates that play a vital role in the health of animals and maintenance of gastrointestinal tract homeostasis. The main roles dietary fiber play in the gastrointestinal tract include physically altering the digesta, modulating appetite and satiety, regulating digestion, and acting as a microbial energy source through fermentation. These functions can have widespread systemic effects. Fiber is a vital component of nearly all commercial canine and feline diets. Key features of fiber types, such as fermentability, solubility, and viscosity, have been shown to have clinical implications as well as health benefits in dogs and cats. Practitioners should know how to evaluate a diet for fiber content and the current knowledge on fiber supplementation as it relates to common enteropathies including acute diarrhea, chronic diarrhea, constipation, and hairball management. Understanding the fundamentals of dietary fiber allows the practicing clinician to use fiber optimally as a management modality.

Effect of orange fibre on nutrient digestibility and fermentation products in faeces of cats fed kibble diets

The aim of the present study was to compare orange fibre, beet pulp and inulin as fibre sources for cats. A control diet (CON) was formulated without inclusion of a fibre source. Further experimental diets were also based on diet CON but were supplemented with 1% orange fibre (diet 1%OF); 3% orange fibre (diet 3%OF); 3% beet pulp (diet 3%BP) or 1% inulin (diet 1%IN). Forty cats were used in a randomised block design (4 blocks of 10 cats, 2 animals per food in each block, totalling 8 animals per treatment). Each block lasted 20 d, with 10 d of adaptation, 10 d of faecal collection for digestibility as well as evaluation of pH-value and fermentation products. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, starch and gross energy did not vary between diets. In diet 1%OF, dietary fibre revealed a greater digestibility than in diet CON (p < 0.05). Faecal production was higher in cats fed diets 3%OF and 3%BP than in those fed diet 1%IN (p < 0.05). Faecal concentrations of acetate and total short-chain fatty acids were higher for cats fed diet 3%BP than for those fed diets 1%IN and CON (p < 0.05), while diets 1%OF and 3%OF showed intermediate results. Faecal propionate concentration was higher for cats fed diet 3%BP, intermediate for diets 1%OF, 3%OF and 1%IN and lower for animals fed diet CON (p < 0.05). Compared with diets CON and 1%IN, the faecal concentration of tyramine was higher for cats fed diet 3%OF (p < 0.05). Orange fibre was fermentable; up to 3% inclusion it did not interfere with the digestibility of nutrients, faecal score and faecal moisture content, and promoted the formation of short-chain fatty acids and tyramine by the intestinal microbiota, with possible effects on intestinal function.

The effects of fiber source on extrusion processing parameters and kibble characteristics of dry cat foods

Cellulose and beet pulp have been commonly used in the pet food industry to increase the dietary fiber content of cat foods. However, pet food companies seek alternatives to these so-called byproducts. Miscanthus grass is grown for its fiber content and may serve as an alternative to traditional fibrous ingredients. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of fiber sources on extrusion processing and kibble structure of cat foods. Three replicate batches of a complete and balanced foods for adult cats at maintenance each containing 10% of Miscanthus grass, cellulose, or beet pulp was mixed and kibbles were produced on a single-screw extruder. Feed rate, preconditioner water and steam, extruder screw speed, extruder water and steam addition, and knife speed were adjusted to achieve a wet bulk density of 330 g/L. After extrusion, kibbles were dried at 115.5 ºC to less than 10% moisture. Dried kibbles were coated with chicken fat and flavor enhancer. No effects due to fiber source were reported for extrusion parameters or kibble measurements (P > 0.05) with the exception of compression energy, wherein kibbles produced with cellulose required more energy to compress than those containing beet pulp (6,917 N mm vs. 3,591 N mm, respectively). In conclusion, tested fiber sources had no impact on extrusion parameters and most kibble characteristics. Kibbles containing cellulose required more energy to compress than kibbles containing beet pulp. Miscanthus grass could be used as an alternative to traditional fiber sources used to produce cat foods.

The effects of diets varying in fibre sources on nutrient utilization, stool quality and hairball management in cats

Pet food companies use fibrous ingredients in cat foods to aid weight and hairball management. Miscanthus grass could be an alternative novel fibre source for cat foods. The objectives of this work were to determine the effects of Miscanthus grass as a fibre source on nutrient utilization, stool quality and hairball management in cats. Dry extruded cat foods (average chemical composition; digestibility trial: 94.54% dry matter-DM, 34.47% crude protein-CP, 11.67% crude fat, 7.06% ash and 13.04% total dietary fibre-TDF; and hairball trial: 94.88% DM, 34.60% CP, 11.30% crude fat, 7.02% ash and 9.77% TDF) were fed to 12 cats for a 9-day (digestibility trial) or 16-day (hairball trial) adaptation period followed by a 5-day total faecal collection period. Digestibility trial was performed as a replicated Latin square design, and the hairball trial was performed as a switchback design. In general, the cats fed the beet pulp diet (BPD) had higher DM, organic matter, gross energy and TDF digestibility than cats fed Miscanthus grass (MGD) or cellulose (CED) diet (p < .05). However, CP digestibility was lower for cats fed BPD (82.1 vs. 84.7 and 85.1%, respectively, for BPD, MGD and CED). These differences could be due to the differences in dietary fibre content and(or) composition. Faecal scores were lower for cats fed BPD (2.84) compared with MGD (3.32) and CED (3.21; p < .05). No effects due to fibre were reported on the faecal hairball variables, with the exception of less total hair weight and hair clumps per gram of dry faeces for cats fed Miscanthus grass (MGH) compared with control diet (COH; p < .05). In conclusion, Miscanthus grass could be used as an alternative ingredient to cellulose in cat diets.