MANHATTAN, KANSAS, U.S. — Professionals within the pet food industry joined Kansas State University’s (KSU) IGP Institute from Jan. 14-18 for the IGP-KSU Pet Food Formulation for Commercial Production course. In attendance were 20 participants from the United States, Canada, Pakistan, India and Guatemala. The participants gained hands-on experience and further education in developing pet food product formulations.

“Creating pet food formulas from concepts, reverse engineering existing pet foods, and trouble-shooting pet food production and quality control compliance issues using formulation software were additional learning outcomes of the training,” said Greg Aldrich, research associate professor in the Department of Grain Science and Industry.

Topics covered by the course included understanding ingredients, processes and software necessary to create new products; revising existing formulas; perform business and production analysis; gaining an understanding of the raw ingredients used to produce pet foods, their general composition and processing considerations; fundamental principles of companion animal nutrition and dietary needs (specifically dog and cat); learning the processes involved with producing pet foods, the regulatory constraints regarding claims and requirements and the transportation and storage factors involved with marketing effective foods for companion animals; and studying the range of formulation tools common to the trade.

“I had no prior background in animal food production,” said Caitlin Eilenfeldt, food scientist at Riverbend Foods. “The course was well taught and in a friendly atmosphere. I was able to take away a lot from this course and Dr. Aldrich made the material very easy to learn.”

Through the course, individuals participated in the presentations and various demonstrations led by KSU and AIB International faculty and staff. Individuals of the course also gained hands-on experience in the O.H. Krause Feed Mill.

“As the industry grows and improves, the Department of Grain Science and Industry at KSU is continually striving toward significant research developments and works hand-in-hand with the goals of the feed and food industry to promote and develop pet food processing,” Aldrich said.