Feed Compounder - May/June 2023

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turning negativeS to poSitive

The high inflation/cost-of-living crisis in which we are all embroiled could ultimately yield significant food and feed chain benefits. Although they don’t feel like a positive at present, the current pressures have the potential to deliver a course correction in our approach to the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food.

A key motivation for this admittedly upbeat slant on today’s negative economic state is the growing focus on the avoidance of food waste, alongside improving returns for farmers. Both these factors could contribute to an enhanced future for feed compound use, even though manufacturing volumes may suffer some reduction in the short term.

Being exposed to retail prices which are noticeably advancing almost weekly, is clearly having an impact on consumers, in sharp contrast with the indifference many have shown towards food production and use in the past.

Surveys carried out by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) show UK food waste ranging from a high of 24.1% to a low of 13.4% over the past five years. Consumers were at their best in terms of maximum food use during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, having been at their most wasteful immediately before the pandemic. Since our so-called return to normal, waste levels have climbed again, edging back towards 20%.

That was before food price inflation hit 18% at the end of last year, a development which once again saw consumers cutting wastage to contain spending. WRAP has duly reported that UK citizens are making ‘widespread changes to their food habits’ to mitigate higher living costs. In November 2022, 71% of consumers reported changes to how they buy, store, manage or use food because of the rising cost of living, up from 65% in June last year.

Consumer concern about their food, and the need to make maximum use of it, is undoubtedly a positive for farmers. Many producers have complained long and hard in the past about the ‘couldn’t care less’ attitudes displayed by shoppers concerning where food comes from, domestic or imported.

Rising retail prices, while painful for consumers, are therefore a welcome development for producers and, by implication, a potential positive for feed suppliers. The recent 18% hike has helped to restore a degree of farmer/retailer balance to the marketplace. That can only be good for the long-term future of British food production, especially if it helps persuade politicians to place higher importance on securing home-sourced supplies. Free trade agreements, which to UK feed and food producers appear to be geared towards facilitating imports of cheap food, have been substantially discredited in recent months by the sight of vast areas of empty retail shelves.

There is no escape from the realities of the global marketplace.

Producers in Spain, for example, were always likely prefer to sell close to home, at minimal distribution costs, whenever supplies ran short. Surprise, surprise!

Also, we can’t control global trade or weather issues which invariably have the final word on feed and food production volumes and quality.

Take the latest global assessment of the pork market, released by Rabobank, Netherlands. The bank’s analysts say that hog production growth in North America will slow this year, alongside the widely accepted expectation that Europe’s pig supply will remain tight.

Similarly, their prediction for China is that pig production will tighten in late Q2 and Q3, with Southeast Asia set for slow growth this year. This is the challenging marketplace in which we all work, with Rabobank’s assessment of raw materials for feed production also less than upbeat.

“Global feed stocks are at historically low levels, and availability remains tight,” said the Dutch bank, adding that the Argentine harvest is set to be ‘disappointing’.

Even with the promise of a record 2023 soybean crop in Brazil, the Rabobank conclusion is that today’s ‘small global cushion’ of grain and oilseed stocks will lead to ‘additional feed cost volatility’ in 2023.

Looking for positives in the face of such reality is hugely important, hence our suggestion that a hike in food costs approaching one fifth will leave farmers with a fairer share of retail returns than for many years, and that consumers will gain more respect for domestic food products.

Rising prices, whether related to food, energy, labour, or other factors, can also have a beneficial impact on business efficiency if managed correctly. Rolling along on a wave of rising sales volumes with demand outstripping supply, although great while it lasts, can easily diminish the strength and competitiveness of individual businesses over time. FEFAC’s confirmation that EU compound feed production for farmed animals declined last year, dragged down by falling pig and poultry numbers, is a major wake-up call for us all.

Although both sectors traditionally respond rapidly once demand moves ahead of supply, the turnaround period imposes pressures on support industries, including feed. Some compounders will no doubt use this period to tighten production processes while others will change their focus.

Pet feed products are on the rise, for example, while the demand for energy by-products is arguably stronger now than ever before. There are options and opportunities to match today’s pressures, therefore, from which some businesses will emerge better equipped for the future. Even so, we’re in for a challenging next 12 months.

Feed production update

By Ryan Mounsey

great

britain

march production update

Total production of compounds, blends and concentrates, including integrated poultry units, during the month of March 2023 declined by 106,400 tonnes or 7.7 per cent to its lowest level for the month in 11 years of 1,273,900 tonnes. Moreover, the total under review was a marked 86,300 tonnes or 6.6 per cent below the 10 year average for the month.

Total feed production during the month of March 2023 was made up of: 42.5 per cent poultry feed, 30.1 per cent cattle and calf feed, 13.6 per cent pig feed, 10.4 per cent sheep feed, 1.6 per cent horse feed and 1.8 per cent other feed.

For the third March in succession, total poultry feed had decreased below its year earlier level. The 541,800 tonnes of output was 40,300 tonnes or 6.9 per cent down on a year previously and, in addition, was 31,400 tonnes or 5.6 per cent lower than the decade long average for March.

All poultry feed subsectors dropped below their respective year earlier returns for the month under review. At 195,400 tonnes, broiler chicken compounds output had decreased by 9,000 tonnes or 4.4 per cent to its lowest level in six years. Production of integrated poultry units for March dropped from its year previous total by 14,400 tonnes or 7.0 per cent to 189,900 tonnes and poultry breeding and rearing compounds fell by 1,300 tonnes or 4.2 per cent to 29,600 tonnes; production from both these categories had dropped for the second year in succession. Both chick rearing feed compounds and layers compounds had declined to their lowest March output since 2015; the former fell 1,900 tonnes or 14.5 per cent to 11,200 tonnes and the latter by 12,700 tonnes or 11.6 per cent to 97,000 tonnes. Turkey feed compounds’ production decreased by a substantial 1,100 tonnes or 17.2 per cent from the March of a year previous to 5,300 tonnes, its

lowest total on record for the month.

At 383,400 tonnes, total cattle and calf feed production for March was at its lowest level for the month since 2009 and 13,000 tonnes or 3.3 per down on a year earlier. The total under review was an even more significant 24,700 tonnes or 6.2 per cent down on the decade long average for March.

Despite the overall drop, the sector’s largest component, compounds for dairy cows, surpassed its year previous output by 1,110 tonnes or 0.6 per cent and rose to 197,700 tonnes. The sector’s smallest category cattle protein concentrates also grew, by 200 tonnes or 2.2 per cent to 9,500 tonnes of output. Production of blends for dairy cows also rose sharply from the historically low return from the March of a year previous; it increased by 7,200 tonnes or 9.7 per cent to 81,300 tonnes. However, production of all other cattle compounds decreased by 9,200 tonnes or 14.9 per cent from a year earlier to its lowest total on record of 52,500 tonnes; additionally, output of all other cattle blends declined from 2022 returns by 9,600 tonnes or 26.9 per cent to its lowest level since 2005 of 26,100 tonnes. Finally, total calf feed fell for the third March in a row to 16,300 tonnes, 2,600 tonnes or 13.8 per cent down on a year previous.

Total pig feed production for March had fallen substantially from the historic high output from a year earlier, doing so by 28,400 tonnes or 14.1 per cent to 173,500 tonnes. The total under review was the smallest of the four years but was nevertheless, 400 tonnes or 0.2 per cent greater than the 10 year average for the month.

The bulk of the drop in pig feed production from a year earlier was made up by the pig finishing and pig growing feed subsectors; the former declined from its year previous return by 15,700 tonnes or 14.1 per cent, down to 96,000 tonnes and the latter did so by 7,700 tonnes or 24.1, down to 24,300 tonnes, its lowest return for March since records were kept in their current form. Pig starters and creep feed output were also at their lowest amount for March on record, production dropping by 1,000 tonnes or 20.4 per cent to 3,900 tonnes. Output of link and early grower feed was at 9,400 tonnes, 1,200 tonnes or 11.3 per cent lower than a year previous and pig breeding feed compounds production was down 2,600 tonnes or 6.2 per cent to 39,600 tonnes. Lastly, pig protein concentrates declined from year previous levels by 300 tonnes for the second year in succession, in this instance, halving down to 300 tonnes of production.

A decrease of 18,500 tonnes or 12.3 per cent from the March of a year previous brought total sheep feed to its lowest level for the timeframe under review since 1993 of 132,100 tonnes. As a result, the current total slipped a considerable 21,600 tonnes or 15.1 per cent below the 10 year average for March.

Both compounds for breeding sheep and blends for breeding sheep were at their lowest tonnages on record, dropping from a year previous by 9,700 tonnes or 12.1 per cent to 70,700 tonnes and 2,500 tonnes or 39.1 per cent to 3,900 tonnes respectively. Production of compounds for growing and finishing sheep had also declined substantially from a year previously, doing so by 6,300 tonnes or 10.9 per cent to 51,400 tonnes, which was, however, its fifth highest return

for March. A reduction of 100 tonnes or 1.8 per cent in production from the corresponding month a year earlier brought blends for growing and finishing sheep down to 5,400 tonnes; in contrast, sheep protein concentrates bettered its year previous output by 100 tonnes or 16.7 per cent to 700 tonnes.

Total production of horse feed in March 2023 was 1,300 tonnes or 5.9 per cent down on a year previous at 20,800 tonnes. Due to significantly lower outputs from the first half of the decade, the total under review was a less marked 200 tonnes or 1.0 per cent below the 10 year average for the month.

Total other feed output fell significantly from a year earlier to its lowest level since 2012 of 22,300 tonnes, 4,800 tonnes or 17.7 per cent lower than the March of 2022. This decline resulted in the current total dropping a notable 8,900 tonnes or 33.3 per cent under the decade long March average.

The release of the March figures rounded off the first quarter production figures for Great Britain which are analysed below.

great britain

First Quarter overview

Total production of compounds, blends and concentrates, including integrated poultry units, during the first quarter of 2023 in Great Britain fell below 3,500,000 million tonnes for the first time since 2016. Production was 286,100 tonnes or 7.5 per cent down on a year previous at 3,340,000 tonnes. As a result of this considerable downturn, the total under review was a marked 245,000 tonnes or 7.1 per cent below the 10 year average for the period.

Total feed production during the first quarter of 2023 was made up of: 42.3 per cent poultry feed, 31.3 per cent cattle and calf feed, 13.6 per cent pig feed, 9.4 per cent sheep feed, 1.7 per cent horse feed and 1.7 per cent other feed.

At 1,411,900 tonnes, total poultry feed production during the first quarter of 2023 had decreased by 111,200 tonnes or 7.3 per cent from the corresponding period a year previously. For the first time in five years, Q1 poultry fell below the decade long average for the timeframe, doing so by 92,400 tonnes or 6.3 per cent.

After reaching record highs for the period in 2020, first quarter broiler feed production has declined year on year. The current total was 20,100 tonnes or 3.5 per cent down on a year previous at 512,600 tonnes. Production of integrated poultry units had declined 45,900

tonnes or 8.5 per cent from the corresponding period a year previous to 494,300 tonnes. Production of layer feed and chick rearing feed in the first quarter of 2023 had both dropped sharply from a year previous, the former had done so by 29,000 tonnes or 10.0 per cent to 257,700 tonnes of output and the latter by 4,400 tonnes or 11.1 per cent to 29,400 tonnes. Turkey feed output was at its lowest Q1 level since records were kept in their current form of 12,400 tonnes, 4,400 tonnes or 22.7 per cent down on a year previous. The sector was rounded off by a 3,900 tonnes or 4.4 per cent fall in output from the previous first quarter of poultry breeding and rearing feed, down to 77,500 tonnes, its lowest total for the period since 2015.

Total cattle and calf feed had decreased from the Q1 total a year earlier by 23,400 tonnes or 2.1 per cent to its lowest level for the period since 2006 of 1,046,000 tonnes. In addition, the total under review was an even more significant 76,400 tonnes or 7.1 per cent lower than the decade long average for the period.

There was a distinct split between the dairy and non-dairy feed producing subsectors in the first quarter. Both compounds for dairy cows, at 526,300 tonnes of output and blends for dairy cows, at 224,400 tonnes had both surpassed their year previous totals, doing so by 2,300 tonnes or 0.4 per cent and by 14,300 tonnes or 5.7 per cent respectively, whereas all other elements fell below their respective year previous returns. All other cattle feed dropped from a year earlier by 19,100 tonnes or 11.5 per cent to their lowest Q1 total on record of 148,300 tonnes. Production of all other cattle blends also decreased significantly from the corresponding period a year previous, doing so by 15,200 tonnes or 17.4 per cent to 75,600 tonnes. Current calf feed production was at its lowest level for the quarter since 2011 of 45,300 tonnes, 2,800 tonnes or 8.9 per cent below its 2022 output and protein concentrates for cattle and calves declined by 900 tonnes or 3.4 per cent from a year earlier to 26,100 tonnes for the quarter.

For the first time in six years, first quarter total pig feed failed to better its year previous return. The current total of 452,700 tonnes was a sizeable 95,300 tonnes or 18.8 per cent down on the output from the corresponding period a year earlier and as a result, declined 17,800 tonnes or 3.9 per below the 10 year Q1 average.

Both the pig growing feed and protein concentrates for pigs subsectors were at record lows for the timeframe under review. Pig growing feed production had fallen by 22,000 tonnes or 22.5 per cent to 64,000 tonnes whilst protein concentrates for pigs had decreased by 600 tonnes or 42.9 per cent to 700 tonnes of output. All remaining elements were also significantly down on their first quarter performances from a year earlier. Pig finishing feed, at 250,900 tonnes, was 57,200 tonnes or 22.4 per cent lower than in the corresponding period of 2022; pig breeding feed production, at 102,800 tonnes, had fallen 11,000 tonnes or 9.6 per cent; and pig starters and creep feed, at 9,900 tonnes, had dropped 2,400 tonnes or 18.3 per cent to its second lowest total on record. Finally, a 2,200 tonnes or 8.6 per cent reduction in first quarter link and early grower feed production from a year previous dropped the output under review to 22,400 tonnes.

A decrease in production from the period under review a year

previous of 35,400 tonnes or 9.6 per cent brought total first quarter sheep feed production down to 315,200 tonnes, the lowest total on record. In addition, the current total was a considerable 49,500 tonnes or 14.6 per cent under the 10 year average for the timeframe.

Protein concentrates for sheep and lambs surpassed its year previous total for the period by 100 tonnes or 4.3 per cent and rose to 1,900 tonnes of output, but this was the only sheep feed category to do so. The sector’s largest element, compounds for breeding sheep, dropped 21,700 tonnes or 10.9 per cent from the corresponding quarter of 2022 to its lowest level since records were kept in their current form of 150,300 tonnes. Blends for breeding sheep output declined by over a quarter from a year earlier, the current production of 10,600 tonnes was 5,100 tonnes or 27.9 per cent lower. Compounds for growing and finishing sheep and blends for growing and finishing sheep both also failed to better their year previous returns, the former decreased by 8,100 tonnes or 6.1 per cent to 136,300 tonnes and the latter by 600 tonnes or 3.6 per cent to 16,100 tonnes.

For the third year in succession, total first quarter horse feed dropped below its year previous return, in this case by 2,100 tonnes or 3.5 per cent to 57,600 tonnes. However, the current total outpaced the decade long average for the period by 2,200 tonnes or 4.0 per cent.

Total Q1 other feed production, at 56,600 tonnes, had decreased by a considerable 18,600 tonnes or 22.8 per cent to its lowest level for the timeframe since 1995. As a result of five consecutive, year on year falls, the total under review was an even greater 29,600 tonnes or 34.3 per cent down on the 10 year average for the quarter.

Not only did every sector fall below their respective year previous returns for the quarter, they did so for every month that made up the period and Q1 production from 2022 had also declined below its year earlier counterpart. In addition, horse feed was the only sector where production bettered the decade long average for the period. All of this suggests that production will be considerably down from recent highs in 2023.

northern ireland 2022 Feed production overview

Total production of compounds, blends and concentrates, including integrated poultry units, in Northern Ireland during 2022 was at its second highest level on record of 2,609,500 tonnes. This was 17,300 tonnes or 0.7 per cent lower than a year earlier but nevertheless, was

169,500 tonnes or 6.9 per cent greater than the 10 year average for the period.

Total feed production during the year of 2022 was made up of: 52.3 per cent cattle and calf feed; 32.5 per cent poultry feed; 9.7 per cent pig feed; 2.4 per cent sheep feed; and 3.1 per cent other feed.

An increase of 10,100 tonnes or 0.7 per cent brought total cattle and calf feed production for the year up to 1,365,300 tonnes, a record high. The output under review also outpaced the decade long average for a calendar year by a considerable 99,400 tonnes or 7.9 per cent.

Despite the overall increase in production, more cattle and calf feed subsectors fell below their corresponding year earlier totals than rose above them. Output of beef cattle compounds dropped by a notable 8,300 tonnes or 5.2 per cent from its 2021 return to 150,300 tonnes; beef coarse mixes and blends also declined below its year previous return, doing so by 1,300 tonnes or 0.5 per cent to 255,400 tonnes. Both calf feed categories were down on their year previous returns: calf milk substitutes had dropped by 100 tonnes or 35.3 per cent to 200 tonnes of output for the year, and other calf compounds had done so by 1,600 tonnes or 1.9 per cent to 79,700 tonnes of production. In contrast, production from the sector’s largest category, dairy cow compounds, had risen by 5,100 tonnes or 0.8 per cent from a year earlier to a record high for the period under review of 621,900 tonnes. Dairy coarse mixes and blends had also surpassed its year previous total by 15,700 tonnes or 6.7 per cent and rose to 249,800 tonnes of output, the third highest on record for a calendar year. Protein concentrates for cattle and calves bettered its 2021 production by a considerable 500 tonnes or 18.9 per cent and finally, production of all other cattle compounds grew by 100 tonnes or 2.6 per cent from a year previous to 4,800 tonnes.

At 847,500 tonnes, total poultry feed production in 2022 was 19,400 tonnes or 2.2 per cent down on the corresponding period a year earlier. However, the total under review was 40,600 tonnes or 5.0 per cent in excess of the 10 year average for the timeframe.

Layer and breeder feed was the only poultry subsector where production increased beyond its 2021 returns, doing so by a significant 30,200 tonnes or 9.5 per cent to a record high of 348,900 tonnes. Conversely, broiler feed output decreased by a similar 35,500 tonnes or 7.4 per cent 446,500 tonnes, its lowest return in a calendar year since 2017. Additionally, turkey and other poultry feed production was at its lowest recorded level for the timeframe of 24,000 tonnes, a sizeable decrease of 13,200 tonnes or 35.5 per cent from a year previous. Lastly, chick rearing feed production fell by 1,000 tonnes or 3.3 per cent to 28,200 tonnes.

For the first time in nine years, total annual pig feed production fell below its year earlier counterpart. 2022’s return of 252,700 tonnes was 6,100 tonnes or 2.4 per cent lower than in 2021, although, the current total was still 31,500 tonnes or 14.3 per cent above the decade long average for the period.

