Described herein are controlled release pet food compositions comprising: a matrix comprising: a fiber component comprising a high solubility fiber source and low solubility fiber source, and a polyphenol source; wherein the matrix is adapted to deliver the polyphenol source to the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a mammal after ingestion by the mammal. Methods of making and using these compositions are also described.

Described herein are controlled release pet food compositions comprising: a matrix comprising: a fiber component comprising a high solubility fiber source and low solubility fiber source, and a polyphenol source; wherein the matrix is adapted to deliver the polyphenol source to the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a mammal after ingestion by the mammal. Methods of making and using these compositions are also described.

Provided are pet food grains for reducing regurgitation after a meal, containing: puffed grains having a moisture content of 3% to 12% by mass, in which a proportion of grains, each of which has a surface with an arithmetic average surface roughness Sa of 14 μm or greater which is measured using an L-filter having a nesting index of 0.25 mm, is 60% or greater, and a proportion of grains whose hardness immediately after being immersed in dilute hydrochloric acid (pH of 2.5) at 25° C. for 10 minutes is 2.5 kgw or less is 60% or greater.

Provided are pet food grains for reducing regurgitation after a meal, containing: puffed grains having a moisture content of 3% to 12% by mass, in which a proportion of grains, each of which has a surface with an arithmetic average surface roughness Sa of 14 μm or greater which is measured using an L-filter having a nesting index of 0.25 mm, is 60% or greater, and a proportion of grains whose hardness immediately after being immersed in dilute hydrochloric acid (pH of 2.5) at 25° C. for 10 minutes is 2.5 kgw or less is 60% or greater.

The present invention is related to the inclusion of dehydrated and encapsulated functional additives formulations in food matrices.

For the encapsulation of the additives, molten hydrophobic mixtures of fatty acids and longchain saponified fatty acids were used under simple encapsulation techniques that require minimum residence times and early solidification.

These specific mixtures of coating materials and the manufacturing process confer physical and chemical resistance to the formulated additives, which allows their use as functional ingredients in industrial processes, such as the production of balanced foods, concentrated foods, dry or wet foods, for humans or animals; where extrusion, baking or pelletizing processes are used, without the additives losing their viability and activity.

A process for making a dry food is described herein. The process includes providing raw materials for a dry food to a preconditioning vessel at a first flowrate, preconditioning the raw materials in the preconditioning vessel and forming a dough, and moving the dough having a moisture content of from about 4% to about 10% through an inlet of an extruder. The process further includes extruding the dough through a die plate of the extruder and forming kibbles by: applying thermal energy to the dough; and applying mechanical energy to the dough, wherein the ratio of the thermal energy to the mechanical energy can range from at least about 2.0 to about 4.0.

A process for making a dry food is described herein. The process includes providing raw materials for a dry food to a preconditioning vessel at a first flowrate, preconditioning the raw materials in the preconditioning vessel and forming a dough, and moving the dough having a moisture content of from about 4% to about 10% through an inlet of an extruder. The process further includes extruding the dough through a die plate of the extruder and forming kibbles by: applying thermal energy to the dough; and applying mechanical energy to the dough, wherein the ratio of the thermal energy to the mechanical energy can range from at least about 2.0 to about 4.0.

Disclosed embodiments concern a composition and/or combination, and a method of administering the same as a feed, or to supplement the feed of, aquatic animals, particularly for aquaculture. Disclosed composition and/or combination embodiments may comprise glucan, silica, mineral clay, mannans, yucca, quillaja, a probiotic, and/or an adhesive agent. The adhesive agent may be selected particularly to facilitate administration to aquatic species. In certain embodiments the adhesive agent comprises an oil, such as soy oil, or a syrup, such as molasses, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments the composition and/or combination may further comprise polyphenol, an antimicrobial, and/or a vaccine. Also disclosed is a method for promoting growth and/or immune function in aquatic animals.

Disclosed embodiments concern a composition and/or combination, and a method of administering the same as a feed, or to supplement the feed of, aquatic animals, particularly for aquaculture. Disclosed composition and/or combination embodiments may comprise glucan, silica, mineral clay, mannans, yucca, quillaja, a probiotic, and/or an adhesive agent. The adhesive agent may be selected particularly to facilitate administration to aquatic species. In certain embodiments the adhesive agent comprises an oil, such as soy oil, or a syrup, such as molasses, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments the composition and/or combination may further comprise polyphenol, an antimicrobial, and/or a vaccine. Also disclosed is a method for promoting growth and/or immune function in aquatic animals.

Milk replacers include milk and non-milk proteins, and at least a portion of the non-milk protein is provided by textured soy protein. The textured soy protein is ground and extruded such that it is substantially free of anti-nutritional factors that are detrimental to young animal health or development. The milk replacers with textured soy proteins are fed to young animals, who demonstrate equal or improved performance compared to young animals fed milk replacers with the same amount of total protein and same amount of soy protein, but the soy protein is from other than textured soy protein.