How to make dry dog food by food extruder (1)

Have you ever wondered how your dog food products are made? Be it kibbles, biscuits or any other dog foods, there are standard methods of manufacturing pet foods. Understanding how these products are made can be useful in maintaining a healthy dog unit. The process through which dog or pet foods are manufactured is called extrusion.

1) Ingredients. If you have ever worked into a pet food store, you should have noticed the various brands of dog foods displayed on the shelves. Whereas different companies have their own ways of preparing their dog food recipes, the nutritional value of each pet food is standardized to ensure that they meet the international standards. In America, pet food recipes must be accessed by the Association of America Feed Control for nutritional compliance. Ingredients that must be incorporated in the dog food include protein sources like beef, eggs and chicken, as well as cereals, grains, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals.

2) Extrusion. Extrusion has been used for over a decade to produce pet foods. Modernly, dry pet foods are produced by baking or extruding. A Dog food making machine is effective for manufacturing large quantities of nutritious and durable food.

3) Drying. Drying of dog foods separates dried dog foods from moist ones. Drying is essential for lengthening the shelf life of dog foods and reducing microbial contamination.

4) Adding of ingredients. Research has shown that taurine, a vital amino acid, is lost during the manufacturing process. This amino acid is vital for good vision and avoiding heart related diseases among dogs and cats. To avoid such disease complications, synthetic taurine is added into extruded dog foods. In addition, extra nutrients such as minerals, oils, fats, and vitamins are sprayed onto the kibbles. Sterilization through cooking at 121ºC for 1 hour marks the last step of production of dry dog foods.

One of the most important things you should note before purchasing dried dog foods is the fact that different pet manufacturers use different ingredients to manufacture their foods. Some brands may use more grains than meat products in their ingredients. If you want to feed your dogs with diets containing more meat than grains, you should read the product labels and go for those with more meat. Ingredients are normally indicated in a descending order i.e. from the most to the least. Although dogs are tolerant to grain ingredients, you should pick brands with the best formula nutrients.

Nonetheless, producing the best dog foods does not entirely depend on the type of ingredients. The choice of the dog food machine will also impact on the quality of pet products. You should choose a machine that is not only efficient but also economical and affordable to use.