Abstract: Breed-specific dog food formulations that comprise chicken meat as the major ingredient, rice as the predominant (or sole) grain source, fruit and/or vegetable fiber as the primary or sole fiber source, unique fat and antioxidant blend, vitamins, herbs and spices, carotenoids, and no corn or artificial colors, preservatives, flavors or sugars are provided.

Abstract: Animal food formulations, preferably dry cat foods and treats, or medicaments, e.g., tablets, gels or suppositories, that contain an amount of an enzyme (bromelain) effective to treat and/or prevent hairballs are provided. These formulations can be ingested chronically, i.e., daily, with no adverse effects.

Abstract: A shipping and display container has two opposing end panels in a spaced parallel relationship and front and rear panels in a spaced parallel relationship defining opposing front and rear container surfaces. The front and rear panels are connected to the two opposing end panels to form a container periphery. A bottom panel extends within the container periphery to define a bottom surface of the container. A top panel also extends within the container periphery to define a top surface of the container. The top surface includes an opening for viewing the contents of the container. The container is also convertible from a storage configuration to a display configuration. The conversion mechanism includes the top surface and the front surface having a removable portion defined by a pattern of lines of weakening, at least the top surface and the rear surface including a further line of weakening, and the bottom surface defining a fold line.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for descaling tuna fish and the like wherein the fish is at least partially cooked and then cooled to a backbone temperature of about 70.degree. to 100.degree. F. The fish is placed on a conveyor and passed through horizontally and vertically disposed brushes. Jets of water are sprayed on the fish at the point of contact of the fish and the brushes to thereby wash away the scales and skin as removed by the brushes.

Abstract: A shelf-stable, semi-moist pet food, wherein partly farinaceous solid pieces are covered by or immersed in an aqueous free gravy. The solid pieces are prepared to be resistant to significant swelling or disintegration when in contact with an aqueous liquid, preferably by incorporating binding means such as vital wheat gluten. A preferred aqueous gravy has a pH of less than about 4.7 and a sufficiently low water activity so that the gravy itself is also shelf stable. The mixture of gravy and solid pieces has a water activity of less than about 0.9 and a pH of less than about 4.7 to resist microbiological growth.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a food product from a tray having apertures defining a supporting lattice to which the food product is adhered. A conveyor belt carries the tray in an inverted position with the food product on the bottom and engaging the upper surface of the belt. The undersurface of the belt is slidably supported by a first row of fixed, transversely spaced apart supports. A first row of roller bands with radially directed fingers is located above the belt with the roller bands midway between the supports. The fingers project through the tray apertures and move the product away from the tray and toward the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt sags between the supports, providing room for the product to move for separation from the tray.

Abstract: A biologically stable animal food composition as described having a crunchy shell of a low water activity consisting essentially of edible starch- and protein-containing flour at least partially surrounding a deformable core of a low water activity including edible protein and water soluble solids, which composition retains the distinct textures of the shell and core even after prolonged ambient exposure.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in releasing a fragile food product which has become stuck to a support surface as a result of a prior processing operation, and for transferring the released food product from the support surface in an orderly fashion so that the food product can be further processed and the support surface returned for reuse. In a preferred embodiment, a releasing roller having flexible rubber projections thereon rotates below a tray which supports strips of an extruded meat product stuck to the tray, with the projections extending upwardly through apertures in the tray to gently contact the underside of the meat strip. A back-up roller above the tray and offset horizontally from the releasing roller restrains the trays and strips from moving upwardly, thereby cooperating with the releasing roller to free the adhered food product.

Abstract: Apparatus for the simultaneous extrusion from an extrusion discharge station of multiple streams of a food product having fibers therein, from a single mass of the food product, where the desired product spacing between the streams at the extrusion discharge station is less then the greatest expected fiber length. Converging extrusion channels communicate at a channel entry station with a feed container which holds and directs the flow of the mass of food product, and the distance of closest spacing between the extrusion channels at the channel entry station is greater than the average expected fiber length. Bridging of food fibers between adjacent extrusion channels at the entry station is avoided by the large channel entry spacing, while the decreasing distance between the converging channels allows the food product streams at the extrusion discharge station to be spaced at a desired product spacing less then the greatest expected fiber length.

Abstract: A nutritious dry food for feeding to pets, wherein a farinaceous-based core is covered by a primary coating containing farinaceous material and a relatively small amount of proteinaceous material to provide flavor and texture, and is further covered by a secondary coating containing an ingredient such as starch or egg to impart a sheen to the surface of the finished pet food. In a preferred form, the core includes a majority by weight of ground uncooked wheat and additionally meat and bone meal, the primary coating includes cracked oat groats and a small amount of liver or meat, and the secondary coating includes starch to give the final dried product a shiny, glistening appearance.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for the preparation of an animal feed supplement from fish cannery waste process water in which the water is maintained under aerobic conditions and is processed through a flotation cell to separate the oils and proteins contained in the water as a concentrated sludge. The sludge is dewatered, blended with a bulk, solid carrier preserved against oxidative spoilage of the lipids with an effective anti-oxidant, and dried in vacuum under low temperature conditions to obtain an animal feed supplement in dry particulate form. The processing of the waste water is done under aerobic conditions to promote the growth of yeast and non-toxic, aerobic, bacterial improve color and odor and texture, and enhance the feed value of the sludge recovered from the processing.

Abstract: A process of preparing litter for absorbing and neutralizing the odors of animal waste matter from a mixture of alfalfa and gelatinizable carbohydrate such as a flour.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pet food containing a significant proportion of synthetic cheese or meat chunks which are formed from cereal products. The pet food is a canned product and the cereal chunks are stabilized against disintegration and agglomeration during retorting in the canning process by the incorporation of a minor amount of glycerol monostearate in the cereal chunks. The cereal chunks are prepared by mixing a hard or red wheat flour or farina with a minor amount of the glycerol monostearate, a minor amount of fat, a trace to minor amount of a flavoring agent, such as cheese, natural cheese flavor, fish or meat products, and trace to minor amounts of a coloring agent. The mixture is blended with sufficient water to form a moldable mixture which is extruded and chopped or pelleted into molded chunks that can be added directly to the pet food during its manufacture or that can be dried to a storage stable product for subsequent addition to a pet food.