Each month the Petfood Industry E-newsletter will bring you the latest market data available from several different sources including Euromonitor, Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) and ACNielsen.

Today's market research data chart comes to you from: Information Resources, Inc.

Strong performance for petfood in Mexico
Mexico turned into one of the most interesting and attractive countries for petfood and pet care products for companies, veterinary clinics, pet retailers and specialized pet shops, all of which displayed significant sales growth between 2000-2005, according to a new report from Euromonitor International Pet Food and Pet Care Products in Mexico.

While this strong growth is derived from increasing awareness campaigns regarding pet care, only slightly more than 15% of the total dog population and 56% of the pet cat population eats petfood. Many pet owners still like to feed their pets with food scraps.

Dry food represents the largest share of overall petfood, largely because it is significantly cheaper than wet petfood. Dry dog food represented 87% of total dog food value sales in 2005, while dry cat food held 75% of cat food total value in the same year. According to Euromonitor International, dry dog food grew by almost 10% in 2005, whereas wet food grew by 7%. This growth will likely come from increasing sales of leading brands by Effem México and Nestlé México.

Click here for more information about petfood and pet care reports from Euromonitor International and to buy reports online.

E-news

Traditional media still hold consumers trust
A recently released study by Lexis-Nexis finds that during major national events, consumers turn first to TV, radio and print. According to the study, half of the respondents said they would use network TV during a news event and 42% would turn on the radio. One-quarter would visit a website and 6% would visit some form of online user-generated content such as a blog or chat group.

"In the future, more than half (52%) of the consumers surveyed anticipate they will continue to mostly trust and rely on traditional news sources," Lexis-Nexis reported. "However, more than a third (35%) expect they will trust and rely on both emerging news and traditional news in the future, and more than one in ten (13%) anticipate they will trust and rely mostly on emerging media."

Yahoo builds world's largest time capsule
Yahoo has launched what it ambitiously calls the largest time capsule in the history of the world. It is encouraging people from around the globe to contribute personal photos, stories, thoughts, ideas, poems, home movies to its site, timecapsule.yahoo.com. The point is to illustrate life in 2006. Submissions can be made on such topics as love, anger, fun, sorrow, faith, beauty, past, now, hope and “you.”

Yahoo will then weave the contributed multimedia content into a single piece of digital art online. At the end of the project, the content will be saved in a digital archive and sealed, to be opened at Yahoo corporate headquarters in Sunnyvale, California, USA on the company's 25th anniversary in 2020. It will also provide copies of the content to the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings archives in Washington, DC.

Product news

New leak detection system
Witt expands its Leak Master series. The latest addition is the MAPMAX, which has been developed from the Leak-Master Inline model. This leak detection system for packaging can be easily integrated into the production line. In addition to the outer packaging and E2 boxes in which the Leak-Master Inline specialized, the MAPMAX can also test individual packaging; for example, an entire batch from a thermoform or tray sealing machine, and test them one by one for leaks. This brings about cost savings since only individual, rejected packs need to be repacked. For more information contact Witt-Gasetechnik GmbH & Co KG.

High-performance film
Alcan Packaging introduces the Bulldog family of high-performance, consumer-friendly petfood packaging films. Bulldog utilizes advanced Q® film technology to create plastic structures that deliver exceptional high-peak, hot tack performance over a wide range of sealing temperatures. The proprietary film's flexibility means stronger seals and better tacking performance on end-use packaging equipment. Bulldog film also resists denting and creasing for safer shipping, easier stocking and improved shelf appeal.

Bulldog flexible film provides a wide range of convenience features, such as custom package shapes and zipper closure capabilities, designed to appeal to the demanding consumer market. Bulldog film is also compatible with Alcan's patented LaserTear® scoring technology for easy-opening convenience.

Pallet rotator inverts entire pallet loads
The PalletPal Rotator from Southworth Products Corp. is the fast, safe, easy way to rotate fully-loaded pallets. It is ideal for replacing broken pallets, switching to or from in-house/shipping pallets, transferring loads to slip sheets and replacing damaged goods at the bottom of a load without the need for manual restacking. The PalletPal Rotator can handle loads measuring up to 48” x 48” x 60” with capacities up to 4,400 lbs. The clamping mechanism features user-adjustable pressure control to assure that lighter loads will not be crushed. Loads rotate a full 180° on a massive anti-friction turret bearing and can be stopped at any point during rotation.

