Pet foods using algal or fungal waste containing fatty acids

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for using a waste product which remains when various types of algae (such as ) or non-yeast fungi (such as ) are used to manufacture essential fatty acids. This waste product is a biomass which includes the cell carcasses that remain after one or more essential fatty acids (such as docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) have been extracted from lysed (ruptured) cells. In one preferred embodiment which forms a biscuit-type treat for dogs or cats, algal biomass is mixed with a combination of brewer's yeast, a grain product such as whole wheat, and burnt residues that collect on the interior walls of drying vessels used for spray-drying of yeast extracts. These ingredients are mixed with water to form a dough-like substance, which is made into a desired shape for a dog, cat, or other pet treat. The dough is then cooked to form a pleasant-smelling biscuit-type treat which dogs and cats find highly appealing. In another embodiment, algal biomass is incorporated into “flavor or palatability enhancer” (FPE) additives that are coated onto the surfaces of pelleted or extruded chunks (kibbles), to prepare a flavored dog or cat food. Using algal or fungal biomass in this manner eliminates a noxious and foul-smelling waste problem for manufacturers of nutrition supplements. In addition, pet foods created in this manner contain significant quantities of DHA, a nutrient that is highly valuable in foods for dogs and cats.