The comprehensive range of Standard Diets from SDS is also subject to analysis of the major nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Complementing the SQC range, Standard Diets benefit from manufacture at a plant designed to produce GLP diets of exceptional quality using exactly the same raw materials.

Custom made diets formulated to meet individual experimental needs are produced in our specialised production unit – separate from our main production plant.

Formulations are agreed in consultation between the customer and our technical department and may be composed of freely available or specialist raw materials, synthetic and/or semi-synthetic ingredients. These specialised products can be manufactured in quantities from 1kg upwards to suit customer needs.

Please direct any questions you have regarding Custom Made Diets to technical@sdsdiets.com.

Fixed vs Variable formulations

All of SDS diets are manufactured to a fixed formulation which means exactly the same level of ingredients are used in every batch of diet.

Variable formulations are popular in agricultural nutrition as a way of keeping down costs of raw materials. In research animal nutrition, variable formulations are some times used and efforts are made to keep nutrient levels consistent or “constant”. SDS does not support this method. Whilst it may be feasible to control the consistency of some basic nutrient parameters, there is an enormous number of biologically active dietary factors (BADF’s) that may have a bearing on the research animal, many of which may be directly linked to your research. The majority of these BADF’s are unaccounted or unanalysed, so by varying the formulation you are increasing the variability of the majority of BADF’s. It is for these reasons that SDS believes that your research will be best suited to diets with fixed formulations. SDS reaffirms its belief in the fixed formulation method.

Compression Pellets (P)

The conventional compression pellet is still used widely within the research industry. It is manufactured using the simple procedure of pushing the meal through a cylindrical die where knives cut the pellets to a specified length. Minimum temperatures reached are 80°C.

Compression pellets have a higher bulk density than expanded pellet so they take up less space and in storage and in the hopper (therefore require less “topping up”). This can be an advantage where storage space or labour is an issue.

Expanded Pellets (E)

SDS has been manufacturing ‘expanded diets’ since 1976. There is a fundamental difference in the way in which the pellets are manufactured. The meal is formed in exactly the same way as the compression pellet however it is then subject to an injection of steam under very high pressure. The meal is then forced through a die. As the pellets are pushed out into ambient temperature, the steam expands and evaporates forming the classic expanded “honeycomb” type pellet. Average temperature is 120°C to 150°C.

We have found that, in most cases, expanded pellets give a number of significant improvements when compared to traditional, compression pellets.

These include:

high levels of palatability

wastage reduction – by the animal and in the bag

a microbiologically cleaner pellet due to high temperatures and pressures during processing

better food conversion efficiency

a more homogeneous pellet providing a standardised diet across a single batch

Many diet manufacturers will use a third party to manufacture mineral and vitamin premixes. SDS manufactures all premixes on site and test them prior to use. This means that SDS has complete control over every aspect of diet manufacture even the addition of the smallest level of ingredients which can be the most biologically active and have the biggest impact on your research.