Pet Food Manufacturing

Dog Food and Dog Food Ingredients

Pet Food Manufacturing is big business. DVM Per Schonbeck explain how to make dog food in a big scale and about dog food ingredients.

There are six basic steps used to make pet food:

• All of the ingredients are put into a mixer. A moist dough is obtained with adequate mixing.
• Heat is then applied to the dough.
• The dough is placed in an extruder. This is a basic grinder and the initial cooking is done in the extruder with intense pressure and heat. As it exits the extruder the knife and shaping die create the kibble shape which will expand at room temperature.
• The kibble is then dried under heat until it reaches an acceptable moisture level.
• A coating may then be applied. This coating is usually something that will enhance the flavor in the pet food manufacturing process.
• As bags, pouches or boxes are filled, the production is reaching completion.

Generally, dog food manufacturing uses the same process as human processed food except for the ingredients.

The meat is rendered and shipped to the dog food producer. The make the pet food by processing, grinding and cooking the by-products and the flesh as well as the other ingredients.

When the desired consistency and moisture level is reached, the kibble is shaped into the desired shape and vacuum-packed.

The normal shelf life for a bag of dry food can be as long as five years with vacuum packing. Other dry dog food will last only up to one year with the addition of additional preservatives.

Quality control is a vital part of the process to make pet food. Pet food manufacturing is closely monitored by several agencies at both state and federal levels.

The department of agriculture will control the quality of the meat used and the types of animals that can be used to make pet food. The food and drug administration along with the department of agriculture govern the amount of some nutrients present as well.

Labeling by those who engage in pet food production is required to be accurate and informative.

The name of the manufacturer, ingredients, guaranteed analysis, product name, and nutritional information must be provided.