Pig link and early grower feed was the sole pig feed category where production bettered that of a year previous, rising 2,600 tonnes or 7.3 per cent to a record high 39,100 tonnes. Pig growing feed production fell by a significant 3,700 tonnes or 7.3 per cent to 47,300 tonnes and

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the sector’s largest element, pig finishing feed, dropped by 1,000 tonnes or 1.0 per cent to 104,100 tonnes. Output of both pig starter and creep feed and pig breeding feed decreased markedly below their respective year previous returns, with the former declining by 1,700 tonnes or 5.5 per cent to 29,700 tonnes and the latter by 2,200 tonnes or 6.4 per cent to 32,400 tonnes.

Total sheep feed production for 2022 had dropped below its total from a year previously by 5,700 tonnes or 8.4 per cent. Moreover, the total under review was also 4,000 tonnes or 6.7 per cent lower than the decade long average for output from a calendar year.

Protein concentrates for sheep fell by a marked 1,700 tonnes or 98.1 per cent from the anomalous record high of a year previous to just under 50 tonnes of output, a record low for a calendar year. Production of growing and finishing sheep compounds declined below year previous levels for the second year in a row, in this instance by 900 tonnes or 3.0 per cent to 27,800 tonnes. At 22,800 tonnes, the output of breeding sheep compounds had dropped 3,100 tonnes or 12.0 per cent below its 2021 production level, whereas, the coarse mixes and blends for sheep subsector matched its year previous output of 11,800 tonnes.

A 3,900 tonnes or 5.0 per cent increase in the production of total other feed in comparison to 2021 output brought the total under review up to 81,500 tonnes. Additionally, the current total was 1,900 tonnes or 2.4 per cent in excess of the 10 year average for the period.

With production for 2022 coming in just below the record high for a calendar year posted a year previously, the Northern Irish feed industry was perhaps in a healthier position than would have been imagined considering the various challenges that arose throughout 2022. Whilst it was only the cattle and calf feed sector where production bettered its year previous return, and the entirety of this upturn came from the dairy subsectors, all sectors surpassed the long term average for output and things look encouraging as we move into 2023.

northern ireland February production overview

Total production of compounds, blends and concentrates during February 2023 in Northern Ireland amounted to 225,700 tonnes, an increase of 2,600 tonnes or 1.2 per cent from the corresponding month a year earlier and its highest total on record for the month. Furthermore, the current total was 13,800 tonnes or 6.5 per cent in excess of the

decade long average for February.

Total feed production during February 2023 was made up of: 53.8 per cent cattle and calf feed, 30.7 per cent poultry feed, 8.0 per cent pig feed, 4.3 per cent sheep feed and 3.2 per cent other feed.

At 121,500 tonnes of production, total cattle and calf feed output for February had risen by 400 tonnes or 0.3 per cent from a year previous and was at its third highest level on record. In addition, the total under review was 7,300 tonnes or 6.4 per cent in excess of the 10 year average for the month.

Despite the increase from 2022 returns, output of both beef coarse mixes and blends and beef cattle compounds fell considerably below year earlier levels. The former fell by 2,900 tonnes or 11.9 per cent to 21,500 tonnes and the latter did so by 1,800 tonnes or 12.3 per cent to 12,700 tonnes. Production of all other cattle compounds also fell sharply from a year previous to 400 tonnes, a decrease of 200 tonnes or 26.4 per cent. In contrast, output of dairy coarse mixes or blends increased by 2,800 tonnes or 12.0 per cent to its highest total since records were kept in their current form of 26,100 tonnes. Production of dairy cow compounds was also at its highest ever level for the month of 52,200 tonnes, a growth of 1,700 tonnes or 3.3 per cent from a year previous; as was all other calf compounds, where production had risen by 800 tonnes or 10.1 per cent to 8,400 tonnes.

An increase of 5,000 tonnes or 7.8 per cent from the output of 2022 brought total poultry feed production to its highest recorded level for February of 69,200 tonnes. Accordingly, the current total outstripped the decade long average for February by a notable 7,100 tonnes or 11.5 per cent.

Layer and breeder declined slightly from its record high output a year previously to 27,000 tonnes, a drop of 300 tonnes or 1.1 per cent to its second largest output. Broiler feed production was also at its second highest level for the month of 37,600 tonnes, having risen by 3,900 tonnes or 11.7 per cent from its corresponding output a year earlier. A rise of 200 tonnes or 9.1 per cent from year previous levels brought chick rearing feed to its highest February output of 2,500 tonnes, moreover, following a sharp decline in production in 2022, turkey feed output bounced back towards expected levels at 2,200 tonnes, an increase of 1,100 tonnes or 111.9 per cent.

Total pig feed was the only sector which fell below its production from a year earlier, doing so by 2,800 tonnes or 13.7 per cent to 18,000 tonnes, its lowest February production since 2017. As a result of this downturn, the current total was in line with the decade long average for the month.

All pig feed subsectors fell below their respective year earlier levels. Pig finishing feed and pig growing feed both declined by 700 tonnes from their respective 2022 returns, pig finishing feed by 8.4 per cent to 7,700 tonnes and pig growing feed by 18.6 per cent to 3,100 tonnes. Pig breeding feed was at its lowest output for February since 2010 of 2,300 tonnes, a fall of 300 tonnes or 12.2 per cent from a year previous. Additionally, pig link and early grower feed production fell by 500 tonnes or 15.0 per cent to 2,900 tonnes. Lastly, production of pig starter and creep feed, at 2,100 tonnes, had declined by 600 tonnes

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or 22.7 per cent from its corresponding 2022 total. At 9,700 tonnes of production for February, total sheep feed had matched its year previous output. 2023’s production was, however, 100 tonnes or 1.4 per cent lower than the 10 year average for February.

Mirroring the sector as a whole, growing and finishing sheep compounds equalled the output from a year previous of 2,300 tonnes. Coarse mixes or blends for sheep grew to its highest level for February

in five years of 2,600 tonnes, an increase of 700 tonnes or 34.1 per cent; conversely, production of breeding sheep compounds decreased by 700 tonnes or 12.0 per cent to 4,800 tonnes.

Following three successive year on year declines, total other feed production for February had risen by 100 tonnes or 1.2 per cent to 7,200 tonnes. However, this upturn was not sufficiently large as to bring the current total above the decade long average which it was 400 tonnes or 5.4 per cent below.

ruminationS

By Rob Daykin of Daykin Partnership

Milk prices have been falling very quickly indeed over the last few months, with data showing that some companies have dropped their prices 30% since January, and down to levels prior to the ‘big surge’ of 2021- 22. The average non-aligned price as calculated by milk price analyst Chris Walkland is now less than 37p for June. Back in January the average was 47.8p, which is a drop of nearly 11% and over 22% across all prices.

For organic milk prices it isn’t so bad. On average prices are down 7p from January and 13%, but this masks a major drop in Arla’s organic price from 53.7p down to 40.14p in May. That’s a drop of 13p and 25%!

But will the reductions stop now? That is the question. Well there is some stability on prices as some processors have held for June, most notably Muller at 40p for its ‘A’ price under its new price mechanism. This could have a significant bearing on other liquid processor’s prices as it should help to keep those firm too. Already liquid processors are starting to pay more for cheesemakers, which hasn’t always been the case and there is talk that we could be seeing the return of a liquid premium if Muller’s scheme works.

What about costs, though? Well they are falling, with wheat prices easing back as a result of the goings on in the Black Sea and with good prospects for the forthcoming harvest as crops are reported to be doing well. Protein prices are also on the wane as demand is lacklustre in some parts of the world and the crops are also looking good. However there is no doubt that feed ingredient prices are falling at a much slower rate than milk prices are doing! Currently prices for most ingredients are dropping by a few pounds a tonne, with only rapeseed and perhaps soya really coming off at a comparable pace.

What then, are the prospects for the rest of the dairying season? Well there is no doubt that the severe drop in milk prices twinned with the minor falls in feed prices has murdered the Milk Price:Feed Price Ratio, and this will be well below the threshold at which farmers feed

for milk. That, twinned with the cold and wet weather and a very shaky start to the silage season will mean that milk volumes will fall markedly in the coming months – barring a miracle! Already volumes are level with last year after being ahead by several percentage points over recent weeks and months.

The same drivers that are in play here are also in play across Europe and that is going to affect EU volumes too. Already there are some indications that German production is flat-lining and French volumes are also down. This bodes well for milk prices, at least.

All in all the view seems to be that there will be a flat Q2 and Q3 in the market, and then there will be an uplift in Q4 as volumes continue to fall off. But that theory also depends on demand for dairy and whether that starts to pick up or not. Currently it isn’t, but as prices for products start to fall in the shops we can but hope!

Who We are Daykin Partnership has over 30 years of experience in agriculture, expertise in estate management, product development and logistics. We work hard to provide up to the minute news and information as well as the latest and most innovative products from across the industry. Our extensive network covers every aspect of modern dairy farming from supply chains, market information and raw material sourcing to budgeting, staff training and ration formulation.

www.daykinpartnership.co.uk

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view From europe

By Colin Ley

Challenging times for european livestock sector

“Weak economic growth is beginning to take a toll on global pork consumption. Despite early signs that the worst of the inflationary impact may have already passed, the lagged impact on consumption is likely to be felt throughout 2023.” Rabobank.

“EU beef production is expected to decrease further in 2023 by 1.6%, mainly due to a structural adjustment in the beef and dairy sector, despite high beef prices. A smaller (pig) breeding herd as well as African Swine Fever (ASF) (is set to) push EU pigmeat production further down in 2023, by 5%.” European Commission.

The latest monthly production figures released by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) show that the UK produced 83,000 tonnes of pig meat in March (2023), an 18% (-18,600 tonnes) decline compared to the record high production in March 2022. It is the lowest recorded production for the month of March since 2019 when both reduced slaughter numbers and lower carcase weights impacted volumes. AHDB.

“EU compound feed production (EU27) for farmed animals in 2022 is estimated at148.9 million tonnes, a decrease of 3.8 % compared to 2021. Production decreased for animal feed sectors (in 2022) but more significantly for the pig sector (-6.7%) and poultry sector (-3.2 %) mainly due to the spread of animal diseases (Avian Influenza and African Swine Fever).” FEFAC.

This is a sobering collection of soundbites, drawn from Rabobank in the Netherlands, the European Commission’s Spring 2023 short-term outlet, The Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) in the UK, and FEFAC, our own industry’s representative organisation. Sadly, they all tell the same story, presenting an extremely challenging picture of livestock production being locked into a significant downturn across Europe. It’s not difficult, of course, to find reasons for what we’re seeing at present.

FEFAC points to avian influenza, economic uncertainty, and ‘green and animal welfare’ pressures.

Rabobank draws attention to the impact of ‘persistently high retail prices’ which it says are limiting the consumption of all proteins. The Dutch-based global bank also points out that consumers are continuing to conserve capital by shifting everyday purchases to lower-value protein options, switching channels, and moving to smaller pack sizes.

AHDB expands on the same argument, declaring that demand is a crucial factor at present with the cost-of-living crisis impacting consumer purchases. In addition to general inflation running at around 10% in the UK in recent months, food inflation has hit 18% overall, with much higher price hikes being applied to individual food items. “In the 12 weeks to March 19 (in the UK),” states AHDB, “sales of pork (at the retail point) have fallen 3.5% year on year, while inflation driven price rises

resulted in prices paid increasing 12.5% during the period.”

Pinning the blame for what’s happening is easy enough, starting with the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the European and Global economy, triggering production cost rises and helping to fuel high inflation rates. The fact that the war has moved into its second year with little sign of peace anytime soon, hasn’t helped.

rebound potential

Nevertheless, hope springs eternal, if only because the alternative of gloom, doom and disaster gets us nowhere in either the short or long term. Returning to our four sources of downturn reality, therefore, a few hints of optimism can still be found.

The poultry & pig feed sector may experience a rebound in Q4, states FEFAC.

Pig producer margins are recovering on historically high pig prices in Europe, states Rabobank.

With the approaching barbeque season there is opportunity for pork volumes to grow, states AHDB, commenting in its much more locally focused assessment of market trends. The UK body also says that while most pigmeat product categories have seen volumes declining, sausages, mince, burgers and grills, and pork ribs, all managed to record some growth in the most recent 12-week period.

The European Commission’s analysts were harder to please, however, when it came to looking for signs of improvement. The best I could find from them was a comment that with ‘feed prices slowly going down, the main pressure on (producer) margins is expected to cool’. Not the greatest ‘positive’ for our own industry, of course, if even the slightest hint of an on-farm boost has to be linked to cost cutting on feed production.

It is a reminder, however, that the food chain works best when all the links are in balance, or as close as possible to balance as can ever be achieved. This same point was emphasised recently by Scottish pig sector executive, Andy McGowan, Chief Executive of Scottish Pig Producers.

“European supplies of pigmeat are now running short just as they are in the UK, with prices rising quickly,” he said. “It gives us no pleasure to be proved right when we repeatedly told the rest of the supply chain that if they didn’t pay a fair price, the pigs would not be there.

“Retailers and foodservice companies need to pay a sustainable price to secure domestic supplies of high quality pigmeat. They cannot just assume that cheaper imports will always be available and hope that the consumer won’t notice the difference.”

resilience

We are a resilient industry, however, and in saying ‘we’ I’m referring to the entire food chain again.

According to British farm housing manufacturer, ARM Buildings, there are clear signs of an upturn in pig sector investments with a significant number of farmers ‘future-proofing’ their units for animal welfare reasons.

“After long periods of losses, when many producers left the industry, we are receiving an upsurge in serious enquiries for both new and refurbishment projects,” said ARM’s Paul Marland. “In particular, producers have been looking at installing freedom-style farrowing houses.

“It is encouraging that producers have sufficient confidence to invest,

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despite the problems they have encountered. High welfare systems are obviously going to be increasingly important in the future.”

So, there you have it. Having taken us all down the doom and gloom road of harsh economic reality, I’ve hopefully also lifted the mood with a bit of on-farm optimism.

moon shot

Picking up on FEFAC’s highlighting of ‘green and animal welfare’ pressures as one of the reasons for the current decline in feed compound volumes, I thought I would pass on the following ‘moon shot’ ideas outlined by Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC).

He believes we are in a uniquely strong position to use targeted innovation, backed by strong collaboration between academia, businesses, government, and communities, to shape a high value food production sector going forward. Such a sector, he adds, will be environmentally sustainable for landscapes, rewarding for farmers, beneficial for consumers and supportive of national and international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Prof Powell goes on to argue that the development and refinement of animal feed supplements, investment in selective breeding programmes and better use of technology to capture livestock emissions, all have a vital role to play in the future of global meat production.

“We have the means to achieve low or even zero-carbon meat at considerable scale and in ways that put us in pole position to develop a new and exceptionally valuable market in the food supply chain,” he says. “As we do, so there will inevitably be trade-offs that need careful management, including higher input costs for farmers and fewer animals overall in the food supply chain.”

Once again, the words ‘fewer animals’ won’t immediately sound good for future feed compound output.

“Yet, we need to be canny enough to appreciate that food produced to exacting environmental standards can be sold to consumers at a significant premium as compared with animals with lower welfare standards,” adds the professor. “New systems of sustainable farm monitoring accreditation will be needed. In practice, farmers should be able to achieve the same or better returns from smaller herds, freeing up land for biodiversity or other forms of food production alongside low intensity animal husbandry.

“The challenge is for the academic community to redouble its efforts to work with and support businesses, policy makers and communities to seize the opportunity in a concerted manner. Together we can adopt a ‘moon shot’ approach to rapidly developing and refining livestock production that reaps huge environmental and economic rewards in the years ahead.”

And a strong and profitable food chain should help us all, even if the volumes involved need to be adjusted.

Soybean first in Europe

I recently received an invitation to attend the 11th World Soybean Research Conference (WSRC11) which is due to take place in June (18 – 23) and is being held in Europe for the first time. Located in Vienna with Austria’s Donau Soja Association as the hosting institution, the conference programme lists contributions from leading academic and industry experts, stakeholders, and students, with the promise

of initiating discussions and debates aimed at further progressing the sector’s science and technology.

“We, the world soybean community, can only overcome the current and future challenges if we broaden our perspectives,” said Professor Johann Vollmann, Chair of the WSC11 Scientific Committee. “Therefore, we welcome all of you to participate in the conference and invite you to contribute to the programme, with sincere hopes that the conference will be a week full of new insights, intellectual excitement, and memorable moments.”

The conference agenda includes a specialist food, feed and nutrition section featuring the following presentations:

•

Feed and aquaculture developments

•

The future of soy is food

•

Chemistry and nutrition of soybeans and soy products

•

Soy protein functionality and processing

• health

Soy foods, soy bioactives, and improvement for human

•

Assessing sustainability of soybean supply chains

The impact of climate change on soybean production, an analysis of new and emerging pests and diseases affecting soybean, and a broad focus on breeding advances, are also included in the extensive programme. And there’s a session on the EU-funded ECOBREED organic development programme as it relates to advanced genotyping and phenotyping for organic soybeans.

It’s appropriate, of course, that this event is taking place in Vienna as its first European venue, given that soybeans were first introduced to the world 150 years ago by Japanese and Chinese delegations at the Vienna Expo. It was from this beginning that the industrial cultivation of soya spread to the World.

Today, according to my invitation note from the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists, Austria ranks as one of the leading producers of eco-friendly soya, with Donau Soja (Danube Soya) being the trade association that certifies regional, sustainable, and non-GMO soya across the whole of Western and Eastern Europe.

Women Farmers innovation award 2023

Finally, a plug for the role women play in the wider agricultural sector, as initiated by Copa and Cogeca, the EU-based farm and farm cooperative organisation.

With the support of Corteva Agriscience, Copa and Cogeca recently brought together eight inspiring women in agriculture who are ‘working towards a more resilient agriculture sector’. They also announced the launch of the 7th edition of the Innovation Award for Women Farmers to highlight the contributions women make towards rural development and a sustainable farming sector, presenting it as an opportunity to showcase the inspiring and innovative activities that rural women and farmers are doing across the EU.

“Our aim is twofold,” said Lotta Folkesson, Chair of Copa’s Women’s Working Party. “It’s about giving a platform to highlight how women are involved in the agricultural sector, whether that be as farmers working on a farm or as an engineer or scientist working towards a sustainable agriculture sector. It is also about creating role models and encouraging more women to choose a career in agriculture.”

There’s a 10,000 Euro cash prize on offer for the winner and a 5,000 Euro prize for the runner-up.

What is HemicellTM XT and how does it differ from other enzymes?

Hemicell™ XT is a patented enzyme that can be added to pig and poultry rations to improve feed efficiency by breaking down indigestible fibres known as β-mannans. These are present in some feed ingredients and can cause a Feed-Induced Immune Response (FIIR) which increases intestinal inflammation and reduces feed utilisation.

