The Rural Development Administration announced that black goat meat helps maintain the intestinal microbial balance and improve the immune function of elderly dogs. Black goat meat is known as a healthy food due to its low-fat, high-protein content and richness in calcium, iron, and vitamins.
The National Institute of Animal Science conducted an experiment to confirm whether black goat meat can positively affect the intestinal environment of elderly dogs. The researchers fed 12 elderly dogs, aged 15, with test feed made from high-pressure extruded black goat meat for four weeks and compared the changes in intestinal microbes.
As a result, the intestinal microbiota associated with inflammatory responses decreased by 38.4%, and beneficial bacteria that help protect the intestinal mucosa and maintain intestinal function increased by 82.5%. This was evaluated as a basic research result showing the potential of black goat meat to help maintain the intestinal microbial balance of elderly dogs.
The patent registration for this research result has been completed, and it is expected to be used as a functional pet food material through technology transfer in the future. The Rural Development Administration is continuously conducting research to discover functional feed ingredients that maintain pet health and to secure scientific data.