In episode 103 we share common dog training mistakes; the Breed of the Show is the Basenji; in Critter Nutrition we discuss flavorings in feed and supplements; and in Coffee Klatch we ask which wild animals you’d like to have a conversation with.
Listen in…
Guests and Links for Episode 103:
- Link to Sound File for Sight Impaired: Click Here
- Co-Hosts: Tigger Montague from BiostarUS and Pati Pierucci from from Pierucci Dressage
- Flavorings in Feed and Supplements
- Ask Hedwig Facebook
Co-host Tigger Montague discusses how flavorings in feed and supplements came to be so common — and hard to avoid:
“After WWII, when an agricultural revolution began, the drive to grow more food meant that food quantity suddenly became much more important than food quality. New hybrid versions of seed along with new potent fertilizers meant farmers could grow more per acre. More food was the result, sure, but more blandness came with it.
Part of the blame falls on the lower nutritional content, higher carbohydrate content, and greater moisture content of the food. There’s a term for this: dilution. The dull tastes that humans have to deal with? Horses, dogs, cattle, pigs, goats, sheep and chickens get the same thing with their feeds and supplements and concentrates. Like us, they’re all less interested in bland food, so flavorings are added to address that problem.
Smell makes up to 80% of the sense of taste. So, chemicals are used to impart specific smells — the same chemicals they call “fragrance” in perfumes and personal care products, except that the food industry calls them “flavorings”. If the food smells good to a horse, dog, or human, the brain thinks it will taste good too.
By the way, believe it or not, taste receptors aren’t just on our tongues; they’re in the GI tract, too. These receptors are sensors for fat, protein, bacteria, hormones and plant compounds, and they play a crucial role in how humans and animals feel during and after eating.”
At Healthy Critters Radio, we are hopeless animal lovers who want to share our experience and knowledge with you, for the betterment of your animals’ lives. We focus on health, nutrition, behavior, and ideas for overall well-being and happiness. Twice a month, we bring you guest experts, advice, commentary, and a lot of fun and laughter! If there is ever a topic you’d like for us to cover, let us know on our contact page!
