In this episode of The Pet Food Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emma Bermingham from Ember Consultancy in New Zealand breaks down the role of animal-derived fermentable substrates in pet nutrition. She explains how collagen, cartilage, hides, and even hair can support gut health, boost sustainability, and offer functional benefits in pet food formulations. Discover which ingredients work best across different diet formats and why they're gaining attention. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Animal tissues like cartilage and collagen can ferment similarly to prebiotic fibers and generate beneficial short-chain fatty acids like butyrate."

Meet the guest: Dr. Emma Bermingham earned her Ph.D. in Animal Science from Massey University and has held research roles across New Zealand, the UK, France, and Australia. With a strong focus on gut health, pet nutrition, and ingredient sustainability, she now leads Ember Consultancy. Emma helps pet food companies integrate science-driven strategies for optimal health outcomes.

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

Dr. Anne Huss: Seaweed in Pet Food

Dr. Joseph Wakshlag: Hydration and Health | Ep. 107

What will you learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:04) Introduction
• (03:28) Animal fermentable substrates
• (07:11) Fermentation in cats vs dogs
• (09:35) Microbiome adaptations
• (12:27) Diet format considerations
• (14:13) Regulatory and sourcing issues
• (24:28) Final Questions

The Pet Food Science Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

Scoular

* Trouw Nutrition

* Kemin

- Biorigin

- Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Pet Food Science Podcast Show

Instagram: The Pet Food Science Podcast Show

LinkedIn: The Pet Food Science Podcast Show

In this episode of The Pet Food Science Podcast Show, Dr. Sara Cutler from Kemin Nutrisurance discusses the complexities of determining the shelf life of pet food products. She explains how pet food manufacturers assess shelf life, including factors such as ingredient stability, oxidation, and packaging. Dr. Cutler also shares insights on how different pet food formats, like kibble, wet, and freeze-dried, pose unique challenges to shelf life. Tune in to learn about the science behind keeping pet food fresh and nutritious. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Shelf life in pet food is determined by how long a product maintains its quality and nutritional value over time."

Meet the guest: Dr. Sara Cutler is the Senior Technical Service Manager at Kemin Nutrisurance, specializing in pet food safety and shelf life management. She holds a Ph.D. from Iowa State University in Animal Health and has over 17 years of experience in the pet food industry. Dr. Cutler has dedicated much of her career to studying how ingredient quality impacts the shelf life and nutritional integrity of pet food products.

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

Dr. Jackie Parr: Tailoring Pet Diets | Ep. 101

Louise Calderwood: Modernized Pet Food Labels | Ep. 80

Dr. George Fahey: Pet Nutrition & Fiber | Ep. 75

What will you learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:00) Introduction
• (05:00) What is shelf life?
• (08:15) Oxidation and testing methods
• (13:00) Importance of sensory attributes
• (18:00) Challenges with packaging
• (22:20) Fresh and frozen pet food
• (35:45) Final Questions

The Pet Food Science Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Kemin

* Trouw Nutrition

- Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition

- Biorigin

- Scoular

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Pet Food Science Podcast Show

Instagram: The Pet Food Science Podcast Show

LinkedIn: The Pet Food Science Podcast Show

In this episode of The Pet Food Science Podcast Show, Dr. Alex Rankovic from the University of Guelph discusses how equine nutrition expands the scope of companion animal research. She explains how feeding strategies in horses can inform best practices for dogs, cats, and even rabbits. She also highlights funding challenges, working animals, and sustainability in pet food. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Supplement markets target similar outcomes across dogs, cats, and horses: digestive health, joint care, and aging support."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Alex Rankovic is a Research Associate in Companion Animal and Equine Nutrition at the University of Guelph, where she also earned her MSc and PhD in Companion Animal Nutrition. Her research centers on metabolic processes in pet species, with special attention to equine nutrition. She is also the host of The Pet Food Science Podcast Show – Equine, a segment dedicated to advancing equine nutrition discussions.

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What will you learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:06) Introduction
• (05:10) Funding in equine research
• (07:21) Feeding behavior parallels
• (08:36) Animal performance nutrition
• (10:34) Supplement market overlap
• (13:26) Nutrition sustainability
• (21:17) Final Questions

The Pet Food Science Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Trouw Nutrition

* Kemin

- Biorigin

- Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition

- Scoular

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Pet Food Science Podcast Show

Instagram: The Pet Food Science Podcast Show

LinkedIn: The Pet Food Science Podcast Show