Mr Eastin was speaking to professions from the poultry rendering industry who had gathered at the 2011 Poultry Protein and Fat Seminar in Nashville, Tennessee.

The annual conference is sponsored by USPoultry and the Poultry Protein and Fat Council.

Mr Eastin provided an overview of the dry pet food process and examined the benefits of chicken meal and poultry fat in pet's diets as part of his presentation, The Importance of Rendered Ingredients in Pet Foods.

Mr Eastin said: "Chicken fat is more than just an energy source. It also provides healthy skin and coats, enhances the aroma of the pet food, provides a nice sheen, and seals and shields dry kibble to increase shelf life."

He referred to poultry byproducts as value-added ingredients and described rendering as environmentally responsible by converting byproducts into ingredients Nutro uses every day in its products.

Kent Swisher, Vice President of International Programs for the National Renderers Association, gave a presentation on Emerging Markets: Exports and Domestic.

Mr Swisher commented that production statistics for animal protein meal in the United States is about four million metric tons, comprised of 56 per cent meat and bone meal, 15 per cent feather meal, and 25 per cent poultry byproduct meal.

He provided information from an Informa Economics report which showed that the two biggest US markets for rendered products are poultry and pets, with pets being the larger growth market.

Mr Swisher also provided information on the countries who are importing animal protein meal and the growth for each market.

Some of the top markets include Indonesia, Thailand (500 per cent growth in last five years), China (177 per cent growth), and Bangladesh (155 per cent growth).

Mr Swisher went on to describe some emerging opportunities/markets, such as feeding with fish meal and the use of animal fat in biofuels, and ended with a discussion on some of the constraints faced by the industry.

Other sessions included an Environmental Regulations Update, Arc Flash Hazards and Other New Safety Regulations; Mechanical Maintenance: Pumps vs. Conveyors; The Science of Thermal Processing in Continuous Rendering Cookers; New Technology, Boiler Efficiencies, and Costs Savings in the Rendering Process.