Scientists in Portugal and Germany collaborated to examine the properties of shrimp and squid co-products as dog food ingredients. They conducted an experiment using squid meal and shrimp hydrolysate by analyzing the byproducts’ chemical composition and antioxidant activity. The researchers also tested the digestibility and palatability of diets formulated with shrimp or squid co-products compared to a conventional commercially available diet.
The experiment included twelve Beagles. Groups of Beagles dogs ate formulations made of squid meal or shrimp hydrolysate at three inclusion levels (50, 100 and 150 grams per kilogram) in place of a conventional diet. The researchers measured apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), metabolizable energy content, fecal characteristics, metabolites and microbiota.
“Both protein sources presented higher protein and methionine contents than ingredients traditionally used in dog food formulation,” the scientists concluded that, “Shrimp hydrolysate showed higher antioxidant activity than squid meal.”
Considering palatability, squid meal or shrimp hydrolysate didn’t influence first-approach or taste. Nutrient intake and fecal output and characteristics were not affected by the increasing inclusion levels of both invertebrate protein sources. Squid meal or shrimp hydrolysate have the potential to be included in highly digestible diets for dogs, the scientists wrote. “Overall, results suggest that squid meal and shrimp hydrolysate constitute novel and promising protein sources for dog food, but further research is needed to fully evaluate their functional value,” they wrote.
Shrimp hydrolysate and squid meal may help mitigate environmental concerns associated with byproduct waste disposal while providing a nutritious alternative protein source for pet food. Incorporating shrimp and squid co-products in pet food formulations may help conserve marine resources by utilizing otherwise discarded or low-value parts of the invertebrates, potentially reducing the demand for fresh seafood and making greater economic usage of existing harvests. This promotes environmental stewardship while supporting the long-term viability of marine ecosystems and fishing economies. As humans, and our pets along with us continue to tread on the earth that we inhabit, looking at some of these alternative sources to fulfill pet foods will be something that is looked at more extensively in the future as long as modern science provides us the vehicle to take perhaps future generations of pet parents to that place.