SavedAdd your journal

Journals / Journal of advances in vetbio science and techniques / 2026 / Issue: 3

Prediction of nutrient digestibility from starch and fiber fractions in home made dog diets

Zekeriya Safa İnanç(SELÇUK ÜNİVERSİTESİ, VETERİNER FAKÜLTESİ, ZOOTEKNİ VE HAYVAN BESLEME BÖLÜMÜ, HAYVAN BESLEME VE BESLENME HASTALIKLARI ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0003-0832-9209
Oğuzhan Kahraman(SELÇUK ÜNİVERSİTESİ, VETERİNER FAKÜLTESİ, ZOOTEKNİ VE HAYVAN BESLEME BÖLÜMÜ, HAYVAN BESLEME VE BESLENME HASTALIKLARI ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0002-9315-5276
Battal Yılmaz(SELÇUK ÜNİVERSİTESİ, VETERİNER FAKÜLTESİ, ZOOTEKNİ VE HAYVAN BESLEME BÖLÜMÜ, HAYVAN BESLEME VE BESLENME HASTALIKLARI ANABİLİM DALI)0009-0008-8111-1840
Mustafa Selçuk Alataş(SELÇUK ÜNİVERSİTESİ, VETERİNER FAKÜLTESİ, ZOOTEKNİ VE HAYVAN BESLEME BÖLÜMÜ, HAYVAN BESLEME VE BESLENME HASTALIKLARI ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0001-9920-1838
Huzur Derya Arık(SELÇUK ÜNİVERSİTESİ, VETERİNER FAKÜLTESİ, ZOOTEKNİ VE HAYVAN BESLEME BÖLÜMÜ, HAYVAN BESLEME VE BESLENME HASTALIKLARI ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0002-4046-9386
Fatma İnal(SELCUK UNIVERSITY)0000-0000-0000-0000
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-10-14
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The in vitro assay, in contrast, was not a reliable predictor for diets of this kind.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Measuring digestibility in live animals is costly, and it is hard to justify on welfare grounds when many diets have to be screened.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Fifty-two home-made dog diets, 27 grain-inclusive and 25 grain-free, were studied in order to identify the composi tional traits associated with digestibility and to test whether digestibility can be predicted from composition.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The in vitro assay, in contrast, was not a reliable predictor for diets of this kind.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Acid-insoluble ash · canine nutrition · indicator method

Abstract

Measuring digestibility in live animals is costly, and it is hard to justify on welfare grounds when many diets have to be screened. Fifty-two home-made dog diets, 27 grain-inclusive and 25 grain-free, were studied in order to identify the composi tional traits associated with digestibility and to test whether digestibility can be predicted from composition. Each diet was fed to four of the 16 dogs for four consecutive days, and the four dog values obtained for a diet were averaged, so that the diet and not the animal was the unit of analysis (n = 52 diets). Dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and crude protein (CP) digestibili ty were measured in the same diets by two separate routes: in 16 adult Golden Retrievers, with acid-insoluble ash (AIA) as an internal marker, and in a three-step in vitro enzymatic assay. Chemical composition failed to predict in vitro DM digestibility: the regression explained almost none of the variation and was not significant (F(9, 42) = 1.123, p = 0.368, adjusted coefficient of determination = 0.021). The AIA regressions gave a different picture. Composition explained about 40% of the variation in AIA DM digestibility (F(9, 42) = 4.792, p < 0.001, adjusted coefficient of determination = 0.401), and the model for AIA OM digestibility was significant as well. The two assays also disagreed about grain. In vitro digestibility did not differ between the two diet groups, whereas the AIA values were higher for the grain-inclusive diets. Starch, total dietary fiber and the degree of gelatinization were the significant predictors in both AIA models, and the coefficient for gelatinization was negative. Total-tract digestibility of a home-made diet can therefore be estimated when starch, the fiber fractions and gelatinization are measured alongside a routine proximate analysis. The in vitro assay, in contrast, was not a reliable predictor for diets of this kind.