On top of breaking down these fibres, HemicellTM XT helps to optimise gut health, reduce nutrient waste and prevent performance losses.

In what feed ingredients are β-mannans present?

β-mannans can be found in varying concentrations in soya hulls, sunflower, wheat, rapeseed, barley, and most vegetable feeds.

When should HemicellTM XT be used and at what rate should it be incorporated into rations?

HemicellTM XT should be used in all diets with a β-mannan level equivalent to, or higher than,

a 12% soybean, rapeseed, sunflower, palm kernel or guar meals (but all vegetable ingredients contribute towards the final concentration). β-mannans can cause a FIIR in concentrations as small as 0.2%, so most rations would benefit from the inclusion of the product.

HemicellTM XT can reduce feed costs, improve animal health and increase sustainability. The enzyme boosts gut health by reducing stress placed on the animal’s digestive system and the inflammation that this causes.

As a result of this, the net energy of pig rations can be reduced by up to 63 kcal NE/kg pigs2 and the metabolisable energy of poultry rations can be reduced by 90 kcal ME/kg2.

In poultry, the benefits include:

> Enhanced intestinal integrity

> Drier litter

> Fewer foot pad lesions

> Increased uniformity in broilers

For pigs, the benefits include:

> Reduced energy requirements

> Reduced inflammation in the gut

Company reports & accounts

By Roger Dean

Wynnstay group plc

This Group of companies published its annual Report and Accounts for the year ending 31 October 2022 on 31 January 2023.

The Group defines its activities as per the Standard Industrial Classification as the Manufacture of prepared feeds for farm animals (SIC 10910) and Agents selling agricultural raw materials, livestock, textile raw materials and semi-finished goods (SIC 46110).

For the year under review, the Group reported revenues amounting to £713.03 million. Under the heading of ‘Delivering a Sustainable Farming Future’ the report claims the Group ‘helps livestock and arable farmers to produce food in a more sustainable, environmentally friendly and profitable way’. The Group’s business model is aligned with the ‘buying needs and habits’ of the Group’s farming customer base which includes arable, livestock and mixed farms.

The Group has two main divisions. Agriculture comprises the manufacture and supply of a comprehensive range of agricultural inputs across many parts of the UK. Agriculture includes three feed mills and three blending plants. The Group also uses third party feed mills to satisfy additional seasonal and geographic demand. The division also includes Glasson, whose activities are the production of blended fertilizer, the supplier of feed raw materials and the manufacture of added value products to specialist animal feed retailers. Currently, it is the UK’s second largest fertilizer blender.

The division now encompasses Humphrey Feed and Pullets which is a leading poultry feed supplier and point of lay pullet supplier to independent poultry farmers. The business offers both traditional and organic feeds, manufactured from an adjacent mill. Humphrey Feeds and Pullets specialises ‘in offering expert knowledge on poultry nutrition and husbandry’ with what it describes as ‘a primary mission of advancing poultry performance’.

The division’s arable activities include the supply of a wide range of products to arable and grassland farmers, including seed, fertilizer and agrochemicals. The division also includes Grainlink, the Group’s in-house grain marketing company. The company provides farmers with an independent professional marketing service which is backed by the financial security of the Wynnstay Group. The company has access to major markets for specialist milling and malting grain as well as feed into mills.

The second component of the Group is its Specialist Agricultural Merchanting division which supplies specialist agricultural and associated sundry products to customers throughout Wales, the Midlands, the North West and the South West of England.

In the financial period under review, the Group generated revenues, as noted above, of £713.03 million, an increase of £212.65 million or 42.5 per cent over the corresponding figure a year earlier. As the Chairman noted, the Group performed strongly during the year and ‘trading results

set new record highs across all key financial measures. It should be noted that results benefitted substantially from some singular gains that we do not expect to be repeated in the new financial year’.

After deducting the Group’s Cost of Sales, Gross Profits during the year amounted to £90.81 million, an increase of £22.91 million or 33.7 per cent. After deducting charges for manufacturing, distribution and selling costs, administrative expenses and accounting for other operating income, adjusted operating profits amounted to £ 22.45 million, an increase of £11.36 million or 104.5 per cent. After a number of other adjustments, including interest, joint ventures and tax on the latter, the Group’s pre-tax profits for the year under review amounted to £21.12 million, an increase of £10.13 million or 92.2 per cent.

W.e. Jameson and Son ltd

This company submitted its annual report and accounts for the accounting year ending on 30 June 2022 on 15 October 2022.

The principal activity of the company during year under review continued to be the buying, processing and selling of livestock feeds and the merchanting of seeds, fertilizers and other agricultural products. The company also benefits from retail activities run through its Country Store.

The company recorded sales of £28.91 million during the accounting year ending on 30 June 2022. This compares with £23.22 million in the previous accounting year, an increase of £5.68 million or 24.5 per cent, a further reflection of the unusual trading conditions that characterized the year in question. These conditions manifested themselves in the sharp increase in the company’s cost of sales which rose from £20.68 million in the prior year to £25.84 million, an increase of £5.16 million with the result that saw the company’s Gross Profits increased from £2.54 million to £3.06 million, an uplift of approximately 20 per cent.

After accounting for administrative expenses and other operating income the company was able to report operating profits of £914,563 for the year under review. This compared with the prior year’s operating profit of £454,185, an increase in the year under review of 101.3 per cent. After accounting for a slightly reduced amount of interest payments, the company’s pre-tax profits for the year under review amounted to £923,224 compared with the previous year’s pre-tax profit of £463,467, an increase of almost 100 per cent.

The company has clearly benefitted from the minor increase in administrative expenses of just 2.7 per cent.

heygate & Sons ltd

The Group has recently reported on its activities during its financial period 28 March 2021 to 2 April 2022. The Board of Directors noted, in their annual report, that the UK’s food and agricultural sector was a highly competitive and that the economic situation remained ‘challenging’. The Board went on to note that weather and market conditions around the world had caused both global and UK grain prices to increase. The Group conceded that the ‘volatility’ of the grain price was not anticipated and, in consequence, the gross profit margin was squeezed in consequence.

During the period 28 March 2021 to 2 April 2022, the company recorded turnover amounting to £341.28 million, compared to £290.67 million in the previous accounting period of 29 March 2020 to 27 March 2021. Pre-tax profitability over the current accounting period was £15.35 million, compared to the previous year’s £6.67 million.

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ten Ways … to learn to be patient

By Robert Ashton

We’ve just moved from Norfolk to the Suffolk coast, and this has meant selling our home of 25 years and having a new one built. In many ways that was something of a wrench, as it was a barn we had converted and where our then teenage children had grown up and left home. But what really tested my patience was the process of conveyancing, which went on, and on and on.

We agreed a price with our buyer in October, and only exchanged contracts six months later in early April. Searches, surveys, reports, land registry discrepancies all took an absolute age. Throughout this time, there was the very real risk of our buyer dropping out, because before exchange, there is no commitment. Only when we finally exchanged contracts could I relax.

This traumatic episode prompts me to reflect on patience, which they say is a virtue, but as I’ve always found, it is difficult to be patient, when you are eager to see things moving. We got there in the end, but prompted by recent experience, here are ten ways I think we can all become a little more patient:

therapy will help you, but taking time to reflect on why you are impatient can help you become more sanguine when faced with what appears to be prevarication.

Look on the bright side 6. – I’m a great believer that behind every challenge, there is an equal and opposite opportunity. Perhaps I’m wrong to apply Newton’s third law in this human context, but as often as not, there is an opportunity lurking behind every looming disaster. Looking for the bright side can allay your impatience.

Slow down 7. ! –Take time to reflect on why are you so impatient. Will it matter if things take longer than planned? This was certainly the case with our house sale, because we were fortunate enough not to need the money from our sale, to fund the building of our new home in Suffolk. In reality, the delay we were experiencing was annoying, but not actually getting in the way of progress. The same might be true of the things that are testing your patience. Keep yourself busy 8. – There’s a good reason why we lie awake dwelling on our impatience in the middle of the night. It’s because we’ve nothing else on our mind and our brains love finding reasons to keep us awake. Having nothing to do apart from stress about something is a killer. I start each day by making a list of things I need to do. This both boosts my productivity and shifts my impatience to the back of my mind.

Wear their shoes

1. – While I found the endless hitches and delays frustrating, it helped to see things from my buyer’s perspective. He was paying more than £1m for my home, and that’s a lot of money, so he had every right to be cautious!

We’re all different

2. – I can be too quick to make decisions and often spend ages afterwards wondering if I was too hasty. Others, including my wife, take longer to make decisions, but once they’ve made up their mind, there are no later regrets. Accepting that we’re all different helps.

Listen carefully 3. – There can be a world of difference between what we want to hear and what is said. Particularly in negotiations, it’s important to pick up hints of doubt that unless addressed, will grow into delays. Better to confront concerns head on than deal with what might be stalling for time while the real decision is made.

The sun won’t shine all the time 9. – Impatience, irritation, frustration and even incandescent rage are all important aspects of the human psyche. You probably know people who appear to be happy all the time, who never have a bad thing to say about anyone or anything, and like me, you probably find them a little too good to be true. Life is meant to be hard at times, and we all have to learn to take the rough with the smooth.

Know what needles you 10. – Our tolerance to hassle varies depending on the cause, and is rarely proportional to the impact of what is causing the impatience. I had an aged uncle who would become disproportionally angry if his morning boiled egg was late, but tolerated the infirmity of old age without a thought. Knowing what winds us up, and why, can help us develop coping mechanisms.

Accept what you cannot change

4. – Solicitors and local authorities work at what feels at times to be a glacial pace, but of course they cannot afford to make mistakes, so are methodical and process led. For someone impulsive this can appear to be painfully slow, but accepting that you cannot hurry some people can reduce your level of anxiety.

Know yourself 5. – I make no secret of the fact that I’ve spend a good many years in therapy, and one of the tangible benefits of this is a greater level of self-awareness. I’m not suggesting that

Finally, let me reflect on how surprised I have been by the effect on my wellbeing of returning to live in the small town where I grew up and have been visiting regularly since moving away more than 40 years ago.

Since moving back I’ve met people I’d not seen for decades, and it’s nice to be able to drive or cycle around the area without needing a map, but what has taken my breath away has been the sense of belonging that I’ve never felt anywhere that I’ve lived since moving away. I’ve realised that until now, my work has decided the place I live and so I’ve never felt the sense of connection that I feel here.

Perhaps a future column will explore what it means to feel at home!

milk matters

By Christine Pedersen Senior Dairy Business Consultant The Dairy Group christine.pedersen@thedairygroup.co.uk www.thedairygroup.co.uk

dairy outlook

Unsurprisingly, the weather is a hot topic of conversation. Many producers had hoped for an early spring turnout to alleviate pressure on dwindling forage stocks and to reduce feed costs. In England and Wales, March 2023 was the wettest March since 1981. Although Scotland saw rainfall totals more in line with its average, Northern Ireland also experienced one of its wettest Marchs on record. April was predominantly unsettled but some producers took a ‘window of opportunity’ to harvest 1st cut. As I write this in early May, this month is also proving to be very wet and for many of producers who didn’t harvest in April there is little prospect of 1st cut being cut before mid to late May. The excessive rain has also delayed maize planting; hopefully by the time you read this, maize will be flourishing in warmer soils and contingency plans for clients heavily reliant on maize silage can be put aside.

Grass growth rates are in line with the average of previous years, but the wet weather has meant that utilising grazed grass has been a challenge for many producers due to difficult ground conditions and low grass dry matter. As we head towards the traditional spring peak of milk production in mid-May, the latest GB Milk Delivery report from AHDB for the week ending 29/4/23 shows milk deliveries increased by 0.4% compared to the previous week and are 0.1% below the same week last year:

spring flush but prices have now mostly dropped below 40ppl.

The cost of production is set to ease in 2023 but is unlikely to keep pace with the decline in milk price and fixed costs will still be subject to inflation in the wider economy. One of the key challenges for 2023 will be producing milk as efficiently as possible as the milk to feed price ratio reduces from 1.35 to 1.1 in a matter of months. There are a number of factors to juggle including the base milk price, ‘B’ litres or seasonal milk price adjustments, the impact of milk quality and the cost of feed, all of which require good quality data to help make the right decisions.

MCi is our web based management system which combines physical and financial data to help our clients improve herd business performance. MCi allows the user to generate a milk forecast for the year ahead and to show how this interacts with the seasonal milk price where daily limits are applied (a quota), e.g. the Arla BADP. The MCi report below is for an autumn block calving herd with surplus litres in January to May attracting penalties and the surplus litres in October to December receiving bonuses. The ‘quota’ is the BADP compared with the MCi generated forecast, with actual sales displayed. A further report shows the financial impact for each month and the total for the year.

Farm Gate Prices eased in March to 46.0ppl, down 2.3ppl (-5%) on February, but still +28% year on year. Milk quality remains high and is following the normal seasonal pattern.

Our latest milk price forecast, based on current prices and the latest market returns, suggests the Defra farm gate price will ease to 41.7ppl in April, 39.8ppl in May and June at 38.9ppl. 2023 milk prices will remain uncertain as new seasonality arrangements price marginal litres at or below AMPE which has dropped to 31.8ppl, for example Saputo’s B litre price drops to 29.8ppl in May. Much depends on what happens to liquid retail prices in the next 3 months and milk supply through the

As always, producers are encouraged to understand their milk contract and influence their milk price by implementing measures to “exploit” it. Most milk contracts now pay for butterfat and protein and as we head into the spring/summer months when average constituent levels typically dip, we will be monitoring milk quality closely and deploying feeding strategies to increase constituent yields and milk price. In recent years soya hulls have featured heavily in rations to promote butterfat but as milk contracts move towards sustainability bonuses for nil soya/soya derivatives, there is a question mark regarding their cost effectiveness if their use results in a lower milk price. From our own experiences with feed groups, we have seen compound price quotes up to £10/t higher for some nil soya/soya derivative, high fibre compounds compared to those where there are no restrictions imposed on soya use.

Purchased feeds typically represent 25% - 35% of total milk production costs and against the backdrop of rapidly falling milk prices, clients are asking where they can make savings. Any readers involved in dairy cow nutrition will know there are 3 rations for a dairy herd: the ration on paper as formulated by the nutritionist, the ration fed to the cows, and the ration the cows actually consume. Some of this discrepancy can be due to variations in forage dry matter, particularly when factoring grazed grass into ration formulation. As part of MCi development, we have created an app for TMR fed herds, MCi Manager that allows for the management of daily feeding to help to

Policy name Brief description

Use of methane suppressing feed products (e.g. 3NOP, nitrate additives) to reduce methane emissions from livestock.

Multi-purpose breeds or multi-use of cows - (milk, calves and meat).

UK Government will continue to work with Food Standard Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS), industry and the livestock sector to explore suitable policy options to encourage rapid and extensive uptake of methane suppressing feed products with proven safety and efficacy, including exploring mandating methane suppressing feed products in compound feed for cattle in England.

UK Government will monitor current market-led initiatives to increase integration of beef and dairy production chains (via dual purpose breeds or increasing use of dairy/beef cross calves) and explore policy options to support this measure should the market-led response not meet the required uptake levels or emissions savings.

Improved farm fuel and energy efficiency. UK Government will support reductions in farm non-traded carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from motive power, pumps and drives. Actions include, amongst others, the use of minimum till and no till techniques and development of technology and equipment (for example electrified tractors and utility vehicles, the use of robots and low energy motors).

feed accurately and monitor the interactions between the current daily milk yield and feed inputs. The same data can then be automatically transferred to the monthly costings and used for emissions data.

dairy SuStainability

The focus on net zero has accelerated over the last 12 months and in early April “The Net Zero Growth Plan” and “The Carbon Budget Delivery Plan” were published. These set out how government plans to create a net-zero emission economy in UK by 2050. Whilst acknowledging that farming is one sector where some residual/unavoidable emissions are expected, Defra has developed 33 policies to help decarbonise agricultural emissions as far as possible.

1.6

0.6

0.6

The policies calculated to have the greatest potential reduction in carbon emissions by 2033 - 2037 (Carbon Budget 6 (CB6)) of particular significance to dairy farmers are shown in the table above:

The remaining 33 policies cover precision feeding and farming techniques, animal and plant genetics, animal and crop health and productivity, organic manures, soil management, hedgerows and trees.

Arla has introduced a ‘Sustainability Incentive’ to accelerate progress towards Net Zero. With the first sustainability incentive payments due in August for milk delivered in July 2023 and incentives of up to €2.4/litre, Arla suppliers are focused on maximising their points and subsequent milk price.

Scientifically Speaking …

By Matthew Wedzerai

hoW FulviC aCid reduCeS ammonia emiSSion in broilerS

In this new study, fulvic acid proved beneficial to broiler production by inhibiting urease activity and reducing the ammonia released through the faeces.

Fulvic acid is extracted from weathered coal, brown coal, and other minerals, which form a compound organic acid with high bioactive properties but low molecular weight. Fulvic acid and humic acid are the two major components of the humus, which have similar functional structures. Fulvic acid consists of numerous active functional groups including phenol, hydroxyl, carboxyl, and hydroquinone, which confer beneficial effects such as anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities. In fish, it is reported to promote the proliferation of beneficial bacteria in the intestine and improve the secretion of digestive enzymes. A recent study published in the journal of Poultry Science shows that broiler diets supplemented with 0.6 or 1 g per kg fulvic acid result in increased body weight gain and improved activities of digestive enzymes, high total polyunsaturated fatty acid content, increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities, and high levels of serum IgG, IgM, and IgA but decreased levels of malondialdehyde, indicating benefits on growth performance, and antioxidant and immune system.

diets

In this study, researchers examined the effects of mineral fulvic acid at different concentrations on the faecal ammonia excretion, production parameters, intestinal function, and digestive enzyme activity of Arbor

Acre broilers from 1 day old to 42 days. The broilers were housed in 3-tiered battery cages with 24 hour lighting, and free access to feed and drinking water. The broilers were divided into 4 treatment groups as follows:

1.

The control (CON): a basal diet, no additive.

2. FA and 0.5% FA.

Control + fulvic acid (FA) at varying levels of 0.15% FA, 0.3%

ammonia excretion

For the faecal ammonia test which lasted for 5 days (Figure 1), the addition of FA at the 3 different inclusion levels resulted in significant reduction in ammonia excretion observed on day 2, while the 0.5% dietary FA also significantly reduced the faecal ammonia yield compared to the control treatment at days 4 and 5. Thus, there was a noticeable linear effect at 2 d, 4 d, and 5 d, such that with an increase in dietary FA levels, the amount of ammonia released in the faeces decreased.

