Benefits of Adding Liver to Pet Feed

Animal liver is well known as one of the ingredients added to commercial pet food. The collection, storage and processing of liver are also very difficult. The animal liver added to pet food can be unprocessed, that is, cooled or frozen, can be a dry powder after hydrolysis, or a component of the seasoning. Beef liver, pork liver and chicken liver are all common pet food ingredients; professional pet food manufacturers will indicate the source of the liver on the label of the sheep liver, chicken liver, duck liver or goose liver used; livers such as fish liver and other poisonous species are generally not used in commercial pet food processing. For pet food, liver has become an important component of pet food due to its rich nutrients and pet appeal.

1. When dogs and cats still lived in the wild, they hunted for a living and ate whatever they caught, so they would eat up all the prey, including the internal organs, eyes, tongue, glands and even bones. Therefore, animal internal organs themselves have always been on the pet's menu and are part of pet food.

2. Animal liver is the main organ for animal metabolism and storage of nutrients. It is rich in protein, vitamins (such as vitamin A, vitamin D, B vitamins), trace elements (such as iron, zinc) and other nutrients.

3. The liver plays an important role in medicine, health and nutrition.

In the early treatment research of human "anemia", B12 was found in the liver. Vitamin B12 is very important for dogs and cats. B12 deficiency in dogs and cats is reflected in congenital defects and excessive growth of small intestinal bacteria; in addition, the 1934 Nobel Prize in Medicine commended the research on feeding raw liver to dogs with anemia.

4. Animal liver is also a rich source of some minerals, such as iron, zinc, selenium, copper, etc. Adding it to pet food can supplement mineral trace elements for pets.

5. Liver is also one of the important sources of vitamin A intake. Adding liver in moderation to the diet of dogs and cats can provide them with the vitamin A they need daily. However, excessive addition of liver ingredients will exceed the nutritional limit of pet food, especially canned food.

6. Liver has a unique fishy smell, and dogs and cats have a special preference for liver. For this reason, some foods, especially canned foods, are added with a certain amount of liver and specially named, such as "chicken and liver formula". The purpose of this is to enhance the appeal of commercial pet food.