Animal Fat

Meat processing leaves fatty tissue and other parts that do not enter the food supply. Renderers heat this material, separate its liquid fat from the solids, and clean the fat for use in feed and pet food.⁷

1. 01 // Source Animal tissues Fatty trimmings and other animal tissues arrive from slaughterhouses and meat cutting plants.
2. 02 // Process Heated Cooking melts the fat and drives water from the material.
3. 03 // Process Fat separated Presses or centrifuges separate liquid fat from the remaining solids.
4. 04 // Output Cleaned animal fat Filtering or settling removes remaining water and solids before the fat goes to a pet food plant.

1. 01

   Adds concentrated energy

   Separated fat brings calories without the water and protein in animal tissue. Manufacturers use it to raise a recipe's energy level without adding much weight.^5,7

2. 02

   Changes kibble taste

   Fat is often sprayed onto dried kibble. Dog preference tests show that its source affects acceptance, though no animal fat wins every comparison.^1,2,7

3. 03

   Uses an existing stream

   Rendering gives fatty leftovers from meat processing a use. Supply follows meat production, so manufacturers can buy fat without raising animals for that ingredient alone.⁷

4. 04

   Supplies some linoleic acid

   Animal fats contain different amounts of this essential fatty acid. Poultry fat supplies substantially more than tallow, so the unnamed ingredient alone cannot tell an owner how much the recipe provides.^5,6

How much Controlled dog studies added 5% poultry fat or beef tallow, while another tested a diet containing 6% poultry fat.^1,3

1. Brands say

   Animal fat supplies concentrated calories

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   Tallow measured 97.7 to 100% crude fat on a dry basis. Fat contributes energy rather than protein, and a dog feeding trial used a recipe containing 6% poultry fat. The claim describes its main job accurately.^3,5

2. Brands say

   Animal fat makes every kibble taste better

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In a 30-dog preference test, food with sunflower oil beat foods with poultry fat or beef tallow. A separate 10-dog palatability test found no significant difference between chicken oil and sunflower oil. Source and recipe matter.^1,2

3. Brands say

   Animal fat gives dogs a healthier coat

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   The fats contain linoleic acid, but the source matters: published dry matter ranges are 9 to 85 g/kg for tallow and 100 to 233 g/kg for poultry fat. These figures do not show a coat benefit from an unnamed fat.^5,6

4. Owners say

   Animal fat always triggers meat allergies

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   Food reactions usually involve protein, while the tallow table lists 0% crude protein. That does not certify every rendered fat free of protein traces. The unknown species makes this label unsuitable for choosing a strict elimination diet.^5,8