What is the future of Dog Food? Could it even be insects. It appears to be already here or almost.
Jonker Pet Food, Netherlands
www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/4328-jonker-petfood-offers-new-petfood-using-insects-as-protein-source
Jonker develops! www.jonkerpetfood.nl/nieuws-en.html
Dog Dietitian Dr Ken Tudor on Insects a New protein for Pet foods. www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfkMnvhmyPg
www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/ken-tudor/2014/january/insects-pet-food-protein-future-31265
EntoBento in America make dog treats using insect flour. I’m not sure of the current EU legislation as regards insect protein in pet food. I have a feeling it is currently being looked at. Perhaps David can shed some light.
Well my dog is partial to a housefly but I don’t think I will be tempted
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Great topic Seaweed!
As unappetising as insect protein sounds, Dr Tudor is right that the rapidly increasing global demand for meat is a big problem for the pet industry and alternative sources of protein are one solution. Bacterial proteins are reportedly also being looked into by some producers and I’m told that feather meals are already being used in some Nestle products.
It’s worth remembering though that alternative proteins are no new thing - soy proteins, maize gluten and pea protein are amongst a whole host of vegetable proteins that are used to boost the protein levels in a lot of lower grade pet foods.
As far I’m aware, insects are not technically permitted in the EU for consumption by either humans or pets but there is mounting pressure for that to change. There are also no studies on the digestibility or bioavailability of insect proteins in pets and other inhibitive factors like consumer attitude and high production costs mean that we are still a long, long way off seeing insects hit the pet food mainstream.
And even if alternative animal and bacterial proteins do one day make the crossover, that certainly doesn’t mean that meat based dog foods are going to fade away. While we are likely to see them continue to get more expensive, I can say with complete certainty that meat based pet foods are here to stay.
It appears TROVET has launched an insect dry dog food which uses Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae as the protein source.TROVET IPD Hypoallergenic (Insect).
http://trovet.nl/insects_against_jitters.html
One place it is available from amongst others is www.medpets.be/trovet-ipd-hypoallergenic-insect-hond/ (Netherlands)
Info, as is after translation
Trovet IPD Hypoallergenic (insect) food contains a single protein source (bug) and one carbohydrate source (potato). In Hypoallergenic (Bug), the larvae of the Black Soldier Fly recognized as a sustainable source of protein. Because in Europe are used in animal feed are not insects as a protein source, the chances are very small that a dog has previously developed an allergy. The combination of insect and potato therefore will rarely cause hypersensitivity reactions. By switching to a hypoallergenic diet food as Trovet IPD are reactions as scratching, rubbing and biting slowly reduced. Additionally Trovet IPD contains all the essential nutrients for your dog in optimal amounts. Please note that not all complaints will immediately diminish or disappear. Skin conditions improve for instance slowly. If symptoms decrease or disappear entirely diagnosed food allergy.
Ingredients
Potato, insect meal, poultry fat, vitamins and trace elements, poultry liver (hydrolyzate), calcium carbonate, fish oil, linseed
In 2010 the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) launched their 2020 vision of dog food " What will Dogs be eating in 2020". The PFMA talked to Dogs Today and various pet food manufacturers were asked their views.
So what did they have to say, did they give much away and 5 years on how are their views looking.
www.pfma.org.uk/news/what-will-our-dogs-be-eating-in-2020-pfma-talks-to-dogs-today
Will Vitro meat (lab grown meat) have a place in the future of dog food. The idea of manufacturing meat products through “tissue-engineering” is very much in it’s infancy. However there appears to be growing interest in Vitro meat, also called victimless meat, cruelty-free meat, amongst others as a future food including dog food.and many laboratories around the world are working on this. How many years will it be before the first Vitro meat factory producing pet food is built?. www.invitromeat4pets.org
Trovet Insect IPD dry dog food is yet to be launched in the UK. However as we wait there is a subtitled video on YouTube concerning this product.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=563xxLSOB9M
A very short video of Bugs For Pets (Netherlands), new cold pressed insect dog food. I believe it contains finely ground black soldier fly. Whether it eventually makes it to the UK remains to be seen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPFP0V8ZGHg
Translated text.
Composition: digested maize flour, insects, powdered egg, minerals, yeast
analytical constituents: 21,0% Crude protein Crude fat 8.0%, crude fiber 6,0%, crude ash 6,0%, calcium, phosphorus 1.2% 1.1%
with natural antioxidants.
Future of dog food doesn’t depend on the change of market. it depends on how you take care of your pets.
Provide proper dog supplements to your lovely pets.
Not convinced that the future of dog food is not relative to market change…Feel free to convince me otherwise.
