An evaluation of whole soybean (WSB) inclusion (0, 10, 20, 30%) in an extruded dog food diet. The experiments will provide an overview for the impact incremental levels of WSB have on processing parameters (e.g., expansion, density, energy transfer), utilization by the dog (e.g. digestibility and stool consistency), palatablity, and human/pet owner sensory analysis of resulting products. There will determination of how the process impacts the anti-nutritional factors, how this affects the dogs, and finally how the oligosaccharides that currently limit soy inclusion in pet diets might affect fermentation in an in vitro model.

To determine the dose and efficacy of market positive attributes (oligosaccharides) from whole soybeans in an extruded dog diet.

Research summary with 1 to 2 peer reviewed publications and multiple abstracts at pet food trade shows and scientific conferences.

Updated July 22, 2021:

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Updated August 20, 2021:

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A series of experiments was conducted to evaluate increasing levels (0, 10, 20, and 30%) of whole soybeans (WSB) in extruded dog diets. There was a linear increase in bulk density as increasing levels of WSB were incorporated into the ration under fixed processing parameters. The Trypsin inhibitor activity was diminished in all treatments due to processing but was not completely eliminated. Digestibility by dogs declined in a slightly linear fashion with increasing increments of WSB, but stool consistency and quality were not affected. In palatability testing dogs preferred the diets with WSB over those without, and in sensory analysis no large or technical differences or aversions were noted by the panelists. The in vitro fermentation of soy oligosaccharides (OS) was comparably fermentable to beet pulp (a standard in the industry) and may provide a prebiotic effect to gastrointestinal health. In conclusion, adding WSB at incremental levels in pet food was able to increase internal fat levels in extruded foods, maintained digestibility and had better palatability than the no-WSB control, and provided fermentable OS which might benefit gastrointestinal health in dogs.

Determination of the additional benefit to the pet and owner for use of whole soybeans in pet foods could increase the acceptability of this ingredient in pet food diets in general and would be a direct contribution to soybean use without any dilution from the co-product market.