Method of manufacturing pet food

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a pet food, comprising: a puffing step of puffing a pet food material extruded from an extrusion molding machine, thereby obtaining a puffed blank; a porous materialization step of porous materializing the puffed blank, thereby obtaining a porous materialized blank; and a cutting step of cutting the porous materialized blank.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method for manufacturing pet food.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-219695, filed in Japan on December 28, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0003] If we categorize the purpose of supply based on timing, pet food can be divided into staple food and treats. Pet food intended as a staple food is called a "comprehensive nutrition meal," and it is prepared so that pets can obtain the necessary nutrients simply by being fed this food and water.

[0004] On the other hand, "treats" are fed to pets for training, exercise, rewards, etc., with the intention of feeding a limited amount of pet food.

[0005] Based on different purposes, they are classified into "comprehensive nutritional meals", "snacks", "therapeutic foods", and "other purpose foods" which are not equivalent to any of these categories.

[0006] In addition, based on moisture content, pet food can be broadly categorized into dry food with a moisture content of around 10% (below 12%), soft food with a moisture content of around 25%–35% that has been foamed, semi-moist food with a moisture content of around 25%–35% that has not been foamed, and wet food with a moisture content of around 75%. Among these, dry pet food has seen a gradual increase in demand in recent years due to its ease of handling and good shelf life.

[0007] Dry pet food is generally hard, harder than most human foods, let alone other types. Dogs and cats are carnivores, and their teeth evolved primarily for carrying prey and biting meat, not for chewing harder foods with their molars. Therefore, the harder dry pet food of the past is not considered easy for dogs and cats to eat. Easy-to-chew kibble is what makes a food easy to eat, and easy-to-eat kibble results in higher palatability.

[0008] exist Figure 1 The diagram illustrates a conventional method for manufacturing pet food using an extrusion molding machine.

[0009] In a conventional manufacturing method using an extrusion molding machine 100, pet food material m10 is discharged from a die 110, and immediately after discharge, the pet food material m10 is cut by a cutter 120 to produce pet food PF10. The pet food PF10 expands after cutting, becoming rounded granules.

[0010] When the moisture in the pet food material m10, which is subjected to high temperature and pressure inside the extrusion molding machine 100, is expelled under normal pressure, it expands and becomes water vapor, causing the pet food material m10 to swell. At this time, fine pores are formed in the center of the pet food PF10 due to the water vapor, but near the surface of the pet food PF10, the water vapor is released to the outside of the pet food PF10, making it difficult to form fine pores. Therefore, although the pet food PF10 has fine pores in the center, it hardens near the surface and tends to be difficult to chew.

[0011] To address the technical problem of hardening on the outside of pet food, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for manufacturing pet food using an extruder (extrusion molding machine). The method is characterized by cutting the pet food material after it has been expanded from the extruder.

[0012] exist Figure 2 The diagram below illustrates the method for manufacturing pet food as described in Patent Document 1.

[0013] In the pet food manufacturing method described in Patent Document 1 using an extrusion molding machine 200, the following is used: Figure 2 The template 210 is shown. It is similar to conventional manufacturing methods in the following aspects: the pet food material m20 is discharged from the template 210, and immediately after discharge, the pet food material m20 is cut using a cutter 220. However, in the pet food manufacturing method described in Patent Document 1, after one compression within the template 210, the pet food material m20 is expanded in the expansion space 230, and then cut using the cutter 220. Therefore, the resulting pet food PF20 is further expanded compared to the aforementioned pet food PF10, making it easier to chew.

[0014] Existing technical documents

[0015] Patent documents

[0016] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-238469 Summary of the Invention

[0017] The problem the invention aims to solve

[0018] In recent years, for example, efforts have been made to develop pet foods that are easier to chew for older pets.

[0019] Pet food PF20 obtained by the pet food manufacturing method described in Patent Document 1 is easier to chew than pet food PF10 obtained by the conventional manufacturing method, but there is still room for improvement from the viewpoint of ease of chewing.

[0020] The present invention was made in view of the above situation, and its technical problem is to provide a method for manufacturing pet food that can easily produce pet food that is easier to chew.

[0021] Solution for solving the problem

[0022] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the inventors of this application focused on the process from extruding pet food materials in a self-extrusion molding machine to cutting.

