The Research Behind Dog Food Kibble
Kristopher Figge, James Lindmeier and Mary Grodie of AFB International are associated with some research on kibble size and palatability. The machinery produced 3 kibble sizes; small, medium and large.
Each size of kibble had the same moisture and bulk density. All of the kibble was coated with the same lot and amount of poultry fat and with the same lot and amount of liquid palatability enhancer.
The taste testers consisted of 40 small breeds under 30 pounds; 40 medium breeds from 30 to 54 pounds and 40 large breeds above 54 pounds. The age of the dog was not a factor.
The trial only lasted two days. Two bowls with different size foods were presented to the dogs for comparison.
All of the dogs seemed to like both the small and medium-sized kibble dog food equally.
A term used in the research was Specific Surface Area (SSA) which showed that a higher SSA did not make the food tastier…but they go on to say that although the large kibble had a lower SSA value, it had the highest overall palatability.
The researchers conclude that each group of dogs preferred the large-size kibble over the medium and small sizes during comparison testing.
Kristopher Figge, senior technical sales and service representative for AFB International, presented these surprising findings at the Petfood Forum 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri.
From a marketing standpoint, pet food manufacturers may be able to cut the number of SKUs they produce because they can focus mainly on large kibble. In turn, pet retailers can focus on offering more brands of food.
Conclusions: The research showed that kibble size (diameter) in dry dog food does affect canine palatability, and the concentration of certain flavor components on the larger kibbles appeared to have driven the preference. Texture may also contribute to palatability, and further investigation could lead to product enhancements and innovations for dog food brands.
New research reveals data contrary to common beliefs that smaller dogs prefer smaller kibble and larger breeds larger kibble. The research by AFB International was conducted to help customers make informed decisions about their dog food brands.
If you have any questions or need a hand choosing which kibble would be best for your dog, head to our chat function on the website.Discover our range of high-quality dog food
Eating is one of life’s simple joys, so why overcomplicate things? Unlike most other pet foods, we treat nature’s ingredients with respect and make food that’s naturally healthy and full of flavour.
All our kibbles have a flat shape. Its a bit like a tiny cookie but packed with protein, minerals, vitamins, fats and carbohydrates – all the essential nutrients your dog needs to live a happy & healthy life. We carefully cut out our kibble shapes before gently baking them. This keeps the goodness in and makes them even tastier for our four-legged friends! Together with our team of nutritionists, we’ve developed two kibble shapes for your dog to eat. Our 12kg bags contain bigger kibble than our 0.7kg, 2.5kg or 7kg bags. The graphic below gives a clear overview of the diameter & thickness of our two different kibble shapes.
We donate 1% of our sales to the Edgard & Cooper Foundation, which works with charities that improve the lives of cats and dogs today, while protecting them tomorrow.
The bigger kibble is better for medium to giant breeds while our smaller sized kibble suits dogs with smaller jaws.
How much are you feeding How to measure your pet’s food
All our kibbles have a flat shape. Its a bit like a tiny cookie but packed with protein, minerals, vitamins, fats and carbohydrates – all the essential nutrients your dog needs to live a happy & healthy life. We carefully cut out our kibble shapes before gently baking them. This keeps the goodness in and makes them even tastier for our four-legged friends! Together with our team of nutritionists, we’ve developed two kibble shapes for your dog to eat. Our 12kg bags contain bigger kibble than our 0.7kg, 2.5kg or 7kg bags. The graphic below gives a clear overview of the diameter & thickness of our two different kibble shapes.
The bigger kibble is better for medium to giant breeds while our smaller sized kibble suits dogs with smaller jaws.
If you have any questions or need a hand choosing which kibble would be best for your dog, head to our chat function on the website.Discover our range of high-quality dog food
Eating is one of life’s simple joys, so why overcomplicate things? Unlike most other pet foods, we treat nature’s ingredients with respect and make food that’s naturally healthy and full of flavour.
We’re on a mission to become the world’s most sustainable pet food. We love nature, so we pledge to make real, lasting change through our targets of zero carbon, fully sustainable packaging and ethically sourced ingredients.
We donate 1% of our sales to the Edgard & Cooper Foundation, which works with charities that improve the lives of cats and dogs today, while protecting them tomorrow.