Feed acceptance must be measured differently depending on the animal species. A dog, a cat, a piglet and a laying hen do not express preference in the same way.
In dogs and cats, palatability is usually evaluated using controlled preference tests. Common methods include:
· One-bowl test: The animal receives one type of diet, and researchers measure intake over time. This is useful to assess acceptance
· Two-bowl test: The animal receives two types of diet simultaneously. Researchers measure first approach, first consumption, intake ratio, consumption kinetics, and repeated preferences.
In pet food, measuring acceptance is especially important because pet parents judge the product based on the pet’s first reaction. If the animal smells and walks away, the formula will have no repeated sales and may be perceived by the pet parent as a poor-quality food.
In farm animals, acceptance is usually linked to intake and performance. Common indicators include: Average daily feed intake, feed disappearance, feed conversion ratios measured as average daily gain, milk yield, egg production, group uniformity, health indicators, feed behavior, and performance during stressful periods.
LINNEOS´APSAPAL products —a line of yeast-based palatants that enhances feed acceptance and preference in both pets and farm animals, stimulates voluntary intake by activating umami taste receptors in the gustatory system, triggering hedonic responses stored in the animal’s sensory memory, thereby increasing feed consumption. Want to know more about the APSAPAL portfolio and other solutions for your products? Click on the link.
