ISSUE FOCUS 30 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE December 2022 YUCCA FOR DOGS AND CATS Research in other production animal species has shown positive results associated with using YSE. In poultry houses, for example, the addition of YSE to diets has been shown to reduce fecal odor and ammonia excretion, and in broilers, YSE has been shown to increase feed efficiency, growth rates and survivability. Yucca schidigera supplementation has proven to be valuable for enhancing animal welfare conditions in cattle and pig production, as well. While our pets are not being used in production settings, wouldn’t it be great if there was a natural way to reduce their fecal odors? A study in dogs showed that including YSE in high-protein diets was effective for reducing ammonia concentrations and fecal odors compared to diets with no added YSE. In cats, studies have shown that applying the liquid form of YSE (as the product De-Odorase) directly to cat litter boxes can help eliminate litter box odor by up to 40% through its ability to reduce the levels of ammonia that have been excreted. Additionally, because of saponins’ foaming properties, YSE may aid in the digestion and absorption of vitamins and minerals, which will also increase the effectiveness of your pet food and help reduce mineral excretion in the environment. LONG-TERM USE OF YUCCA FOR CATS AND DOGS While more research is warranted, using Yucca schidigera extract in pet food diets does appear to have positive effects in the gastrointestinal tract, contributing to increased digestibility levels of key nutrients like protein, vitamins and minerals. The impact of YSE may even go beyond the GI tract and offer anti-inflammatory benefits, especially in the joints. Increased pet food digestibility has important health, economic and environmental implications. While the increased absorption of nutrients will, of course, positively impact the health of companion animals, it also means that pet owners are receiving more value from the bags of food they are buying, which is always a selling point for your pet food brand. And perhaps most importantly during this era, any efforts to decrease ammonia and/or nutrient excretion could be key for environmental sustainability. About Emily Dickson Originally from the state of Washington, Emily’s love of horses first took her to Colorado State University to study equine science and agricultural business and then to Texas A&M University, where she received her master's degree in animal science. Emily has been working in the animal health industry in various capacities since she was 12 years old. Her wide range of experiences, from feed sales to research trial management to serving as a large-animal vet tech, has given her an interesting perspective on the industry. She is passionate about bridging science with the real world, and most recently, she has been involved in content marketing and consulting for animal health companies. Emily has been with Alltech since 2020, where she serves as the multi-species marketing coordinator for North America, covering equine, pet and aquaculture.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==