At Unimark Pet Food, innovation is the cornerstone of our philosophy. Pet food has evolved significantly over the last few decades. Today, dog and cat owners are increasingly concerned about the quality of the ingredients in the food their pets eat. This quality will be determined by their nutritional contribution and also by their safety, i.e. free from contaminants, pathogenic microorganisms, oxidation products, etc.
But the quality of the ingredients is not the only factor that will determine the quality of the final food. Ingredients must be combined in the right way to obtain the desired nutritional profile, taking into account the effects of processing and nutrient interactions. And also, obviously, the resulting product must be highly palatable and digestible, as anything that is not eaten and not digested has no nutritional value.
And why has the extrusion process been chosen for the production of dry foodstuffs? Extrusion is a processing technique in which raw ingredients are mixed and cooked by heat and pressure in an extruder. This process results in the characteristic dry and crunchy format of pet food. It is a highly efficient method of producing kibble with a long shelf life and a convenient format, unlike wet food.
But until recently, dry extruded products have often been given a bad press because they have been associated with unnatural, poorly digestible and unpalatable foods, although these factors depend on many factors other than the manufacturing process itself.
For this reason, the injection of fresh meat in the extrusion process has represented a significant advance in improving the nutritional value and palatability of dry foods. This method involves the incorporation of fresh raw meat directly into the dough, rather than relying exclusively on meat meals or dehydrated proteins, which until recently was the norm in dry food manufacturing.
The process can be complex, as fresh meat contains high levels of moisture, posing technical challenges on machinery designed to work with dry ingredients. However, with the latest Wenger brand technology on the market, we have been able to overcome these challenges while maintaining the quality, safety and consistency of the end product. In addition, we have a dosing system that allows controlled injection of the fresh meat during extrusion, ensuring that the meat is cooked correctly and respectfully, without losing its nutrients.
Benefits of injecting fresh meat into dry feeds
- Nutritional improvement: Fresh meat provides high quality protein and healthy fats, which improves the nutritional profile of the final food. Unlike meat meal, fresh meat retains more of its original nutrients as it has not been subjected to a prior dehydration process, which can denature certain proteins (making them less soluble), encourage fat oxidation and the loss of heat-sensitive vitamins.
- Increased palatability: The injection of fresh meat increases the palatability of the kibbles, as this way we ensure that all the juices and aromas of the meat are retained in the formula, and the animal perceives a more appetising aroma and extra flavour. In addition, the injection of fresh meat also contributes to a more pleasant texture of the final food.
- Improved digestibility: By not subjecting fresh meat to prior dehydration, the nutrients retain their original structure, making them easier to digest and absorb in the pet’s digestive system.
- More sustainability: By not relying on meat meal, we use km-0 ingredients to manufacture our products, thus minimising the distance raw materials have to travel, which translates into less fuel consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the use of fresh meat directly allows us to avoid the use of fresh meat in the production of our products.
Last but not least, the icing on the cake of our manufacturing process is the vacuum spraying system. Once the croquettes have been formed and come out of the extruder, this state-of-the-art technology allows us to optimise the deep fat penetration and our own natural appetising factor in each croquette. The result? A product that not only delights the senses on the surface, but retains its irresistible appeal in every bite, as pets experience the perfect fusion of taste and nutrition.
