Raw Bully Sticks Manufacturing

How Are Bully Sticks Made?

Understanding where your dog’s treats come from and how they’re made are crucial in making informed decisions regarding your dog’s diet. Once you understand how bully sticks are made and how minimal the processing is, you’ll be able to give your dog his favorite chew and be confident knowing you’re giving him a healthy and natural treat.

Let’s go over how bully sticks are made:

2. WASH & CLEAN

Once the pizzles arrive at the bully stick manufacturing facility, they are cleaned. Any excess fat is trimmed off and any residue or fluids present are rinsed off before the pizzles are ready to be cooked. If the bully sticks are to be made into braided chews, braiding is done prior to cooking when the pizzles are still soft and malleable. One cooked, they’ll be too dry and firm to form into the various shapes you see in your local pet store.The bully sticks are hung vertically and suspended using hooks at both ends to help them maintain their shape during the cooking process. Without this tension, the bully sticks may shrivel into shapes that are difficult to cut down to size.

3. OVEN DRY

They are then slow cooked for several days at a temperature around 165F to 195F degrees. Manufacturers differ on the exact temperature and amount of time, but their commitment to fully cooking the bully sticks remains the same.

The process of cooking the pizzles at a low temperature for a long period of time removes the moisture and ensures a long-lasting chew that will be shelf stable for a long time.

If bully sticks are not cooked until fully dry, they are at risk of becoming contaminated with bacteria. They may also begin to decay or will go bad after just a short time.

4. CUT TO SIZE

After cooking, the bully sticks must be trimmed and shaped as they are typically between 24 and 36 inches long at this stage. You may be able to find full-length bully sticks if you prefer this size, but most are trimmed to more manageable lengths.