Research notes

Sample collection strategy for extraction and quantification of IgA
This study's goal was to develop a fecal sample collection strategy and quantification method for measurement of fecal immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations in dogs. Fecal samples from 23 healthy pet dogs of various breeds were utilized. An ELISA for the measurement of fecal IgA concentrations was established and analytically validated. Intra-individual variation of fecal IgA was determined by calculation of coefficients of variation. A sample collection strategy was developed on the basis of results of intra-individual variation of fecal IgA concentrations. A reference range for fecal IgA concentrations was determined.

The method for extraction and quantification of fecal IgA was determined to be sufficiently sensitive, reproducible, accurate and precise. On the basis of the intra-individual variability of the results, the determined fecal sample collection strategy required analysis of a total of 4 fecal samples/dog, with each fecal sample collected on 2 consecutive days with 28 days between sample collection periods (i.e., days 1 and 2 followed by days 28 and 29). Reference range values for fecal IgA concentration were 0.22 to 3.24 mg/g of feces. Use of these techniques will enable future investigations into possible associations between low fecal IgA concentrations and signs of gastrointestinal disease in dogs.
Source: Tress, U. et al., 2006. AJVR 67(10):1756-1759.

Affect of gonadectomy on plasma CCK concentration following a meal
An overweight or obese body condition commonly develops after gonadectomy (GX) in domestic cats. The cause appears to be a rapid, quantal (approximately 12%), increase in food intake that is sustained and probably mediated by withdrawal of gonadal hormone. Recently, an interaction of gonadal hormone and cholecystokinin (CCK) effectiveness has been suggested. A reduction in the satiating potency of intestinal CCK was presently hypothesized to contribute to the disturbance of food intake control caused by GX in domestic cats. Pre- and post-prandial intestinal CCK secretion, as indicated by plasma CCK concentrations, were determined in 16 adult male cats (5.1 ± 0.1 kg) 8 weeks before and 57 weeks after eight of the cats were gonadectomized.

During ad libitum intake of a commercial dry, expanded diet, body weight increased from 22% to 28% in gonadectomized cats and was unchanged in intact cats. Baseline CCK concentrations were not different between gonadectomized and intact cats. Amounts of diet ingested during CCK determinations were 15-19% of daily metabolizable energy requirement and were not different between gonadectomized and intact cats. The post-prandial area under the curve (AUC ; 0-400 min) CCK concentration increased linearly with meal size (p < 0.01) and was not correlated with body weight. Area under the curve CCK concentration, when normalized for meal size, was 34% greater (p< 0.01) in gonadectomized cats than that in intact cats.

The findings indicate GX increases meal-induced intestinal CCK secretion and, therefore, do not support the study hypothesis. The findings indicate GX may slow digestion and absorption and attenuate inhibition of food intake by CCK.

Source: Backus, R.C., Kanchuk, M.L. and Rogers, Q.R., 2006. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 90(3-4):152-158.

Positions available

Our help wanted listings aim to inform petfood industry professionals about employment opportunities worldwide. Contact gstadel@wattnet.net for more information on placing a listing in upcoming issues.

Independent sales representative needed
The Fabri-Form Company is a plastic thermoformer manufacturing material handling (FDA-approved) totes, pallets, etc., looking for an independent sales representative currently selling to petfood manufacturers. Commission paid on all orders shipped. Contact Renee Coll with your resume at rhcoll@fabri-form.com or +1.740.826.5074 to discuss.

Help wanted: Various positions available
Openings for sales and marketing personnel, nutritionists, processing experts. Rapidly-growing national leader in uncompromised, science-based superpremium natural petfoods, clinical diets and supplements. Send resume to: Wysong Corporation, Attn: Cathy Adams, 7550 Eastman Ave., Midland, MI 48642 USA, Fax: +1.989.631.8801, E-mail: cadams21212@aol.com.

References

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