Fiber-containing animal feed gel

Abstract

A firm, flexible feed gel that provides animals, especially non-human primates such as orangutans, with fiber. The gel comprises a gelling agent, added-fiber, and water. While nutritional foods consumed by animals, both natural and manufactured, can contain certain amounts of fiber, the amount of fiber can be insufficient in maintaining the health of the animal. The invention provides a firm, flexible gel that contains an amount of fiber that is over and above the amount of fiber normally found in the animal's nutritional foods, i.e., it provides added-fiber. A method of preparing the gel comprises: (i) providing a gelling agent, a source of added-fiber, and water; (ii) blending the gelling agent and the added-fiber to form a mixture; (iii) combining the water and the mixture to form a homogeneous mass; (iv) transferring the homogeneous mass into a mold; and (v) cooling the homogeneous mass to form the firm, flexible feed gel. The gel can be frozen in one or more molds, stabilized, and/or reduced to a powder (which can later be rehydrated).