According to a survey conducted by Pets International Magazine, 50 percent of pet owners prioritise nutritional intake when selecting which products to purchase. This was followed by health benefits (29 percent) and flavour (23 percent), underscoring the need for nutritious yet palatable options. In light of this, Henning Gerstenkorn, business development manager (animal health) at Ohly, a provider of yeast-based ingredients for animal health, explains the role of yeast extract in improving immune health and palatability, and how manufacturers can enhance these elements during the production process.
Incorporating yeast extract into animal feed comes with multiple benefits, ranging from improving palatability to strengthening the immune system.
- Improving palatability: since yeast extracts are highly palatable, often adding “meaty” or “roasted” notes, animals are much more willing to eat food which encompasses this component. This can be particularly beneficial for animals with a reduced appetite to increase feed intake
- Strengthening of the immune system: yeast cell walls are the outer, protective layer of the yeast cells and are primarily composed of complex carbohydrates, including beta-glucans and mannan-oligosaccharides. These two active ingredients present within yeast cell walls have immune-supporting properties. Nucleotides, found within yeast extract, are involved in the development and maturation of immune cells
- Natural ingredients: yeast extract is a natural and safe ingredient without genetic modification. This aligns with consumer preferences for natural and sustainable agricultural practices while reducing the need for synthetic additives and flavour enhancers
- Supporting weight gain: rich in essential nutrients and highly digestible proteins, yeast extract supports the immune system and improves the daily weight gain and gut health of animals
- Incorporating dietary nucleotides: incorporating dietary nucleotides into feed helps to improve animal health, along with supporting daily weight gain. While nucleotides are produced naturally in the body through the process of synthesis, animals are often not able to produce enough when experiencing rapid growth. For this reason, adding yeast products (such as Ohly-GO Nucleo) to animal feed is an effective way to boost animal growth and enhance health
How are yeast extracts used for improving palatability?
Glutamic acid and nucleotides help to draw out rich, umami flavours, bringing a meaty and savoury taste to pet food. Using yeast extracts during the production process can provide meaty and roasted notes that are more palatable for carnivorous animals than grains. Tasty and enjoyable foods are vital for ensuring that pets eat enough to get the nutrients they need. Plus, the rich and complex taste of yeast extract is an effective way to mask undesirable flavours. For this reason, yeast extracts are commonly used to increase the palatability of pet supplements or to mask the often unpleasant taste of medicines.
Henning says: “When it comes to animal feed and pet food, yeast has a variety of beneficial uses. From nucleotides for immune support to yeast extracts for palatability, there are a range of benefits for both the livestock and pet food industries.
“Yeast extract consists of proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, peptides, nucleotides, vitamins, and minerals. It is the amino acids and nucleotides, that give yeast extract its rich umami and savoury taste.
“On the other hand, yeast cell walls contain beta-glucans and mannan-oligosaccharides. These two active ingredients can support the immune system and bind toxins.”
