Low-Calorie Pet Feed Using Starch and Animal Tissue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pet owners face challenges in providing a digestible and non-obesogenic snack or reward for dogs and cats that is inexpensive and does not lead to health issues like obesity or diabetes due to overfeeding, as existing animal feeds often have high nutritional value and can cause overfeeding.
Innovation Solution
An animal feed formulation using animal tissue, gluten-free vegetable starch, and water with a high water content, low nutritional value, and specific additives like colorants and sweeteners, which is sterilized and packaged in tubular bags to maintain a viscous, non-lumpy consistency, allowing easy consumption and portion control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If animal feed with high nutritional value is provided to pets, then pets receive adequate nutrition, but pets are at risk of overfeeding and associated health problems like obesity and diabetes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the nutritional parameters of the animal feed by using low-calorie animal by-products (1-5% protein, <5% fat) and high water content (≥70%), transforming the feed into a low-nutritional-value product suitable for snacks and rewards that won't cause overfeeding-related health issues
2Ease of manufacture
If inexpensive animal by-products are used as animal tissue, then production cost is reduced, but the digestibility and palatability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses vegetable starch as an intermediary substance mixed with low-cost animal by-products. The starch acts as a binder and filler that improves the digestibility and palatability of the feed while maintaining the low cost structure, creating a homogeneous mixture that is easy for pets to consume
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite feed formulation combining animal by-products (skin, tendons, intestines, or offal) with vegetable starch and water. This composite approach leverages the low cost of by-products while the starch component enhances digestibility and creates a palatable texture that pets accept readily
3Quantity of substance
If the animal feed has high water content, then the nutritional value per gram is reduced (preventing overfeeding), but the consistency may become too thin for easy administration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the water content parameter to a specific range (≥70% but not excessive) and combines it with starch addition and heat treatment to achieve the desired consistency. This parameter optimization ensures the feed remains low-calorie while maintaining a spreadable, ketchup-like texture that is easy to administer
4Reliability
If the animal feed is heated to sterilize it, then safety is improved, but the starch may become lumpy and the consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary mixing of animal by-products with starch and water before heat treatment to create a homogeneous mixture. This preliminary action ensures uniform distribution of components, preventing lump formation during sterilization and maintaining smooth consistency in the final product
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The feed provides a low-calorie, easily digestible snack with a low risk of overfeeding, maintaining a creamy consistency and controlled portion sizes, thus preventing obesity and diabetes in pets.
Implementation Method 1
The mixture is then heated to 90°C to 130°C for a few minutes
Implementation Method 2
The animal feed is sterilized
Implementation Method 3
The starch is also advantageously changed so that the feed has a viscous, non-lumpy and short-leaking consistency
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to an animal feed for dogs or cats based on animal tissue, water, and a hydrocolloid as a thickener, wherein the animal feed comprises a water content of at least 80% by weight, preferably at least 85% by weight. According to the invention, said feed is liquid at room temperature, has a fat content at least 1% by weight and less than 5% by weight, and is packed in a tubular bag (1), wherein the top side and the bottom side thereof are welded at a welding surface (2, 4) at a front end and a back end of the tubular bag (1), and a designed fracture point (3) for tearing open the bag (1) is provided at the front end in the welding surface (2).