[0023] exist Figure 2 In the pet food manufacturing method described in Patent Document 1, the length of D is 18 mm. Therefore, based on a typical manufacturing cycle, after one extrusion in the template 210, the pet food material m20 expands in the expansion space 230 for less than 0.06 seconds. Through repeated and in-depth research on this expansion time, the following was discovered, leading to the completion of this invention: by further placing the extruded pet food material, the pet food material is further expanded, and a skeleton is formed by cooling, resulting in a porous state with more openings. Specifically, the following was discovered: by incorporating a porousization process between the expansion process and the cutting process of the pet food material, a pet food with openings that are less prone to crushing and easier to chew can be manufactured. More specifically, this invention employs the following technical solution.

[0024] The present invention has the following solution.

[0025] [1] A method for manufacturing pet food, comprising the following steps: an extrusion step in which pet food material extruded from an extrusion molding machine is extruded to obtain an extruded blank; a porousification step in which the extruded blank is porousified to obtain a porous blank; and a cutting step in which the porous blank is cut.

[0026] [2] According to the pet food manufacturing method of [1], the porousing process includes placing the expanded preform under a pressure lower than the extrusion pressure generated by the extrusion molding machine for more than 0.1 seconds.

[0027] [3] The method for manufacturing pet food according to [1] or [2], wherein the porousing process includes the step of placing the expanded preform under atmospheric pressure.

[0028] [4] A method for manufacturing pet food according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the porousing process includes a step of making the temperature of the expanded preform below 70°C.

[0029] [5] A method for manufacturing pet food according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the cutting step includes a step of cutting the porous preform in the extrusion direction of the pet food material extruded from the extrusion molding machine and in a direction intersecting the extrusion direction.

[0030] [6] A method for manufacturing pet food according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the pet food material contains grains.

[0031] The effects of the invention

[0032] According to the present invention, a method for manufacturing pet food that can easily produce pet food that is easier to chew is provided. Attached Figure Description

[0033] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating the traditional manufacturing method of pet food.

[0034] Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating the traditional manufacturing method of pet food.

[0035] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing pet food according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing pet food according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0037] In this specification, "pet" refers to an animal kept by a person. In a narrower sense, a pet is an animal kept and enjoyed by its owner. Additionally, "pet food" refers to feed for pets. The pet food of this invention can be sold as "animal feed" or "animal bait."

[0038] In this instruction manual, "palliativeness" is an indicator of whether a pet will like to eat the food, based on texture, taste, smell, etc.

[0039] In this specification, the moisture content values ​​are obtained using the "decrease in drying method".

[0040] The drying loss method involves heating and drying the sample using infrared irradiation, and then determining the water content of the sample based on the mass change caused by the evaporation of the contained moisture. The water content can be measured using well-known equipment. For example, the water content can be measured using an infrared moisture analyzer FD-720 (manufactured by Kett Electric Laboratory Co., Ltd.).

[0041] In this instruction manual, regarding the size of pet food, if the pet food is spherical, the size of the pet food refers to its diameter; if the pet food is not spherical (cylindrical, polygonal, plate, etc.), the size of the pet food refers to its longest diameter.

[0042] (Manufacturing methods for pet food)

[0043] The pet food manufacturing method of this embodiment includes the following steps: an extrusion step in which pet food material extruded from an extrusion molding machine is extruded to obtain an extruded blank; a porousification step in which the extruded blank is porousified to obtain a porous blank; and a cutting step in which the porous blank is cut.

[0044] [Expansion Process]

[0045] The puffing process is the process of puffing up pet food materials extruded from an extrusion molding machine to obtain puffed blanks (puffed blanks).

[0046] As an extrusion molding machine, there are no particular limitations; well-known single-shaft or twin-shaft extrusion machines can be used.

[0047] When the pet food materials are mixed using an extrusion molding machine, the temperature of the pet food materials is preferably 75°C to 140°C, more preferably 80°C to 135°C, and even more preferably 85°C to 130°C.

