Corn protein (CP), a co-product of the corn ethanol industry, was evaluated as a protein source in dog foods. The study goals were to determine how CP inclusion affected the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and palatability of dog foods and the health markers of dogs consuming them. The digestibility study tested diets containing 5% (Low), 10% (Medium), and 15% (High) CP against diets based on chicken byproduct meal (control) and corn gluten meal (CGM). The palatability studies tested the High vs. control diets and High vs. CGM diets. Dogs preferred the High diet over the control diet, but no preference was observed between the High and CGM diets. In the digestibility study, ATTD of dry matter, organic matter, and energy increased linearly with CP inclusion. The ATTD of fat was greater for the control diet than for the CGM, Low, and High diets. Fecal scores were lower (firmer) and fecal moisture percentage was lower in dogs fed CGM than those fed CP. Fecal metabolite concentrations were greater in dogs fed CP than dogs fed CGM and control. Lastly, fecal bacterial diversity was not altered, but the relative abundance of approximately 10 bacterial genera was altered in dogs fed CP.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.