The Australian pet food industry is worth a whopping A$3 billion* with a growing demand for premium products! Whether you want to manufacture and sell pet foods or learn to care for animals through optimum feed and nutrition, this course is ideal.
Certificate of Pet Food Production is a professional development course that covers all aspects of the pet food industry.
In this pet food manufacturing course, you will learn about manufacturing, supplying and selling pet foods. You will also learn how to care for the nutritional and feed needs of pets, including dogs, cats, birds, fish, rodents and reptiles.
On completion of this course, you will have a foundation for working in the manufacturing, supply and sales of pet foods.
Course Structure
Unit - Pet Food Business
Unit 1 – Scope and Nature of Animal Food
- Introduction to pet food industry
- The origin of an industry
- Principles of taste
- Principles of nutrition
- Ingredients & feed components
- Protein
- Carbohydrates
- Fats
- Minerals & vitamins
- Cats, dogs birds fish, reptiles, rodents, and rabbits
- Food categories list
Unit 2 – Processing and Manufacturing
- Processing technology & equipment
- Chillers & freezers
- Documented production practices & controlling risks
- Potential risks
- Ingredient controls
- Ingredient purchasing
- Ingredient receipting
- Ingredient storage
- Premises & equipment
- Cleaning
- Pest control
- Processing techniques & quality
- Heat treatment & process control
- Air change heat gains
- Occupancy heat gains
- Lighting heat gains
- Sampling, testing & calibration
- Record keeping
- Product tracing & recall
- What triggers a recall
- Using batch numbers vs using production dates
- Issuing a recall
- Voluntary vs involuntary recalls
- Identifying new ingredients (techniques)
- Introduction to insects as a food source
- Insect meal & dry food
- Insects & domesticated fowl
- Insects as feed for dogs & cats
- Insects for fish & other aquatic life
- Insects & nutrition
- Dusting insects
- Gut loading
- Basics of how to raise insects
- Farming crickets
- Mealworms
- Black soldier fly farming
Unit 3 – Preservation and Storage
- Producing animal food
- Freezing
- Why freeze pet food
- Problems of freezing
- Vacuum packing
- Refrigeration
- Meat
- Fish
- Dairy
- Drying or dehydration
- Storage of produce
- Vegetables
- Storage requirement root crops
- Grain
- Seeds
- Preserving
- Artificial preservatives
- Nitrates, nitrites and sorbates
- Antioxidant preservatives
- Sulphites
- Chelating agents
- Natural preservatives matter
Unit 4 – Canine Nutrition and Feeding
- Nutritional needs for dogs
- diet formulation for dogs at different life stages.
- Protein sources
- Carbohydrate sources
- Fat sources
- Raw diet controversy, risks & benefits
- Problems with raw feeding
- Digestive system
- Dietary requirements
- Nutrition depending on age
- Birth – 24months (puppies)
- Senior or aged
- Nutrition depending on health status
- Pregnancy or lactation
- Underweight dogs
- Nutrition depending on activity levels
Unit 5 – Feline Nutrition and Feeding
- Nutritional needs for cats
- Diet formulation for cats at different life stages.
- Wet food vs dry food
- Protein sources
- Raw food diets controversy, risks & benefits
- Feline digestive system
- Dietary requirements
- Nutrition depending on age
- Nutrition depending on health status
- Pregnant or lactating
- Underweight cats
- Overweight (or obese) cats
Unit 6 – Feeding Birds, Fish, Rodents, Rabbits, and Reptiles
- Bird feeding – parrots
- Pellets
- Mash / chop
- Seeds, beans & nuts
- Treat for birds
- Bird feeding – fowl
- Stages of Growth
- Feed Components for Fowl
- Pellets
- Grain
- Mash
- Chickens
- Egg layers
- Grower’s laying feed
- Broilers (meat chickens)
- Finisher feed
- Ducks
- Turkeys
- Fish feeding
- Pelleted feed
- Live feed
- Brine shrimp
- Earthworms
- Fishmeal
- Oil-meals
- Fish food production
- Rodent feeding
- Mice
- Rats
- Hamsters
- Guinea pigs
- Chinchillas
- Common provisions
- Rabbit feeding
- Rabbit digestion
- Rabbit diet
- Reptile feeding – snakes, chelonians, and lizards
- Food for reptiles
- Snakes
- Chelonians – turtles & tortoises
- Lizards
Unit 7 – Toxins in Animal Foods
- Toxic components to avoid in everyday life with pets
- Allium family
- Responses to poisoning
- Responses to allergens
- Allergies
- Types of additives in pet food
- Types of additives
- Antifungals
- Antioxidants
- Pellet binders
- Feed flavours
- Digestion modifiers
- Metabolism modifiers
- Modify health
- Consumer acceptance
- Key contamination risks
- Mycotoxins or pathogens (including bacteria)
- Foreign objects
- Industrial contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, BPA & bps
- Sampling and testing
Unit 8 – Regulatory Controls for the Pet Food Industry
- Industry’s regulation controls
- HACCP plan
- Labelling
- Identification as pet food
- Nutrition information panels
- Variety and names
- Nutritional adequate statement
- Nutritionally complete food
- Directions for use statements
- Date labelling
- Ingredients lists
- Disposing of animal by-products (ABP’S)
Unit 9 – Feed Selection, Diet Formulation and End-Product Sales
- Ultimate goals of marketing pet foods in store or online
- Understand pet owners as consumers (the purchaser!)
- Taking a new product to the market
- Wholesaling
- Face to face retail & online stores
- Mail orders
- Online sales
- Social media marketing
- Hints and tips
- Business to business (b2b)
Study Hours
Estimated duration 50 hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
How to Enrol
Enrol Online: Enrol Now
Enrol via Live Chat (Business Hours)
Enrol via Telephone 1300 76 2221 (Business Hours)
Enrol via Purchase Order/Tax Invoice
Enrolling Multiple Staff?
To enrol multiple staff, please complete the Employer Enrolment Form. We’ll be in touch within 60 minutes during business hours!
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and Direct Deposit.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support via email;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
To study online with Australian Online Courses you will need a computer (desktop PC/laptop) running a current/updated operating system with reliable high-speed internet access. You will need to use the Google Chrome browser to access your course.
Are there any computer requirements?
To study online with Australian Online Courses you will need a computer (desktop PC/laptop) running a current/updated operating system with reliable high-speed internet access. You will need to use the Google Chrome browser to access your course.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
How is this course delivered?
This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
Professional Development for:-
- Pet Food Manufacturers
- Pet Food Suppliers
- Pet Breeders
- Kennels and Cattery Staff
- Animal Shelter Staff
- Veterinary Staff
- Zoo Staff
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