Their results also showed that at 1 d and 3 d of the faecal ammonia determination, the faecal urease activity was significantly lowered with varying levels of FA addition (0.15, 0.3, and 0.5% FA) compared to the unsupplemented group. The researchers attributed the effect of ammonia reduction on the potential of fulvic acid to modulate gut microbiota which was observed in this study. In addition, the reduction in ammonia excretion was related to its enhancement of nitrogen metabolism and riboflavin metabolism that was observed in this study.

intestinal function

Compared to the control treatment, it was observed that 0.15% FA addition significantly increases the villus height to crypt depth ratio of the duodenum of broilers. In the ileal mucosa, the content of the tight junction proteins occludin and zonula occludens-1 was noticeably greater in the 0.15% FA treatment than in the control treatment, indicating improvements in the intestinal barrier function. In addition, it was observed that the antibacterial mucin-2 in the ileal mucosa was elevated in the 0.5% FA treatment compared to other treatments, whereas, in the jejunal mucosa it was significantly increased by all the inclusion levels

Figure 1: Effects of fulvic acid on faecal ammonia emission and urease activity

of 0.15, 0.3, and 0.5% FA, further confirming its enhancement of the mucosa barrier function of broilers.

The researchers highlighted that, consistent with the current findings, previous studies had shown that feeding humic acid increases intestinal viscosity, decreases intestinal permeability, and reduces intestinal bacterial translocation in broilers. Humic acid was shown to have a strong interaction with collagen and other biopolymers, which enhanced the maturity of collagen fibres and increased the integrity of ileal epithelium, further explaining how FA addition served to improve the tight junctions and intestinal permeability of broilers. FA supplementation also resulted in intestinal proliferation of beneficial bacteria such as lactobacilli.

On the other hand, D-lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH) can be used as an index to examine intestinal barrier permeability. When the body is subjected to trauma, shock, intestinal infarction, long-term stress, and bacterial invasion, the intestinal barrier is destroyed, and a large amount of D-LDH produced by intestinal bacteria will enter the blood circulation, increasing the content of D-LDH in the blood. In the current study, plasma D-LDH was significantly decreased by 0.15, 0.3, and 0.5% FA addition measured at 42 d compared to the unsupplemented diet. The 0.15% FA treatment had lower lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentration compared to the control birds, further cementing that fulvic acid supplementation, especially at low concentrations, improves the intestinal barrier function of broilers.

digestive enzyme activity

Although fulvic acid had no significant influence on production parameters, it was observed that the jejunal index of broilers increased linearly with an increase in the dietary FA levels. Furthermore, the ileal and thymus organ indexes of broilers treated with 0.15% FA increased noticeably greater than the control treatment. In the ileal chyme, the amylase activity was unaffected by the different dietary treatments, however, the amylase activity in the jejunal chyme was significantly stimulated in the 0.5% FA compared to the control and 0.15% FA treatments. Similarly, it was observed that 0.5% FA addition resulted in a significant increase in lipase activity of ileal chyme and jejunal chyme compared to the unsupplemented diet, all pointing to the potency of fulvic acid in enhancing nutrient digestion and absorption.

Conclusion remarks

Fulvic acid reduces ammonia excretion through its effect on urease

• activity and enhancement of nitrogen and riboflavin metabolism. Fulvic acid supports intestinal functions by stimulating the activity

• of digestive enzymes, promoting intestinal tight junctions and gut barrier functions, and promoting the colonization of beneficial intestinal bacteria.

Contrary to previous studies, in this study, the supplementation

• of fulvic acid had no significant influence on the antioxidant parameters.

• dosage of mineral fulvic acid beneficial to broiler diets.

The study demonstrates the addition of 0.15% as an appropriate

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Feed trade topics from the island of ireland

nigta preSident ConFirmS 12 monthS oF great volatility For agri-Supply SeCtorS

Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association (NIGTA) president, Patrick McLaughlin, has confirmed the tremendous volatility and uncertainty that has impacted across the agri-supply sector over the last year.

Speaking at the NIGTA annual dinner, he said: “During the past 12 months, uncertainty and volatility have dominated the agri-supply trade, largely driven by the devastating war in Ukraine, which has had a profound effect on the entire economy, not least the feed, fertilizer, and energy markets.

“Given the importance of Ukraine to global trade, considerable efforts have been made to facilitate the flow of grain from Ukraine, through the European solidarity lanes and the landmark Black Sea Grain Initiative.

“However, the situation remains fragile and is something NIGTA is closely monitoring. The invasion has brought the animal feed and fertiliser sectors sharply into focus for all of society and highlighted the vital role our industry plays, as the first link in the food chain, and the valuable contribution that it makes to our agri-food industry, and to Northern Ireland as a whole.”

McLaughlin continued: “Every sector has faced its own unique challenges. But despite the difficult trading conditions, our entire industry has shown incredible flexibility, agility, and resilience.

According to McLaughlin, NIGTA has been to the fore in addressing the challenge posed by Brexit.

He further explained: “Through the Northern Ireland Business Brexit Working Group, NIGTA has engaged extensively with various officials and stakeholders to bring understanding and influence to issues relevant to the agri-supply sector. We welcome the Windsor Framework as a step forward.

“It is reassuring to see that relations have visibly improved between the UK and EU, which we hope will continue, so that pragmatic solutions can be found to the outstanding issues that are being worked on. In particular, managing regulatory divergence will require properly developed structures and meaningful engagement with business and stakeholders, whereby NIGTA will continue to ensure that the voice of the agri-supply sector is heard.”

Sustainability remains a key priority for NIGTA.

“The reality is that pressure is now coming from both policymakers and the marketplace,” said McLaughlin.

“We are acutely aware of the challenges related to air, soil and water quality, and the risk that environmental targets could become our agri-food industry’s licence to operate.

“But we are also focused on the opportunities available within the animal feed and fertiliser sectors to help support our farming customers in reducing their environmental footprint to enhance the green credentials of Northern Ireland agri-food.

“For many years, we have been proactive in driving forward better nutrient use efficiency, and precision feeding strategies, as well as delivering professional advice at farm level, provided by our FAR accredited feed advisers. But ultimately, widespread industry collaboration will be needed to help deliver the emission reductions required.”

He continued: “Fortunately, within Northern Ireland, we have an excellent track record of the agri-food industry working together for the common good, as demonstrated most recently by the establishment of the industry driven Carbon Steering Group. This is developing a carbon footprint programme for farms across Northern Ireland, because it is only by measuring that we can better manage.

“There are green shoots emerging and much to be hopeful about. We want to be part of a region that leads in all areas, rather than one that follows.

“By working together, through networks like NIGTA, we are stronger and better equipped to tackle whatever comes our way and by joining forces with others from across the industry we can ensure that our voice is heard, and that politicians and decision makers recognise the true value of what we have to offer.”

Patrick McLaughlin concluded: “The success of NIGTA is ultimately the strength and collaboration of its membership.”

iFa WelComeS appointment oF matt dempSey aS Chair oF tillage Food viSion group

Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) grain committee chairman Kieran McEvoy has welcomed the appointment of Matt Dempsey as chair of the ‘Tillage Food Vision Group’.

The setting-up of the new organisation, which will report on the future development of Ireland’s crops’ sector, was announced by farm minister - Charlie McConalogue - at the end of March.

McEvoy said: “Matt Dempsey has spent many years working on behalf of Irish farmers. He has made a very valuable contribution to the work of Tillage Industry Ireland and is a long-standing tillage farmer in his own right. As a result, Matt is very well qualified to drive forward the work of the new vision group.

“IFA called on the minister to establish a specific grouping that would address the challenges facing the crops’ sector as far back as last November. We want to see the new grouping come forward with firm proposals that will help develop the scope of the tillage industry.”

McEvoy will represent IFA on the tillage vision group. He will be accompanied by the association’s cereal policy executive, Max Potterton.

“We saw a small increase in the scope of the tillage sector in 2022,” McEvoy explained. “But it took government investment to bring this about. And this will be the context within much of the discussion entered into by members of the new body will take place.”

IFA’s grain chairman also recognises the need for tillage farmers to be placed on a level playing field when it comes to the rolling-out of the new nitrates’ regulations.

He explained: “Fundamentally, this is all about ensuring that excess nutrients can be moved from livestock to tillage farms in the most effective way possible. In addition, tillage farmers must be allowed to secure the leased land they need to grow crops in a fair and equitable manner.

“This is not about one placing one sector of Irish agriculture at odds with the others. The core challenge centres on that of allowing Irish agriculture make best use of the organic manures and slurries that it produces. Tillage farmers will play a key role in making this happen.”

According to McEvoy, the IFA is developing a comprehensive policy document on these issues, which will be presented to the first meeting to the Tillage Food Vision Group. “Prior to this, the detail of the document will be discussed in full by IFA’s Council members,” he concluded.

FertiliSer market proFiteering ContinueS to hamString iriSh FarmerS

Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Deputy President Brian Rushe addressed a recent meeting of Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the issue of fertiliser prices.

He said the profiteering within the fertiliser industry is coming at a detrimental cost to Irish farmers’ livelihoods.

Fertiliser prices around Europe continue to decrease with an almost 60% fall in prices between the peaks of 2022 and March 2023, but in Ireland prices have only reduced by a fraction.

In the UK, the AHDB reported that the price paid for Urea by farmers had fallen by over 40% from September 2022 to February 2023. As per the CSO fertiliser price data in the same period in Ireland the price of Urea has only reduced by 9% and from a higher level than UK prices were in September 2022.

“Farmers, as price takers, operate in a sector with very tight margins and must have the opportunity to purchase fertiliser at a fair and competitive price,” the IFA Deputy President said.

“Farmers cannot pass on increases on their input costs directly in the price they sell their produce for. For that reason, it must always be ensured that farmers are paying a correct price for their inputs and not victims of profiteering by organisations in the input supply chain,” Brian Rushe stated.

“Currently that is not happening, and the prices farmers are being quoted are simply unsustainable,” he added.

In November 2022, the EU Commission announced the formation of a market observatory to share data on the production, use, prices, and trade for fertiliser in Europe.

IFA will be an active participant in the expert group within this observatory and it is hoped that all members of the Irish fertiliser trade will also fully engage in this.

harneSSing the poWer oF plant protein

Teagasc research scientists have been able to increase the plant protein content of beans from 20% up to 90% in the form of a ‘protein isolate’.

It’s a breakthrough that could lead to the inclusion of Irish-grown protein crops into myriad food ingredients.

The crops that move centre stage in this regard are beans, peas and lupins. All three grow well in Ireland, north and south

Driving this work are research scientists Sinéad Fitzsimons and Mark Fenelon.

According to Fitzsimons, a spectrum of protein-based ingredients can be used within the food sectors. These range from a flour, made from the original crop through to various liquid-based concentrates

She said: “The isolate can be used in products containing a high protein content. Possible options here include the development of new, plant-based sports’ nutritional drinks. We are used to seeing whey based beverages and whey-based protein powders. Now there are plant-based options, which are based on faba beans and peas. These contain up to 90% protein. The make-up of the product could include the isolate plus a flavour source. When mixed with water, they can be taken after a sports’ session to aid recovery.”

Teagasc’s U-PROTEIN programme is now at pilot scale, where the development of new plant protein-based ingredients is concerned.

“The initial laboratory work allowed us to develop the processes and evaluate the efficiency of the various extraction and separation systems,” said Fitzsimons. “The next step will be into industry. New equipment is available to us that extract the protein.”

According to Mark Fenelon, a pilot plant can produce a range of products with outputs ranging from 100kg to 1,000kg.

He further explained: “We are essentially working at a precommercial scale. This means that we can work at small and larger pilot scale. But processes need to be scalable from the point of view of a commercial operator. We try to mimic the bigger processes as best we can.

Many of the processes developed for the U-PROTEIN programme are similar to those now used by the dairy sector. However, there is one big difference: milk is a liquid; plant proteins are all solids.

There are also key differences, from a technology perspective when it comes to sourcing the other nutrient and fibre stream within a crop.

Mark Fenelon again: “Where milk is concerned, it is possible to make cheese, whey and, in addition, to source other products. But all of this work is carried out in a liquid format.

“However, where plant ingredient sources are concerned, the challenge comes back all the time to the fact that the original material is solid in nature. And this does make a real difference when it comes to developing the required extraction processes.”

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g 20 di SC u SS ion S on the Wheat i nitiative Continue apaCe

The Wheat Initiative (WI) stands out as one of the most co-ordinated projects, conceived to address the challenge of future food security around the world. It was established in 2011

It is the ‘brain child’ of the G20, an inter-governmental forum representing 19 countries and the European Union. John Spink, head of Teagasc’s Head of Crops Environment and Land Use Programme, participated in a recent meeting of G20 chief agricultural scientists in India. He was there in his capacity as chair of the Wheat Initiative’s Institutions’ Coordination Committee.

According to Spink, Ireland is playing a key role in helping to deliver the objectives established for WI.

He explained: “WI is allowing research scientists and agronomists from around the world to exchange ideas where wheat-focused technologies are concerned. This includes the identification of new genetic material and the development of evolving crop management systems.”

Spink added: “The work of Teagasc’s Dr Steven Kildea in developing new integrated pest management control systems as a disease control option for wheat crops is a case in point.

“The sharing of information across the entire G20 network is helping to maximise the research and development effort that can be brought to bear on this crucially important issue at an international level.”

So why was wheat singled out by the G20 in this way?

John Spink again: “It is the world’s most commonly traded cereal. In turn, this reflects wheat’s role as a key food source in so many countries.”

Ireland is playing a key role in developing the overall WI project. In addition to John Spink, Professor Fiona Doohan, from University College Dublin, sits on the project’s scientific committee. Meanwhile, Teagasc’s Dr Ewen Mullins sits on the WI’s research committee.

The presentation given in India by John Spink highlighted the collaborative nature of the research work ongoing under the auspices of WI.

He said: “A key objective has been to enhance sustainable wheat production under increased climate stress, and access to the best and safest technologies in breeding, agronomy, plant nutrition and protection against pathogens and pests. These factors are essential and have to be implemented through a strong science based framework.”

John Spink also outlined the programmes of the WI, including the Alliance for Wheat Adaption to Heat and Drought (AHEAD) and the Wheat Initiative Crop Health Alliance (Watch-A), the 10+ Wheat Genomes Project, the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC), as well as the International Wheat Yield Partnership (IWYP).

For the record, Irish farmers traditionally grow the world’s highest yielding wheat crops. Growers here are also renowned for their efficient use of crop inputs while Irish land values are amongst the highest in the world.

in my opinion … richard halleron the opportunitieS to expand the Footprint

oF iriSh Food Within the uk are immenSe

The UK government has recently published its Green Finance Strategy document. It identifies the myriad investment options that can be taken over the coming years to drive sustainability across the British economy as a whole. Not surprisingly, it references changes in land use policy that help can make this happen.

So much for the background: in my opinion, the document makes tremendous reading from the Irish food industry’s point of view.

I make this point because little or no reference is made to the issue of indigenous food security within it.

What a win: win scenario all of this represents for Irish farmers!

The potential for Irish food companies to partner with UK supermarkets and other British retail operation is immense as we look to the future.

Currently, overall food sufficiency in the UK stands at around 65%. Given the growing demand for land in that part of the world to produce green energy, while also delivering enhanced environmental and biodiversity-related benefits for society as a whole, this figure is likely to fall further.

The opportunities for the Irish food sector in this context are immense. All we need now are a Taoiseach and a farm minister who are committed to the further expansion of food output in Ireland. And this can be achieved without diluting our commitment to sustainable land use policies in any way. As many Irish farm leaders have pointed out over recent weeks, the real issue confronting Irish agriculture is how to make best use of the crop nutrients the industry already produces.

In my view, this is not a challenge: it is an opportunity.

We should be making best use of every slurry and farmyard manure source that is available in the country. Doing so will dramatically improve our farm efficiency ratings while, at the same time, significantly reducing our reliance on imported fertilisers.

Over the past year or so, there has been considerable discussion on the pros and cons of reducing cow numbers. The poor old cow – dairy and suckler – has taken a real hammering over recent times, earning a dubious reputation within the sustainability debate, which I know is totally unjustified.

Meanwhile, no one has ever suggested that Ireland puts a physical cap on the amount of bagged fertiliser allowed into the country.

If such an approach was taken then, overnight, the focus of attention would fall on how best to utilise all our animal manures.

And the technology is available to make this happen.

I attended the recent soils event at Johnstown Castle in Co Wexford. One of the most interesting presentations of the day related to the work that has been carried out in extracting phosphorous – in the form of struvite – from sewage sludge.

This is a crystalline form of nitrogen and phosphorous that is pathogen-free.

So why can’t the same technologies be applied to animal slurries and farmyard manures?

But I come back to the fundamental point. The UK is fast running out of indigenously produced food. And, in this context, the future opportunities for Ireland’s farming and food sectors are huge.

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progres®: the science behind the use of resin acids to improve broilers welfare and performance

By Tiago Santos, Global Technical & Marketing Director, AB Vista

Poultry producers face the constant challenge of trying to balance animal performance with profitability. In the current climate, rising raw material and energy prices are forcing nutritionists to review priorities and feed composition to remain profitable. However, growing consumer concerns about medication usage in animal production, it’s environmental impact and animal welfare have put additional pressure on producers – setting goals which are hard to achieve by cost reduction alone.

Improving gut function can become a key factor in responding to these challenges. A well-functioning gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is a precondition for optimal nutrient absorption. A healthy gut also means less energy losses on the inflammatory response and less need for medication. Beyond its direct impact on animal welfare, improved gut health can also help to solve certain issues, such as leg health and litter quality problems.

There are several product categories in the market which are presented as natural solutions in addressing the gut health challenge. What makes Progres® different is the unique active ingredient within it: resin acids. These are natural compounds which form part of the protection mechanisms of coniferous trees. Tree resin has long been known for its wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties, especially in Nordic countries. These benefits can now be applied to farm animals, at a crucial time when the industry is looking for natural solutions to improve the sustainability of production processes and reduce reliance on medication usage in the food chain. Unlike many other plant derived feed materials, Progres® offers an active compound that is stable under normal feed production conditions. Resin acids are measurable, thermostable and non-volatile.

Progres® is the only product in the market utilising resin acids in animal feeding. Its efficacy is well supported by scientific studies, including 14 published scientific papers and 33 congress publications, as well as many field trials proving its benefits in multiple species.

The development of Progres® became an exploration journey to uncover the true potential of this novel feed ingredient. Initial studies carried out before the product launch in 2015 demonstrated clear performance benefits of adding Progres® to animal feed. The results were most obvious in challenged animals, positively modifying intestinal microbiota and reducing the growth of Gram-positive pathogens.

However, the full extent of the product’s mechanism of action became clearer in a 2019 research project with the University of Ghent, Belgium. The study demonstrated that resin acids reduced the inflammation-associated collagen breakdown (caused by the increased

activity of specific matrix metalloproteinase enzymes) in the intestinal epithelium.

In this broiler study, Progres ® significantly improved birds’ performance, while only minor effects on the intestinal microbiota were observed. However, resin acids reduced collagen-degrading activity in the jejunum and ileum and lowered the density of inflammatory T-cells in the duodenum. The results demonstrated that the resin acids of Progres® can reduce the negative effects of a pro-inflammatory challenge to the small intestine even in relatively good production conditions. It, therefore, improves intestinal integrity, which has proven beneficial effects on the gut microbiome, allowing it to flourish.

