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2026 Vol.2, Issue 3 Preview Page

Research Article

Drying-assisted valorization of mongolian sheep organ meats for pet food production
Bayasakh Munkhtur1
,
Buyanchimeg Baasanjargal2
,
Bayarbat Ishvaanjil1
,
Gurbazar Damdinsuren3
,
Ulambayar Temuujin3*
1School of Applied Sciences, Mongolian University of Life Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 17029, Mongolia
2School of Engineering and technology, Mongolian University of Life Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 17029, Mongolia
3School of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Mongolian University of Life Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 17029, Mongolia
*Corresponding Author
30 September 2026. pp. 150-161
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Abstract

This study evaluated the nutritional composition, feeding performance, and palatability of hot-air dried dog foods formulated with Mongolian sheep heart and lung as sustainable animal protein sources. Four diets were prepared: a horse meat-based control, sheep lung (SL), sheep heart (SH), and combined sheep lung–heart (SLH) formulations. Proximate composition, mineral content, and selected essential amino acids were determined, while feeding performance and palatability were evaluated in adult dogs using feeding and two-bowl preference assessments. The SH diet had the highest crude protein (42.3 ± 1.4%) and crude fat (15.6 ± 0.8%) contents, whereas the SLH diet contained 40.5 ± 1.1% crude protein. Moisture remained below 10% in all formulations. Iron and zinc concentrations were significantly higher in the SH diet than in the control (P < 0.05). Heart-containing diets also showed higher concentrations of essential amino acids, with lysine reaching 78.5 ± 2.6 mg/g protein in SH compared with 68.4 ± 2.1 mg/g protein in the control. Daily feed intake did not differ significantly among diets (238–250 g/day; P = 0.327). In contrast, palatability differed significantly (P < 0.001), with SH showing the highest two-bowl preference ratio (1.48 ± 0.16), followed by SLH (1.42 ± 0.15). These findings demonstrate that hot-air dried sheep heart and lung are nutritionally valuable and palatable ingredients for dog food, supporting the value-added utilization of livestock by-products. In conclusion, the use of sheep by-products as alternative protein sources may support the development of locally produced dog food and potentially reduce reliance on imported pet food products in Mongolia.

Keywords
Hot-air drying
Mineral composition
Organ meats
Pet food sheep
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Information
  • Publisher :Journal of Humanimal Sciences
  • Publisher(Ko) :한경국립대학교 휴머니멀응용과학연구소
  • Journal Title :Journal of Humanimal Sciences
  • Journal Title(Ko) :휴머니멀과학학술지
  • Volume : 2
  • No :3
  • Pages :150-161
  • Received Date : 2026-08-13
  • Revised Date : 2026-09-02
  • Accepted Date : 2026-09-03
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.23341/jhas.2026.2.3.150
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