HK1242521A1 - Feed presenting two components - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a two-component animal food composition comprising an outer component, which entirely encloses an inner component, is harder than the inner component, and contains potato flour and at least one ingredient selected from a fat, a protein or a combination thereof.

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to animal feed compositions, particularly multi-component animal feed compositions, having an outer and an inner component, with improved tolerance and enhanced palatability.

Preferably, the animal feed composition is a cat food composition.

Background of the Invention

Half-moist animal feed products are known in the prior art.

EP 2 772 144 A1 discloses a method for producing a two-layer animal feed or food product, which has an outer and an inner layer.

US 2014/0154361 A1 describes dough bag replicas that are suitable as animal feed.

EP 1 692 946 A1 relates to edible, easily digestible, and long-lasting chew toys for pets.

US 2013/0273206 A1 relates to animal feed and, in particular, to animal feed having soft and hard properties. The feed is a high-moisture, two-layer structured feed with improved palatability.

WO 2008/144234 A1 discloses an extruded animal feed product composed of various extruded components. Extrusion of the individual components is required, with each ingredient forming different portions.

EP 1 527 699 A1 describes a pet food product with at least two phase-separated layers, wherein a lower base layer is formed from a solid foodstuff and an upper layer consists of a jelly preparation in which solid meat pieces reconstructed from meat mass are embedded. There is no pet feed composition disclosed consisting of an outer component that completely encloses an inner component.

US 4,795,655 refers to a two-part pet food consisting of a base part and a filling. The filling contains 30 to 40% by weight of water. Neither of the two components contains potato flour and is free from grains.

US 4,229,485 shows dried, grain-based animal feed composed of a flour and protein-containing material coated with a coating made of liver and flour-containing material. Both components are based on grain flour.

Task of the invention

Starting from this state of the art, it is the object of the present invention to provide a storage-stable animal feed composition with improved tolerance and enhanced palatability.

Summary of the Invention

This task is solved by the features of the independent claim 1.

Dependent claims 2-14 further the idea of the invention in an advantageous manner.

A multi-component animal feed composition according to the invention comprises two components, an outer component that completely encloses an inner component, wherein the outer component contains potato flour and further at least one ingredient selected from a fat, a protein, or a combination thereof, and is harder than the inner component, wherein: the inner component contains potato flour, the outer component has a potato flour content of at least 10% by weight, and the outer component has a total moisture content of less than 8% by weight, the outer component is free from cereal ingredients, the inner component is free from cereal ingredients, and the animal feed composition is produced by co-extrusion of the inner component within the outer component.

The texture of the inventive pet food composition can be determined, among other methods, using the "Kramer Shear Cell." The "Kramer Shear Cell" is a texture-measuring method used for extruded food products, which stimulates biting or chewing with multiple teeth. Therefore, the "Kramer Shear Cell" provides information about biting behavior, crispiness, and firmness of the composition. During the measurement, 5 or 10 blades/shear plates move at a constant speed through a defined amount of sample material, compressing, shearing, and extruding it. As a result, an average force required to penetrate the sample material is obtained. This force serves as an indicator of the tenderness, toughness, or firmness of the tested sample material.

In a further embodiment, the animal feed composition according to the invention comprises two components, an outer component that completely encloses an inner component, wherein the outer component contains pseudocereal and is harder than the inner component.

Pseudocereals in the sense of the present invention are grain crops from plant species that do not belong to the grass family. They include, for example, quinoa, amaranth, and buckwheat.

In a further preferred embodiment, the outer component of the animal feed composition according to the invention, which completely surrounds an inner component, comprises tapioca starch.

In a further preferred embodiment, the outer component of the animal feed composition according to the invention, which completely surrounds an inner component, comprises starch from vegetables and fruits.

Vegetables and fruits in the sense of the present invention include beans, peas, lentils, and tomatoes.

The inner component can also contain pseudocereals, which is advantageous.

Further advantageously, the inner component also contains tapioca starch.

Further advantageously, the inner component also contains strength from the inventive vegetables and fruits.

The outer component of the animal feed composition according to the invention preferably comprises 2 to 10% by weight water, 8 to 15% by weight fat, 15 to 25% by weight carbohydrates (of which 25 to 40% potato flour), 30 to 45% by weight proteins, based on the total weight of the outer component, and the inner component of the animal feed composition according to the invention contains 2 to 5% by weight water, 35 to 60% by weight fat, 35 to 60% by weight carbohydrates (of which 35 to 60% potato flour), 0.1 to 10% by weight proteins, based on the total weight of the inner component.

The combination of two components, an outer, harder component and an inner, softer component, both containing potato flour, improves the palatability compared to a feed product consisting of only one component.

