Date: 18/06/2025

In the animal nutrition sector, palatability is a relevant topic, as feed acceptance directly influences the productive performance and well-being of animals.

More than a sensory attribute, it represents a relevant technical criterion for ensuring consistent voluntary consumption, especially in specific diets or critical stages of development.

In this blog, we address the concept of palatability, the factors that interfere with this process, and the strategies used to ensure consistency and efficiency in formulations. As a solution, we present BRF Ingredients' options for formulating more attractive, nutritionally effective feed that is aligned with industrial standards and performance requirements.

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What is palatability in animal nutrition?

In animal feed, palatability represents the integration of sensory stimuli that directly influence food acceptance. It is a combination of several factors and characteristics associated with chewing and swallowing, which together determine how attractive a diet is to the animal (Moreira, 2014).

These elements do not act in isolation; their interactions can favor or hinder consumption, depending on the physical and chemical properties of the feed and how they are perceived (Vasconcellos, 2005).

A positive response to palatability is related to voluntary intake, that is, the spontaneous consumption of food without the need for external stimuli. The concept of food preference, which is often linked to palatability, refers to the animal's choice between two or more diet options.

According to Mertens (1996), the selection of one food over another directly reflects its degree of attractiveness. Peres (2000) adds that, when two diets are available simultaneously, the one consumed in greater quantities is considered the preferred one, which is the practical expression of perceived palatability.

In species such as dogs, cats, pigs, and fish, this response is influenced by physiological, genetic, and environmental factors. Smell, for example, is the main stimulus in carnivores, while texture and taste have a greater impact on herbivores and omnivores.

Factors that influence animal palatability

Palatability in animal feed is a complex attribute, defined by a series of sensory and environmental characteristics that directly impact voluntary consumption.

According to Freire (2013), this concept is determined by a combination of chemical and physical aspects, such as odor, texture, taste, temperature, and food shape. These elements act simultaneously, causing sensory reactions that interfere with feed acceptance.

In addition, food intake does not depend solely on the properties of the food itself. Physiological and environmental factors modulate the feeding behavior of animals, which can increase or reduce the attractiveness of a given formulation.

When the diet is highly palatable, consumption tends to be higher, which, on the one hand, contributes to nutritional utilization, but, on the other hand, can lead to excessive energy consumption, predisposing the animal to obesity (CASE et al., 1998).

To facilitate understanding, the factors that influence intake can be classified into two categories.

Factors intrinsic to the animal:

● Degree of hunger or appetite;
● Individual characteristics and previous experiences with food;
● Physiological response to the taste and composition of the diet;
● Hormonal, neurochemical, and plasma nutrient level variations.

Extrinsic factors related to the environment or food:

● Availability and feeding schedule;
● Food composition and texture;
● Palatability and sensory attractiveness;
● Environmental factors such as temperature and the presence of other animals.

These elements act in an integrated manner. In other words, a food with an excellent nutritional profile may be rejected if there is low sensory acceptance, just as inadequate environmental factors or previous negative experiences can negatively interfere even with technically balanced feed.

Given this, understanding and controlling these determinants is essential for the development of more attractive, effective products that meet the requirements of each species.

Guidelines for evaluating palatability

According to the Pet Food Brazil Manual, developed by Abinpet, evaluating palatability involves specific methods for measuring food acceptance and animal preference for different formulations.

Among the most commonly used procedures are the acceptance protocol and the food preference test, which allow for the evaluation of whether the food is sufficiently attractive to meet nutritional needs without compromising the animal's body condition.

These tests consider technical criteria such as amount ingested, food leftovers, position of feeders, and feeding behavior during feeding. To ensure statistical representativeness, it is recommended to use at least 20 dogs or cats, with diversity in sex, breed, and eating habits.

One of the main outcome indicators in these trials is the intake ratio (IR), calculated by the formula:

IR (A) = intake of food A
(intake of food A + intake of food B)

This metric allows the quantification of preference for a particular food compared to the control, assisting in the selection of ingredients with greater potential for spontaneous acceptance.

These standardized guidelines are essential to ensure the reliability of the results obtained infield tests and reinforce the importance of palatability as a technical criterion in pet food formulations.

Why is palatable feed essential for animal performance?

