Feed/Pet Food Testing Equipment
Calibre’s range of equipment for pet food testing is designed to ensure that the same standards of quality control and analysis apply to pet food products and animal feed as to other produce. Pet food manufacturers have to ensure their food products will satisfy the demands of pet owners in a competitive market place, and meet food safety standards.
If you want more details about any of our specialist instruments for testing pet food, please contact our team by emailing info@calibrecontrol.com
PROTEIN
Protein is a key indicator of quality in pet food, therefore it is vital to test pet food ingredients for protein content.
NIR analysis provides a rapid testing method for protein content in powders, pellets, slurries and grains.
The Perten DA 7250 Analyser provides real time results for protein content, as well as testing pet foods for other properties.
And for testing protein content in wholegrains, the Perten IM9500 Wholegrain NIR Analyser will measure a broad range of grains and oilseeds.
FAT
Animals will require certain percentages of fat in their diets, so measuring fat content is critical in ensuring pet food quality and safety.
Different pets have different energy requirements, and NIR analysis will analyse fat content in a range of pet foods.
NIR instruments include:
MOISTURE
The percentage of moisture in pet food indicates its water content.
Dry pet foods tend to have moisture content between six and 10 per cent, semi moist foods between 15 and 30 per cent, and wet foods around 75 per cent.
You can use NIR analysis instruments for rapid and accurate moisture testing:
FIBRE
Fibre is the indigestible part of plant foods, and it is a complex carbohydrate, which helps keep the digestive system healthy.
This applies to pets as well as humans, and it is important to test for fibre content in pet foods.
The amount of fibre in pet food contributes to its overall digestibility.
It can also help with weight management, and with diarrhoea and constipation in pets. The Perten DA 7250 NIR Analyser tests for fibre.
OIL
Oil content is important in pet food ingredients from both a health and taste perspective. Dogs, for example, like the taste of fat. However, manufacturers must balance this against health issues, and overall texture and taste.
NIR analysis tests for oil content in pet foods:
MYCOTOXINS
Mycotoxins occur naturally in food, from moulds that grow on different crops and foodstuffs.
They can cause various health issues, including acute poisoning, with harmful effects on both animals and humans.
Therefore, it is important to test pet food ingredients for mycotoxins.
You can do this with Charm Mycotoxin Test Strips, and the Charm EZ-M Mycotoxin Reader, which is an automatic testing platform.
STRUCTURE
The internal structure of pet foods is a critical factor in their quality analysis.
Various internal factors can influence the shelf life of pet foods, such as the germination of microorganisms.
The C-Cell Colour’s advanced digital imaging capabilities make it ideal for providing quality analysis of the structure of pet foods and pet food ingredients.
It can provide more than 50 different quality results,and demonstrate the potential impact of structural changes in the processing and production of these foods.