Potato starch is characterized by an excellent water-binding capacity. Surprisingly, the use of potato starch in both the outer and inner components of the animal feed composition according to the invention, which has a lower thickening capacity than, for example, corn or wheat starch, still results in an optimal gelatinization with high viscosity. The animal feed composition according to the present invention is thus characterized by a uniform structure and porosity.

Starch granules swell with water when heated to a multiple of their original volume. This swelling capacity varies depending on the type of starch. This swelling capacity also provides an indication of the water-binding capacity of the starch.

For example, potato starch can swell up to a thousand times its original volume. For example, tapioca starch can swell up to 70 times its volume.

Starches generally have a lower swelling capacity. Corn starch can swell up to 24 times its original volume, and wheat starch up to 20 times its original volume.

The outer component is preferably hard, more preferably crisp, and preferably provides an improved mouthfeel for consumers of the inventive pet food composition due to its smooth structure.

Furthermore, the acceptance of the inventive animal feed composition based on potato flour is higher than that of animal feed based on cereals.

The animal feed composition is further characterized by good storage stability. Due to the specific water-binding properties of potato flour, the desired consistency of the animal feed composition according to the invention is maintained, and there is less retrogradation.

Starch consists of two components, amylose and amylopectin, in different proportions. The structure of amylose is an unbranched chain of 100 to 1400 α-1,4-linked D-glucose units with a molecular weight of 15,000 to 200,000 g/mol. Amylopectin consists of α-1,4-linked D-glucose monomers, where approximately every 15-30 monomers a side chain linked by α-1,6-glycosidic bonds with about 15-25 glucose units is attached. This results in a tree-like branching structure. Amylopectin has a molecular weight of 10 to 700 million g/mol.

The main component responsible for retrogradation is amylose. Potato starch contains 20% amylose, for example, less than the two cereal starches, corn starch (27% amylose) and wheat starch (28% amylose). In contrast, amylopectin has little influence on starch retrogradation.

Grain components in the sense of the present invention are grain components from the grass family. In particular, the term "grain components" refers to grain proteins.

Sorghum is a plant family of the grasses. All cereals such as wheat, rye, barley, oats, millet, corn, and rice belong to the family of grasses.

By using potato flour, the inventive pet food composition is gluten-free. Gluten is the general term for cereal proteins. They consist of two fractions, one of which is alcohol-soluble. Gluten is present in grain-based pet food products and represents a trigger for allergies caused by feed in pets. By replacing grain with potato flour, a large part of feed-related allergies can be prevented. Due to its specific composition and gluten-free nature, the inventive pet food composition is also well tolerated by sensitive pets.

The grain protein of certain genera such as wheat, spelt, rye, barley, or triticale is called gluten. Other grain genera such as corn, rice, or millet are gluten-free.

Pseudocereals are gluten-free.

A beneficial result is achieved by co-extruding the inner component within the outer component, leading to an improved mouth feel and thus increased acceptance by the consuming animal.

The use of potato flour in the inner component, which contains potato starch, improves the mouthfeel of the inventive multi-component pet food composition due to the uniform shape of the starch particles.

Due to the improved starch gelatinization of potato compared to grain-based products, there is a more uniform and dense porosity and a reduced fat transfer from the internal to the external component. This beneficially improves both the organoleptic properties of the product and its acceptance by consumers.

Potato starch gelatinizes at lower temperatures of 56-66°C and is therefore, for example, better dispersed than corn starch. Corn starch gelatinizes at temperatures of 75-80°C. Potato starch also gelatinizes at lower temperatures than wheat starch. Wheat starch gelatinizes at temperatures of 80-85°C.

For example, tapioca starch also gelatinizes at 60–65°C, which is at a lower temperature than, for example, corn or wheat starch.

Potato starch, as a thickening agent, contains little alpha-amylase and is therefore only slightly enzymatically degraded. This can be determined indirectly through simulation in an amylograph.

Among the organoleptic properties of the inventive animal feed composition are texture, appearance, and taste.

By co-extruding the inner component within the outer component, the product can be better fed by hand. In a preferred embodiment, the inner component is characterized by a high fat content. By co-extruding the inner component within the outer component, the inner component is completely enclosed by the outer component. This prevents the escape of fat and thus avoids a greasy surface on the product. By co-extruding the inner component within the outer component, the inner component is completely enclosed by the outer component. An air seal is achieved by the outer component, resulting in improved storage stability of the product.

According to a favorable embodiment of the invention, the use of simple packaging techniques is enabled because the softer inner component is completely enclosed by the outer, harder component, thereby preventing the escape of the softer inner component.

The animal feed composition according to the present invention can have a largest dimension of 6 to 35 mm and a second largest dimension of 5 to 25 mm.

The animal feed composition according to the present invention can have a maximum dimension of 9 to 35 mm and a second maximum dimension of 7 to 25 mm.

