Biomarine ingredients for the pet industry

Hofseth BioCare from Norway has roots dating back to the year 2000 and the work done by Green Earth Industries. The company’s key objective is to provide biomarine ingredients with a high added value for human applications and pet food. In 2011, Hofseth BioCare completed the Midsund plant and entered into an agreement with Sinkaberg-Hansen AS regarding the establishment of a new larger production plant. This will be ready in Rørvik (Norway) by the end of 2013. Hofseth BioCare processes its raw material through an enzymatic hydrolysis process that gradually digests the protein in the raw material, breaking down the long chain into shorter peptide chains and peptones. This process requires careful management of the hydrolysing time, supply of enzymes, temperature and moisture. Once the process has been stopped, through inactivation of the enzymes, the hydrolysed raw material is separated and concentrated in several steps, ending up with four product fractions: oil protein concentrate, dried bone and calcium and dried protein. Hofseth BioCare’s vertically integrated supply chain ensures optimum safety. The company stresses that it can trace every product right back to its source. According to Hofseth BioCare, the process also ensures optimal use of natural resources. Fresh salmon off-cuts that would otherwise have been discarded are used to make superior quality oil for animal and human consumption. The company’s SPH The Soluble Protein Hydrolysate (SPH) is generated from the water-soluble protein fraction of the enzymatic process. The final product contains 90 per cent or more protein and less than 1 per cent fat. According to Hofseth BioCare, feeding studies carried out using fish hydrolysates on dogs and cats show that SPH may also have an immune-stimulating effect on pets in addition to its nutritional value. This may remedy specific gut infection in young animals and compromise immune systems in geriatric pets. Based on these studies, Hofseth BioCare’s proteins are assumed to be distinguishable from ordinary protein. The company has also had a strong indication that its SPH has hypoallergenic effects on animals due to the unique amino acid profile and low Dalton weight of the product. Hofseth BioCare’s results on iron uptake, research and good documentation on palatability and good digestibility are important competitive advantages. Hypoallergenic effect Allergenic susceptibility to a particular food is based on the recognition of specific proteins from…