What is meal in dog food? Salmon and turkey meal are used used in Supreme Source® dog food.
Turkey meal and salmon meal are protein rich ingredients. They are created by drying raw turkey or salmon to remove most of the moisture. Supreme Source recipes use turkey or salmon meal because they contain much larger quantities of protein per ounce than raw turkey or salmon alone.
Protein is an essential part of a healthy diet for pets. It helps build and repair muscles and tissues, as well as creating essential hormones and enzymes that are needed for normal function. Using meal as the primary protein source helps make sure your pet gets the nutrition he needs to live a happy, healthy life.
Turkey meal is a common ingredient found in many commercial dog foods. But what exactly is turkey meal and why is it added to dog food? This article will explain what turkey meal is, how it’s made, its benefits for dogs, and why pet food manufacturers use it.
What is Turkey Meal?
Turkey meal is a concentrated source of protein made from turkey meat and bones that have been cooked, dried, and ground into a powder Unlike fresh turkey, which contains about 70% water, turkey meal has most of the moisture removed during processing. This leaves behind a low-fat, meaty powder that’s packed with protein.
The process starts with whole turkeys that have been certified fit for human consumption. The turkeys are skinned and cooked at high temperatures which kills bacteria and pathogens. Next, the meat and bones are dried to remove moisture then ground into a fine powder. This powder is referred to as turkey meal.
On average, turkey meal contains around 90% protein and only 10% moisture It’s an excellent source of amino acids and essential nutrients for dogs The high protein content makes it a quality addition to dog food recipes.
How Turkey Meal is Made
Turkey meal undergoes a multi-step manufacturing process to render it into a usable form for pet food. Here are the key steps:
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Whole turkeys that pass inspection are selected. This ensures only quality turkey meat is used.
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The turkeys are skinned and cooked at high temperatures. Cooking sterilizes the product and kills any potential bacteria.
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Most of the fat and moisture are removed. Methods like pressurized heating extract excess fat from the meat.
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The meat, bones, and remnants are dried to remove almost all moisture.
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The dried portions are ground into a fine powder referred to as turkey meal.
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The meal is analyzed to ensure it meets nutritional standards. Samples are tested for protein, amino acid, fat, and ash content.
The result is a sustainable source of highly-digestible animal protein packed with essential amino acids dogs need.
Benefits of Turkey Meal for Dogs
There are several reasons why turkey meal is a healthy addition to dog food:
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Excellent Source of Protein – Turkey meal is loaded with quality animal protein. Protein supports muscle growth and tissue repair in dogs.
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Highly Digestible – The cooking process helps improve digestibility for dogs. It can be easier to digest than raw meat.
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Supports Immune System – Turkey contains nutrients like selenium, phosphorus, and niacin that benefit immune health.
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Promotes Joint Health – The glucosamine in turkey bones supports joint, cartilage, and mobility health in dogs.
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Flavorful – Turkey meat offers a taste dogs love. The concentrated flavor can make food more palatable and appealing.
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Low Fat – With excess fat removed, turkey meal offers a lean source of protein with less fat than fresh meat.
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Nutrient Rich – Turkey meal provides a powerhouse of amino acids, B vitamins, iron, zinc, potassium and other vital nutrients.
Overall, the high protein content, digestibility, and nutritional profile make turkey meal a healthy choice for adult dogs and growing puppies alike.
Why Pet Foods Contain Turkey Meal
There are a few important reasons why turkey meal is so widely used in commercial dog foods:
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Highly Concentrated Protein – With up to 90% protein, turkey meal packs more protein by weight than fresh turkey meat. This allows manufacturers to deliver more protein efficiently.
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Improved Shelf-Life – The low moisture content helps kibble stay fresher longer. Turkey meal resists spoilage better than raw turkey.
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Cost Effective – Using turkey meal helps utilize more turkey parts like bones for a sustainable, economical ingredient. Less is wasted compared to only using breast or thigh meat.
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Supports Dietary Needs – Turkey meal enables creating dog food formulas to meet AAFCO standards for adult maintenance, growth, all life stages, or other dietary needs.
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Flavor Enhancement – Turkey meal adds tasty flavor to balance out blander grains or vegetables also used in dog food.
Turkey meal allows pet food brands to create nutritionally-complete, protein-rich diets that provide excellent nutrition through an economical and low-waste ingredient.
Things to Look for in Turkey Meal Dog Food
When comparing dog foods containing turkey meal, look for these signs of quality:
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Specific “Turkey Meal” Listed – Avoid vague “meat meals”. Named protein meals like “turkey meal” indicate the exact source.
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Single Animal Protein – A limited ingredient food with turkey as the only meat source can help identify allergies.
