University Spotlight: Kansas State University: Dr. Julia Guazzelli Pezzali, Kansas State University; Nayara Soares, Kansas State University; Amelia Huebsch, Kansas State

Dr. Pezzali gives an overview of the pet food program at K-State. Students can focus on any of the different disciplines essential to pet food, such as nutrition, safety, or processing. The program has a strong connection to industry through research, teaching, and outreach and prepares students for careers in the industry through their Feed and Pet Food Science major. Dr. Pezzali also introduces her two graduate students, Nayara and Amelia. (4:33)The panel talks about the K-State conference, formerly known as KibbleCon, which has been rebranded as Pet Food Collab. The new name highlights the commitment to engage and collaborate with all segments of the pet food industry. Nayara and Amelia talk about their experiences at the previous year’s conference, and Dr. Pezzali gives a preview of the format and event lineup. (7:58)Nayara shares about her background and describes the research she is doing for her PhD on red sorghum in dog diets. She hypothesizes that red sorghum will improve gut metabolism, gut health, and dietary polyphenol content. (14:03)Amelia introduces herself and shares about her MS research at K-State. She is focusing on betaine supplementation in cat diets and the impact on oral and gut microbiome and fecal metabolites. The second half of her project will evaluate energy expenditure via indirect calorimetry in a weight loss study in cats supplemented with betaine.  (16:49)Please subscribe and share with your industry friends to invite more people to join us at the Real Science Exchange - Companion Animal virtual pub table.  If you want one of our Real Science Exchange t-shirts, screenshot your rating, review, or subscription, and email a picture to [email protected]. Include your size and mailing address, and we’ll mail you a shirt.