Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate increasing levels of dried apple pomace on cat diets and its effects on the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and diet metabolizable energy (ME) and palatability. Fecal characteristics of cats were also evaluated. Four experimental diets were produced to contain 0, 30, 60, and 90 g kg−1 of dried apple pomace. Two experiments were carried out. In experiment 1, the diets were offered to twelve adult cats distributed in [...]
Highlights
Cats are considered obligate carnivores, there are reports of the benefits of dietary fiber inclusion in diets for these animals
These results indicate that the dried apple pomace is a palatable fibrous component and its inclusion can be used to reduce the energy content of cat foods
Fecal sialic acid content and fecal score were not influenced by treatments, being similar to the control (P>0.05)
Summary
Cats are considered obligate carnivores, there are reports of the benefits of dietary fiber inclusion in diets for these animals. The benefits include hairball control, maintenance of intestinal peristalsis, good functionality of the immunological system, and modulation of intestinal microbiota. The physiological importance of fiber for cats is documented, attracting the interest of the pet food industry about dietary fiber sources. Beet pulp and cellulose are typical fiber sources included in dog and cat foods. Considering the increasing limitation of food resources, animal feeds should include fiber sources that are not used for human consumption. Byproducts from fruit processing for human consumption are highly available and may potentially be used as affordable and sustainable raw materials for pet foods, thereby contributing to the reduction of economic and environmental problems
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