March 28, 2024

It could be onerous to think about a world with out pet meals, however imagine it or not, it’s a comparatively fashionable idea. Let’s make a journey again in time and study in regards to the historical past of pet food, from the 1800s till immediately.

Up till the mid-1800s: Working animals

Before we began to contemplate canines as members of our household, they have been primarily used as working animals. When not working, they lived exterior and survived off of a food plan of desk scraps similar to potatoes, cabbage, and bread crusts. In quick, no matter wasn’t eaten by the household can be fed to the canines. At this level within the historical past of pet food, the dietary content material or high quality of elements of our pet’s meals was not a major concern.

Mid-1800s: The Industrial Revolution

Our relationship with canines began to vary within the mid-1800s through the Industrial Revolution. With the arrival of the center class, households have been capable of afford to maintain canines as pets which marked the transition of canines changing into companion animals fairly than simply working animals.

1860: The first industrial pet meals is produced

Now that canines have been being introduced into the household dwelling as pets, there was a rising demand for dog-specific meals. This impressed England-based businessman James Spratt to create the primary industrial pet food, a wheat-based biscuit he referred to as the “Patented Meat Fibrine Dog Cake”.

1890: Commercial pet meals involves the USA

Production of Spratt’s Dog Cakes could have began in England, but it surely wasn’t lengthy earlier than they have been acquired and operations have been expanded to the United States. Over the following 30 years, different corporations started to develop their very own traces of pet food as demand continued to develop.

READ ALSO  What’s Mew at Catster: March 2021 Cat Events

1922: Canned pet food is launched

By the Nineteen Twenties, there have been various manufacturers of kibble accessible for pet house owners to select from, but it surely wasn’t till 1922 {that a} moist canned recipe was accessible. Known as “Ken-L Ration”, the principle ingredient of this moist meals was horsemeat, which was a standard ingredient on the time.

Early Sixties: First pet meals is produced

By the Sixties, dog-specific meals had a robust place out there, with households preferring it over feeding scraps to their canines. However, it wasn’t till the early Sixties that pet house owners have been supplied meals designed particularly for puppies. This marked a shift within the historical past of pet food, as each companies and customers have been changing into extra conscious of the significance of diet tailor-made to the life stage of a canine.

Mid-Eighties: Nutritional necessities for pets are created

Having puppy-specific meals in the marketplace was an enormous step within the historical past of pet food, however an excellent larger one got here within the mid-1980 when the United States National Academy of Sciences’ National Research Council revealed dietary necessities for canines and cats. This publication supplied pet meals producers with nutrient suggestions based mostly on bodily exercise and stage in life, each of which we now know are main elements that affect nutrient wants.

2006: Nutritional necessities are up to date and Freshpet is created

In 2006, the unique diet necessities have been up to date to raised replicate the improved understanding of animal diet. Coincidentally, this was the identical 12 months that Freshpet was created! In October 2006, we set out on a mission to revolutionize the best way pets are fed, shifting from shelf-stable kibble to recipes comprised of contemporary, pure elements.

READ ALSO  The 15 Best Dog Apps for Pet Parents

2006 – immediately: More selection than ever earlier than

When Freshpet first appeared in fridges at native pet shops, our recipes have been solely accessible in rolls. Over time, nonetheless, we expanded to supply totally different codecs together with ready-to-serve bagged meals and patties to go well with a wider vary of preferences. We additionally began to adapt our recipes to go well with the totally different wants by introducing recipes particularly for small breeds, puppies, pores and skin and digestive points, in addition to a totally planted-based line.

Today, we’re proud to supply a number of traces of merchandise instantly from our Freshpet kitchens:

  • Freshpet® Select
  • Vital®
  • Deli Fresh®
  • Homestyle Creations™
  • Spring & Sprout™
  • Nature’s Fresh®
  • Fresh Treats

The historical past of pet food is probably not very lengthy, but it surely definitely has been eventful. Pet mother and father have extra selections than ever earlier than – particularly in the case of Freshpet – and we, for one, can’t wait to see what’s in retailer for the way forward for pet food!

Leave a Reply