With the nutritional value of eggs firmly recognized by the medical profession and consumers, it is only a matter of time before eggs also become a food staple for our best friends.
Pet ownership is on the rise globally, due to higher disposable incomes, smaller households and the COVID-19 pandemic contributing to a need for human-animal interactions. Moreover, several clinical studies have demonstrated the relationship between dog ownership and cardiovascular health.
Worldwide, it is estimated that about 1.2 billion dogs and cats share our homes, half of them in the U.S., Europe and China.
Benefitting the whole family
As most pets live in urban areas, many are affected, over time, by obesity and other metabolic diseases also seen in their human owners. Proper nutrition is, therefore, essential, and the egg, a well-known nutrient dense food, is the ideal protein source for our four-legged friends.
While cooked eggs allow more bioavailability of the essential amino acids recommended for good nutrition, the addition of a raw egg is also appropriate and likely easier to mix with other ingredients.
The benefits of regular shell eggs, as in human nutrition, include the provision of significant amounts of vitamins, minerals and choline. Functional eggs, enriched with specific nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids or vitamin A, may also be designed to best meet the nutritional needs of cats and dogs as well as improve their skin condition.
The value of eggs in companion animal nutrition extends to their shells and eggshell membranes (ESM). A great source of highly bioavailable calcium, one shell provides a pet’s recommended daily intake for this important mineral.
In human patients, studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of ESM – which contain elastin, collagen and glycosaminoglycans – on joint function and pain relief. While ESM products are widely available as human nutraceutical supplements, their use in pet care is still limited.
Numerous opportunities
For the global egg processing sector, which generates about 1 million tonnes of eggshells annually, identifying sustainable solutions for their disposal and that of ESM is a constant logistical and ecological headache.
The use of ESM in the pet market would likely be easier, from a regulatory and practical standpoint, than in the human nutraceutical segment and would assist egg processors to reduce egg production’s environmental impact.
In this emerging companion animal market, “upselling” to consumers, already convinced of shell eggs’ nutritional value for themselves, should be an easy task given our growing anthropomorphic relationship with pets. Incorporated as the main ingredient in a cat or dog treat, one of the pet care business’ fastest growing segments, these products would allow pet owners to feel good about rewarding their furry companions. If supplemented with probiotics or prebiotics for gut health, these treats may also improve air quality in their homes.
Millennials, the generation with the highest pet ownership globally, have demonstrated a keen interest in sustainable food choices, and would likely extend this interest to their approach towards pet care.
It is now up to the egg sector to maximize this opportunity and to reach out to pet owners to promote eggs and egg-derived products as sustainable choices. With the right approach, product mix and communication, the egg sector has the unique opportunity to target an additional 1 billion consumers.