In This Issue
Dog toy set to take the market by storm in 2018
Revealed: Secrets of UK's Pet Retailer of the Year
The new Yak Snack is a stand out winner for Antos
Natures Menu celebrates successful launch of True Instinct
Exciting times ahead for award-winning HayPigs
Super Premium bird food Goldenfeast is a big hit
Record-breaking attendance figures at PATS Telford
Picture round-up from the pet extravaganza
HOWND clinches double-gold at PetQuip Awards
Frozzys takes fresh approach to consumer shows
Pet firm secures €5m funding to fuel European expansion
PFMA appeals for safeguarding of pet food manufacture
Get your own copy of Pet Trade Xtra
Improvements at Vital continue to offer better support for retailers
Lily's Kitchen receives outstanding ethical company score
British eco-business launches American-themed toys for dogs made from recycled plastic
Royal Seal of Approval for Fish4Dogs
New Product winners from Antos, Group 55, HayPigs!, Kong, Pedigree, Symply, The Innocent Hound and Versele-Laga at PATS
PetQuip Award winners revealed at glitzy event
Picture gallery from the PetQuip Awards
PIF Forum to reveal results into rabbit nutrition study
PetSafe Brand launches microchip cat flap
Enjoy the North Wales Sheepdog trials with CSJ
Launch of new wet dog food range with added 'vet know-how'
Burgess Pet Care launches Great British Rabbit Census
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PIF Forum to reveal results into rabbit nutrition study
 
The Pet Industry Federation (PIF) will announce the results of its year long research study into the differences between feeding muesli and nuggets to rabbits at the Pet Industry Forum on the Tuesday 28 November at Whittlebury Hall, Towcester, Northamptonshire.

The study set out to validate a previous study (Meredith et al., 2015; Prebble et al., 2014; Prebble et al., 2015) on the subject of diet presentation and its effects on weight, feed intake and dental health, which had a profound impact on the industry because of a general lack of research into pet rabbit nutrition.

PIF’s year long independent study has taken place at two separate colleges and set out to assess the impact of two diet presentations (muesli vs nuggets) on weight, body condition score and the dental health of pet rabbits.

The rabbits were not kept in laboratory conditions, but in outdoor pens to simulate how a rabbit may be kept in an outside home environment. The rabbits were allowed free access to hay and water and were provided with driftwood logs as a non-nutritional chew.

The dental health was assessed by a specialist veterinarian at the beginning, middle and at the end of the study. Dental assessments looked at malocclusion, elongation, slanting wear, ridging, fractures of incisors; direction, elongation, step/wave mouth, missing teeth and gingival health of cheek teeth, as well as facial indicators of dental health.

Nigel Baker, CEO of PIF said: “We are pleased to be looking further into rabbit nutrition and welfare. Many of our members sell rabbits as pets or sell rabbit food to pet owners, and it is important that we can convey the correct advice to them and their customers on how rabbits should be fed.

"Both muesli and nugget diets are readily available and the trade association has set out to bring clarity to this subject through academic research. Further research studies are being planned by PIF to aid knowledge into how we look after the welfare of our pets.”

Tickets for the Pet Industry Forum are available from www.petfederation.co.uk or by telephoning 01234 273933.

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