Progres® has been shown to boost performance in both healthy and disease-challenged birds, with improvements in growth and feed conversion ratio reported. In 17 broiler trials conducted by different research institutes, Progres® improved body weight gain (BWG) on average by 2.4/4.7 g per day and feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 3.7/5.0 points – in performance and challenge trials, respectively (the challenge included necrotic enteritis, Eimeria and different types of environmental challenges).

Progres® has also been proven to benefit the well-being of birds by improving litter quality with less footpad dermatitis reported, which is especially important in turkey production given the birds’ longer lifespan. In layer trials, Progres® improved eggshell quality and reduced the number of dirty eggs produced.

Underlining our approach to gut health is the aim of a good intestinal epithelium/villi condition and optimal composition of the microbiota. With its efficacy proven both in scientific trials and commercial conditions, Progres® is a natural choice for producers looking to improve production profitability in a sustainable way.

An innovative and natural product designed to enhance gut integrity and improve the performance of production animals, Progres® is the latest addition to AB Vista’s expanding product portfolio, underlining the company’s commitment to providing cutting-edge gut health solutions to the industry to reduce reliance on medication.

As part of the feed intelligence concept, Progres® is a valuable addition towards AB Vista’s mission to support customers with innovative solutions, value-added services, and industry expertise. Progres® not only offers an effective solution for customers as an excellent product. As a part of the customer focussed offering, it can be combined with AB Vista’s Lab, Near Infrared Spectroscopy and Emission Reporting services to evaluate feed composition, support animal welfare and reduce environmental impact.

• Better performance of broilers and turkeys

• Improved litter quality in broilers and turkeys

• Less footpad dermatitis in broilers and turkeys

• Improved eggshell quality and reduced amount of dirty eggs in laying hens

The power of natural resin acids from Northern coniferous trees applied for poultry feeding

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equipment.

In the animal feed industry, the use of food-safe machine lubricants can mean the difference between a good name and no name at all. The production of food, beverages and related products puts the strictest requirements on the lubricants used in the manufacturing process. Consumer protection is absolutely essential. Incidental oil contamination at any point in the process needs to be avoided by animal feed manufacturers, who process millions of kilograms of animal feed for global markets every year. In addition, ensuring that the production process runs smoothly and is highly effective (meaning longer component lifetimes and extended maintenance intervals) is our number one priority.

Solutions for the Animal Feed Industry

Today, major animal feed manufacturers are taking the risk out of their processes by switching to CASSIDA food grade lubricants as the safe alternative for all lubrication points in their production plants.

In the animal feed industry, the use of food-safe machine lubricants can mean the difference between a good name and no name at all. The production of food, beverages and related products puts the strictest requirements on the lubricants used in the manufacturing process.

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The CASSIDA range is NSF H1 registered, as well as being the rst food grade lubricant range to receive ISO 21469 certi cation. Certi ed for Halal and Kosher production, the CASSIDA range provides a total solution for the animal feed industry.

Our customers benefit from the excellent quality of the CASSIDA portfolio, which has been confirmed by numerous OEM approvals given by well-known manufacturers of production and manufacturing

Consumer protection is absolutely essential. Incidental oil contamination at any point in the process needs to be avoided by animal feed manufacturers, who process millions of kilograms of animal feed for global markets every year. In addition, ensuring that the production process runs smoothly and is highly effective (meaning longer component lifetimes and extended maintenance intervals) is our number one priority.

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new Swine vitamin recommendations For more productive and Sustainable Farming

By Gilberto Litta - ANH Vitamin Advocacy Global Manager and José-María Hernández - Global ANH Vitamin/Carotenoid/Premix Marketing Manager, dsm-firmenich

addressing the challenges of today and tomorrow

Continuous development in the field of animal nutrition is essential to meet current and future challenges such as replacement of antibiotics, higher incidence of more aggressive animal diseases and a growing focus on sustainable farming.

The right levels of quality and sustainable vitamins will help farmers improve animal health, wellbeing and performance, while also protecting the environment, succeeding in a dynamic and ever-changing global market, enhancing both profits and environmental sustainability.

Vitamins play a decisive role in both human and animal nutrition. As organic catalysts present in small quantities in most foods, they are essential for the normal functioning of metabolic and physiological processes. Vitamin requirements in animals are dynamic: they vary according to new genotypes, levels of yield and production systems. The inclusion of a nutritional programme with appropriate levels of vitamins in an animal’s diet not only allows to completely realise its genetic potential but, at the same time, improves various aspects related to health and well-being, its productivity and the ultimate quality of the food produced, be it meat, milk, or eggs. Healthier animals will produce more and healthier food.

Optimum Vitamin Nutrition® (OVN™) is a dynamic concept which regularly reviews and updates vitamin supplementation in feed. OVN™ is about feeding animals high-quality vitamins, produced with the lowest

environmental footprint, in the right amounts, appropriate to their life stage and growing conditions, to optimize Animal Health and Welfare, Animal Performance and Food Quality & Food Waste.

Why vitamin recommendations for swine need to change

Vitamin recommendations from international scientific associations such as NRC and ARC were developed to prevent nutritional deficiencies. Some of the studies on which they are based are more than 20 or 30 years old. Thanks to improvements in genetic selection, nutrition, sanitary and environmental conditions, today’s livestock industry has little in common with the industry as it was—not only at that time but even just a few years ago. For example, sows’ performance parameters have improved 1% to 2% per year in the last five years as reported by Pig Champ, which analysed data from hundreds of commercial pig farms (Figure 1). In the same period, mortality and culling rates of sows and gilts improved (+9.7% and +0.8% per year respectively), indicating that especially in breeder animals, more attention to lifetime performance must be paid, and vitamins can play an important role. Genetic companies are forecasting additional performance improvements (Figure 2), of even higher order of magnitude. Accordingly, vitamin nutrition guidelines will also require continuous adjustment.

Figure 1. Performance of sows in US swine commercial farms in the period 2016 – 2021 (Source: Pig Champ, 2022)

Likewise, legislative changes are limiting the use of compounds such antibiotics and growth promoters, substances which until recently had formed a habitual part of animals’ diets, including those of the animal trials on which vitamins requirements were based on. At the same time many countries are developing new rules on animal welfare and environmental protection which will entail less “intensiveness” in the livestock industry, with the aim of improving the health and well-being of the animals and sustainability of the planet. Meanwhile, our farmers need to be competitive about livestock productivity (weight gain, conversion indices, final weight of the animal, mortality, etc.) to be able to face strong international competition where free trade is a tangible reality.

Nutrition programs for farm animals, including vitamin supplements, need to be adjusted in a manner consistent with improved animal management techniques and genetic development.

This adjustment should be based on the most recent scientific studies, besides considering practical experience from farmers and feed producers as well as nutritional recommendations from breeding companies which have the best knowledge on the animals they produce.

Science, industry expertise and vitamin levels

Testing different levels of individual vitamins is one way to define the optimal use of vitamins in feed. Recent DSM OVN™ webinars have reviewed experimental data extracted from more than 50 papers on individual vitamins published during the last 10 years (information available through the authors). Some examples of this research are in Figures 3-6.

Figure 2. Average performance of PIC pigs in 2022 and 2032 forecast (Source: Saskia Bloemhof-Abma (PIC), AMVEC - Monterrey, Mexico, 2022 )

Figure 3. Average daily gain (g) and Gain:Feed in weaned piglets from 8 to 14 days post-weaning of age, fed diets with different levels of vitamin A (Source: Wang et al., 2020)

Figure 4. Effect of 25OHD3 (HyD ® ) in sows’ gestation and lactation diet on performance parameters of pre-weaning piglets (Source: Upadhaya et al., 2022)

IgG: immunoglobulin G; IgA: immunoglobulin A; T-AOC: Total antioxidant capacity; GSH-Px: glutathione peroxidase; CAT: catalase

Figure 5. Effect of vitamin E in sows’ diet (last week of gestation and lactation) improved a-tocopherol concentration, immunoglobulin concentration and antioxidant capacity in piglets’ plasma (Source: Wang et al., 2017)

Nevertheless, vitamins play complementary catalytic roles on important metabolic processes with multiple interactions among them. Therefore, we might not see the full effect of increasing levels of individual vitamins if levels of other vitamins are a limiting factor and we must better understand and quantify the effect of good levels of all vitamins in the same diet since probably we will not find an additive effect of all benefits seen in the individual vitamin trials.

Poulsen and Krogsdahl (2018) compared the OVN™ supplementation levels against the Danish standard recommendations (Figure 7) in 1,250 weaning piglets from 7 to 30 kg of weight and concluded that the OVN™ supplementation significantly improved daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and production value (Figure 8 - overleaf).

Hinson et al. (2022) compared the average vitamin supplementation levels used by swine producers in the United States,

which are close to OVN™ recommendations, and a reduced vitamin level, either to NRC recommendations for vitamins A, D, E and K (NRC, Nutrient requirements of swine, 2012) or half (or even lower) the industry average for B-vitamins. Feeding the lower vitamin levels to sows (n=245) tended to reduce litter performance and applying the same strategy to nursery piglets (n=765) significantly reduced their performance (Figure 9 - overleaf). Moreover, the authors observed that the reduced vitamin supplementation decreased circulating and stored vitamin levels in both sows – with potential negative impact on long-term reproductive performance – and nursery piglets.

More information on latest recommendations from some swine genetic companies, scientific references used in the vitamin review and detailed information on the new 2022 OVN™ Guidelines for Swine are available in detail online at the OVN™ Swine page of the dsm-firmenich website: www.dsm-firmenich.com

Figure 6. Effect of 25OHD3 (HyD®) in sows’ gestation and lactation diet on bone mineral content and bone strength parameters of preweaning piglets (Source: Zhang et

al., 2019)

Figure 7. Vitamin supplementation level in 7 to 30 kg piglets’ diet (Source: Poulsen and Krogsdahl, 2018)

FUgp: Danish feed units for weaners, growers and finishers

• Production Value = (Growth value - feed costs)/feed days

• Growth value = growth in trial * value of 1 kg growth

• Feed costs = (Weight out — weight in) * FU/kg gain * price/ FU

• Unit: DKK/pig/day

• Feed price: 5 years average

Correct vitamin formulation adds value to feed

To meet the highest quality standards, nutritional and legal requirements for animal feed production, premix producers and feed manufacturers need to handle additives safely and with great precision.

Vitamins are rarely added as pure substances to feed because they are often degraded due to instability towards oxygen, light or temperature: as such they are not suited to the rigors of the feed manufacturing processes and their handling properties can be poor. Therefore, they must be properly formulated as feed additives to be added into premix, feed or drinking water before the animal access them.

It is about mixing grams or milligrams in one ton of feed with animals eating grams feed per day: certainly not an easy task. The

best way to do it is following strict product formulation fundamentals where the high safety and quality of both the active substance and raw materials, combined with appropriate formulation technology, result in product forms consistently delivering an optimal combination of desirable characteristics.

For maximum efficacy feed additives like vitamins should be formulated for:

•

low dust and best handling: safe for workers

good flowability: more efficient dosing operations and less

•

• product losses best homogeneity in premix and feed

• nutrients by animals

superior stability in premix and feed: right daily intake of

• biological use by the animal

high bioavailability: allowing an efficient absorption and best

• sustainable farming

manufactured with the lowest environmental footprint for more

The final goal is to achieve the best balance between handling, mixing, stability and bioavailability depending on the specific application challenges that each nutrient may face.

Figure 10 ( 0verleaf) illustrates a recent example on an important industry concern: large overages (up to 100%) may be required to match vitamin A nutritional requirements in poultry feed if not-stable enough vitamin products are used, as seen in this trial run by an independent premixer in Scandinavia.

improving sustainability alongside performance

The right levels of high-quality, sustainable micro-nutrients provided to feed millers, integrators and farmers can help them improve animal health, wellbeing, and performance, while also protecting the environment, succeeding in a dynamic and ever-changing global market, enhancing both profits and environmental sustainability. DSM, as part of our sustainability commitment, has developed

Figure 8. Effect of OVN™ levels on performance of 7 to 30 kg piglets’ (Source: Poulsen and Krogsdahl, 2018)

Figure 9. Effect of OVN™ levels on performance of 7 to 30 kg piglets’ (Source: Hinson et al., 2022)

70-80-90°C temperature and 30-60-120 seconds holding time

• Premixes produced with 3 different vitamin A products

• Target vit A in feed = 10,000 lU vit A/kg feed

• Feed corn/wheat/soy produced by Kolding Technological Institute, Denmark

• Tests with 70-80-90°C pelleting temperature and 30-60-120 seconds holding time

• Vitamin analyses carried out by LUFA Kiel Lab, Germany (method REG(EC) 152/2009, IV,A)

Environmental Vitamin Product Declarations (EPD) which transparently provides environmental footprint information to support purchasing decisions and to support feed millers, integrators, and farmers to better assess product sustainability. These environmental product reports may be soon part of the industry specifications according to their individual needs and commitment to sustainability in the feed and food chain.

Reducing the carbon footprint of vitamin and other feed additive operations, enable feed millers, integrators, and farmers to become more sustainable, reduce their risk profile and to potentially benefit from value created from future carbon tax savings (Figure 11).

Conclusion

Supporting swine diets with appropriate vitamins help make farming more sustainable. Optimum Vitamin Nutrition® (OVN™) is about feeding animals high quality vitamins, produced with the lowest environmental footprint, in the right amounts, appropriate to their life stage and growing conditions, to optimize animal health and welfare, animal performance and food quality and waste.

Nutrition programmes for farm animals, including vitamin supplements, need to be adjusted in a manner consistent with improved animal management techniques, new health challenges and genetic development which have supported the feed industry to achieve annual productivity improvements of +1-2%.

Testing different levels of individual vitamins as well as combination of all vitamins versus current vitamin blends used by the industry seem to be a consistent strategy to review and adjust optimal use of vitamins in feed.

Once vitamin levels are defined, maximum attention must be paid to the use of the right vitamin product forms. This would avoid jeopardizing decisions taken by nutritionists to optimize animal health and production cost of foods of animal origin (meat/egg/milk/fish) with products which might not be stable enough or mixed properly in premix or feed.

It is more essential than ever that nutritionists and purchasers engage in an ongoing dialogue to advance more sustainable farming and improve farmer profitability.

Article previously published on DSM Feed Talks

Figure 10. Vitamin A stability in pelleted feed (Source: EU Premixer data,2020, unpublished)

Figure 11. Potential CO2 emission savings coming from different vitamin product forms (Source: DSM data, 2022, unpublished)

dsm-firmenich launches as innovators in nutrition, health, and beauty

dsm-firmenich is excited to confirm the successful merger of DSM and Firmenich and the resulting launch of a new company that brings together one of the largest innovation and creation communities in nutrition, health, and beauty. With a nearly 30,000 strong team and “unparalleled capabilities built on more than a century of cutting-edge science,” dsm-firmenich state that they will be “A trailblazer in the reinvention, manufacturing, and combination of vital nutrients, flavours, and fragrances.”

Combining the essential, desirable, and sustainable

In a statement announcing the merger the company continued: “By creatively applying proven science and drawing on data-driven innovation capabilities as well as exceptional standards of operational excellence, dsm-firmenich seeks to tackle the tension between what society needs, what people want individually, and what the planet demands in the areas of nutrition, health, and beauty. By working closely together with customers to create what is essential for life as well as desirable for consumers yet simultaneously more sustainable for the planet, dsm-firmenich is poised to bring progress to life for billions of people around the world.”

Structured for success

On the company structure, it was declared that “dsm-firmenich is organised in four distinct high-performing businesses, with an emphasis on complementary world-class scientific research and manufacturing excellence. Together they are positioned to help our customers realise their ambitions and address evolving consumer needs and wants.”

The four separate business units are

•

Perfumery & Beauty

•

Taste, Texture & Health

•

Health, Nutrition & Care

Animal Nutrition & Health

•

The Animal Nutrition & Health unit will focus on: “Delivering healthy animal proteins efficiently and sustainably, harnessing power of data to make animal farming practices more sustainable, productive, and transparent.”

a new name and identity

To mark the launch of the new company, dsm-firmenich has revealed a new brand that: “captures the spirit of bringing two iconic organisations together in a merger of equals. The brand reflects the company’s purpose and values and is the expression of a shared identity. The brand symbolizes the company’s mission to combine what is essential for life, desirable for consumers, and more sustainable for the planet. The purpose of dsm-firmenich is to bring progress to life, together with customers and partners, to achieve positive change and make a difference in the world.”

Geraldine Matchett and Dimitri de Vreeze, Co-CEOs of dsmfirmenich, added: “We honour the legacy of DSM and Firmenich by taking the best of both companies in creating a fresh, new identity. It’s lively. It’s vibrant. It’s led by our purpose. Just like dsm-firmenich. This is the beginning of an exciting new time for our employees, our customers, and our partners as we go above and beyond in shaping a positive future for all and as we bring progress to life.”

Following the successful completion of the merger, Geraldine Matchett has decided this is the right time to further her career elsewhere and will move on, as of September 1, in full alignment and with the thanks of the Board of Directors. Dimitri de Vreeze will be the dsm-firmenich CEO.

For more information: e-mail: media@dsm-firmenich.com

delivering Sustainable dairy Farming

With Dr Liz Homer, Ruminant Technical Development Manager, Trouw Nutrition GB

In the second in a series of articles by Trouw Nutrition GB exploring the sustainability challenges facing UK livestock production and the vital role of the supply trade in helping effect change, Ruminant Technical Development Manager Dr Liz Homer looks at the specific issues facing dairy production.

At Trouw Nutrition we believe that sustainable, lower emission farming must allow dairy farms to continue to create highly nutritious food for people by turning human inedible food into human edible proteins. Often this is achieved using marginal land which also acts as a sink for greenhouse gases through sequestration.

Achieving net zero is not a quick fix. It is a multi-year journey which must be embarked on now as it cannot wait. It is an aspiration but cannot be pushed to one side. The dairy farming industry needs to take steps now to demonstrably reduce the emissions associated with milk production.

Many factors contribute to a dairy farm’s carbon footprint (see diagram) and Trouw Nutrition is already able to contribute to improvements in many of these which account for around 80% of total emissions. These include feeding lactating cows, dry cows and youngstock, and enteric fermentation.

Some short-term solutions include ration changes, making better and utilising quality forage and utilising data to make decisions. Midterm solutions can focus on fertility improvements, reducing culling rates and promoting a better, more successful transition to milking. Longer-term solutions are focused on calf and heifer rearing, reducing age at first calving and promoting increased longevity which can take a minimum of two years to be realised in the farm footprint.

Rather than being seen solely as the cause of the problem, we must remember that cows are actually an integral and important part of the solution. To feed in excess of 10 billion people we need to increase food production by 60% and decrease waste, producing food with 75% fewer emissions.

