Replacing conventional proteins with hydrolyzed proteins in diets for companion animals has demonstrated clinical and nutritional benefits, such as improved digestibility and reduced fermentation products in the large intestine. Based on this, the current study evaluated the effects of 2 protein sources (hydrolyzed chicken liver (HCL) and poultry byproduct meal) and 3 crude protein concentrations (24%, 32%, and 40%) on digestibility, fecal and urinary characteristics, fecal fermentative end products, and palatability of healthy adult cats. Overall, diets containing HCL had similar protein digestibility to diets based on a traditional poultry byproduct meal, except that metabolizable energy content was lower for HCL at higher protein concentrations. HCL increased fecal moisture, suggesting that water was drawn into the intestinal lumen, but fecal consistency remained within the ideal range. Furthermore, cats fed HCL had higher fecal concentrations of some short-chain fatty acids, such as acetate, propionate, and valerate, indicating that undigested protein and some carbohydrates reached the hindgut and were fermented. Finally, feeding cats with hydrolyzed chicken liver promoted an increase in palatability, as well as in combination with higher concentrations of protein in the diets.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.