[0048] Pet food ingredients

[0049] As pet food ingredients, powdered and liquid ingredients known in the manufacture of pet food can be used. The following pet food ingredients can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0050] Specific examples of powdered and liquid raw materials include: grains (corn, sorghum, wheat, barley, brown rice, oats, rye, wheat flour, rice flour, corn flour, wheat bran, rice, wheat germ, wheat gluten, corn gluten feed, corn protein meal, bread flour, etc.); tubers (sweet potatoes, potatoes, etc.); legumes (soybeans, broad beans, mung beans, peas, defatted soybeans, soybean meal, soybean flour, soybean powder, soybean protein, tofu residue, etc.); and starches (corn starch, corn starch, etc.). Bean starch, tapioca starch, wheat starch, rice starch, potato starch, sweet potato starch, sago starch, etc.; meat (beef, pork, lamb, mutton, chicken, turkey, poultry, liver and other offal, their meat extract powder, meat extract liquid, pork powder, chicken powder, beef powder, their mixed powder, etc. as processed products); fish and shellfish (tuna, bonito, salmon, cod, mackerel, sardines and other fish, shrimp, crab and other crustaceans, shellfish, as processed products). Fish meal, fish essence powder, fish essence liquid, dried bonito, etc.; eggs (whole eggs, whole egg powder, egg yolk, egg white), etc.; vegetables (carrots, cabbage, green peas, pumpkin, beet pulp, etc.), nuts; fungi; sugars (sugar, glucose, fructose, high fructose corn syrup, oligosaccharides, syrup, sugar syrup, molasses, honey, etc.); dairy products (whole milk, skim milk, whole milk powder, skim milk powder, whey, cheese, butter, cream, etc.); oils (animal fats). Fats (butter, lard, chicken fat, fish oil, etc.); vegetable oils (soybean oil, sesame oil, wheat germ oil, palm oil, corn oil, olive oil, coconut oil, etc.), fatty acids, etc.; dried yeast, its extract powder, and extract liquid; dietary fiber (cellulose, etc.); herbs; vitamins; minerals; amino acids; sweeteners; colorings; preservatives; thickeners and stabilizers; processed starch; antioxidants; pH adjusters; seasonings; emulsifiers; leavening agents; spices, etc.

[0051] The pet food used in the manufacturing method of the pet food of this embodiment preferably contains grains, and more preferably contains both grains and meat.

[0052] Regarding the grain content in pet food ingredients, it is preferably 10% to 90% by mass relative to the total amount of pet food ingredients, more preferably 15% to 80% by mass, and even more preferably 20% to 70% by mass.

[0053] Regarding the meat content in pet food ingredients, it is preferably 1% to 40% by mass relative to the total amount of pet food ingredients, more preferably 3% to 30% by mass, and even more preferably 5% to 20% by mass.

[0054] As a component of the pet food in this embodiment, the preferred composition is a mixture of (a) grains, (b) legumes, (c) meat, (d) scaly organisms, (e) dietary fiber, (f) dried yeast, its extract powder, extract liquid, (g) vegetables, (h) vitamins and minerals, and (i) oils. Coloring agents, antioxidants, and flavorings may also be included in this mixture as needed.

[0055] Additionally, the pet food in this embodiment may also consist of a mixture of (a) grains, (b) legumes, (c) meat, (d) dietary fiber, (e) dried yeast, its extract powder, or extract liquid, (g) vegetables, (h) vitamins and minerals, (h) oils, (i) scaly organisms, (j) starches, (k) eggs, (l) sugars, and (m) dairy products. The mixture may also contain colorants, preservatives, thickeners and stabilizers, antioxidants, pH adjusters, seasonings, emulsifiers, and flavorings, as needed.

[0056] The following are examples of pet food (dry food) combinations in the case of a comprehensive nutritional meal.

[0057] Adjusted to: Grains (10%–90% by mass), Legumes (0–40% by mass), Meat (0–40% by mass), Squamata (0–40% by mass), Dietary Fiber (0–20% by mass), Dried Yeast, Its Extract Powder, Extract Liquid (0–10% by mass), Vegetables (0–20% by mass), Vitamins and Minerals (0–10% by mass), Oils (0–20% by mass), Coloring Agents (0–5% by mass), Antioxidants (0–5% by mass), Seasonings (0–5% by mass).

[0058] [Porous materialization process]

[0059] The porosimetry process is a process that makes the expanded billet porous to obtain a porous billet (porous billet). Furthermore, the aforementioned expansion process is a process that occurs momentarily when the billet is extruded from an extrusion press. On the other hand, the porosimetry process is a process that enables the billet to expand sufficiently and form a framework through cooling.

[0060] Porous billets are billets that have openings throughout the entire billet compared to expanded billets.

[0061] There are no particular limitations on any process that can make the expanded preform porous.

[0062] As a porousing process, it may include operations such as: placing the expanded preform under a pressure lower than the extrusion pressure generated by the extrusion molding machine for more than 0.1 seconds (pressure reduction operation); and cooling the expanded preform using a cooler (cooling operation).

[0063] • Decompression operation

[0064] When the expanded preform is placed under a pressure lower than the extrusion pressure generated by the extrusion molding machine, it is preferable to place it for 0.1 seconds or more, more preferably for 1 second or more, even more preferably for 5 seconds or more, even more preferably for 10 seconds or more, and most preferably for 1 minute or more.

