The formula for dog food differs from the formula for cat food because dogs have distinct nutritional requirements. While both types of food may share similar basic ingredients, the proportions of nutrients like protein, fat, and carbohydrates are adjusted to suit a dog's needs. It all starts with selecting ingredients. These include proteinrich meats like chicken, beef or lamb along with various grains such as barley, rice, oats, and wheat and other common cereal crops that are frequently used in cooking, baking, and various food products. And let's not forget about corn kernels. Corn is a great source of carbohydrates, providing the energy your dog needs throughout the day. Next, workers begin by grounding and weighing each ingredient to ensure the right proportions. The ingredients are then transferred to a large industrial mixer where they are carefully blended. The mixer ensures that each component is evenly distributed, allowing the various ingredients to combine thoroughly. This step is crucial as it creates a consistent mixture that ensures every bite of the final product contains the right balance of nutrients. The mixing process persists for a specific duration, combining all the ingredients until they thoroughly blend to form a smooth, consistent, and uniform powder, ensuring that every part of the mixture is evenly blended and ready for the next step in production. A machine known as the extruder turns the powder into bite-sized pieces of pet food. Using steam, it cooks the mixture, then forces it through molds under high pressure, where the molds shape it into the desired form. Next, the pieces move to a hot air dryer for 25 minutes where they are heated to 149° C to remove moisture, then sprayed with fat and flavoring. The fat adds essential energy while the flavoring enhances the aroma and taste, making the otherwise bland pieces more appealing. The pieces are then moved to storage silos. Before being packaged, the machinery screens out any small crumbs as they leave the silos. Pet food experts say dogs tend to prefer food with a higher fat content and a mix of meat and cereal rather than just cereal alone. However, too much meat flavoring can be off-putting for them. Dogs in general have a sweeter tooth and enjoy food with a bit more sweetness. It seems dogs can be just as discerning about their meals as gourmet food critics. This preference for a balanced, flavorful diet, may explain why dry dog food, which was first invented in 1860 by James Spratt, evolved into the kibble we know today. Thank you for watching and we will see you in another episode.