This course is designed to give you an in-depth review of the process of making pet foods.  Simple and complex pet food and treat production reviewed, overall plant design discussions, equipment used in production, and advancements of designs will all be discussed.  

 

What are the typical ingredients used and how they are changing with discussions on quality testing, storage, preparation for use, and traceability.  Batching, mixing, and weighing both the dry and possibly wet ingredients used in modern-day pet foods.  

 

There are many different ways of pet food production but the major method, extrusion cooking, is discussed completely with preconditioning and extruder barrel design discussions. the discharge end of the extruder yields the shape and has an influence on the product itself is reviewed with a discussion on possible situations that develop and how to correct these.  

 

Dryers, both vertical and horizontal are reviewed with an explanation of the value of accurate drying and how these devices are becoming more energy aware including possible solutions to drying issues.  

 

Coating methods reviewed including accuracy discussions and the importance of cooling before packing. Final product review, packaging, and storage round out this comprehensive course on pet food production.