[0065] By placing the expanded preform under a pressure lower than that generated by the extrusion press for more than 0.1 seconds, the expansion of the expanded preform can be promoted, making the expanded preform more porous.

[0066] Furthermore, there is no particular limit to the time during which the expanded preform is placed under a pressure lower than the extrusion pressure generated by the extrusion molding machine, for example, it is 30 minutes or less. Additionally, as explained later, the upper limit for the time when this operation is performed in batches is, for example, 48 hours or less.

[0067] The pressure is lower than the extrusion pressure, specifically, atmospheric pressure is preferred. That is, in conventional pet food manufacturing methods, the pet food material is cut immediately after being extruded from the extruder, but in the pet food manufacturing method of this embodiment, it is preferred to cut the pet food material after it has been extruded from the extruder and placed under atmospheric pressure.

[0068] In addition, the decompression operation can be carried out continuously while conveying the extruded puffed material from the extrusion molding machine using conveying components such as belt conveyors, or it can be carried out in batches by moving the extruded puffed material from the extrusion molding machine outside the production line.

[0069] Cooling operation

[0070] When using a cooler to cool the expanded billet, it is preferable to cool the expanded billet to below 70°C.

[0071] Cooling the expanded billet to below 70°C promotes its expansion, making it more porous. Furthermore, the porous billet is less likely to be damaged during the cutting process described later.

[0072] Furthermore, there is no specific lower limit to the temperature of the expanded billet when cooling it, such as above 10°C.

[0073] When using a cooler to cool the expanded billet, the cooling time is preferably 0.1 seconds or more, more preferably 0.5 seconds or more, even more preferably 1 second or more, particularly preferably 3 seconds or more, and most preferably 5 seconds or more.

[0074] When using a cooler to cool the expanded billet, there is no particular upper limit to the cooling time, such as less than 30 minutes.

[0075] There are no particular limitations on the type of cooler, but a non-contact cooler is preferred, such as a known point cooler.

[0076] [Cutting process]

[0077] The cutting process is the process of cutting porous blanks.

[0078] Methods for cutting porous blanks include cutting porous blanks with a cutting tool and punching porous blanks with a die of a specific shape.

[0079] As cutting tools, specific examples include guillotine cutters, rotary cutters, and slicers, and they can also be used in combination.

[0080] In the following description, the "method of cutting porous blanks using a cutting tool and the method of punching porous blanks using a die of a specific shape" will also be referred to as "the method of cutting using a cutting tool or the like".

[0081] In cutting methods using cutting tools, porous blanks can be cut either from the MD direction, the CD direction, or both. Here, MD (machine direction) refers to the flow direction of the porous blank (also known as the flow direction of the expanded blank extruded from the extrusion molding machine). CD (crossdirection) refers to the direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the porous blank.

[0082] In the pet food manufacturing method of this embodiment, the cutting method using a cutting tool or the like results in a more porous surface (a surface with more openings) compared to a surface not cut by the cutting tool or the like. Therefore, from the viewpoint of manufacturing pet food that is easier to chew, it is preferable that the pet food has more cut surfaces. Therefore, the cutting process in this embodiment is preferably a process of cutting the porous blank in both the MD and CD directions.

[0083] In cutting methods using tools or similar instruments, the temperature of the porous blank during cutting is preferably below 70°C.

[0084] Use the methods described above to obtain pet food that is easy to chew.

[0085] There are no particular restrictions on the shape of available pet food. Examples include spherical, ellipsoidal (Go stone-shaped), granular, cylindrical, polygonal, hexahedral (plate-shaped), clover-shaped, heart-shaped, star-shaped, and cross-shaped.

[0086] Even complex shapes can be manufactured by using a punching die to punch porous blanks.

[0087] As mentioned above, from the viewpoint of more easily obtaining the effects of the present invention, the shape of pet food is preferably cylindrical, polygonal, or hexahedral, and more preferably hexahedral.

[0088] In addition, there are no particular restrictions on the size of the pet food available. It can be either a small piece that a pet can fill its mouth in one bite or a large piece that a pet can bite into multiple times.

[0089] For example, the longest diameter of pet food is preferably 1mm to 200mm, more preferably 1mm to 150mm, and even more preferably 3mm to 40mm.

[0090] In addition, the shortest diameter of the pet food is preferably 1mm to 100mm, more preferably 1mm to 50mm, and even more preferably 3mm to 30mm.

