Why Are Pet Owners Increasingly Using Pelleted Grass? The Use of Pelleted Grass Instead of Fresh or Dried Grass.

Why are pet owners increasingly using compressed grass pellets?
"Using compressed grass pellets instead of fresh and dried grass"
By Associate Professor Dr. Sompoch Veerakul (Professor Kaew)

Preserving high-quality grass is crucial in the livestock industry to ensure animals have enough grass throughout the entire feeding season. For pets, it’s ideal to provide grass all year round, but grass cannot grow continuously, and only in certain seasons can we obtain high-quality grass.

Fresh seasonal grass is the best option for feeding as it provides more complete vitamins, is more palatable, and encourages natural behaviors. However, its nutritional qualities may not decrease when it is dried. Dry grass retains higher nutrient concentrations due to reduced moisture and reduces the risk of fungal infections and toxins from mold in damp hay. In reality, it’s inevitable to rely on dry grass during other seasons, as it can be stored longer if preserved properly, retaining its green color and nutritional value, such as minerals and vitamins. The process of storing grass, however, can be delicate and costly.

If the preservation process is not done correctly, the grass quality can deteriorate by 10-15%, and it loses its value more quickly if stored outdoors, exposed to environmental factors, making it more susceptible to mold growth. Properly preserving high-quality grass from the start and storing it correctly is essential.

Other food preservation methods, such as making silage, are also considered to maintain grass quality and potentially enhance it. Silage uses lactic acid bacteria, commonly used in livestock because it preserves and increases nutritional value. However, for small pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, prairie dogs, and chinchillas, food with high lactic acid content can disrupt microbial balance due to a significant drop in pH, leading to issues like bloating from butyric acid buildup from digested food.

A highly beneficial alternative is compressed grass pellets, which are made from high-quality grass. These pellets maintain both digestible and indigestible fiber content, similar to fresh grass, aiding in digestion and bowel movements without losing nutritional content. The advantage is that no starch or carbohydrates from cereal grains are mixed in, reducing the risk of excess lactic acid buildup caused by lactic acid bacteria. Additionally, compressed pellets can be flavored with other natural plants, such as canola or other types of natural grass, and supplemented with vitamins and minerals that might be lacking in the original grass. Probiotics can also be added to promote health. Furthermore, compressed pellets reduce the risk of allergic reactions to hay dust and reduce contamination, making them a more attractive option.

The pellets' design helps with dental wear and maintains the quality of the plant cell wall components like lignin, cellulose, and silica. This helps slow down dental diseases related to the wear of teeth.

Fresh grass, dried grass, and compressed grass pellets have all been developed for food preservation and optimized to ensure pets get the most complete nutritional benefits. It’s fortunate that pet owners now have more choices for managing nutrition, which reduces the risk of malnutrition and food-related diseases.Why are pet owners increasingly using compressed grass pellets?
"Using compressed grass pellets instead of fresh and dried grass"
By Associate Professor Dr. Sompoch Veerakul (Professor Kaew)

Preserving high-quality grass is crucial in the livestock industry to ensure animals have enough grass throughout the entire feeding season. For pets, it’s ideal to provide grass all year round, but grass cannot grow continuously, and only in certain seasons can we obtain high-quality grass.

Fresh seasonal grass is the best option for feeding as it provides more complete vitamins, is more palatable, and encourages natural behaviors. However, its nutritional qualities may not decrease when it is dried. Dry grass retains higher nutrient concentrations due to reduced moisture and reduces the risk of fungal infections and toxins from mold in damp hay. In reality, it’s inevitable to rely on dry grass during other seasons, as it can be stored longer if preserved properly, retaining its green color and nutritional value, such as minerals and vitamins. The process of storing grass, however, can be delicate and costly.

If the preservation process is not done correctly, the grass quality can deteriorate by 10-15%, and it loses its value more quickly if stored outdoors, exposed to environmental factors, making it more susceptible to mold growth. Properly preserving high-quality grass from the start and storing it correctly is essential.

Other food preservation methods, such as making silage, are also considered to maintain grass quality and potentially enhance it. Silage uses lactic acid bacteria, commonly used in livestock because it preserves and increases nutritional value. However, for small pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, prairie dogs, and chinchillas, food with high lactic acid content can disrupt microbial balance due to a significant drop in pH, leading to issues like bloating from butyric acid buildup from digested food.

A highly beneficial alternative is compressed grass pellets, which are made from high-quality grass. These pellets maintain both digestible and indigestible fiber content, similar to fresh grass, aiding in digestion and bowel movements without losing nutritional content. The advantage is that no starch or carbohydrates from cereal grains are mixed in, reducing the risk of excess lactic acid buildup caused by lactic acid bacteria. Additionally, compressed pellets can be flavored with other natural plants, such as canola or other types of natural grass, and supplemented with vitamins and minerals that might be lacking in the original grass. Probiotics can also be added to promote health. Furthermore, compressed pellets reduce the risk of allergic reactions to hay dust and reduce contamination, making them a more attractive option.

The pellets' design helps with dental wear and maintains the quality of the plant cell wall components like lignin, cellulose, and silica. This helps slow down dental diseases related to the wear of teeth.

Fresh grass, dried grass, and compressed grass pellets have all been developed for food preservation and optimized to ensure pets get the most complete nutritional benefits. It’s fortunate that pet owners now have more choices for managing nutrition, which reduces the risk of malnutrition and food-related diseases.