| Each pet food manufacturer has its own procedure for developing a
new product or modifying a current brand. This section describes basic procedures
which any manufacturer may utilize in developing a product. The
Idea
This can come from a number of sources. It may be a new manufacturing
technique found in the laboratory, a market research department concept or a nutritional
improvement. Before ideas are implemented, they are often tested with consumers
in a couple of ways. The first step is qualitative market research. An example
of this kind of testing is called focus groups. This test exposes a small number
of consumers to product ideas or concepts to gauge their interest and get input
on how to refine the idea. The second stage of idea testing is quantitative research
in which concepts scoring well in the first test are further developed and exposed
to a much larger sample of consumers. Participants are questioned about their
interest in purchasing the product and what they like and don't like about the
idea. This data can be compared to data on other ideas which have been tested
in a similar way to gauge whether it is an above or below average concept. Product
Prototype
From these sessions the most promising ideas are selected
for further development. Product prototypes are then produced either by machine
or by hand if equipment does not exist for the new type of product. Initially,
these can vary in regard to ingredients, nutritional content, color, texture,
shape and other physical characteristics. Feeding Tests
After the prototype selection, a series of studies begins. The number and type
of studies conducted depends upon the nature of the product being developed and
the claims it will carry. For example, claims of "complete and balanced nutrition
for maintenance of the adult dog" does not require the reproduction and growth
tests needed for claims of "complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages."
Rather it requires a 6-month study in adult animals. Palatability
Palatability studies utilize an appropriate testing procedure to determine
which food is most acceptable to the dog or cat. This is critical because an animal
must eat the product in order to obtain the necessary nutrition. Palatability
of the food is influenced by the formula, ingredient quality and the mouth feel
of the particle. The formula, or the kind and amount of the ingredients
used, determines to a great extent the taste of the finished product. Dogs and
cats generally have different taste preferences. When given a choice, dogs typically
prefer high-fat foods. The nose and taste buds of dogs are quite sensitive
and can detect differences in the quality of ingredients used in pet foods. Generally
speaking, a formula using low quality, overcooked or scorched, spoiled or severely
rancid ingredients does not give the most desirable taste and may cause reduced
intake or complete rejection of the food. Reputable manufacturers adhere to specifications
which ensure high quality ingredients are purchased and used in the production
of their products. Although many pet owners may not be aware of this fact,
mouth feel is important in determining the relative palatability of the food.
Mouth feel is influenced by the texture, density, size, shape and other physical
properties of the particles. For example, a dry pet food that turns very mushy
and soft when water is added is not as palatable for the average dog as a dry
food that retains a crunchy texture when moisture is added. Mouth feel is one
of the reasons dry pet foods come in a variety of shapes. Although testing
foods for palatability can be done in a number of different ways, these tests
are generally similar in a number of ways. Adult dogs, sometimes of different
breeds, are used to determine food preferences. Each animal is fed individually
and offered a choice of two diets in the same-size bowls. Each bowl contains more
food than the animal will eat; otherwise, it will consume all the preferred diet
and still be hungry enough to eat a portion of the less-preferred food. The amount
of each food consumed is recorded daily. This type of test design allows the determination
of the overall relative palatability of each food, whether the animals' preference
shifted over the course of the four-day test and the number of animals which preferred
each ration. The size and length of this experiment should be designed to yield
statistically significant results. The bowls of food are switched each day to
make certain that the animal is not a "position eater." (Some dogs eat from only
the right or left-hand bowl without regard to the kinds of food offered.) A
new product or a product that has been significantly modified with regard to new
or differing amounts of ingredients is not only initially tested several times
but may also be subject to a storage test for up to one year. This test determines
if the palatability of the product changes over time under typical storage conditions.
Digestion Studies
Digestibility is a measure
of a food's nutritional value. Unlike testing done to determine nutritional adequacy
of foods, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has not established
a protocol specifically for digestion testing. As a result, pet food companies
use different procedures which vary in length and methodology. This makes it difficult
to directly compare digestibility values from different manufacturers. Regardless
of the exact test methodology, digestion testing addresses two important factors
in the nutritional value of a food: the amount of nutrients in the product and
the availability of those nutrients for the animal's use. The nutrient level together
with the digestibility determine the actual amount of the nutrient the dog or
cat puts to use. As an example, a dog food that contains 21 percent protein with
85 percent digestibility would provide nearly the same amount of protein to the
animal as a diet containing 23 percent protein with a 77.6 percent digestibility.