This is off topic (sorry) but If a dog is healthy and receiving good quality food then they should not need supplements. I only give my dogs supplements if they are having symptoms. Currently one is having Yumega Plus due to sebborhoea ( dry, flaky and itchy skin). She has half the daily dose because her food already has oils in it. Seems to be doing her good so far.
It appears that insect dog food has reached the UK. Trovet Insect Hypoallergenic Diet (IPD) is now available.
http://www.vetsend.co.uk/trovet-ipd-hypoallergenic-insect-dog/ (Netherlands)
https://petfoodwarehouse.co.uk/browse_1674&big=1
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I spotted this on another forum so a big thank you goes their way. InsectDog Hypoallergenic, a dog food containing mealworm larvae from the German company Green Petfood is available from Zooplus.co.uk.
Ingredients:
Potato (dried), pea meal (natural source of amino acids), insect protein (mealworm larvae) (10%), sunflower oil, yeast (partially hydrolysed), potato protein, minerals, beet fibre, carob meal
Available in 2kg and 15kg http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dry_dog_food/green_petfood/dry_food/584899
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A great find seaweed. As it states in the description, it may be helpful for owners who’s dogs are allergic to the usual meat proteins.
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Feather meal is mentioned in the current AADF opinion poll. I don’t know how many dog foods are out there that uses feather meal, Royal Canin have their ANALLERGENIC product which contains feather hydrolysate with low molecular weight (source of L amino acids and oligopeptides) which is available in the UK.
An article from Dr Becker http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/07/17/feather-meal.aspx
An article Why pick on feather meal in pet foods
http://vobra.com/assets/images/columns%20anton/All%20about%20feed%20-%202014-7%20Why%20pick%20on%20feather%20meal%20in%20petfoods.pdf
A video from Rodney Habib where he talks about the recent Dr Oz show that featured a segment on pet food which contained feathers.
http://truthaboutpetfood.com/rodneys-response-to-the-dr-oz-show-vet-dr-evan-antin/
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;DSounds interesting
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I am very excited to learn that insect-based dog food has made it to the UK! I have been asking in pet shops but so far haven’t found a stockist, so the links here are very helpful, thanks!
Although - I thought potatoes (the base of the Green Petfood InsectDog) weren’t a very good staple for dogs? Too starchy and a member of the nightshade family. That brand has only 22% protein - I doubt that’s high enough, especially for a puppy (our golden doodle is 7 months and currently doing well on Arden Grange Junior plus offal treats).
I attach a poster I made summarising some 2014 research on the nutrition in different types of insect, in case it’s of interest to anyone. I would like to see more companies investigate this - when the planet is being destroyed by meat consumption, insects seem like a great way to go - mealworms in particular can be sustainably produced on the byproduct of other industries.
The poll on allaboutdogfood.co.uk is very interesting - so far, c. 40% of respondents are totally resistant to the idea of alternatives to standard meat protein. I’d be very interested to know what the turn-off is, i.e. whether there are scientific concerns about nutrition or whether it’s just the ick factor. Any thoughts?
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TheBunyip, welcome and thanks for posting.
There’s been a low key introduction of insect dog food in the UK, of course it’s still in it’s infancy, however once someone comes along and promotes their product with a splash! then it could really take off. I’m particularly interested how dogs with allergies and intolerance’s would fair on this diet. There seems to be a growing interest in starting up Insect Farms in the UK, perhaps one day they may supply UK Dog Food manufactures. I don’t know how many insect farms there are in the UK although there is a Cricket Farm in Cumbria who produce dried, frozen and powdered Crickets for humans. Insect dog treats are on the up, whether they have made it to the UK I’m not sure.
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Meg, that’s a very good point - many invertebrates are under threat, particularly freshwater species. The idea of using protein from farmed Insects such as Tenebrio motilor (yellow mealworm), however, fills me with hope - they are very far from threatened, and using them would take pressure off protein sources like soy and cattle, and might eventually lead to less intensive farming and more habitat released for wild species. It’s just a hope!
One of the things that gave us pause about getting a dog was the increased carbon footprint - I’m hoping that if insect-based protein takes off, the carbon footprint necessary for the dog’s health will reduce.
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Insect dog food, BugsforPets Dog - Crispy Dry Food (Black Soldier Flies) 2kg and 4kg is available from vetsend.co.uk also on Amazon UK from same.
https://www.vetsend.co.uk/bugsforpets-dog-crispy-dry-food/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BugsforPets-Pet-Supplies-Store/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=n%3A340840031%2Ck%3ABugsforPets
Not in English http://www.bugsforpets.nl/
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