[0091] The above description of the pet food manufacturing method is consistent with... Figure 1 and 2 Compared to conventional pet food manufacturing methods, this method incorporates a porous process. Therefore, it is possible to easily manufacture pet food that is easy to chew.

[0092] From the viewpoint of more easily obtaining the effects of the present invention, the method for manufacturing pet food in this embodiment is particularly useful for manufacturing dry food with a moisture content of about 10% (preferably 5% to 12%).

[0093] Furthermore, from the viewpoint that it is more difficult to manufacture pet food that is easier to chew and thus easier to obtain the effects of the present invention, the pet food manufacturing method of this embodiment is a useful method for manufacturing dry food for comprehensive nutritional meals.

[0094] Hereinafter, the methods for manufacturing pet food according to the first and second embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, as specific examples of the pet food manufacturing method of this embodiment.

[0095] (Method for manufacturing pet food according to the first embodiment of the present invention)

[0096] use Figure 3 The method for manufacturing pet food according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail 1.

[0097] In pet food manufacturing method 1, the raw material mixture is first kneaded using an extrusion molding machine 10 to obtain pet food material m1. Next, the pet food material m1 is discharged from a template 11 to obtain an expanded preform sd1 (expansion process). Next, the obtained expanded preform sd1 is conveyed on a belt conveyor 13 under atmospheric pressure and at room temperature (25°C) (porosification process; depressurization operation). The expanded preform sd1 conveyed by the belt conveyor 13 is gradually porousized to become a porous preform pd1. Next, the porous preform pd1 is cut using a cutter 12 to obtain pet food PF1 (cutting process).

[0098] The length of the belt conveyor 13 is set such that the expanded billet sd1 is preferably placed for more than 1 minute under atmospheric pressure and at room temperature (25°C), more preferably for more than 1.5 minutes, and even more preferably for more than 2 minutes.

[0099] By placing the puffed preform sd1 under atmospheric pressure and at room temperature (25°C) for more than 1 minute, the porosity of the puffed preform sd1 is further promoted, thereby obtaining pet food that is easier to chew.

[0100] Although Figure 3 The porous blank pd1 was cut only on CD using the tool 12, but it is more preferable to cut from both MD and CD directions.

[0101] Method 1 for manufacturing pet food can use existing extrusion molding machines, without requiring mechanical modifications or complex controls, and is therefore simple and cost-free.

[0102] Furthermore, although the pet food manufacturing method 1 describes an example of continuously performing a porousing process while conveying the material using a conveying component such as a belt conveyor, it is also possible to perform a decompression operation in batches by moving the extruded preform from the extrusion molding machine outside the production line.

[0103] (Method for manufacturing pet food according to the second embodiment of the present invention)

[0104] use Figure 4 The method for manufacturing pet food according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail 2.

[0105] In pet food manufacturing method 2, the raw material mixture is first kneaded using an extrusion molding machine 20 to obtain pet food material m2. Next, the pet food material m2 is discharged from a die 21 to obtain an expanded preform sd2. Next, the obtained expanded preform sd2 is cooled using a cooler 24 to obtain a porous preform pd2. Next, the porous preform pd2 is cut using a cutter 22 to obtain pet food PF2.

[0106] The temperature of the cooler 24 is set such that the temperature of the expanded billet sd2 is preferably below 70°C.

[0107] If the temperature of the puffed preform sd2 is controlled to be below 70°C, the expansion of the puffed preform is promoted, and it is less likely to be crushed when cut with the cutter 22, thus making it easier to obtain a more porous pet food PF2.

[0108] The cooling time using the cooler 24 is preferably 0.1 seconds or more, more preferably 0.5 seconds or more, further preferably 1 second or more, particularly preferably 3 seconds or more, and most preferably 5 seconds or more.

[0109] There is no specific limit to the upper limit of the cooldown time, such as less than 30 minutes.

[0110] Although Figure 3 The porous blank pd2 was cut only on CD using tool 22, but it is more preferable to cut from both MD and CD directions.

[0111] Compared to method 1, method 2 for manufacturing pet food allows for manufacturing in a more confined space.

[0112] Furthermore, although the example of a cooling operation in which a porous material process is continuously carried out while being conveyed by a conveying component such as a belt conveyor is described in Method 2 for manufacturing pet food, the cooling operation can also be carried out in batches by moving the extruded blanks from the extrusion molding machine outside the production line.