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Whole Food Sources – Look for recognizable whole food ingredients versus by-products, artificial preservatives or additives.
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AAFCO Approved Levels – Diets formulated to meet AAFCO standards assure balanced nutrition.
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Manufacturing Transparency – Brands that openly share how and where they manufacture their food.
Is Turkey Meal Safe for Dogs?
Turkey meal is completely safe and nutritious for dogs when sourced from quality ingredients. The high-temperature cooking process destroys any potential bacteria or pathogens. Be wary of generic “meat meal” that does not specify the source. Avoid meat by-product meals which can include undesirable extras. But correctly processed turkey meal offers a safe, wholesome addition to dog food.
In conclusion, turkey meal is a nutrient-dense rendered protein that provides incredible nutritional value for dogs. The cooking and drying process creates a low-fat turkey protein powder packed with essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Turkey meal supports muscle growth, joint health, the immune system, and provides energy. Pet food brands include turkey meal for its highly-digestible protein content and flavor dogs love. When sourced responsibly, turkey meal can be a healthy addition to provide complete, balanced nutrition.
Is meal better for dogs to eat than fresh meat?
The choice between meal (processed and rendered meat) and fresh meat for dogs depends on various factors, and both options can have their advantages when included in a well-balanced diet.
Let’s compare what the benefits of each are:
Meal proteins are often nutrient-dense as they can be processed to concentrate essential nutrients like protein, vitamins, and minerals. This can be beneficial in providing a highly nutritious diet with smaller serving sizes.
Meals are typically processed to be highly digestible. The processing methods used in creating meal proteins can break down proteins and other nutrients, making them easier for dogs to absorb and utilize. The rendering process from pet food manufacturers may vary depending on the specific process used. This can impact protein level and can vary when pet food ingredients use quality ingredients to provide a premium protein meal.
Dog food manufacturers have more control over the quality and consistency of meals during the cooking process. This is because they can precisely measure and control the content of nutrients in the final product, ensuring that dogs receive a consistent and balanced diet from the specific animal meal.
Fresh meat like real chicken is in its natural form and less processed than meals. It can provide dogs with a source of protein in a form that closely resembles what they might eat in the wild.
Real meat proteins can be hard to digest, and may not have as much concentrated protein. Meal also includes quality ingredients to supplement the meat proteins and nutrient digestibility.
Meal typically will have a longer shelf life, avoids harmful bacteria, limits fatty tissue compared to real meat, offers all nutritional requirements for your dog, and offers the essential building blocks for a healthy diet like amino acids.
The nutritional quality derived from the rendered products creates an exceptional finished product.
How do I ensure my dog’s dry food is full of protein?
It’s best to consult with a veterinarian. While we do not offer nutritional advice, here are some general pointers. To ensure that your dog’s dry food is full of protein, you might consider the following tips when selecting or evaluating dog food:
- Read the ingredients list. Look for a high-quality dog food with a named animal protein meal source (e.g., chicken, beef, turkey, fish) listed as the first ingredient. The first ingredient should ideally be a meat or meat meal, not a grain or filler.
- Check the guaranteed analysis. The packaging should provide a guaranteed analysis that includes the minimum percentage of crude protein. Aim for a dry dog food with a protein content of at least 18-20% for adult dogs and 25-30% for puppies. The specific protein requirements can vary depending on your dog’s age, activity level, and health.
- Consider the protein source. Pay attention to the source of the protein. Animal-based proteins are generally more easily digestible and biologically appropriate for dogs. Ensure that the protein sources are high-quality and not by-products.
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FAQ
What does turkey meal consist of?
What is the difference between turkey and turkey meal?
Is turkey meal good in dog food?
What is turkey meal in cat food?
What is Turkey meal?
Turkey meal is rendered turkey that is heated and overcooked intentionally to remove most of the moisture as well as decontaminate from any bacteria. This way it also contains more protein that otherwise wouldn’t be present in the meat form. It is manufactured from a clean, fresh turkey.
What are the health benefits of ground turkey?
Ground turkey has multiple benefits. It is a good source of minerals, and B vitamins, rich in proteins, low in fat and it is lower in calories than common turkey.
What is Turkey meal in dog food?
It is manufactured from a clean, fresh turkey. Most dog foods contain turkey, and it is a common ingredient used by commercial dog food manufacturers. Turkey meal in dog food is a dried rendered product that could be a blend of skin, flesh, and bones. It can come with or without bones.
Is Turkey meal the same as chicken meal in dog food?
Turkey meal is just like chicken meal, so both of them are pretty much the same when it comes to benefits as both of them provide a good source of protein. Turkey meal in dog food can prove to be a great alternative for protein if your dog is sensitive towards other sources of proteins.