petfood pro 3/2022

INGREDIENTS
Multifunctional Pet Food Products
With Fibers From Nature
by Sabine Straka
"Adding value in Pet Foods" is the
promise of the J. RETTENMAIER &
SÖHNE Group, JRS, based in Rosenberg
in Gemany. For more than 60 years, JRS
has been successful in the development,
production and use of high-quality
plant fibers for humans and animals.
These include functional products made
from renewable raw materials such as
cellulose, grain, fruit or wood fibers.
They are odorless, tasteless and versatile
in various applications. The fibers enable
new functions and their properties
help to avoid waste, conserve valuable
raw material and energy resources
and thus ensure greater efficiency and
sustainability. JRS focuses on research,
development and processing of organic
fibers from renewable, plant-based raw
materials. The family-run business group
researches and produces plant fiber
products for many areas of daily life:
for food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics,
hygiene, plastics as well as for products
for modern, natural and healthy animal
nutrition. The multi-functional raw fiber
concentrates give the pet food products
various positive properties, such as
a stable consistency. They also offer
good nutrient digestibility combined
with high energy density and enable
economic production, as many fibers
serve as auxiliary materials to run
processes efficiently and save water
and energy. JRS, however, is not only a
manufacturer and raw material supplier
of innovative and sustainable additives.
Today, Rettenmaier is a global expert
and market leader in the technological
use of plant raw materials and their
functional properties. With its many
years of production experience, its
extensive know-how and its JRS plant
fiber technology, Rettenmaier makes
many functions of these valuable natural
materials available to modern industry
and is also an innovation partner for
customized and sustainable solutions
for a wide range of applications in almost
all areas - including the production of
pet food.
Figure 1: The key to product development is to be close to the customer and to the product
Suitable fibers for every
function
In the JRS Pet Food department plant
fibers for modern animal nutrition
are researched, tested and produced.
Rettenmaier uses fibers from cereals,
apples, peas, potatoes or cellulose as
well as fibers from psyllium husks with a
water binding capacity of 2400%, which
are used for example for dry or senior
feed. The fibers are processed into fine
fibers, granulates, blends and other
dosage forms as required. JRS follows
the principle of short distances: all raw
materials come from within a radius
of 300 kilometers from the processing
plant. Apple fibers come from Germany,
Austria and Switzerland for example.
Cellulose-based fibers, which are
processed into powder or pellets, are
used particularly frequently. The specially
developed grinding technology unlocks
the maximum water-binding capacity of
the raw fiber concentrate. In elaborate
processes the functionality of the fibers
is tested and optimized. After all, the
fibers determine the consistency of the
end product. Most important for later
use is the composition and length of the
fibers. The plant fibers come in 10 to 12
different lengths, from 6 micrometers
to 2 millimeters. Long fibers up to 2
millimeters form a network and hold
a product stable together. In pet food,
these can act as a toothbrush in a chew
stick. They also have a positive effect on
faeces consistency. The faeces remain
soft yet formed. The shortest fiber length
is 6 micrometers, it dissolves very well in
liquid and is suitable for the production
of imitation meat.
Finest fiber ingredients for high
quality pet food
In the area of animal nutrition
Rettenmaier offers innovative raw fibers
for the health and well-being of almost all
animal species. For this purpose, mainly
cellulose fibers are used. The plant fibers
fulfil several functions: for the animal,
for the process of production and for
the product itself. In livestock farming,
VITACEL® raw fiber concentrates made
from cellulosic fibers are used, which are
particularly compatible for the sensitive
gastrointestinal tract of young animals,
e.g. calves. While livestock farming is
mainly about the functions of the fiber
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Technology & Marketing