There are many tools currently used on farm to provide a footprint figure, developed by a variety of organisations. It is understandable that processors and retailers want to know the carbon footprint figure of their producers as part of their attempts to reduce their own carbon footprint. It is equally important for the feed advisors and farmers to know this figure, produce it as accurately as possible with relevant input figures, and most importantly know what to do about it to help reduce farm level emissions.

Farmers must show a downward trend in carbon footprints on farm, irrespective of which measurement tool is being used, and track progress over time.

The tools must be seen as providing more than a finite number. What matters is how they catalyse action to bring that number down over a period of years, and in such a way that it contributes to economic as well as environmental sustainability. Delivering this will require a supply chain working in unison.

In this article we will outline how we are already helping dairy farmers to significantly impact in these areas to deliver environmental sustainability, but also economic benefits. Employing a proven strategy based on short-, medium- and longer-term actions, each of which results in demonstrable improvements.

At Trouw Nutrition our purpose is: ‘Feeding The Future’. Sustainable agriculture is a key pillar in delivering this and protecting the future of farming. We believe we can directly contribute to reducing carbon emissions at individual dairy business level, working with our customers to deliver solutions across the supply chain. We are committed to being proactive in delivering a holistic approach to sustainability on farm, linking environmental and economic sustainability through enhanced lifetime productivity. If our partners are to be equally proactive, we believe significant benefits will be realised.

Dairy farmers are being advised from all directions about how to reduce emissions and it can be a confusing area and hard to know where to start. Crucially anything that improves environmental sustainability must also support economic sustainability. Our initial dairy strategy aims to reduce the total carbon footprint per kg fat and protein corrected milk and it is important to start implementing immediately.

help farmers improve these figures to a reasonable 22 months, 20% replacement rate and in excess of five lactations per cow, we could see reductions in carbon footprint per litre of fat and protein corrected milk by approximately 20%. Other changes then come from forage quality, feed; reducing the footprint of bought in feed and maximising homegrown forage. If adopted across the supply chain, a focus on helping farmers improve LDY could deliver significant benefits.

Our LifeStart programme helps address the issue of reducing age at first calving. As well as reducing greenhouse emissions per heifer entering the herd, it can contribute to a reduction in total heifers carried, especially when combined with increased longevity.

Early life nutrition and maximising growth and health status in the early stages of life are where farmers can capitalise on efficiency. Outputs of the LifeStart programme include the products and knowledge to achieve this. Our ECM milk replacer has been formulated to achieve greater growth rates and exploit early calf development and health status to support them in later life; it has been shown to deliver benefits in terms of lactation yield, fertility and longevity.

Lifetime daily yield is a measure of the entire milk production for each day of the cow’s life. The current NMR average LDY is 12.7kg/ day but most herds will be able to improve this. It has great importance in terms of economic performance and reflects animal management, welfare, longevity and cow potential. But more than this, it is a simple measurement that directly relates to carbon footprint and emissions.

Using Trouw Nutrition programs LifeStart and HealthyLife, and solutions such as Intellibond trace minerals have shown a reduction in total carbon footprint per kg FPCM by 6%, 5% and 2%, respectively.

Beyond that, farmers and their feed advisors can focus on the diet. It is important to focus on the carbon footprint of feed which can make up approximately 30-40% of the total carbon footprint, mostly feed from lactating cows; by reviewing ingredients or where they come from, the end carbon footprint of the feed can be halved. Forage quality and the composition of the diet can also impact this. Good quality forage can reduce bought in feed and improve yield.

By improving forage quality and feeding less of the same compound for equal milk production carbon footprint can be reduced by approximately 3%, but if we can improve forage quality and reduce the footprint of bought in feed this can result in around a 15% reduction.

The major challenge facing the dairy industry when developing effective strategies to reduce GHG is knowing where to focus and how to prioritise. But by using lifetime daily yield (LDY) and relating the key components of LDY to carbon footprint farmers can make a significant reduction in carbon footprint.

You can improve LDY by focussing on various management aspects including age at first calving, replacement rate, longevity to increase the lactations completed per cow, and by effective precision nutrition. Even herds already achieving top 25% performance will have scope to improve management to help work towards net zero. The first step is farmers knowing their LDY and then identifying the key steps to increase it.

According to the NMR 500 Herd Report 2022, the average age at first calving is still 26.6 months, replacement rate averages 28% but peaks at 32%, with an average of 3.6 lactations per cow. If we can

The HealthyLife programme provides insights and approaches to increase dairy cow efficiency and longevity. The focus of the HealthyLife programme will identify the key ways to increase average lactation number and refine management to achieve an average of five lactations per cow which is shown to optimise profitability per cow and an optimum return on genetic improvement. Increasing lactations per cow is a key driver in reducing total youngstock numbers.

Finally, by continuing to invest in precision nutrition approaches. With feed and forage, directly and indirectly contributing around 3040% to the end carbon footprint, it is essential that diets are optimally formulated and correctly utilised. While compound feeds may have a high carbon footprint, it is the efficiency across the whole feeding system that counts.

Our analytical laboratory provides data on fresh grass, pre-cut grass and silages to provide a more accurate foundation for diet formulation. Our NutriOpt Dairy rationing system allows diets to be formulated to optimise rumen health and function to improve feed efficiency and better meet cows’ requirements, moving beyond standard measures of energy and protein and precisely describing what the rumen and cow actually need.

Processors and retailers are beginning to put significant pressure on producers to reduce inclusion rates or to remove soya completely.

NutriOpt Dairy allows nutritionists to think out of the box to develop efficient diets using alternative ingredients successfully. It also allows more accurate prediction of the impact of changes to the diet on milk yields; to effectively reduce footprint per litre of milk.

Although not directly correlated with GHG emissions, minerals are a source of environmental impact from dairying. Historically, low bioavailable sources have contributed to oversupply and environmental and economic waste. New improved sources such as Intellibond Hydroxy minerals combined with better knowledge mean we can be more precise, feeding closer to requirements, by increasing milk yield and diluting carbon footprint indirectly.

In addition to farm level tools which can deliver benefits to customers and allow a proactive approach on farms, we have developed tools to help at a mill level. Our Feed Print tool allows customers to monitor the carbon footprint of raw materials, compound feeds and blends precisely. But it is important to remember that the lowest carbon footprint of manufactured feeds need not necessarily deliver the lowest overall farm carbon footprint.

Using our MilkPrint tool, feed advisors will be able to bring all these factors together, calculating and demonstrating a downward trend in GHG emissions for their customers.

At Trouw Nutrition we are committed to taking a lead on behalf of the industry, developing a clear dairy sustainability approach. We will continue to develop our current tools and are committed to an innovative programme of R&D, creating new products and solutions in the fields of early life nutrition, nutrient use efficiency, enteric emissions, manure emissions and novel ingredients. By doing so we can help provide clarity for dairy farmers and the feed industry and help reduce the total footprint of the sector.

nutreco and trouw nutrition host agrivision 2023: illuminating a path to Future-proof protein production

The organisers state that the AgriVision 2023 conference will deliver a forecast for future-proofing protein production over the next 50 years, as agribusiness and food industry changemakers from around the world gather on June 26-28 in Noordwijk aan Zee, the Netherlands. Participants representing every segment of the food chain – from raw ingredient suppliers to food manufacturers and retailers – will explore pathways to meet growing protein demand responsibly and sustainably.

Entrepreneurs and leaders representing global business, NGOs, science, academia and agriculture will envision a path to feed the world’s future population, through a combination of business, science, policy and grassroots action. AgriVision 2023 will shed light on practical pathways for balancing the growing global demand for protein with the limitations of natural production resources. Presenters will share examples of successes achieved through innovation and investments in people, products, programmes and policies.

Remarking on the conference, Trouw Nutrition CEO David Blakemore said, “Innovation, collaboration and relentless exploration are all essential for us to safely and sustainably meet future demand for affordable protein. AgriVision 2023 will serve as a visionary, yet practical, forum where ideas can be vetted and explored, and successful lessons applied beyond industry borders.”

Perspectives shared at AgriVision 2023 will give attendees a 360degree view of the protein production journey, from sourcing production inputs to assessing shareholder economics. For example, keynote speaker Paul Polman, former Unilever CEO, will share how Unilever

adopted a multi-stakeholder model that delivered a 290% increase in shareholder returns while putting the company consistently at the top of sustainability rankings. Participants will also hear from young innovators like Talash Huijbers, a Kenyan farmer whose circular production model is utilising black soldier flies to process 60 tons of organic waste daily for fertiliser while supplying protein for human and animal nutrition.

More than a dozen other speakers will deliver viewpoints that answer some of the most critical questions affecting protein production, such as:

• demand in the next 50 years?

What does the data say about the state of protein supply and

• production?

•

What tailwinds can be leveraged to improve protein

What headwinds must be managed to ward off threats?

• must be mitigated?

What are some early warning indicators on the horizon that

• together more effectively?

How can different segments of the production chain work

• safely, efficiently and sustainably feeding the future?

How is 2023 a moment of opportunity to reset progress toward

Among myriad options available today and emerging on the

• horizon, what paths provide the brightest opportunities for futureproofing protein production?

AgriVision is a biennial conference introduced in 2000 by Trouw Nutrition and Nutreco. This year’s conference marks the first in-person AgriVision since 2017. Registration details are available online.

SuStainability

products or Services to minimise the environmental impact of the animal Feed industry animine

AniGun®, your ally for trace minerals analysis

Precise mineral supplementation is the art of giving the animals exactly the amount of minerals that they need. It means that, to the total requirement of one mineral, the amount coming from native feedstuffs (forages, concentrates, etc.) have to be deducted. Also, the amount of antagonist should be taken into account because they can reduce the bioavailability of some important trace minerals (TM). What is the most important limiting factor in our industry to this approach?

The challenge is to assess accurately and regularly the amounts of micro-minerals naturally contained in the forage and other feedstuffs at the farm.

Nowadays TM analyses are not done on a regular basis, are taking time and are relatively costly. Normally these analyses are done by wet chemistry, in a laboratory located far away from the farm & requiring sample management and shipment. In order to perform more accurate mineral supplementation in an accessible and immediate way at the farm, Animine developed AniGun, a handheld analytical instrument for assessing TM content in forages. It uses the XRF (X-ray fluorescence spectrometry) technology, adapted from other industries for the animal feeding objective.

After proper calibration by Animine, this handheld device can measure precisely both macro (P, Ca, S, etc.) and micro (Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, etc.) minerals and some antagonists (Mo, S, etc.) in forages rapidly and in an affordable way. When NIR is only adapted to organic fraction, XRF is essential to obtain inorganic fraction data. Consequently, XRF is a complementary option to the NIR portable device.

AniGun help farmers and feed manufacturers to evaluate the TM content in the basal diet. This data is then used by the nutritionist to achieve a precise TM intake. With this approach, farmer could reduce the TM supplementation cost, avoid some cases of oversupplementation and chronic toxicity, and reduce the negative impact on the environment.

Contact

Email: lroyo@animine.eu

Web: www.animine.eu

azeliS

Azelis’ five-year sustainability strategy Action 2025 commits Azelis to achieving a series of ambitious targets by 2025 across all the major sustainability aspects of its strategy: People, Products and Innovation, Governance and Environment.

Our Animal Nutrition business offers a range of specialist feed ingredients, proven by scientific research to promote health, welfare, and productivity.

We place particular emphasis on supporting gut health to enable more efficient utilisation of nutrients from feed and helping to reduce the need for antibiotics. Supporting sustainable livestock production by achieving more with less.

Examples of ingredients we offer include the following:

ProPhorce™ SR 130 and Gastrivix™ Avi contain esterified organic acids for targeted release in the small intestine. Proven to elicit positive effects on gut health and digestive performance. Gastrivix™ Avi is a unique blend of butyric and valeric acid targeted at broiler production, supporting reliable growth and performance leading to better FCR’s reducing the environmental footprint.

Sangrovit ® is a plant-based feed ingredient that supports feed intake during periods of challenge, therefore supporting health and productivity.

Active D contains the bioactive form of Vitamin D calcitriol delivered straight to the small intestine. It supports the uptake of Calcium and Phosphorus, which improves bone strength, egg quality and extends laying period, improving efficiency, and reducing food waste.

Plexomin® Chelated Trace Minerals

The high mineral content and bioavailability of these organically bound trace minerals aids absorption and reduces excretion, preventing mineral deficiencies even when used at a lower dose. Available as 29% Cu and 29% Zn bisglycinates or full range of monoglycinates. The production process is environmentally sustainable as energy released is re-used within the production facilities.

For further information please contact Leia Trotman at Azelis on: +44 (0)7792116659 or via email: leia.trotman@azelis.co.uk

Azelis sustainability report: www.azelis.com/en/sustainabilityreportdownloads

Cargill uk

Cargill Animal Nutrition

prioritises sustainability in its product development with a range of products that support this target.

Sustainable ingredients are used to improve performance, feed efficiency, animal welfare and farm profitability.

Equaliser® Cream is a specialist buffer that targets the causes of milk fat depression, and it is highly effective in high oil content and highly digestible diets. It does not contain any palm sources and it works by preventing the problem rather than treating the problem, offering a more cost effective, reliable and immediate response to maintaining milk butterfat compared with previous alternatives.

Triple S® soya has now replaced soya sources in Cargill UK’s Neopigg® Max piglet diets and its pre-starter chick diet Neochicc®. The triple ‘S’ reflects the sustainably sourced and supplied origins of the soya used in the diets.

Triple S soya has the same nutritional value as the previously used soya and is sourced from areas in South America that are guaranteed deforestation-free since 2008. The soya in Triple S is also fully traceable to individual farms so the supply chain, including feed compounders and retailers, know exactly where it comes from.

Precise nutrition allows accurate and specific use of inputs. This supports cost control and reduces pollution risks by minimising the use of unnecessary nutrients that are not used and are excreted.

Cargill’s NeoMilk® follow-on milks have a more precise balance of amino acids and strategic use of feed additives to optimise gut health.

An accurate amino acid profile has allowed for a lower crude protein level in some cases to improve the diet’s efficiency and avoid an over-supply of nutrients.

Unique technology has been used in the development of SilvAir® which has been developed by Cargill following extensive research into the use of dietary nitrate in methane reduction from ruminants.

This product has a carefully manufactured feed-grade calcium nitrate comprising 76% nitrate and 22.5% calcium, with a dry matter of 84%. In trials, where it is included at a rate of 1.6% of the total diet dry matter in dairy diets, it has been shown to reduce methane emissions by up to 10%.

SilvAir also offers an alternative source of dietary protein and calcium.

Josie Hatch

Marketing Communications Specialist – UK and Ireland

Cargill Animal Nutrition

Tel: +44 (0)1845 578125

Josie_hatch@cargill.com

Provimi Ltd., Dalton Airfield Industrial Estate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3HE

www.cargill.com/feed | @CargillAnimalUK

dSm-FirmeniCh - animal nutrition & health Sustell™ accurately measures your full environmental footprint and provides actionable insights on how to reduce your impact.

Last year, DSM launched Sustell™ in the UK. SustellTM was developed in collaboration with Blonk to enable the industry to achieve its goal of a more sustainable, profitable future.

Several years in development and continually updated, Sustell™ was developed in collaboration with key partners, including Blonk, recognised experts in the field of agri-food lifecycle analysis, as well as customers and users worldwide to reflect real-world needs of sustainable animal protein production.

Sustell™ is a first-of-its-kind intelligent sustainability service to drive improvements in the environmental footprint and profitability of animal protein production.

Sustell™ is built on two pillars to measure the footprint of your animal protein production systems in a more accurate and complete way, while providing science-based recommendations to make improvements possible:

The Intelligence Platform

A robust, user-friendly, secure, cloud-based platform for data input, calculation & visualisation of your environmental footprints resultscataloguing all your data and insights - at your fingertips - under your control.

The Expert Centre

An objective and tailor-made service building on the Intelligence Platform, accessing the sustainability, LCA and animal production expertise of leading consultants from DSM, Blonk and other third parties to help you in your sustainability journey.

What’s New in Sustell™

Simplified access and login • – The new Sustell.com website was launched on 13.03.23 featuring easy access for Sustell™ users from the website.

Updated footprint results • – provides more information about the 19 environmental impact categories while allowing for the customisation of results and a focus on categories that are most important for each customer.

Environmental impact target setting

• – a completely new functionality allows users to set targets for carbon footprint and all other environmental impact categories that matter to them. Management of baseline data and interventions simplified

• –making it easier to navigate for users as well as a new ‘archive’ functionality which permits easy access and viewing of previous datasets for improved comparisons.

web: www.sustell.com

orFFa

Orffa’s commitment to a sustainable livestock production

FEFAC (European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation) issued a feed sustainability charter highlighting 5 core ambitions such as contributing to a climate neutral production and improving resource efficiency. In the search of innovative feed solutions, Orffa is a key actor to help the industry meets its sustainability objectives. Orffa is therefore taking actions in various domains such as the reduction of the use of antibiotics, welfare of animals and increase of the efficiency of animal production.

Amongst the potential nutritional solutions, the impact of a nutritional emulsifier, Excential Energy Plus, has been assessed regarding the environmental footprint of broiler production via a LCA (Life Cycle Assessment). LCA is a technique to evaluate the environmental impact associated with the life of a product from production start to grave. Product environmental footprint guidelines of the European Union were applied as methodology for the calculations. Nutritional emulsifiers are well-known for improving energy and nutrient digestibility. Their mode of action makes them interesting in energy reduced diet, to reduce feed cost while maintaining performance.

It was observed that feeding Excential Energy Plus, in energy reduced broiler diets, decreased the amount of CO2 equivalent needed to produce 1kg of broiler live weight by 2.86%. This corresponds to a return on sustainable investment of 1:200. The production of 1kg of Excential Energy Plus requires 1.15kg CO2 equivalent but enables to save 228kg CO2 equivalent. Climate action is a joint responsibility and Excential Energy Plus can be part of this journey!

www.orffa.com

trouW nutrition

Carbon measurement for your own and your customers’ benefit.

Carbon footprint reduction in livestock

farming will remain a high profile issue in the quest to meet the COP26 targets and the industry will need to take a holistic approach if this is to be achieved.

The ability to demonstrate the carbon footprint of purchased feeds is increasingly becoming a requirement of milk and meat processors and buyers, and of livestock farmers looking to reduce their own net carbon contribution. And it will be important for animal feed manufacturers too as they strive to demonstrate a reduced environmental impact.

Trouw Nutrition has been focussing on systems to help achieve these objectives through improved efficiency of feed and forage use on farm for many years. Now, their innovative, simple and easy to use

FeedPrint system allows feed manufacturers to calculate and compare the carbon footprint of their raw materials used, compound feeds and mill processes.

Based on the GFLI database plus other secondary databases, following PEFCR, FeedPrint allows the carbon footprint of raw materials to be assessed taking account of the origin and distance travelled to the mill. It also allows the energy used in the mill processes to be included, and even split out per product line, to give a carbon cost per tonne of feed produced.