🔖

Cite This Article

İnanç, Z. S., Kahraman, O., Yılmaz, B., Alataş, M. S., Arık, H. D., İnal, F. (2026). Prediction of nutrient digestibility from starch and fiber fractions in home made dog diets. Journal of advances in vetbio science and techniques, Issue: 3. https://doi.org/10.31797/vetbio.1986578

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (36)

  1. Alvarenga, I. C., Aldrich, C. G., & Ou, Z. (2019). Compari son of four digestibility markers to estimate fecal output of dogs. Journal of Animal Science, 97(3), 1036-1041. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz020
  2. Alvarenga, I. C., Aldrich, C. G., & Shi, Y.-C. (2021). Factors affecting digestibility of starches and their implications on adult dog health. Animal Feed Science and Technol ogy, 282(4), 115134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeeds ci.2021.115134
  3. Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). (2003). Official methods of analysis (17th ed.). Association of Of ficial Analytical Chemists.
  4. Bazolli, R. S., Vasconcellos, R. S., de-Oliveira, L. D., Sá, F. C., Pereira, G. T., & Carciofi, A. C. (2015). Effect of the particle size of maize, rice, and sorghum in extruded diets for dogs on starch gelatinization, digestibility, and the fecal concentration of fermentation products. Jour nal of Animal Science, 93(6), 2956-2966. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2014-8409
  5. Beloshapka, A. N., Cross, T.-W. L., & Swanson, K. S. (2021). Graded dietary resistant starch concentrations on apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility and fecal fermentative end products and microbial populations of healthy adult dogs. Journal of Animal Science, 99(1), skaa409. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa409
  6. BeMiller, J. N., & Whistler, R. L. (Eds.). (2009). Starch: Chemistry and technology (3rd ed.). Academic Press.
  7. Beynen, A. C. (2014). Grain-free pet foods. Creature Compan ion, 54-55. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.24779.18729
  8. Beynen, A. C. (2016). Starch in dog foods. Creature Compan ion, 52-54. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.22575.94886
  9. Clark, S. D., Hsu, C., McCauley, S. R., de Godoy, M. R. C., He, F., Streeter, R. M., Taylor, E. G., & Quest, B. W. (2023). The impact of protein source and grain inclu sion on digestibility, fecal metabolites, and fecal micro biome in adult canines. Journal of Animal Science, 101, skad268. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad268
  10. Dikeman, C. L., Murphy, M. R., & Fahey, G. C. (2007). Food intake and ingredient profile affect viscosity of ileal digesta of dogs. Journal of Animal Physiology and Ani mal Nutrition, 91(3-4), 130-138. https://doi.org/10.1111/ j.1439-0396.2006.00652.x
  11. Do, S., Phungviwatnikul, T., de Godoy, M. R. C., & Swan son, K. S. (2021). Nutrient digestibility and fecal char acteristics, microbiota, and metabolites in dogs fed hu man-grade foods. Journal of Animal Science, 99(2), skab028. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab028
  12. Dzanis, D. A. (2016, March 9). AAFCO pondering new approach for ‘human grade’ claims. Petfood Indus try. https://www.petfoodindustry.com/safety-quality/ pet-food-regulations/article/15462203/aafco-to-set-pet food-humangrade-claim-standards
  13. European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF). (2024). Nutritional guidelines for complete and complementary pet food for cats and dogs. FEDIAF.
  14. Faber, T. A., Bechtel, P. J., Hernot, D. C., Parsons, C. M., Swanson, K. S., Smiley, S., & Fahey, G. C. (2010). Pro tein digestibility evaluations of meat and fish substrates using laboratory, avian, and ileally cannulated dog assays. Journal of Animal Science, 88(4), 1421-1432. https://doi. org/10.2527/jas.2009-2140
  15. Fahey, G. C., Merchen, N. R., Corbin, J. E., Hamilton, A. K., Serbe, K. A., & Hirakawa, D. A. (1990). Dietary fiber for dogs: II. Iso-total dietary fiber (TDF) additions of diver gent fiber sources to dog diets and their effects on nutri ent intake, digestibility, metabolizable energy and digesta mean retention time. Journal of Animal Science, 68(12), 4229-4235. https://doi.org/10.2527/1990.68124229x
  16. Goi, A., Manuelian, C. L., Righi, F., & De Marchi, M. (2020). At-line prediction of gelatinized starch and fiber fractions in extruded dry dog food using different near-in frared spectroscopy technologies. Animals, 10(5), 862. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10050862
  17. Hervera, M., Baucells, M. D., Blanch, F., & Castrillo, C. (2007). Prediction of digestible energy content of extrud ed dog food by in vitro analyses. Journal of Animal Phys iology and Animal Nutrition, 91(5-6), 205-209. https:// doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0396.2007.00693.x
