The growing pet food market is continuously in search for novel ingredients. Legumes such as faba beans (FB) are increasing in popularity and are known to benefit human health, but little is known about their use in pet foods. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dehulled FB utilization by dogs. Experimental diets were extruded with 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% FB inclusion (FB0, FB10, FB20, and FB30, respectively). Beagle dogs (n = 12) were fed the diets for 9-d adaptation with 5-d total fecal collection in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) was determined by external marker Cr2O3. At the culmination of each period, blood samples were collected from brachial venipuncture for complete blood count and blood chemistry. Palatability was determined with a 2-bowl test (n = 20). Means of blood parameters were separated by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) with the aid of statistical software (SAS v9.4). Contrasts and least square means of fecal parameters and ATTD were computed. Significance level was considered to be α = 0.05. Dogs ate all food on offer and maintained body weight. There was no difference (P > 0.05) among treatments (FB10, FB20, and FB30) and the control (FB0) relative to food intake, fecal output (“as is” basis), and fecal score, but feces were softer when dogs were fed the treatments (P = 0.031) and there was a linear increase (P = 0.011) in defecation frequency (stools/day) when FB increased in the diets. Dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein digestibilities were slightly higher when dogs were fed the control diet (P < 0.05) compared with the FB diets. All blood and serum chemistry parameters were similar among treatments and within the reference ranges. Dogs preferred the control diet relative to the 10% and 30% FB diets, but the 20% FB preference was similar to the control. Dogs remained healthy, maintained body weight and no adverse health events were observed during the study. Dehulled FB are a suitable ingredient for dog foods, but concentrations should not exceed 20% to avoid reduction in palatability and stool quality.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of a Torula yeast on diet processing, palatability, and total tract nutrient digestibility in extruded feline diets. Four dietary treatments were compared, differing by protein source: Torula yeast (TY), pea protein concentrate (PP), soybean meal (SM), and chicken meal (CM). Diets were produced using a single-screw extruder under similar processing conditions. Palatability assessment was conducted as a split plate design where both first choice and intake ratio (IR) were determined. Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients was estimated using Titanium dioxide as an indigestible marker. During diet production, specific mechanical energy (SME) of TY and SM (average of 187 kJ/kg) was greater (P<0.05) than for PP (138 kJ/kg); however, CM was similar to all treatments (167 kJ/kg). Kibble diameter, piece volume, and sectional expansion ratio were greatest for TY (P<0.05). Additionally, both bulk and piece density were lowest (P<0.05) for TY. Kibble hardness was lower for TY and SM (P<0.05; average of 2.10 Newtons) compared to CM and PP (average of 2.90 Newtons). During the palatability trial, TY was chosen first a greater number of times than CM (P<0.05; 36 vs 4, respectively), but differences were not found between TY and PP (25 vs 15, respectively) or TY and SM (24 vs 16, respectively). Cats had a greater IR (P<0.05) of TY compared to CM and PP (0.88 and 0.73, respectively). However, there was no difference in preference between TY and SM. ATTD of dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) was greater (P<0.05) for CM (87.43 and 91.34%, respectively) than other treatments. Both DM and OM ATTD of TY were similar (P<0.05) to PP and SM (average of 86.20 and average of 89.76%, respectively). Ash ATTD was greater (P<0.05) for cats fed TY and SM (average of 37.42%), intermediate for PP (32.79%), and lowest for CM (23.97%). Crude protein (CP) ATTD of TY was similar to all other treatments (average of 89.97%), but fat ATTD was lower (P<0.05; 92.52%) than other treatments (93.76 to 94.82%). Gross energy (GE) ATTD was greater (P<0.05) for CM than TY (90.97 vs 90.18%, respectively); however, TY was similar to PP and SM (average of 90.22%). Total dietary fiber (TDF) ATTD was similar between TY and CM (average of 66.20%) and greater (P<0.05) than PP and SM (average of 58.70%). The Torula yeast used in this study facilitated diet formation, increased diet preference, and was highly digestible when fed to cats.

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Yeast products have found much favor within companion animal nutrition. A recently developed proprietary process has introduced an enhanced yeast biomass from Candida utilis (merchandised as SylPro®) into the animal food marketplace. Candida utilis has been shown to be a valuable protein in canine, swine and aquaculture diets; however, no previous research has evaluated its use in feline diets. Therefore, the current objective was to determine the nutrient digestibility of diets containing SylPro® yeast biomass (SYL) as the primary protein source relative to soybean meal (SOY), pea protein concentrate (PEA), and chicken meal (CKN) fed to cats. Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of diets were estimated using Titanium dioxide as an indigestible marker. The DM ATTD for SYL was lower (P < 0.0001) than CKN (86.39 vs. 87.43%, respectively) but similar to both SOY (85.66%) and PEA (86.54%). The OM ATTD of SYL, SOY, and PEA were not different (P < 0.0001) and were each lower than CKN (average of 89.60 vs. 91.16%, respectively). The CP ATTD for SYL (89.9%) was not different from the other three treatments (P = 0.0200). Crude fat ATTD of SYL was lower (92.52%; P < 0.0001) than all treatments with PEA being greatest (94.82%) and CKN and SOY intermediate (average of 93.84%). The SYL and CKN had higher TDF ATTD (average of 66.20%; P < 0.0001) relative to PEA and SOY (average of 49.79%). The GE ATTD of SYL was lower than CKN (90.18 vs. 90.97%, respectively; P = 0.0154) but similar to both SOY (90.18%) and PEA (90.30%). In conclusion, all diets were highly digestible but CKN preformed the best. The SYL diet was similar to CKN for ATTD of CP and TDF. The SYL diet was also similar to both SOY and PEA for ATTD of DM, OM, CP and GE.

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