Peer-reviewed evidence
Reporting is often incomplete
Only 23 of 143 parallel trials in dogs and cats published in 2019 specified their primary outcome.
What we do
Protocols and reports follow ARRIVE 2.0 and PetSORT reporting standards.
Palatability & Feeding Studies · AAFCO Feeding Trials
AAFCO feeding trials, for complete and balanced claims.
Adult maintenance, growth, gestation and lactation, and all-life-stages feeding trials run to AAFCO protocols with partner panels.
Guires Pet Nutrition Lab
AAFCO Feeding Trials from Guires PNL
In the US, a complete and balanced claim can be substantiated by formulation to an AAFCO nutrient profile or by an AAFCO feeding trial. A feeding trial shows that pets fed the product stay healthy over a defined period — evidence that some retailers, veterinarians and export markets value.
We run all AAFCO feeding-trial types with partner panels, approved by an independent ethics committee. When a product was formulated elsewhere, we need the full formulation before a trial starts, so we can review adequacy and risk first.
Start your project with Guires PNLStudy Designs
AAFCO Feeding Trials we run.
Designs follow published methods and are chosen to answer your question with the fewest animals.
Adult maintenance
The trial that supports an adult maintenance claim, run for at least 26 weeks.
Growth
Trials for puppy and kitten foods, with growth and health monitored.
Gestation & lactation
Trials covering reproduction, from breeding through weaning.
All life stages
The combination of growth and gestation/lactation protocols.
Family-based protocols
Comparative designs where AAFCO allows a product family to share a trial.
Pre-trial formulation review
Adequacy and risk review of the full formulation before any animal work.
Scientific Challenges
What we solve for.
01
Time and cost
An adult trial runs at least 26 weeks plus reporting, so the formulation must be right first time.
02
Full formulation needed
Products formulated elsewhere must be reviewed in full before a trial.
03
Welfare
Trials run under independent ethics approval, with health monitoring throughout.
04
Market fit
Feeding-trial claims are an AAFCO route; other markets may rely on formulation to their own profiles.
How We Work
From question to evidence.
Review
Full formulation and nutrient adequacy check.
Protocol
AAFCO trial type and endpoints.
Ethics
Independent ethics committee approval.
Run
Partner panels with veterinary oversight.
Analyse
Blood values, body weight and condition.
Report
Report supporting your label claim.
Evidence
The science behind our approach.
Peer-reviewed findings that shape how we design and interpret this work.
Peer-reviewed evidence
Preregistration builds trust
Common standards now exist for preregistering animal studies, so results can be checked against the original plan.
What we do
We preregister protocols where appropriate.
Regulation & guidance
Vets ask about research
WSAVA advises vets to ask whether manufacturers conduct studies and publish them in peer-reviewed journals.
What we do
We help brands build a publishable evidence base.
- GuidanceWSAVA 2021
Deliverables
What you take away.
- Pre-trial formulation review
- AAFCO protocol and ethics approval reference
- Health, weight and blood results
- Final trial report for claim substantiation
- Label wording guidance for the claim
Applications
Functional nutrition we build into aafco feeding trials.
Each application has its own page with the evidence, the actives and the claim boundaries we work within.
Growth & Reproduction
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The right start for puppies and kittens, and the extra nutrition mothers need.
Weight Management
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Lighter, more satisfying diets that help pets reach and keep a healthy weight.
Longevity & Healthy Ageing
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Helping pets stay healthy for longer.
Digestive Health
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Firm stools, comfortable digestion and a balanced gut microbiome.
Ingredient science for aafco feeding trials
Every ingredient we choose for aafco feeding trials is assessed for nutrient contribution, digestibility, processing behaviour, palatability and the rules in your market — and sourced to your specification.
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Insightsimages/article-11.jpg · 1600×1200
Market insights from Guires PNL scientists
Regulation updates, the latest research, recalls and market trends that shape aafco feeding trials — written by our formulation, testing and regulatory teams.
FAQs
Common questions.
Which AAFCO trials do you run?
All AAFCO feeding-trial types: adult maintenance, growth, gestation and lactation, and all life stages.
Do you need the full formula?
Yes. If the product was formulated elsewhere, we review the full formulation before a trial begins.
Are GLP studies available?
Yes. GLP studies are run through qualified partner facilities.
Client Testimonials · Palatability & Feeding Studies
What our clients say.
Clients in the USA, UK and UAE on working with Guires PNL. Names are withheld at clients’ request.
“Their palatability trials revealed how dogs responded to our recipe before we committed to launch. We entered the market backed by real feeding data rather than assumptions.”
“The feeding trials measured preference and intake and benchmarked our formula against competitor products. Those findings shaped our final recipe decisions.”
“Seeing how cats reacted to our recipe let us refine it ahead of production rather than after, saving time, cost and guesswork.”
Planning aafco feeding trials?
Tell us your product, your question and your market — our scientists will come back with a study design and next steps.
FEDIAFAAFCO
Every Guires PNL product is formulated to comply with the FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines and the AAFCO Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles. Neither body issues certificates to manufacturers, so compliance is verified independently against their published standards — and every product comes with a complete documentation package for regulatory submissions in the EU, US, Australia and Asian markets.
How we verify compliance →