With all of the tendencies and phrases used within the pet meals business, from minimally processed to human grade to therapeutic, the ideas can begin to blur. For instance, novel pet meals elements might have similarities to purposeful recipe additions, however the two choices meet pet homeowners’ calls for in numerous methods. African antelope and lion’s mane mushrooms present contrasting examples of novel versus purposeful pet meals elements.
Angelique Myburgh, vitamin and improvement specialist with canine and cat meals producer Montego Pet Vitamin, explored that distinction in her presentation throughout Petfood Necessities on April 28 in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.
African antelope as novel pet meals
African antelopes are an area ingredient for Montego Pet Vitamin. Based in 2000, Montego operates out of Graaf-Reinet, South Africa, producing 300 metric tons of pet meals every day. The corporate produces canine treats utilizing springbok, a species of antelope discovered within the area, as a novel protein supply.
Springbok test many packing containers as a novel pet meals ingredient. The antelopes have lean, low-fat muscle meat with hypoallergenic properties for canines allergic to rooster, beef and different widespread animal proteins. Canines discover the antelope meat extremely palatable.
Being native to the arid lands of South Africa, springbok antelope are extra resilient to local weather modifications than cattle, she stated.
“Antelope provides cultural relevancy and authenticity to the product,” Myburgh stated.
Springbok antelope vary wild and on sport preserves in South Africa. Advertising African antelope meat gives an alternative choice to cattle ranching. Offering an financial incentive to take care of springbok habitat might assist restore land to its pre-colonial state and scale back ecological injury.
All of those traits of African antelope match inside the realm of novel pet meals elements generally. Novel proteins are typically unconventional animal tissues with decreased allergenicity, atypical dietary profiles and moral traits.
Lion’s mane mushrooms as purposeful pet meals elements
Lion’s mane mushrooms present the counter-example of a purposeful pet meals ingredient. The fungi have a historical past of medicinal use by people. Organic evaluation has recognized polyphenols, hericerin, erinacine and different chemical compounds with well being advantages. Hericerin and erinacine stimulate nerve development issue manufacturing to advertise nerve well being. The polyphenols have anti-oxidant and anti-inflamatory properties.
As purposeful elements, lion’s mane mushrooms meet what pet homeowners demand. Practical elements present well being advantages past primary vitamin, Myburgh stated. They improve the canine’s physique capabilities, proactively keep well being or present a wellness treatment.
Each purposeful elements and novel proteins play roles when formulating pet meals, however they supply completely different well being advantages and meet different pet proprietor calls for.