In animal nutrition, palatability goes beyond just a sensory characteristic; it becomes a strategic factor for zootechnical success. In well-accepted formulations, animals show higher voluntary intake, which directly contributes to adequate nutrient supply, metabolic stability, and consistent productive performance.

When feed is well accepted, there is greater predictability in daily intake, which allows for precise fulfillment of nutritional requirements and facilitates technical control of the diet. This has a positive effect on parameters such as weight gain, feed conversion rate, and overall health, especially in more sensitive phases such as growth, lactation, and post-weaning.

On the other hand, diets with low attractiveness can result in irregular consumption, nutritional deficiencies, and loss of performance, as well as greater feed waste and an impact on economic production indicators.

How to ensure consistency and efficiency in the formulation of palatable feed

The predictability of food acceptance begins with the choice of ingredients. To ensure quality results, it is necessary to work with standardized raw materials, produced through well-structured processes, such as the integrated production system, whose sensory and functional composition is stable and controlled.

In addition to the careful selection of ingredients, it is advisable to consider the use of ingredients, including hydrolyzed proteins, which have high functional and sensory value. Ingredients with this profile contain bioactive peptides that are easy to digest and absorb, as well as volatile compounds that contribute to the attractiveness of the food, such as the products in the Bioactio line from BRF Ingredients.

When applied correctly, these solutions promote spontaneous consumption and consistent intake, especially in animals with sensitive appetites or in more demanding physiological phases.

To ensure the effectiveness of these formulations, the application of technical protocols for evaluating palatability, such as comparative acceptance tests, intake frequency, and residual consumption analysis, is an indispensable step in the development of palatable and effective feeds.

The combination of strategic ingredient selection, quality control, and sensory validation is what allows for maintaining the efficiency and predictability of the final product.

BRF Ingredients solutions for improving palatability and animal consumption

In the animal nutrition segment, BRF Ingredients combines technical knowledge, an integrated chain, and innovation in functional ingredients that add nutritional and sensory value to formulations.

The BioActio line was developed with the purpose of offering high-performance solutions capable of optimizing animal feed, improving protein utilization, and stimulating spontaneous consumption through animal palatability.

Below are the main ingredients in the line:

BioActio Efficiency

Feather Enzymatic Hydrolysate with high digestibility and attractiveness. This functional ingredient is rich in bioactive peptides that promote efficient animal nutrition and performance for aquaculture and pig farming.

BioActio Health & Performance

Chicken Protein Hydrolyzed obtained from chicken offal, giblets, and meat, with a high concentration of functional bioactive peptides. Its production process is conducted by enzymatic hydrolysis, which provides high digestibility, industrial stability, and broad physiological support. Suitable for formulations that require nutritional performance with health support, such as premium, super premium, and functional diets. Its performance has been validated in tests with tilapia, pigs, shrimp, dogs, and cats, proving improvement in consumption and maintenance of diet adherence.

B.FreshFy

Functional Palatability Enhancer produced from the enzymatic hydrolysis of fresh raw materials, followed by the Maillard reaction, which adds complexity to the flavor and aroma of the final product. It stands out for its potential for acceptance in different species, being an alternative to increase voluntary consumption and improve the sensory attractiveness of dry and wet formulations. Its use is indicated to improve the attractiveness of products aimed at dog nutrition.

BioActio Health & Palatability

Produced exclusively with Chicken Liver and subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis, the ingredient has high natural palatability, high digestibility, and concentration of bioactive peptides, favoring metabolism, intestinal health, and nutritional utilization. The low molecular weight of Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver Protein makes it an ideal hypoallergenic ingredient for formulations that require high acceptance and care with possible food sensitivities in dogs and cats.

Final considerations

Making efficient feed goes beyond just meeting basic nutritional requirements. How much animals like the feed is a big deal in getting them to eat enough and, as a result, getting the production results you want. In this situation, palatability is a key factor, directly affecting how much they eat, how well they convert feed, and their overall well-being.

BRF Ingredients focuses on innovation, process control, and technical development to offer high-performance solutions that meet the challenges of the animal feed industry. The BioActio line brings together ingredients with high potential for attractiveness, digestibility, and functionality, aligning science, technology, and quality to strengthen the performance of formulations.

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