Analysis of feed for farm animals and pets

Definition of feed

Feed is defined in the basic Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 as substances or products, including additives, whether processed or unprocessed, intended to be used for oral feeding to animals. Feed must comply with high quality standards in order to exclude any risk to human or animal health. This includes not only farm animals used in agriculture, but also pets kept in the own household, such as cats, dogs and birds.

European and national feed legislation

Feed is regulated by strict requirements at both national and European level.

Detailed requirements regarding the safety of feed are regulated in the basic regulation as well as in the German food and feed code (LFGB).

Requirements regarding labelling and other requirements for the safety of feed are defined in Regulation (EC) No 767/2009. Strict requirements regarding the approval and use of additives in animal feed are defined in Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. Furthermore undesirable substances (e.g. heavy metals, mycotoxins) are regulated by Directive 2002/32/EC in accordance with the German Feedstuffs Regulation (FuttMV). In addition, Commission Recommendation 2006/576/EC contains reference values for other mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, T-2 and H-T-2 toxin and fumonisins). Maximum residue levels of plant protection products in the feed sector are set in Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. Regulations on maximum levels for organic chlorine compounds used as pesticides are also listed in Directive 2002/32/EC.

Microbiological parameters can be classified on the basis of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 for feed hygiene and Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 for health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption. In addition, the VDLUFA's Feed Microbiology Working Group has provided reference values that allow the microbiological and hygienic quality to be assessed according to microbial groups.

These guidelines must be observed and checked by the feed business operator as part of his duty of care.

Nutritional physiology of pet food

Complete feedfor pets is a compound feed which, by reason of its composition, is sufficient for a daily ration. Complementary feed is only sufficient for a daily ration if used with other feed and should therefore not be fed exclusively. The individual nutritional physiological requirements for the respective species/animal category should be taken into account. For complete and complementary feed for dogs and cats, the guidelines of the FEDIAF ("European Pet Food Industry") can be used to check the extent to which a compound feed meets the nutritional requirements. This involves comparing the nutritional components (raw fat and raw protein) as well as vitamins and minerals with minimum and maximum values determined by feeding studies. These documents are becoming increasingly important in the formulation of pet food.

We can support you in evaluating your feed according to the FEDIAF guidelines.

Investigation of food and pet food at ifp

We are happy to support you in testing the safety and marketability of your products.

We can offer you the following tests, among others:

  • nutritional analysis (raw protein, raw fat, raw ash, raw fibre and moisture)
  • calculation of the energy content of compound feed
  • minerals and trace elements
  • vitamins and precursors
  • analysis of undesirable substances (heavy metals, pesticides)
  • microbiological parameters

Furthermore, we offer you a verification of your product layout, in German as well as in English, for distribution in the European Economic Area.

If you need advice and support in the examination of your feed, we are gladly at your disposal.