Abstract: An active or Probiotic animal food having a low water activity that can be contained within a package having a low vapor transmission rate. The animal food can have a shelf life sufficient to deliver a target dose of Probiotic to an animal. The water activity of the animal food can be controlled. The activity level of the Probiotic can be controlled.

Abstract: A dusted pet food kibble and a process for dusting a pet food kibble comprising providing a pet food kibble in the form of a core matrix, providing a powder comprising a first component that can comprise an active ingredient, such as Probiotic microorganism particles, and dusting the powder onto the pet food kibble to form a dusted kibble. The dusting can occur substantially free of a binder. An animal feed comprising a kibble in the form of a core dusted with active ingredients.

Abstract: Animal feeds comprising at least one kibble comprising a colored appearance. The colored appearance can communicate to a purchaser of the animal feed that the kibble provides a health benefit. The kibble can further comprise an active, such as a Probiotic, that provides a health benefit. The active kibbles can be mixed with non-active kibbles.

Abstract: A method of providing an animal food having an active. A Probiotic animal food having a low water activity that can be contained within a package having a low vapor transmission rate. The animal food can have a shelf life sufficient to deliver a target dose of Probiotic to an animal. The water activity of the animal food can be controlled. The activity level of the Probiotic can be controlled.

Abstract: A method of assessing the eating experience of a companion animal. Further, a feeding device utilized in assessing the eating experience of a companion animal. Further, a method of modifying at least one attribute of a food product as a result of assessing the eating experience of a companion animal.

Abstract: A cryogenic treatment for wooden baseball bats to provide a new, cryogenically treated wooden baseball bat that has many of the advantages of the traditional and alternative material bats mentioned heretofore, but with a significant novel feature, that of having been cryogenically treated. The result is a new, cryogenically treated wooden baseball bat which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art, either alone or in combination thereof because cryogenic treatment is typically implemented upon metallic objects and not on wooden objects. The process relates to a process/method/system of manufacture wherein the same can be utilized for improving the strength of standard wooden baseball bats via cryogenic treatment, thereby reducing the occurrence of breakage of said bats. This is intended to increase the safety of players and fans through the reduced risk of being struck by sharply pointed projectiles/shrapnel that results when breakage does occur.

Abstract: A pet food in the form of a coated kibble that improves vitamin retention. A process of improving vitamin retention of a pet food in the form of a coated kibble. The process can include extruding a mixture to form a core pellet, providing a coating, wherein the coating comprises a vitamin; and applying the coating to the core pellet to form a coated kibble. The vitamin retention can be improved by applying the coating comprising the vitamin when compared to extruding a core with a vitamin.

Abstract: A pet food in the form of a coated kibble wherein the coated kibble is made of a core and a coating. The core can be extruded and can have a moisture, or water, content less than 12%. The core can contain a coating. The coating can have a protein component at from 50% to 95% of the coating and a binder component at from 5% to 50% of the pet coating.

Abstract: A pet food in the form of a coated kibble wherein the coated kibble is made of a core and a coating. The core can be extruded and can have a moisture, or water, content less than 12%. The core can contain a coating. The coating can have a protein component at from 50% to 95% of the coating and a binder component at from 5% to 50% of the pet coating.

Abstract: A pet food in the form of a coated kibble wherein the coated kibble is used to deliver an active ingredient. A method of delivery can include providing a coated kibble, wherein the coated kibble comprises an extruded core comprising a gelatinized starch matrix; a coating comprising a protein component, a binder component, and an active ingredient; less than 12% water content; and providing the coated kibble to a pet.

Abstract: A pet food in the form of a coated kibble wherein the coated kibble is made of a core and a coating. The core can be extruded and can have a moisture, or water, content less than 12%. The core can contain a coating. The coating can have a protein component at from 50% to 95% of the coating and a binder component at from 5% to 50% of the pet coating.

Abstract: A pet food in the form of a coated kibble wherein the coated kibble has an improved animal preference. The coated kibble can be made of a core and a coating. The pet food can have an animal preference enhancing amount of the analytes 2-Piperidione, 2,3 pentanedione, 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethypyrazine, Furfural, Sulfurol, Indole, and mixtures and combinations of these.

Abstract: Kibble-type animal feeds and pet foods including a vegetable protein-based core matrix and a coating of a fat and at least one additive are described. The coating may include a probiotic enriched coating. Methods of forming the kibble-type animal feeds and pet foods are also described. Probiotic coating for a kibble showing acceptable stability and bioactivity are disclosed and methods for assessing the bioactivity of a probiotic in a food composition are also described.

Abstract: Kibble-type animal feeds and pet foods including a vegetable protein-based core matrix and a coating of a fat and at least one additive are described. The coating may include a probiotic enriched coating. Methods of forming the kibble-type animal feeds and pet foods are also described. Probiotic coating for a kibble showing acceptable stability and bioactivity are disclosed and methods for assessing the bioactivity of a probiotic in a food composition are also described.

Abstract: According to the present invention there are provided methods of use in companion animals of probiotic bacteria of the genus Lactobacilli.

Abstract: A pet food composition comprising a supplement. The supplement can include a glucose mimetic component. The supplement can include a glucose mimetic component that is a glucose anti-metabolite. The glucose anti-metabolite can be 2-deoxy-D-glucose, 5-thio-D-glucose, 3-O-methylglucose, anhydrosugars including 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol, 2,5-anhydro-D-glucitol, 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol, mannoheptulose, and/or avocado extract comprising mannoheptulose.

Abstract: A binding or boot strap is provided that allows a rider to easily, rapidly and/or effectively tighten and/or loosen the strap about his or her boot. The strap includes a boot-engaging strap portion that engages with an engagement strap coupleable to the boot, as may be the case with boots used for step-in bindings, or to the binding, as may be the case with strap-type bindings. An arrangement for facilitating tightening/loosening of the two strap pieces so that a rider can slip his or her foot into or out from the boot or fasten the boot to or loosen it from a snowboard binding is also provided. In one embodiment, this arrangement includes a tightening element, such as for example a cord, lace or strap, suitably coupled to one or both strap portions such that a rider can pull on the tightening element to move the strap pieces relative to each other and tighten the strap.