The data produced by FeedPrint will allow feed manufacturers to make decisions on raw materials based on sustainability metrics, calculate and track the carbon footprint of their mill and demonstrate improved carbon efficiency. It will also allow more accurate and usable data to be provided to customers to help reduce the carbon cost of UK livestock farming.

technical.gb@trouwnutrition.com trouwnutrition.co.uk

+44 (0) 1335 341100

zinpro

Embarking on a New Era of Sustainability at Zinpro –Sustainability with SubstanceTM

With more than 50 years serving animal agriculture and helping meet consumers’ demands, Zinpro is no stranger to providing value-added products, services, expertise and tools to enhance the sustainability of our customers’ businesses. As we embark on the next 50 years, we recognize the desire of consumers to know more about the origins of the food they purchase, including the production practices used to raise livestock and grow crops. We know sustainability is more than emotions; it is a challenge that demands real solutions — solutions with substance. At Zinpro, this is in our DNA. It is who we are, and we welcome the challenge

While our products represent a small portion of the animals’ total diet, they deliver impactful benefits for the health, liveability and wellbeing of these animals. Our products and programs also contribute in positive ways to the environment.

Zinpro has proudly set the bar for nutritional solutions for five decades. We strive to achieve even better nutrition and stronger sustainable practices well into the future. Check our newly released 2021 Sustainability Report to see how together with you we have been pursuing our unwavering mission of sustainability and solutions that create a healthier, better world for all.

Contact name: Jonathan Huxtable

E-mail: jhuxtable@zinpro.com

Our 2021 Sustainability Report can be found here: www.zinpro.com/sustainability

energy-Sparing enzymes can deliver cost benefits in pig and poultry rations

With Sophie Malkin, Global Hemicell™ Brand Manager, Elanco

The continued rise in input costs has highlighted the importance of making pig and poultry rations as cost-effective as possible. We spoke to Elanco’s global Hemicell™ brand manager Sophie Malkin, to find out more about the role energy-sparing enzymes can play in achieving this.

Enzymes have become commonplace in pig and poultry rations, to ensure any costly raw materials are utilised to their full benefit.

As you’ll be aware, some nutrient-releasing enzymes – such as phytase and xylanase – are regularly used in monogastric rations to help break down substrates in feed to make more nutrients and energy available for growth and production.

However, a newer type of energy-sparing enzyme, called β-mannanase, such as Hemicell™ XT, can be added to rations to mitigate the negative impacts of dietary β-mannans.

Why β-mannans pose a challenge

Dietary β-mannans are found in most plant-based raw materials, but

broiler rations and β-mannanase

The β-mannanase enzyme is used in broiler rations to tackle the negative physiological impact of β-mannans and to improve performance, says poultry nutritionist Eloise Lawlor from Premier Nutrition.

Enzymes tend to be used in broiler rations to ensure birds get the most from the raw materials they are being fed.

β-mannanase is used to break down β-mannans avoiding the FIIR thus allowing the birds to divert this saved energy into growth.

With more cost pressure on producers, we need to make sure we are utilising the raw materials in diets to the best effect that we can.

What is β-mannanase?

β • -mannanase is an energy-sparing enzyme, commercially known as Hemicell™ XT

It breaks down • β-mannans, which are found in most plantbased raw materials in monogastric diets

β • -mannans are problematic because they trigger a FeedInduced Immune Response (FIIR) whereby energy and nutrients are spent unnecessarily on the immune system because the β-mannans are mistaken by the pig or poultry as a pathogen threat

Prevention of FIIR leads to improved production efficiency,

• improved gut health, and the ability to reduce the amount of energy present in the diet.

can be problematic because of the physiological response they trigger in pigs and poultry species.

β-mannans are complex, un-digestible fibres made up of longchain sugars that are difficult to break down.

Their presence in feed often initiates a Feed-Induced Immune

There is now much more variation in what we are using in rations in terms of cereals and proteins.

This means it is important that we look at the use of enzymes and see what they can bring to the table, to make sure the bird utilises the raw materials in the best way they can.

Response (FIIR), which triggers a series of detrimental physical and biological responses; as just 0.2% β-mannan concentration is needed to trigger a FIIR1 .

As the threat is not actually there, the animal wastes energy and nutrients building up the immune response.

In addition, the initiation of the immune response causes inflammation of the gut, which leads to even more wasted energy and nutrients.

how β-mannanase can help

The inclusion of Hemicell XT, a β-mannanase, in pig and poultry rations will combat the negative effects of β-mannans.

The enzyme is used to tackle the unintended consequences of β-mannans – it basically degrades them and works immediately to turn these un-digestible fibres into smaller sugars, which the immune system does not recognise as a threat.

This delivers multiple benefits including better energy utilisation, which leads to the possibility to reduce the amount of energy in the diet and healthier pigs and poultry.

The cost saving will depend on the feed price and the amount of energy you want to reduce in the diet. However, we know that a FIIR

pig rations and β-mannanase

The inclusion of enzymes in pig rations can deliver multiple benefits – cost-saving, improved gut health and environmental impact – says independent nutritionist Faye Murch, from Kingsgate Nutrition.

Enzymes are becoming part of our everyday life in the nutrition world, and they need to be reviewed regularly.

Our job as nutritionists is to try and grow animals as healthily, cost-effectively and sustainably as we can – and β-mannanase can help us do that.

Pigs historically had access to a much more balanced diet, with protein sourced from insects, fungi, seeds, and berries. However, the amount of β-mannans they are now eating is much more than before – they are essentially on a vegetarian diet.

The use of β -mannanase can help by breaking down β-mannans in diets and presenting them into the animal’s body differently; this means the animal is not recognising them as a pathogen, avoiding the immune response, therefore not wasting valuable energy.

The immune system should be ready to react at any point in time, but if it is already reacting to the β-mannans in the diet, it is going to have a little bit less energy to put towards a vaccine response, or an E. coli stress, for example.

can waste 3% of the energy in the diet – this equates to a 3% reduction in performance.

Being able to reduce the amount of energy in the diet offers nutritionists greater flexibility when formulating rations.

The inclusion of β-mannanase is especially important if rations have been altered to include less expensive raw materials, which may contain higher levels of anti-nutritional factors such as β-mannans.

references

1 Optimising gut health by neutralizing B-mannans in feed ingredients

– FAQ. 2021. Elanco.

Meanwhile, the environmental benefits offered are delivered by using feed more efficiently and reducing the amount of lost nutrients – something that can lead to animals being finished sooner, or less inputs being required to finish them.

Lastly, cost-savings can be achieved by either using β-mannanase to reduce the amount of energy required in the diet, or to improve overall pig performance.

You can use the enzyme if you’re looking to drop the energy of the diet because you are hoping to save some of the energy from the FIIR.

However, the enzyme can also be used post-weaning to improve health which can result in extra weight at finishing, shorter days to finishing, or a better FCR.

Feed additives … enzymeS

adiSSeo

Extracting the maximum value out of feed becomes a real priority to deal with when ingredient costs are high. In this regard, enzymes play an important role. You can save a few cents per ton of feed by not using enzymes, but in doing so, lose a lot in converting your feed to meat (FCR).

To achieve the best cost savings without sacrificing performance, Adisseo recommends using Rovabio ® Advance Phy. This enzyme solution is a cocktail of 19 different carbohydrases and phytase, which deliver an average energy and amino acid uplift of 5%, as well as an improvement in phosphorus and calcium digestibility. The most costefficient strategy is to use Rovabio® Advance Phy with its full matrix. In addition, Adisseo have strongly invested in improvement of their database to predict the nutritional and anti-nutritional characteristics of a feed formula. Predictor is a web application that simplifies the use of enzymes. Based on field experience and scientific data, Adisseo’s technical teams have built accurate algorithms to predict the potential uplifts created by using Rovabio in a diet.

out of less feed – and help farmers save resources and money. BASF as a leading manufacturer of phytase and NSP enzymes offers the solutions to optimally utilize feed.

Natuphos E: Efficiency and stability

The new generation phytase Natuphos® E ensures a very fast and efficient release of phytate-bound phosphorous and other valuable nutrients. By using innovative hybrid technology BASF has been able to provide a multi-faceted enzyme molecule. Our new Natuphos E enzyme technology results in unprecedented enzyme stability. This feature combined with the optimum enzyme activity of Natuphos E in its targeted pH range, allows the highly efficient decomposition of anti-nutritive phytate in the very beginning of the digestive tract and thus maximises the time available for the animal to absorb the nutrients that would otherwise remain bound to and complexed with phytate. Natuphos E ensures a very fast and efficient release of phytate-bound phosphorous, thus making it readily digestible for pigs & poultry. As a consequence of the breakdown of vegetable phytate, important minerals and trace elements, as well as amino acids and energy are made available to the animal, in addition to phosphorus. In a nutshell, the new phytase Natuphos® E unlocks vital nutrients with an unprecedented overall stability resulting in convincing economic and environmental benefits.

Together with Adisseo’s Precision Nutrition Evaluation (PNE) service, using raw material NIR spectra, we can really customize your values, including arabinoxylan content-NSPase substrate. It allows you to compare enzymatic potential under different feed programs or different enzyme potential under the same formula. Predictor is a reliable tool to estimate your savings on raw material utilization.

Contact: Sarah Davies – Adisseo

Email: sarah.davies@adisseo.com

Web: www.predictor.adisseo.com and www.adisseo.com

baSF plC

U tilize the full potential of your feed with enzymes from BASF

The best feed can only do half the job if pigs and poultry aren`t able to digest the nutrients properly. The pioneering research of BASF animal nutrition can help: our thoroughly tested enzyme products support your animals to get more vitality and productivity

Natugrain TS: Improved nutritional value

Natugrain® TS, the feed enzyme product from BASF, contains the highly purified NSP-splitting enzymes endo-1,4-beta-xylanase and endo-1,4beta-glucanase. Due to well-balanced enzyme activities, Natugrain® TS is well suited to counteract the anti-nutritional effects from pentosans and beta-glucans that constitute the major part of NSPs in commonly used feed-stuffs. Natugrain® TS improves the nutritive value of diets containing NSP-rich components such as wheat, barley, rye, triticale, oat, sunflower, and a number of milling by-products. Trials have shown that Natugrain® TS can also be effective in corn / soy diets by releasing additional energy. All in all, Natugrain® TS supports a more sustainable livestock production by improving the digestibility of cereals. And from a technical point of view Natugrain convinces with its broad application range as well as with its outstanding stability during feed processing. PO Box 4, Earl Road, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle

Cheshire SK8 6QG

Tel : 01772 603119

Email : liz.cookson@basf.com

Web : www.animal-nutrition.basf.com

dSm-FirmeniCh - animal nutrition & health

The RONOZYME® feed enzyme range from DSM offers a comprehensive spectrum of enzyme activities to increase feed ingredient nutrient digestibility resulting in improved utilisation of feed. This assists in reducing feed costs and the environmental impact of rearing animals for food.

The RONOZYME® products are produced as unique free flowing, virtually dust free, thermostable granular forms, ensuring superior handling characteristics and stability during feed manufacture.

In addition, RONOZYME® LIQUID BLENDS are available direct from DSM Heanor to meet the market need for post-pellet addition of enzymes.

RONOZYME® WX is an outstanding xylanase with high affinity for both soluble and insoluble arabinoxylans and is the ideal product for wheat-based diets.

RONOZYME ® MultiGrain is an innovative thermostable multicomponent carbohydrase with principal activities of xylanase, β-glucanase and cellulase. It is the enzyme of choice for diets consisting of barley to reduce gut viscosity and improve feed utilisation.

RONOZYME ® VP is a multi-enzyme complex containing β-glucanase, hemicellulase and a high level of pectinase activity. It breaks down pectic substances and other Non-Starch Polysaccharides (NSPs) in vegetable proteins, increasing the availability of amino acids and energy.

RONOZYME® ProAct is a mono-component protease enzyme which increases digestibility of a broad range of feed protein sources and complements the performance of other endogenous and exogenous enzyme to offer feed cost savings, whilst maintaining broiler performance.

RONOZYME® HiPhos is a superior, high-performance phytase effective at releasing bound phosphorus from phytic acid. This product offers a cost saving solution as well as a reduced environmental impact.

RONOZYME® RumiStar™ is a pure amylase which provides more starch energy to the animal and increases forage digestion. This helps farmers to achieve increased feed efficiency as a result of cows making better use of their total diet.

web: www.dsm-firmenich.com

Stay connected:

huvepharma

OptiPhos® Plus ‘Beats the Heat’

In 2022, Huvepharma® UK received authorisation for its newest phytase, OptiPhos® Plus, for all pig and poultry species at a minimum inclusion level of 250 FTU/kg (Reg. number 4a32)

The key points of OptiPhos® Plus are twofold: (a) its high (thermo) stability and( b) its reliable matrix values.

OptiPhos® Plus is an intrinsically heat stable phytase, surviving pelleting temperatures up to 85°C when used in its granular form (G), and up to 95°C when coated (CT). Also, when applied in a concentrated premix it has shown stability of at least 6 months.

OptiPhos® Plus combines stability with fast and efficient phytase activity, providing reliable matrix values. Launched in March 2019 and in January 2021 in the EU, OptiPhos® Plus has already received excellent

feedback following use in the field. With this new approval, the UK market can now also enjoy the benefits of OptiPhos® Plus.

Huvepharma is a leader in fermentation technology and has over 10,000 m3 of fermentation capacity in the EU. These facilities ensure that Huvepharma has quality control over the whole production line from inclusion to finished formulated product. References are available upon request. For further information, please contact Lauren McCallie, Feed Additives and Poultry Business Manager for Huvepharma at: Lauren.McCallie@huvepharma.com or on Tel: +44(0)7841574565. Web: www.huvepharma.com

KEMZYME® Plus is a synergistic multi-enzyme product, the only one registered in the EU containing five declared and quantified enzyme activities, which offers a wide range of benefits to poultry nutritionists. It shows high affinity for various feed substrates as it supplies 3 different NSP-ases, a protease and an alpha-amylase, to maximize valuable nutrient release.

The combination of both fungal and bacterial enzymes enables an optimal activity throughout the entire GIT, resulting in increased starch, amino acid and protein digestibility and extra release of energy. KEMZYME® Plus offers reliable and well researched matrix values on crude protein (CP), amino acids (AAs) and apparent metabolizable energy (AME), obtained from various trials in broilers, turkeys and laying hens, ensuring consistent feed efficiency while saving up to €12/tonne in diet costs. It allows the flexibility of introducing alternative raw materials with a lower nutritional value and higher fiber content into your diets, reducing the dependency on corn, soybean meal and vegetable oil.

KEMZYME® Plus adds value to your diet with a profitable return on investment As every enzyme activity is derived from non-GMO fermentation, KEMZYME® Plus can also be used in organic farming. For more information on KEMZYME® Plus please visit: https://www.kemin.com/eu/en/products/kemzyme

kemin

A multi-fermentation enzyme system for modern diets

ruminal support through turn-out and beyond for better dairy returns this summer

With Anna Dinsdale, Ruminant Technical Manager, AB Vista

Following a difficult end to 2022 and falling milk prices from the highs of last year, many dairy producers have been relieved to turn cows out to grass as early as possible this spring, making the most of cheaper, home-grown feedstuffs.

However, with the added pressure on margins, producers must place more emphasis on improving efficiency of milk production and supporting the rumen, if they are to make the most of home-grown forage and grazed grass.

“We saw steep rises in compounded feed prices in 2022 (+34%), and the cheaper and less carbon expensive option of feeding home grown grass can seem very appealing, after an uncertain and expensive autumn-winter, feeding housed dairy cows,” says AB Vista’s ruminant technical manager Anna Dinsdale.

“As we know, feeding lush fresh spring grass does not come without its challenges, particularly as 2022 saw grass growth fall far short of the five-year average,” she adds.

This added to the challenge of getting sufficient grazed grass intakes into the herd, to support consistent milk production throughout the spring-summer season.

The typically high sugar levels and low neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content of early spring grazed grass is also likely to be predisposing the dairy herd to increased risk of sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA).

“This all contributes to the seasonal falls in butterfat associated with spring turn out,” says Ms Dinsdale.

negatively impacts milk production

The fats required for milk fat are produced by a process called biohydrogenation – this happens in the rumen and takes the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from the diet and saturates them.

Prolonged periods when ruminal pH falls below the critical threshold of pH 5.5 is when SARA becomes a real problem. This leads to changes in the way that the rumen processes fatty acids and it can lead to build up of undesirable fatty acids, including conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) trans-10, cis12 CLA (trans-10).

“As this trans-10 fatty acid can inhibit the lipogenic enzymes in the udder that produce butterfat, the accumulation of the trans-10 fatty acids negatively impacts milk fat production,” says Ms Dinsdale.

“As it is very difficult to manipulate the way the rumen clears trans-10 fatty acids through further biohydrogenation, we can look to support the correct biohydrogenation pathways through the diet,” she explains.

There are three nutritional strategies that can be utilised to reduce the likelihood of the rumen favouring the alternative biohydrogenation pathway and producing excess trans-10 fatty acids:

• Load) remains at an acceptable level:

Diets formulated to ensure RUFAL (Rumen Unsaturated Fatty Acid

• it more difficult for fibre digestors to attach and digest it

Reduces the amount of oil that coats fibre in the rumen, making

•

Increase peNDF by buffer feeding chopped straw, silage or TMR:

• production, which are the precursors of butterfat

Provides a higher fibre source for volatile fatty acid (VFA)

• yeast combination:

Aid the maintenance of rumen pH by including a buffer and live

• biohydrogenation pathway and trans-10 accumulation

Supports a higher ruminal pH for longer, to avoid the alternative

“Feeding a buffer and live yeast combination each day, via buffer feeding to grazing cows or through the TMR, can reduce the time the rumen spends below pH 5.5. This helps to maintain and avoid associated falls in milking cow productivity,” explains Ms Dinsdale.

“It reduces the time when rumen function is impaired, while improving fibre digestion and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production. VFAs are the ‘energy blocks’ for the cow and the precursors in butterfat production, therefore improving their production by stopping excessive falls in rumen pH is vital,” she adds.

Rumen environment optimised for fibre digestion

These two components, when fed daily, work synergistically to provide a rumen environment optimised for fibre digestion, to support efficient production and overall animal health.

“The live yeast Vistacell is a specifically selected strain of saccharomyces cerevisiae used to optimise rumen conditions and significantly improve performance,” explains Ms Dinsdale.

“It supplies the highest number of yeast cells or colony forming units (CFUs), enhancing its probiotic effect.”

Ms Dinsdale explains the Vistacell optimises rumen conditions through a ‘Weed,’ ‘Seed’ and ‘Feed’ mode of action, when fed at 4g/ head/day to dairy cows.

