Formulation of Different Moist Pet Foods and Evaluation for their Acceptance and Utilization in Wistar Rats

Author: R. Rajkumar and M. Muthulakhsmi

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Abstract

While dry kibble has been a popular choice for pet owners, moist pet food has gained significant attention in recent years. In this article, we explored the benefits of moist pet food, shedding light on why it is becoming a preferred choice among pet owners. A study was conducted to assess the performance of various moist pet food formulations in weaned Wistar rats. The food group included C (control with vegetarian formula), T1 food consisting of chicken boneless breast with heart and liver, T2 food consisting of whole chicken with heart and liver, and T3 food containing chicken offal meal with heart and liver. The weaned rats were fed with the formulated diet for 21 days and evaluated for its acceptance and utilization in rats. The moist pet food feed intake in the Wistar rat groups is in descending order T3>C>T1>T2 and the FCR of control and treatment group rats fed with the moist pet food in 1-3 weeks is in ascending order is T2

Keywords

Moist pet food formulation, Wistar rats, Feed intake, Feed Conversion Ratio

Conclusion

From the present study, the consumption of moist pet food by Wistar rats in the treatment groups was found to be comparatively lower than that of the control group. Comparing the moist pet food intake over the three weeks, the T2 rat group consumed the least, followed by T1, T3, and the control group. The control group exhibited the highest quantity of moist pet food consumption during the 3-week feeding trial compared to the other groups. The observed differences in food intake among the groups are likely influenced by the body's growth and developmental requirements (FAO, 2011) and the ability of the foods to meet these needs. However, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) in the treatment groups was better. Based on these observations, it can be concluded that the Wistar rat groups fed with moist pet food formulations containing whole chicken exhibited the highest weight gain, followed by pet food with chicken offal meal and chicken boneless breast, while the control group, which consumed a vegetarian-based moist pet food, showed the lowest weight gain among all groups. The use of chicken offal meal in the moist pet food formulation was found to be an effective and potentially economical source for promoting weight gain in growing dogs. Based on the above findings it is suggested that incorporating chicken offal meal in moist pet food could be a viable and cost-effective option to enhance the growth performance and nutritional value of pet food for companion animals

References

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How to cite this article

R. Rajkumar and M. Muthulakhsmi (2024). Formulation of Different Moist Pet Foods and Evaluation for their Acceptance and Utilization in Wistar Rats . Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(7): 90-93.