The pet food industry is one of the most interesting and dynamic food industries in the world, growing at a rate of 5 to 6 percent each year. With the development of commercial dry and canned pet foods in the mid 1900’s, people have gone from feeding their pets table scraps or raw foods, to nutritionally balanced precooked commercial diets. Not only has this been more convenient for consumers, but it has also ensured that pets get more nutritionally balanced diets than most people could expect to offer in the way of table scraps or home made meals. Pet food has turned into a lucrative global industry, with both major and minor players exporting and selling their pet food brands all over the world. In recent years much of the nutritional research conducted with companion animals has focused on enhancing quality of life of older animals, and on improving neo-natal nutrition to ensure that young pets develop strong bones and a healthy immune system.
Fermentation technology is one of Alltech's core competencies and by harnessing fermentation technology we develop and produce specialised yeast strains, yeast derivatives, yeast extracts, mannan oligosaccharides and beta glucans for the pet food division. We are also a key supplier of direct fed microbials (live bacteria and yeast) enzymes, natural antioxidants, organic mineral chelates and selenium yeast. Alltech is a major global player in this field of companion animal research. Our research has focused on developing and evaluating new pet food solutions, which may improve the palatability, nutritional value, quality and safety of pet food. Alltech’s pet food division is a leading supplier of specialised functional and nutritional ingredients to global pet food and companion animal food industries.