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The country’s 500+ pet food manufacturers not only provide balanced, safe meals for America’s dogs and cats, but also stimulate the overall agricultural economy through the purchase of ingredients, labor and services from related industries. With over two-thirds of U.S. households owning a pet and over $30 billion in pet food sales, the Institute for Feed Education & Research (IFEEDER), North American Renderers Assn. (NARA) and Pet Food Institute (PFI) came together to better understand what goes into the production of pet food.

The groups have conducted first-of-its-kind research into the purchasing power of the $30 billion pet food industry and its economic implications for U.S. agriculture and rural communities.

In the general sense, the research found that U.S. pet food manufacturers give back to the agricultural economy by using 8.65 million tons of animal- and plant-based ingredients for dog and cat food to provide the complete nutrition that pets need, at a value of $6.9 billion.

In this episode, Feedstuffs editor Sarah Muirhead talks with Rob Cooper, executive director of IFEEDER, to learn more.

A full version of the report, “U.S. Pet Food Manufacturers Feed Pets, Economy”, as well as an interactive map detailing economic projections at a state level, are available online at www.ifeeder.org.

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