Advantageously, the pet food composition according to the present invention can have a weight of 0.2 to 8 grams per piece, preferably a weight of 0.35 to 5 grams per piece.

Preferably, the outer component of the pet food composition contains at least 30 wt.%, preferably at least 50 wt.% potato flour, and the inner component contains at least 40 wt.%, preferably at least 45 wt.%, more preferably at least 50 wt.% potato flour. Potato flour induces a high satiety index. Advantageously, the present invention can also provide food compositions for overweight pets. In consuming animals, the feeling of fullness occurs more quickly, thereby reducing the amount consumed.

Furthermore, the weight proportion of the outer component of the pet food composition is preferably at least 40 wt.%, preferably at least 60 wt.%, more preferably at least 80 wt.%, and the proportion of the inner component is at least 10 wt.%, preferably at least 20 wt.%, more preferably at least 25 wt.%.

In a further embodiment, the outer component of the animal feed composition contains at least 10 wt.%, preferably at least 30 wt.%, more preferably at least 50 wt.% of pseudocereals, and the inner component contains at least 40 wt.%, preferably at least 45 wt.%, more preferably at least 50 wt.% of pseudocereals.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer component of the pet food composition has a tapioca content of at least 10 wt.%, preferably at least 30 wt.%, more preferably at least 50 wt.%, and the inner component has a tapioca content of at least 40 wt.%, preferably at least 45 wt.%, more preferably at least 50 wt.%.

The outer component of the present invention further contains at least one ingredient selected from a fat, a protein, or a combination thereof. Due to the specific water-binding properties of the potato starch contained in the outer component and its excellent swelling and gelling properties, the outer component is characterized by a fine, smooth structure, making the outer component crispier and the inner component creamier.

Advantageously, the inner component of the animal feed composition according to the present invention comprises a mixture of lipids and solid ingredients. The lipids form a matrix with the solid ingredients, which is softer than the outer component. The softer inner component is formed without the addition of water and thus has a minimal moisture content and extremely low water activity. Therefore, the inner component does not require strict sterilization measures or antimicrobial and/or antifungal treatments for stabilization.

The softer inner component of the animal feed composition according to the present invention advantageously has a water activity, aw, of less than 0.7, preferably a water activity, aw, of less than 0.6, more preferably a water activity, aw, of less than 0.5.

Preferably, the softer inner component has a water activity, aw, of less than 0.4, preferably a water activity, aw, of less than 0.3, more preferably a water activity, aw, of less than 0.2.

Further advantageously, the mixture of lipids and solids in the softer, inner component of the animal feed composition according to the present invention includes a lipid comprising a saturated or unsaturated, long- or medium-chain mono-, di- or triacylglycerol. Advantageously, the lipid content of the inner, softer component of the animal feed composition according to the invention is greater than 35 wt.%, further advantageously greater than 40 wt.%, particularly preferably greater than 50 wt.%.

The inner component forms a creamy texture without the addition of water.

In a preferred embodiment, the inner component of the animal feed composition of the present invention further contains an ingredient selected from fats, proteins, and combinations thereof.

In a further aspect of the present invention, the softer, inner component of the pet food composition further includes at least one additional ingredient selected from nourishing or non-nourishing compounds, functional compounds, pharmaceutical compounds, and mixtures thereof. The present invention can thus serve as a delivery system for various nutrients, non-nutritive substances, functional and/or pharmaceutical compounds. Such additives can be ingredients that improve the skin or coat condition of the consuming animal, have anti-inflammatory effects, improve breath odor, enhance immune response, or combat parasites and/or microorganisms. Such functional ingredients include, for example, curcumin, rosemary oil, parsley seed oil, or evening primrose oil.

In particular, the present invention can include such ingredients of the inner component that are sensitive to heat, light, and oxygen, since the inner component is completely enclosed by the outer component, and functional ingredients can be basically protected from heat, light, and oxygen.

Advantageously, the nourishing compounds within the internal component of the animal feed composition are selected from minerals, vitamins, and mixtures thereof. Thus, important nutrients can be supplied to the body, thereby supporting, for example, metabolism and enhancing the well-being of the consumer.

Preferably, the non-nutritive compounds are included in the inner component of the animal feed composition and are selected from plant-based compounds, plant-based extracts, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the non-nutritive compounds may include fiber-cellulose. Such compounds and extracts can, for example, have an anti-inflammatory effect.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the softer, inner component according to the invention further contains at least one additional ingredient selected from antioxidant ingredients, anti-inflammatory ingredients, prebiotics and/or probiotics. Antioxidant ingredients reduce oxidative stress in the respective consumer, for example in cats. Prebiotics and probiotics, such as inulin or fructooligosaccharides, support the function of the intestinal flora and thus improve the tolerability of the food composition according to the invention, as well as the well-being and health of the consumers.