[0113]

Example

[0114] The present invention will be further described in detail below using examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0115] (Pet food manufacturing)

[0116] <Example 1>

[0117] The ingredients constituting the pet food were mixed according to the formula shown in Table 1 to obtain an ingredient mixture. Relative to 100 parts by weight of the total ingredient mixture, 12 to 25 parts by weight of water were added to the ingredient mixture using a pre-processor, and the mixture was heated at 70°C to 100°C for 5 seconds to 3 minutes while mixing. The heated ingredient mixture was fed into an extruder, and while kneading, it was heated at 80°C to 125°C for 10 seconds to 2 minutes to gelatinize the starch components, and then discharged from the extruder to obtain an expanded preform. The obtained preform was cooled for 10 seconds using a cooler to reduce the surface temperature of the preform to below 70°C, obtaining a porous preform. Next, the obtained porous preform was cut from MD and CD using a cutter to form a hexahedron shape, thereby obtaining the pet food of Example 1. Furthermore, the moisture content of the pet food of Example 1, determined by the above-mentioned "drying loss method," is 8.4%.

[0118] Table 1

[0119]

[0120] (Preparing pet food)

[0121] <Comparative Examples 1-7>

[0122] As comparative examples 1 to 7, seven commercially available pet foods (commercially available products A to G) were prepared.

[0123] <Evaluation of Opening Area Ratio>

[0124] Surface measurement

[0125] Images of the surface of each example of pet food were captured using a digital microscope (trade name "VHX-7000", manufactured by Keyence Co., Ltd.). Using these images, and excluding particles smaller than 50 μm in diameter from the equivalent circle, the open area ratio of each example of pet food was measured using the automatic area measurement (particle counting) tool of the digital microscope's measurement zoom tool. Furthermore, for the pet food of Example 1, the open area ratio was measured on the cut surfaces obtained during the cutting process.

[0126] The specific methods are as follows.

[0127] (i) Set the magnification of the digital microscope to 20x so that a specific side of each example of pet food placed on the measuring stage is fully visible.

[0128] (ii) Set the reflected illumination value between 100 and 255 to the value that best makes the opening visible.

[0129] (iii) In the measurement zoom tool of the digital microscope, set the sampling method to "Brightness (Standard)". Next, set the sampling area for the first side of the pet food.

[0130] (iv) Except for those smaller than 50 μm of the equivalent circle diameter, the porosity is measured automatically by area measurement (particle counting) using the measurement zoom tool of a digital microscope.

[0131] The results are presented in Table 2 as “Surface Opening Area Ratio (%)”.

[0132] Table 2

[0133]

[0134] As shown in Table 2, the pet food of Example 1 has a higher open area ratio compared to the pet foods of Comparative Examples 1 to 7. Therefore, it is presumed that the pet food of Example 1 is easier to chew than the pet food of Comparative Examples 1 to 7.

[0135] Based on the above, it can be confirmed that the pet food manufacturing method of this embodiment can easily produce pet food that is easier to chew.

[0136] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications to the structure can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The present invention is not limited by the foregoing description, but only by the claims.

[0137] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0138] 1. Pet food manufacturing method; 10. Extrusion molding machine; 11. Template; 12. Cutting tool; 13. Belt conveyor; m1. Pet food material; sd1. Extruded preform; pd1. Porous preform; PF1. Pet food; 2. Pet food manufacturing method; 20. Extrusion molding machine; 21. Template; 22. Cutting tool; 23. Belt conveyor; 24. Cooler; m2. Pet food material; sd2. Extruded preform; pd2. Porous preform; PF2. Pet food.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing pet food, comprising the following steps: The puffing process is used to puff pet food materials extruded from an extrusion molding machine to obtain puffed preforms. A porousification process, in which the expanded billet is porousified to obtain a porous billet; and The cutting process involves cutting the porous blank. The porousing process includes a step of bringing the temperature of the expanded billet to below 70°C.

2. The method for manufacturing pet food according to claim 1, wherein, The porousing process includes placing the expanded preform under a pressure lower than the extrusion pressure generated by the extrusion molding machine for more than 0.1 seconds.

3. The method for manufacturing pet food according to claim 1, wherein, The porousing process includes the step of placing the expanded billet under atmospheric pressure.

4. The method for manufacturing pet food according to claim 1, wherein, The cutting process includes cutting the porous preform in the direction of extrusion of pet food material from the extrusion molding machine and in the direction intersecting the extrusion direction.

5. The method for manufacturing pet food according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The pet food ingredients contain grains.

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