  18. İnal, F., Alataş, M. S., Kahraman, O., İnal, Ş., Uludağ, M., Gürbüz, E., & Polat, E. S. (2017). Barley as an alterna tive to rice in dog food. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 41(6), 770-774. https://doi.org/10.3906/ vet-1705-21
  19. Jadhav, S., Gaonkar, T., Joshi, M., & Rathi, A. (2023). Modulation of digestibility of canine food using enzyme supplement: An in vitro simulated semi-dynamic diges tion study. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10, 1220198. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1220198
  20. Kahraman, O., & İnal, F. (2021). Comparison of digestibility parameters of commercial dry dog foods with different contents. Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, 73(2), 469-476. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678 4162-12167
  21. Kienzle, E. (2002). Further developments in the prediction of metabolizable energy (ME) in pet food. Journal of Nu trition, 132(6), 1796S-1798S. https://doi.org/10.1093/ jn/132.6.1796S
  22. Kienzle, E., Biourge, V., & Schönmeier, A. (2006). Prediction of energy digestibility in complete dry foods for dogs and cats by total dietary fiber. Journal of Nutrition, 136(7), 2041S-2044S. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/136.7.2041S
  23. McCleary, B. V., DeVries, J. W., Rader, J. I., Cohen, G., Prosky, L., Mugford, D. C., Champ, M., & Okuma, K. (2012). Determination of insoluble, soluble, and total dietary fiber (Codex definition) by enzymatic-gravimetric method and liquid chromatography: Collaborative study. Journal of AOAC International, 95(3), 824-844. https:// doi.org/10.5740/jaoacint.CS2011_25
  24. Meineri, G., Candellone, A., Tassone, S., Peiretti, P. G., Longato, E., Pattono, D., Russo, N., Pagani, E., & Prola, L. (2021). Effects of “fresh mechanically deboned meat” inclusion on nutritional value, palatability, shelf life microbiological risk and digestibility in dry dog food. PLOS ONE, 16(4), e0250351. https://doi.org/10.1371/ journal.pone.0250351
  25. Montserrat-Malagarriga, M., Castillejos, L., Salas-Mani, A., Torre, C., & Martín-Orúe, S. M. (2024). The im pact of fiber source on digestive function, fecal microbi ota, and immune response in adult dogs. Animals, 14(2), 196. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14020196
  26. Oba, P. M., Utterback, P. L., Parsons, C. M., & Swanson, K. S. (2020). True nutrient and amino acid digestibility of dog foods made with human-grade ingredients using the precision-fed cecectomized rooster assay. Translational Animal Science, 4(1), 442-451. https://doi.org/10.1093/ tas/txz175
  27. Perry, E. B., Valach, A. A., Fenton, J. M., & Moore, G. E. (2022). An assessment of starch content and gelatiniza tion in traditional and non-traditional dog food formu lations. Animals, 12(23), 3357. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ani12233357
  28. Seo, K., Cho, H. W., Lee, M. Y., Kim, C. H., Kim, K. H., & Chun, J. L. (2024). Prediction of apparent total tract digestion of crude protein in adult dogs. Journal of Ani mal Science and Technology, 66(2), 374-386. https://doi.org/10.5187/jast.2024.e20
  29. Song, Y. S., & Kim, B. G. (2023). Prediction equations for in vitro ileal disappearance of dry matter and crude protein based on chemical composition in dog diets. Animals, 13(12), 1937. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13121937
  30. Spears, J. K., & Fahey, G. C. (2004). Resistant starch as re lated to companion animal nutrition. Journal of AOAC International, 87(3), 787-791. https://doi.org/10.1093/ jaoac/87.3.787
  31. Sprinkle, D. (2019, February 6). Pet food market outlook for 2019. Petfood Industry. https://www.petfoodindustry. com/pet-food-market/article/15465367/pet-food-market outlook-for-2019
  32. Swanson, K. S., Grieshop, C. M., Clapper, G. M., Shields, R. G., Belay, T., Merchen, N. R., & Fahey, G. C. (2001). Fruit and vegetable fiber fermentation by gut microflora from canines. Journal of Animal Science, 79(4), 919-926. https://doi.org/10.2527/2001.794919x
  33. Topping, D. L., & Clifton, P. M. (2001). Short-chain fat ty acids and human colonic function: Roles of resistant starch and nonstarch polysaccharides. Physiological Re views, 81(3), 1031-1064. https://doi.org/10.1152/phys rev.2001.81.3.1031
  34. Van Keulen, J., & Young, B. A. (1977). Evaluation of acid insoluble ash as a natural marker in ruminant digestibil ity studies. Journal of Animal Science, 44(2), 282-287. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1977.442282x
  35. Von Engelhardt, W., Rönnau, K., Rechkemmer, G., & Saka ta, T. (1989). Absorption of short-chain fatty acids and their role in the hindgut of monogastric animals. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 23(1-3), 43-53. https://doi. org/10.1016/0377-8401(89)90088-6
  36. Wichert, B., Schuster, S., Hofmann, M., Dobenecker, B., & Kienzle, E. (2002). Influence of different cellulose types on feces quality of dogs. Journal of Nutrition, 132(6), 1728S-1729S. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/132.6.1728S