Example:
21g protein/100g diet x 0.85 = 17.5g protein
23g protein/100g
diet x 0.776 = 17.8g protein Digestion studies involve an adjustment period
during which the diet is fed and animals become accustomed to it. This is followed
by a collection period during which time, the following information is obtained:
total amount of food consumed
assay of the food for specific nutrients
total amount of fecal material
assay of the fecal material for the same
nutrients as measured in the food The digestibility of a nutrient is calculated
by subtracting the amount of the nutrient found in the stool from the total amount
of the nutrient the animal consumed. To illustrate, if a dog ate 100 grams of
protein and 15 grams of protein were found in the fecal material, the protein
digestibility of the food would be 85 percent. Nutritional
Studies
In the section "Understanding Pet Food Labels," the methods
are outlined that a pet food manufacturer can use to declare a food nutritionally
complete and balanced for dogs or cats. The following sections discuss the protocol
for the animal test procedures developed by the Association of American Feed Control
Officials (AAFCO). Reproduction Studies
The
purpose of reproduction or breeding studies is to determine if the food has the
correct amount and balance of nutrients dogs/cats need during the nutritionally
demanding periods of gestation and lactation. In reproduction studies,
two similar groups of brood females are used. A minimum of 8 dogs is assigned
to each group. Each group, those fed the control diet and those fed the test diet,
are the same breeds, are similar in age and have given birth to a similar number
of litters. The control diet is a product already proven to be 100% complete and
balanced for reproduction and has given normal reproductive performance in past
feeding trials. All breeding stock are housed under the same conditions,
eat from the same-size bowl, are fed at the same time and receive the same care
and medication. Pen size, the opportunity to exercise and all management factors
are the same except for the food in the bowl. The test starts prior to the time
the females are bred. From that time until the puppies are four weeks of age or
the kittens are six weeks of age they eat only the test or control diet plus water.
No vitamins, minerals, meat or other supplements are added. During a reproduction
study, a number of observations are made and recorded. These include:
- Daily food intake of each female and puppies or kittens
- Weekly body
weight of the brood female
- Body weight of the young at birth and every
week until the end of test
- Number and sex of young born and weaned
-
Physical examination of the female and young
- Blood chemistry profiles
-
Any unusual factor such as changes in health
Because all brood bitches
do not come in heat at the same time, this test requires 12 to 18 months to complete.
The test ends when all litters of dogs are four weeks of age. For a test diet
to be successful, the performance results from the animals on this diet as measured
by the data indicated above must be equal to or better than those of the control
food. If the performance is not as good, the test diet is reevaluated in an effort
to determine what may have occurred. Growth Tests
Puppies are growing rapidly during their first year of life. This growth requires
adequate nutrients and energy to occur normally. The purpose of a growth test,
therefore, is to determine whether the food will support the normal growth of
puppies after weaning. For a growth study, litters of puppies/kittens from
bitches in the test diet group of the reproduction study are divided as equally
as possible by sex and weight into two lots. Each lot must contain eight puppies
each. One lot is fed a control diet of known performance, and the other lot eats
the same test diet as fed during the reproduction study. This test starts at six
weeks of age and lasts a minimum of ten weeks. During the test period,
the following observations are made: - Weekly body weight of puppies
- Daily food intake of puppies
- Physical examination
-
Blood chemistry profiles
- Any unusual factor such as changes in health
As in the reproduction study, puppies on the test diet must perform
as well as or better than their litter mates on the control diet. If the results
from both the reproduction and growth studies are positive, the food can be labeled
"complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages." Maintenance
Tests
A maintenance study determines if the food will maintain normal
health and body condition in adult dogs. Adult dogs with normal activity do not
require as high a level, per pound of body weight, of protein, energy, vitamins,
minerals and other nutrients as does a growing puppy or pregnant and lactating
bitch. Consequently, if a diet is designed solely for maintenance, the nutrient
levels can be lower. During a maintenance test, eight adult dogs are fed
the test diet only, plus water, for a minimum testing period of 26 weeks. No other
supplements are used. During the test period, the following observations are made:
- Daily food intake
- Body weight
- Physical examination
-
Blood chemistry profiles
- Any unusual factor such as changes in health
At the end of the test, individual dogs must have maintained their
original body condition, had no significant variation in body weight and shown
no other abnormal factor that may be due to diet. If this test is successful,
the food can be labeled "complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of the
adult dog." This means that the product is not recommended for feeding the growing,
pregnant and lactating animal. Product Development
During the time the animal tests are being conducted, many other activities necessary
for product development occurs. New equipment for products and packaging, if needed,
are being designed and developed, at least on a pilot scale. Package size, design,
and copy, as well as product name, are being developed. Consumer research
also continues during the development of the actual product. To obtain more pet
owner reaction, a Blind In-home Test may be conducted. In this test the pet owner
is given sufficient food to feed his/her dog or cat for several days. A reaction
from both the pet and the owner is obtained. If all factors are favorable, development
continues. The final consumer testing which may occur is called a Simulated Market
Test, in which consumers are exposed to the product through something similar
to a print advertisement. If the consumer shows interest in purchasing the product,
they are given a sample to take home and use with their pet. A follow-up questionnaire
measures the consumer's acceptance of the product, whether they would purchase
the product again and if so, what product would it replace. Data from this test
is used to do a financial analysis and, obtain a projection of sales volume. This
information is extremely valuable in the decision to launch a new product. -------------------------------------------------
// ------------------------------------------------ Reprinted with permission
by Ralston Purina Canada | 
