PET Food Processing - October 2021 - 55

ACADEMIC PARTNERS
SKANSASTATE UNIVERSITY
Extrusion lab provides opportunities for
research and partnerships with the industry.
A
As a leader in food, nutrition and agriculture education,
Kansas State University plays a significant role in educating
the pet food industry through its research into pet
nutrition and extrusion.
The university's pet nutrition program is led by Dr.
Greg Aldrich and focuses on the nutritional impact of
pet food processing. Specifically, he looks at the impact
thermal and mechanical processes have on food safety,
nutrition and product shelf life. Additionally, he is working
to develop a pet food science program for undergraduate
and graduate training and is also working to
develop new avenues of teaching and collaboration between
the industry and university.
Kansas State invests heavily into extrusion research,
and these efforts are headed by Dr. Sajid Alavi. He works
to supervise the extrusion center that can process up
to 300 to 500 lbs per hour, and this facility allows the
university to produce a wide variety of products using
grains and fresh meat that can be made into food for all
kinds of species. While the primary focus is on canine
and feline food, the work has other applications as well.
The university analyzes materials for their properties and
has a sensory lab that conducts testing for taste and palatability.
It also houses microbial testing capabilities.
Overall, the extrusion lab provides services to the industry
for pilot-scale trial runs and helps meet needs for
research and course-related runs. It includes a pilot-scale
Wenger TX-52 twin screw extruder, a pilot scale Wenger
X-20 single-screw extruder, and a Wenger Series 4800
gas-fired dryer. It also has a lab-scale American Leistritz
Micro 18 twin screw extruder that enables them to conduct
experiments on a small scale. Kansas State uses
extrusion not only as a process for mixing and forming
products but also as a way of sterilizing and cooking
products to make them more digestible.
" The unique facets of K-State's pet nutrition and extruwww.petfoodprocessing.net
| October 2021 | PET FOOD PROCESSING 55
sion research include the availability in one place of pilot-scale
processing facilities and pet testing capabilities
through kennels that are maintained on campus, " Alavi
said. " In addition, the combination of pet nutrition and
extrusion expertise and other scientists that specialize
in areas such as physical testing, chemical analyses and
microbiology, makes the university a 'one-stop shop' for
industry when it comes to solving complex challenges. "
The university offers various short courses including
a course on technology and commercialization in extrusion
processing. It also offers various courses on demand
to help meet specific industry needs.
While the university doesn't have a unique degree in
pet food processing, it does have an option in the grain
science department for a degree in feed science and animal
feed. It also offers masters and doctorate degree that
emphasize pet food research.
Kansas State
University offers
industry the ability
to conduct small
scale product
testing as well
as pet nutrition
testing.
Kansas State University
http://www.petfoodprocessing.net
PET Food Processing - October 2021

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