Abstract: Inclusion of 71/2% to 20% of substantially fully-inverted molasses provides a low-cost animal feed which is highly palatable and assimilable to domestic pets and livestock. Prepared by hot extrusion and comprising at least 50% by weight cereal meal and 15% to 35% by weight protein, this product has a partially elastic, partially deformable, chewy, non-crumbly structure. It has unexpected nutritive and physiological advantages especially to the growing animal, as well as cost advantages over the use of sucrose.Under the process described, the product, when extruded, has a water content of approximately 20% and is dried to about 15% without loss of its unique texture or palatability and with minimal energy cost.

Abstract: Inclusion of 71/2% to 15% of a monosaccharide in a dry animal food prepared by hot extrusion of a mixture comprising at least 50% by weight cereal meal and 15%-35% by weight protein yields a product having a partially elastic, partially deformable, chewy, non-crumbly structure. Unlike soft pet foods of substantially higher water content, the present product requires no polyhydrins either as a texturizer or as a preservative.Under the process described the product, when extruded, has a water content of approximately 20% and is dried to about 15% without loss of its unique texture and with minimal energy costs.

Abstract: A novel protein food product having a porous expanded structure with the texture and organoleptic properties of meat, is produced by a process which comprises: forming a mixture of a vegetable protein containing material and a meat source in an amount of between about 5 to 80% by weight, said mixture having a protein content on a dry basis of at least about 25% by weight, followed by extrusion of said mixture to form a porous expanded food product. The extrusion of a meat source and vegetable protein material provides a product having the economic and functional advantages of a simulated meat piece derived solely from a vegetable protein containing material, with the palatability of a real piece of meat because of the use of a meat source in the product.