Nutritional small animal treat

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pet treat composition for small animals. In particular, the present invention relates to a pet treat comprising a polymeric material and inclusions. The inclusions are selected from the group consisting of an oil seed blend, a grain blend, a forage crop blend, and mixtures thereof.

1 . A pet treat for small animals comprising: 
 (a) an amount of a polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material is ductile; and,    (b) inclusions selected from the group consisting of an oil seed blend, a grain blend, a forage crop blend, and mixtures thereof.    
   
   
       2 . The pet treat of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of protein based polymers, starch based polymers, synthetic polymers, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The pet treat of  claim 2 , wherein the inclusions further comprises a ground cereal crop seed.  
   
   
       4 . The pet treat of  claim 1 , wherein the inclusions are a mixture of oil seed blend and grain blend selected from the group consisting of brassica, castor, groundnut, canola, flaxseed, niger, safflower, sesame, soybean, rapeseed, cotton, peanuts, sunflower, wheat, rice, corn, millet, milo, sorghum, rye, barley, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The pet treat of  claim 1 , wherein the inclusions comprise a mixture of oil seeds, forage crop, and ground cereal crop.  
   
   
       6 . The pet treat of  claim 5 , wherein the inclusions further comprises a whole or ground cereal crop seed.  
   
   
       7 . The pet treat of  claim 6 , wherein the inclusions are selected from the group consisting of comprises millet, canary grass, flax seed, oat groats, corn gluten meal, stone ground corn, ground soybean, brewers rice, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The pet treat of  claim 2 , wherein the inclusions are a forage crop blend selected from the group consisting of alfalfa, alsike clover, birdsfoot trefoil, crownvetch, hairy vetch, ladino clover, Korean lespedeza, red clover, sweet clover, white dutch clover, orchardgrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, timothy, reed canarygrass, smooth bromegrass, big bluestem, switchgrass, indiangrass, sorghum X sudan, and sudangrass.  
   
   
       9 . The pet treat of  claim 8 , wherein the inclusions further comprises a ground cereal crop seed.  
   
   
       10 . The pet treat of  claim 9 , wherein the inclusions is a forage crop and a ground cereal crop blend selected from the group alfalfa, oat groats, ground wheat, ground soybean, and ground corn.  
   
   
       11 . The pet treat of  claim 2 , wherein said protein based polymer is derived from wheat, soy, corn, barley, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The pet treat of  claim 2 , wherein said starch based polymer is derived from wheat, rice, tapioca, potato, corn, maize, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The pet treat of  claim 2 , wherein said protein polymer has a water activity equal to less than 0.9.  
   
   
       14 . The pet treat of  claim 1 , wherein said polymeric material includes a humectant.  
   
   
       15 . The pet treat of  claim 1 , wherein said treat is extruded, rotary molded, sheeted, or injection molded.  
   
   
       16 . The pet treat of  claim 1 , wherein said treat has a total moisture content equal to less than 25% by weight.  
   
   
       17 . The pet treat of  claim 1 , wherein said polymeric material is edible, digestible, and does not dissolve in humid or wet environments.  
   
   
       18 . The pet treat of  claim 1 , wherein the oil seed blend, cereal crop seed blend, or forage crop blend component is added in an amount ranging between 5% and 60% by weight of the polymeric material.  
   
   
       19 . The pet treat of  claim 18 , wherein the oil seed blend, cereal crop seed blend, or forage crop blend component is added in an amount ranging between 15% and 35% by weight of the polymeric material.  
   
   
       20 . The pet treat of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material is equal to between 50% and 95% by weight of said treat.  
   
   
       21 . The pet treat of  claim 1 , wherein the pet treat has a nutritional composition comprising a protein content from about 25% to about 40% by weight, a fat content from about 1% to about 8% by weight, a fiber content from about 5% to about 10% by weight, and a moisture content of from about 8% to about 15% by weight.  
   
   
       22 . A pet treat for small animals comprising: 
 (a) a wheat protein; and,    (b) inclusions selected from the group consisting of an oil seed blend, a grain blend, a forage crop blend, and mixtures thereof.    
   
   
       23 . A pet treat for small animals, the pet treat comprising a wheat protein content from about 25% to about 40% by weight, a fat content from about 1% to about 8% by weight, a fiber content from about 5% to about 10% by weight, and a moisture content of from about 8% to about 15% by weight.