A husband-and-wife team have launched what they claim to be the first ‘ambient’ liquid bone broth for dogs and cats to hit the shelves in the UK and Ireland.

Belfast couple Lara and Ken McCullough, who have worked in the pet industry for 15 years, say that their new product, Karnlea Beef Bone Broth can be used as a supplement, treat or topper to support skin, coat and joint health for dogs and cats.

Carton packed from fresh, the broth is slow cooked to extract high levels of protein, collagen and minerals ideal for boosting and maintaining pet health.

Made from 100% natural ingredients, the broth maintains high nutrient levels which can be lost in concentrated or powdered bone broth or collagen supplements. It can be served, as a liquid, straight from the carton, chilled for use as a jelly topper, frozen into treats or convenient portions, or used in home cooking and bakes.

Laura said: “Every time we had a Sunday roast, I would painstakingly make bone broth for my two dogs. It was a lengthy and often messy process and despite my enthusiasm to feed bone broth, and my dogs’ obsession with it, I found it not always practical.

“I would make as much as I could at a time, so I needed to find fridge space – or freezer space. I didn’t really like the smell around the kitchen for the long periods it took to cook, and frankly sometimes it was just time consuming when I had a very busy life and was tired. I also found that on occasions that I really wanted or needed to have some available, and those were the times there wasn’t any in the freezer, or I’d have to wait for one to defrost!”

They started researching methods of combining convenience while locking in freshness and maintaining high nutrient levels, leading to the creation of Karnlea.

Each carton contains 500ml of beef bone broth which has a recommended retail price of £8.99.

The company is working with UK distributor, Finer By Nature, to develop a network of independent stockists. The heat-sealed cartons are brick-shaped, designed to sit neatly on the shelf and easy to box and dispatch.

Karnlea has already invested in ethical and sustainable processes. Product ingredients have been sourced from antibiotic and hormone-free, grass-fed animals, reared on cooperative farms.

All its packaging is recyclable and sustainable, made with paperboard from sustainable forest materials. Its spouts and caps are also plastic-free – produced from a sugar cane derivative.

To become a Karnlea Bone Broth stockist contact Lara at lara@karnlea.com or for more information see www.karnlea.com