Figures

The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an animal feed composition according to the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an animal feed composition according to the present invention. 1 describes the harder, outer component of the animal feed composition, which encloses the softer, inner component 2 of the animal feed composition.

Examples

The examples should not be considered as limiting for the invention.

Example 1

A pet food composition according to the invention comprises the following components:

Füllmasse Getreidefrei	20
Geflügelfleischmehl	26	32,5
Geflügelhydrolisat	5	6,25
Geflügelfett	5	6,25	50
Lignocellulose	4	5
Milchpulver	2,5	3,125	2
Vitamine	0,3	0,375
Mineralstoffe	0,2	0,25

Example 2

The following example illustrates the increased acceptance and palatability of a pet food composition according to the present invention.

The feeding performance and feed preference of a pet food formulation according to the present invention based on potato flour compared to a comparable grain-based product were studied in cats (n=20) from different age groups (age: 1 to 9 years). Test methods for determining feeding performance and feed preference are well known to experts in the field of animal nutrition.

The food preference test showed that 85% of the cats preferred the pet food composition according to the present invention, which comprises two components, both of which are based on potato flour, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, an outer component 1 forms a shell around an inner component 2, whereas 15% of the cats preferred the conventional grain-based pet food.

Example 3

In the following example, it was tested whether cats prefer the invention's grain-free pet food formulation over a grain-containing pet food formulation.

The feeding performance and feed preference of a pet food formulation according to the present invention based on potato flour compared to a comparable grain-based product were studied in cats (n=20) from different age groups (age: 1 to 9 years). Test procedures for determining feeding performance and feed preference are well known to experts in the field of animal nutrition.

The food preference test showed that 60% of the cats preferred the animal feed composition according to the present invention, which comprises two components, both of which are based on potato flour, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an outer component 1 forms a shell around an inner component 2, whereas 40% of the cats preferred the conventional grain-based pet food.

Reference list

1. External Component of Animal Feed Composition 2. Internal Component of Animal Feed Composition

Claims (14)

1. Animal feed composition comprising two components, an outer component which completely surrounds an inner component, where the outer component comprises potato flour and further at least one ingredient selected from a fat, a protein or a combination of the same and is harder than the inner component, where:

   - the inner component comprises potato flour,

   - the outer component has a potato flour fraction of at least 10% by weight, and the outer component has a total moisture content of less than 8% by weight,

   - the outer component is free from cereal constituents,

   - the inner component is free from cereal constituents, and

   - the animal feed composition is produced by co-extrusion of the inner component within the outer component.
2. Animal feed composition according to Claim 1, characterized in that it has a largest dimension of 9 to 35 mm and a second largest dimension of 7 to 25 mm.
3. Animal feed composition according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a weight of 0.2 to 8 grams per piece, preferably a weight of 0.35 to 5 grams per piece.
4. Animal feed composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer component has a potato flour fraction of at least 30% by weight, more preferably a potato flour fraction of at least 50% by weight, and the inner component has a potato flour fraction of at least 40% by weight, preferably a potato flour fraction of at least 45% by weight, more preferably a potato flour fraction of at least 50% by weight.
5. Animal feed composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weight fraction of the outer component is at least 40% by weight, preferably at least 60% by weight, more preferably at least 80% by weight, and the fraction of the inner component is at least 10% by weight, preferably at least 20% by weight, more preferably at least 25% by weight.
6. Animal feed composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner component comprises a mixture of lipids and solid ingredients.
7. Animal feed composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner component has a water activity, a_w, of less than 0.4, preferably a water activity, a_w, of less than 0.3, more preferably of less than 0.2.
8. Animal feed composition according to Claim 6, characterized in that the mixture of lipids and solids includes a lipid which comprises a saturated or unsaturated, long-chain or medium-chain mono-, di- or triacylglycerol.
9. Animal feed composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lipid content of the inner component is greater than 35% by weight, preferably greater than 50% by weight.
10. Animal feed composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner component further comprises an ingredient selected from fats, proteins and combinations of the same.
11. Animal feed composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner component further comprises at least one additional ingredient selected from nutritional or non-nutritional compounds, functional compounds, pharmaceutical compounds and mixtures of the same.
12. Animal feed composition according to Claim 11, characterized in that the nutritional compounds are selected from minerals, vitamins and mixtures of thereof.
13. Animal feed composition according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the non-nutritional compounds are selected from plant compounds, plant-based extracts and mixtures of the same.
14. Animal feed composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner component further comprises at least one additional ingredient selected from antioxidant ingredients, antiinflammatory ingredients, prebiotics and/or probiotics.