Process for Dusting Animal Food

Abstract

A dusted pet food kibble and a process for dusting a pet food kibble comprising providing a pet food kibble in the form of a core matrix, providing a powder comprising a first component that can comprise an active ingredient, such as Probiotic microorganism particles, and dusting the powder onto the pet food kibble to form a dusted kibble. The dusting can occur substantially free of a binder. An animal feed comprising a kibble in the form of a core dusted with active ingredients.

1 . A process for dusting a pet food kibble, comprising:
 providing a kibble and a powder;   dusting the powder onto the kibble;   wherein the powder comprises an active ingredient;   wherein the dusting occurs substantially free of a binder;   wherein the kibble comprises less than 12% moisture during dusting.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  and wherein the active ingredient comprises an ingredient selected from the group consisting of sources of fiber ingredients, mineral ingredients, polyphenols ingredients, amino acid ingredients, carotenoid ingredients, antioxidant ingredients, fatty acid ingredients, glucose mimetic ingredients, prebiotic ingredients, enzymes, antibodies, immunoglobulins, cytokines, epigenetic agents, vitamins, and Probiotic microorganisms, and mixtures and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  and wherein the active ingredient comprises Probiotic microorganisms. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3  and wherein dusting results in a Probiotic activity of greater than about 10 5  CFU/g of kibble. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 3  and wherein the dusting results in a pet food kibble having an endurance factor between about 0.1 and 0.001. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 3  and wherein a less than 0.5 log loss of the Probiotic occurs after dusting is complete. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 3  and wherein at least a portion of the Probiotic microorganisms have a particle size less than 75 micrometers. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 3  and wherein the powder further comprises a stability aid and a preservative aid. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  and wherein the kibble temperature is between about 0C and about 80° C. during dusting. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  and wherein the dusting comprises exposing substantially all of the surface area of the kibble to the powder. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10  and wherein the dusting is performed with a mechanical mixer. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1  and further comprising grinding the active ingredient using a pin mill, wherein the temperature of the active is between 30° C. and 35° C. during grinding. 
     
     
         13 . A process for dusting a pet food kibble, comprising:
 providing a pet food kibble in the form of a core matrix, wherein the core matrix comprises a carbohydrate source comprising a gelatinized starch matrix, a protein source, and a fat source, wherein the kibble is nutritionally balanced   providing a powder comprising a first component, wherein the first component comprises Probiotic microorganisms;   dusting the powder onto the core matrix;   wherein the dusting occurs substantially free of a binder.   
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13  and wherein at least a portion of the Probiotic microorganisms particles have particle sizes less than 75 micrometers. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 13  and further comprising applying a second dusting to the kibble. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15  and wherein the second dusting comprises a vitamin. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 13  and wherein the powder comprises a second component selected from the group consisting of a stability aid and a preservative aid, and combinations and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 13  and wherein the log loss activity is less than 1.0. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 13  and further comprising mixing the dusted kibble with kibbles that are not dusted with Probiotic microorganisms. 
     
     
         20 . A process for dusting a pet food kibble, comprising:
 providing a protein source, a carbohydrate source, and a fat source;   extruding the protein source, the carbohydrate source, and the fat source into a pet food kibble in the form of a core matrix comprising a gelatinized starch;   providing a powder comprising Probiotic microorganisms;   dusting the powder onto the core matrix to form a dusted kibble;   wherein the dusting occurs substantially free of a binder.