Methods and compositions improve amino and fatty acids availability, for example by achieving better blood enrichment in limiting amino acids, such as arginine and lysine, and essential fatty acids, such as linoleic acid. A higher fat digestibility was observed when rendered meat meal in pet food was replaced with a fresh or frozen meat slurry. A slurry can be made by subjecting fresh or frozen meat to size reduction, cooking with direct steam injection to increase the moisture of the meat, and emulsification of the steam-injected meat; and the slurry can be added to a dry blend comprising one or more of meat meals, grains, vegetable proteins, fiber, vitamins, minerals or fats in a preconditioner. The mixture formed by adding the slurry to the dry blend can be extrusion-cooked, cut into pieces, and dried to form a dry pet food kibbles.