Pet Food

A guide for students at K-State in the Pet Food Program, Agricultural Economics, or Grain Science and Industry who are researching pet food products and markets.

Library Research Guide

Pet Food Ingredients in Commercial Products

The use or demand for specific pet food ingredients is difficult to determine. Manufacturers purchase ingredients through a variety of channels and do not disclose their formulations.

The library does not have a database that gives information about the ingredients in commercial pet food.

Available sources of information and insights about pet food ingredients include research from industry associations and the USDA.

Information Sources on Ingredients in Pet Food

Pet Food Production and Ingredient Analysis (Report and Data), 2020
The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), the North American Renderers Association (NARA), and the Pet Food Institute (PFI) commissioned a study on pet food ingredients. Researchers used a reverse engineering methodology to determine the ingredients used in pet food products. They relied on multiple sources of publicly available and proprietary data for their analysis and conclusions. The report and data are available at no cost.
Animal Feed/Food Consumption and COVID-19 Impact Analysis (Report and Data), 2020
The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) partnered with an economic analysis firm to calculate feed consumption for pet and domestic livestock. The report and data are available at no cost.

Data on Grains

The USDA provides data on crops that may be used as ingredients in pet food. USDA sources do not analyze use of grains or other ingredients in pet food products.

USDA Feed Grains Database
The Feed Grains Database contains data on feed grains (corn, grain sorghum, barley, and oats), foreign coarse grains (feed grains plus rye, millet, and mixed grains), hay, and related items. It includes data about supply, demand, quantities, and more.