Nine companies join forces on home testing protocol for pet food

Nine companies from the animal feed industry, some of which are competitors in daily life, have joined forces to develop protocols with WUR to measure the digestibility and flavour of dog and cat food in home environments. The companies made a joint philanthropic donation to University Fund Wageningen worth €325,000, allowing Wageningen University & Research PhD student Evelien Bos to carry out the four-year research. University Fund Wageningen was the ideal fund to support the realisation of the collaboration.

To develop protocols, Bos asked cat and dog owners to take part in digestion and flavour tests. During the studies owners give their pets food supplied by Bos and collect the faeces or monitor eating behaviour for approximately two weeks. The pet owners are actively included in the protocol as well. “They are most familiar with the animal and ultimately determine what they eat,” Bos explains. She believes the new testing approach could lift the entire pet food market to a whole new level. “By testing at home, pet food can be tested in a more animal-friendly, relevant and representative way.”

There is significant social support for this testing approach and pet owners are very eager to participate. The first digestion studies for dogs started in 2020 under the title: De Gouden Hondendrol [The Golden Dog Poo– ed.]. A test
for cats, Kat in ’t bakkie [Cat in the cup– ed.] is due to start in 2021 in addition to flavour tests at the pet owners’ homes. The project will run until 2023, and the protocols developed will be made publicly accessible.