Thermoplastic extrusion of animal food is used to obtain integral extrudates since disintegration results in costly reprocessing. In this paper we outline the calcium and magnesium lignosulfonate addition effect on extrudate mechanical resistance for adult dog maintenance generic formulation in mass concentrations of 0.5; 1.0; 1.5; 2.0 and 4.0%. And also measure extruder's electrical energy consumption at industrial scale. Results showed no differences in extrudate mechanical resistance when penetration with a cylindrical probe was performed. However, compression of rigid flat parallel plates showed differences between lignosulfonate extrudates and control. The extrudate durability was not affected by lignosulfonate addition. Processing time decreased as the lignosulfonate amount increased.
animal feed; extrusion; extrudates; electrical energy
