Nutritional Assessment of Pork versus Chicken as Primary Protein Sources in Canine Diets

The protein content of pet food affects its metabolizable energy content and palatability. Although pork is a high-quality protein source, it is not commonly used in pet food due to the lack of verification of its potential as a primary protein source. Hence, in this study, the potential of pork as a protein source in pet food was verified through digestibility testing involving beagle dogs. A pork-based diet made from pork hind legs and a chicken-based diet were provided to 12 beagle dogs. The palatability and digestibility of nutrients of the pork-based diet were compared with those of the chicken-based diet. The results showed that the palatability and apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients (dry matters, crude fat, crude ash, nitrogen-free extract, and amino acids) of the pork-based diet were similar to those of the chicken-based diet. This study suggests that pork hind legs can be used as a protein source in dog food.