‘Weed’: Competes with lactic acid producing bacteria for sugars • available in the rumen

Reduces the total acid load in the rumen and the risk of SARA

•

•

‘Seed’: Scavenges oxygen to create an anaerobic environment

Creates a favourable environment for fibre-digesting bacteria •

stabilising rumen pH for over eight hours

• twice the buffering capacity than traditional buffers

‘Optimises’: Optimises rumen pH due to its ability to provide

• magnesium

‘Supplies’: High levels of bioavailable calcium and

Feed rates vary upon the acid load challenge but would typically be 80g-120g/head/day in most dairy cattle.

•

‘Feed’: Stimulates growth of lactic acid utilising bacteria

•

Results in less acid in the rumen, leading to optimal pH

Alongside this component, the efficient, effective natural rumen buffer Acid Buf, derived from calcareous marine algae, and a source of highly bioavailable Calcium and Magnesium, follows a ‘Stabilises,’ ‘Optimises,’ ‘Supplies’ mode of action, according to Ms Dinsdale.

‘Stabilises’: Its honeycomb structure breaks down slowly,

“Published trials on the use of Acid Buf rumen buffer and Vistacell live yeast have continually shown improvements in milk fat and protein yield, energy corrected milk and a significant reduction in the time the rumen pH spends in the SARA risk zone, when compared to control treatments,” says Ms Dinsdale.

“With milk price reductions in the first half of 2023 helping to push the milk:feed price ratio down, margins are under more pressure, so these improvements, and making the most from feeding at grass, provides a welcome fillip to the dairy producer.”

“

… With milk price reductions in the first half of 2023 helping to push the milk:feed price ratio down, margins are under more pressure … “

Quality Control, Sampling & analysis, moisture management

ab viSta

Helping assess feed quality to optimise animal performance

Understanding the baseline of rations and forage quality is a key parameter to maximising profitability, with dairy producer margins under increased pressure from high feed costs and a drop in milk prices.

“Purchasing decisions can be supported, and feeds formulated closer to specification, by applying feed intelligence and understanding the variations in raw materials,” explains AB Vista’s Technical Services Manager Angharad Loveluck.

“Near Infra-Red (NIR) spectroscopy services provide accurate predictions of the nutritional components of feedstuffs, to help optimise diet formulation and ensure quality control,” she adds.

As a full service NIR provider, AB Vista can help identify inefficiencies across the production process, by monitoring variability and controlling the quality of raw materials and feed.

Having developed the Handheld NIR (HHNIR), AB Vista is able to provide flexible, in-situ analysis, with results shown instantly on the device and synchronised with a web portal for viewing and sharing more widely. The presentation of data on the screen can also be personalised and branded.

The handheld devices use the same NIR technology as used in its laboratories. AB Vista’s calibrations have been developed over 25 years, incorporating more than 400,000 global reference samples and more than 4 million spectra plus reference values, resulting in a robust calibration database that is constantly developing.

“Traditionally used to predict forage nutrient content quickly and accurately, we have also now developed a new HHNIR calibration that can predict the dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and organic matter (OM) content of dairy manure,” continues Ms Loveluck. “Our HHNIR devices and services can help improve efficiencies, from using nitrate calibrations to make grass cutting decisions, to understanding forage quality and helping to make buying decisions,” she concludes.

Web: www.abvista.com

deveniSh SmartMoisture boosts environmental and economic sustainability through moisture management in feed production

The patented technology, developed in partnership with Perstorp helps animal feed mills to improve milling efficiency, prevent loss of

volume, and ultimately reduce energy consumption and wastage during the milling process.

SmartMoisture is a unique moisture management product designed to maintain target moisture levels during the manufacturing process which delivers a range of production, performance, and economic benefits.

Globally, between 1-3% of animal feed is lost due to moisture loss and evaporation during storage and the milling process, which equates to approximately 30 million tonnes of feed wasted each year. Managing feed moisture as a feed ingredient is key to ensuring consistent feed quality and preventing these losses.

Trials carried out by Devenish have shown that up to 3% moisture can be reintroduced into feed using SmartMoisture in pelleted feed and up to 4% in extruded feed, with no adverse impact on either animal performance or product quality. That is due to its ability to reduce water activity. Moisture content merely describes how much water is in the product. Water activity describes how much of that water is free and therefore available to microorganisms for growth. By managing the water activity of feed during processing and storage, SmartMoisture can reduce the proliferation of microorganisms and improve feed safety.

One of the product’s unique features is that it uses the esters of propionic acid – rather than the more common salts of organic acids –which directly prevent the growth of moulds and offer longer protection to the treated feed.

For more information, please visit: smartmoisture.com

dm SCientiFiC ltd

DM Scientific Ltd are a family run UKAS accredited contract laboratory. We provide quality nutritional analysis for the Animal Feed Industry. Our dedicated team deliver a competent analytical service, testing a variety of feed and raw material samples from all around the UK and Europe.

We offer a wide range of analysis:

•

Proximate

Oils and Fats

•

•

Protein

•

Energy Calculations

Minerals

•

• Flubendazole and Nicarbazin.

Medicinal Additive testing -Monensin, Narasin, Salinomycin, CTC,

•

NIR Forage testing using the dry and grind CNCPS system

To ensure the quality of our analysis we participate in the AAFCO proficiency testing scheme. We are UKAS accredited to ISO 17025:2017

and our most up to date schedule of accreditation is available at: www. ukas.org/testing.

All our customers are important to us big or small, we pride ourselves in offering a service that is tailored to your needs.

DM Scientific Ltd, Main Site, Dalton, Thirsk, North Yorkshire YO7 3JA

Contact: David Macmillan Tel: 01845 577757

Imperium4Feed runs on standard or virtual Windows Servers and has hardware redundancy built-in to minimise down time and provide maximum reliability. All data is stored in an open Microsoft SQL Server database for many years and integration is possible with back-office systems.

For further information or to arrange a demonstration, please contact:

Matthew Swallow - Tel: + 44 (0)1159 813700,

Email: matthewswallow@dsl-systems.com, Web: dsl-systems.com

Bill Wright – Tel: +44 (0) 1260 277025

dSl

/ dataStor SyStemS

Imperium4Feed, winner of the New Product Showcase IPPE 2023

Email: dmacmillan@dmscientific.co.uk Web: www.dmscientific.co.uk kemin

Best of the Best in Animal Feed, is the new mill control system offered by DSL Systems and Datastor Systems. Combining their wealth of knowledge and experience to provide leading-edge process control, planning and information software for mills of all sizes. Implementing an Imperium4Feed mill control system will help improve quality and consistency of production.

Email: billwright@datastorsystems.com, Web: datastorsystems.com

Kemin’s Application Solutions Team at your Service for millSMART online

The system has comprehensive facilities for capturing, monitoring and analysing quality control data. In the event of quality issues, the lot traceability feature allows problem supplies and deliveries to be identified in a few seconds.

Raw material quality tests can be configured per material with acceptable ranges. Deliveries out of range are automatically rejected unless authorised by a high-level user.

Production quality results can be captured automatically through communication links with TekPro’s Holmen testers, moisture meters and NIR units. Alternatively, results can be manually entered with the production records. A variety of reports and graphs provide analysis of results which can also be used for process optimisation. DSL’s web based OEE4Imperium system uses the quality data to display KPIs and OEE figures.

Controlling and reducing process variability is essential when aiming to achieve improved productivity, feed quality and feed safety, while ensuring a profitable and sustainable operation. Process standardisation remains a challenge in feed production today. Kemin has developed an intelligent solution aimed at optimizing feed production. The millSMART online programme for feed processing and feed safety is an automatic application system programmed to measure the real-time moisture level in the feed mills batch mixer. The online closed loop PID controllers assure the well-balanced preparation of either Sal CURB, Myco CURB or KEM WET in Opti CURB® solutions. Once real-time moisture levels are obtained, and inclusion rates are set, the online system will apply Opti CURB® to achieve both optimal feed safety and process control.

The automatic sampling technology, integrated with the millSMART online application system, provides a convenient method for in mixer feed sampling during normal production conditions, to enable the sensors learning process. The digital microwave moisture measuring principle enables the highest accuracy and repeatability. Additionally, the mixing quality is validated using the coefficient of variation methodology thereby allowing for optimal mixing processes.

Imperium4Feed is modular and fully configurable software based on its predecessor’s AutoPilot4Feed engine which simplifies modifications and expansion. The user interface has been completely redeveloped using the latest web technologies to provide intuitive operation and rapid deployment to desktop, tablet or smart phone users via standard web browsers.

Imperium4Feed is software for life that is continually updated and improved through a licence subscription to provide compatibility, a best in practice platform to produce animal feed and eliminates disruptive major upgrades. The licence subscription includes 24/7 support.

Formula management ensures the highest feed quality is validated and maintained. This is achieved through calibration management providing either individual or grouped calibration curves. Remote configuration, calibration and diagnostics are easily undertaken using the specially developed software. Digital services and dashboarding using KEMINCONNECT ensure all KPI’s are visualised bringing customised insights and value. Kemin Application Solution (KAS) engineers and team, have all their expertise at your service. web: kemin.com/feedprocessingdigitalisation

View system now in AR and contact Kemin for more information

adiSSeo releaSeS itS neW WebSite “proteCt your marginS”

Nowadays, the animal production sector is facing tough challenges, and we are all affected by a complex environment. Globally, most companies are impacted in one way or another by the global volatility of commodities, energy prices and general inflation rate, making it more difficult to operate.

These challenges are affecting companies’ margins as the situation is unlikely to improve in the short term.

Humans are using the world’s resources on a massive scale and general scarcity is likely to remain. Consequently, it is very unlikely that raw material and energy prices will decrease significantly in the future.

The Adisseo team stated that: “We are committed and ready to help you sustain your business, every day, in the short and long-term, and to continue to feed the planet in a high-quality, affordable, safe, and sustainable way.”

The new Adisseo website “Protect your margins” consists of a decision tree that allows you to select your species of choice. Then, four to six different pathways can be explored, all related to critical business issues you are facing (i.e., decrease feed cost, improve animal performance, reduce disease outbreaks...)

Adisseo invites you to discover their new website “Protect Your Margins”, which they believe will help you face short-term price volatility and long-term resource management obstacles.

Visit: www.adisseo.com/en/protect-your-margins

bipea oFFerS a neW proFiCienCy teSt in the Field

oF Feed miCrobiology

BIPEA is launching a new interlaboratory test (PTS 105B) that permits laboratories to detect Listeria spp and Listeria monocytogenes in feed.

For this first round, BIPEA will offer three samples of 25g of compound animal feed and participating laboratories will have to detect the presences or absence of, Listeria spp and Listeria monocytogenes parameters according to reference methods (ISO 11290-1) or alternative ones.

This test is scheduled on May 2023.

To learn more about the “PTS 105B: Microbiology in feed: Listeria detection “, as well as the full range of interlaboratory tests, please feel free to contact BIPEA via: www. bipea.org

beStmix® aCQuireS nirvention

BESTMIX® Software has acquired Nirvention, a hi-tech software company, specialised in software for real-time Quality Assurance and Quality Control measurements, material identification and parameter prediction.

Nirvention offers a suite of products called triPAT ident, triPAT process and triPAT quant. The software reads the NIR spectrum of incoming raw materials inline, during production, and identifies real-time the exact material and determines the quality and nutritional values. For example, upon the intake of raw materials, the system will evaluate the product and confirm or deny if the material is exactly what you ordered and if the quality meets the requirements. With the in-line product triPAT process, production run-waste can be significantly reduced. This is for instance applied in extruder processes to reduce waste using predictive measurements and algorithms.

“The expertise and know-how of Nirvention and BESTMIX® will amplify each other and will enable us to provide more and better tools faster to our customers” explains Gerard Marneth, CEO at BESTMIX® Software. “As an innovative company, we are always looking for ways to extend our knowledge and to improve our services and software to help our customers to improve processes, quality, sustainability, and profitability.”

allteCh publiSheS White paper Comparing Selenium SourCeS by Form, SourCe and FunCtion

Alltech has published a new white paper, entitled “Organic selenium: A comparison of form, source and function,” by Dr. Richard Murphy, director of research at Alltech. The new white paper focuses on the varying stabilities of the different selenium sources currently on the market. It follows up from Dr Murphy’s 2021 white paper release entitled “Organic trace minerals: Enhancing mineral bioavailability through chelation” which explored improved bioavailability with organic trace minerals (OTMs).

“Organic selenium has been found to be a more effective source (than inorganic selenium products), resulting in an increased number of live young per animal, the stimulation of immune function, overall improvements in animal health, and an enhanced shelf life for meat, milk and eggs,” said Dr. Murphy. “Peer-reviewed research has clearly shown that dietary intervention with organic selenium results in significantly enhanced production and health benefits for all species.”

Adequate selenium levels are essential for basic processes like growth and reproduction, and selenium deficiencies are

responsible for several specific degenerative diseases in livestock. There is a wellestablished association between selenium deficiencies and a wide range of practical and costly problems, including both male and female infertility, a decline in animals’ overall thrift and well-being, disease resistance and disorders related to thyroid hormone metabolism. The inclusion of selenium in animal nutrition has also been linked to a number of health and product quality benefits, which are dependent on selenium being supplied in the right form and at the correct dosage.

“The form in which the selenium is presented will play a crucial role in its bioavailability and efficacy,” said Dr. Murphy. “Organic forms of selenium are the optimal nutritional source.”

The numerous selenium sources available on the market today vary greatly in terms of their stability and shelf-life when included in premix and feed. A knowledge of these differences allows end users to make informed decisions as to the suitability of individual products for their production systems and livestock.

“Organic selenium yeast sources have displayed high levels of verified stability in premix, compound feed and after pelleting, albeit with further source-dependent differences noted between them,” Dr. Murphy observed.

In terms of understanding the toxicity differences among various selenium sources, the white paper examines the biochemistry behind selenium and its potential to act negatively at a cellular level. Various selenium forms have clearly defined toxic attributes — but there were relatively few, if any, negative connotations associated with the use of the organic selenium yeast product being studied in this paper. In contrast, inorganic and chemically synthesised selenium sources have clearly defined toxic attributes, which are notably similar with respect to their acute oral toxicities. Based on these results, not all selenium sources can be considered equal, as considerable care and attention is required when formulating and handling synthetic and inorganic sources.

A key attribute of an efficacious organic selenium source is its ability to not only improve animal health but also to enhance overall performance and, in doing so, increase profitability at the farm level. Additionally, organic selenium products that are well-established will have a large database of peer-reviewed data supporting their bio-efficacy.

“Selenium yeast offered in the form of Sel-Plex® is the most researched organic selenium source available and has been featured in more than 300 peer-reviewed performance studies to date,” noted Dr. Murphy.

For more information, click here to download the white paper or visit Alltech.com.

Cargill animal nutrition uk moveS to SuStainable Soya

SourCeS in pig and poultry dietS

Cargill Animal Nutrition UK has replaced the soya sources in its pre-starter and starter pig and poultry diets with its Triple S® soya. The triple ‘S’ reflects the sustainably sourced and supplied origins of the soya used in the diets.

“Triple S soya is part of Cargill’s sustainability strategy,” says the company’s UK commercial director Norman Downey. “It has the same nutritional value as the previously used soya, so no reformulation is required.”

Triple S soya is sourced from areas in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay that are guaranteed deforestation-free since 2008. “Importantly the soya in Triple S is also fully traceable to individual farms so the supply chain, including feed compounders and retailers, know exactly where is comes from. Also, its production is part of farmerfocused sustainability programmes.

“Each producer is independently audited and supported with agronomy advice and continuous improvement goals,” adds Mr Downey. “Farmers must meet social, economic and environmental targets, set out under the Triple S production guidelines.”

Triple S® soya meets the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC) requirements for sustainably sourced soya. It is also recognised by UK retailers as a step towards more sustainable sourcing of animal feed and increasing sustainability in the supply chain.

Pig and poultry diets in Cargill UK’s portfolio using soya, which is now 100% Triple S® soya, are its Neopigg Max piglet diets and the pre-starter chick diet Neochicc.

evonik StrengthenS CompetitiveneSS oF itS animal nutrition buSineSS line

Evonik is transforming the operating model of its Animal Nutrition business to further increase its customer focus, ensure competitiveness and enable further profitable growth. Moving forward, the amino acids business and the specialties business will operate separately and according to different models - in line with their respective requirements and market conditions.

Additionally, Evonik is optimising the production setup for the manufacture of MetAMINO® (DL-methionine) at its three world-scale production hubs and improving the ecological footprint.

These measures to adjust operating models and optimise production will result in an annual cost savings of €200 million with initial savings being realised in the current fiscal year. The full amount will be reached in the 2025 fiscal year. This will also include a

reduction of around 200 jobs worldwide. The exact details are still being determined.

“We are systematically implementing a plan that will develop our Animal Nutrition business, so it continues to grow and succeed in our markets,” says JohannCaspar Gammelin, President of Evonik’s Nutrition & Care division.

The strengthened competitiveness of Animal Nutrition will secure its role as strong and important cash generator for Evonik.

Animal Nutrition will be run in two distinct operating models: one for its amino acids and one for its specialty nutrition business.

The market environment for amino acids is characterised by unchanged strong growth and an attractive sustainability profile but it is also challenged by rising raw material and energy costs. By streamlining the amino acids business organisation, Evonik is targeting a streamlined operating model focused on efficiency and cost-leadership. This go-tomarket approach will be characterised by a lean sales organization with strong digital competence and processes to benefit the customer.

The specialty nutrition business with functional feed additives and digital tools will be developed into a business with system solutions and specialties for poultry, swine and ruminants.

“By transforming our operating models and by executing our global asset strategy at our three world-scale MetAMINO® production hubs, we will secure our competitiveness in the short term and a leading position in animal nutrition and animal health solutions in the long term,” says Dr. Gaetano Blanda, head of the Animal Nutrition business line.

In the amino acids business, Evonik’s investments are focused on optimising the production setup for the manufacture of MetAMINO® and improving the ecological footprint at its three production hubs on three continents.

In the United States, a new plant for the production of MetAMINO® precursor, methyl mercaptan, is currently being built at the methionine hub in Mobile, Alabama. This will further strengthen Evonik’s ability to offer reliable and cost-optimised supply. Additionally, it will reduce the carbon footprint of MetAMINO® from the site by approximately seven percent.

In Singapore, Evonik is investing in process optimisation. This will result in an improved cost position and an annual capacity expansion of 40,000 metric tons –leading to a total of close to 340,000 metric tons per year. It will also lead to a six-percent reduction of the site’s methionine production carbon footprint.

Additionally, in 2022, Evonik further developed and expanded the production facility for MMP (methylmercaptopropionaldehyde) in Wesseling, Germany, reinforcing the European methionine hub in Antwerp, Belgium.

allteCh and agolin partner to provide eCoFriendly nutrition SolutionS For Supporting Cattle produCtion and SuStainability goalS

Alltech has announced that it has acquired a majority interest in Agolin. Founded in 2006 in Switzerland, Agolin has developed and produced plant-based nutrition solutions that improve herd performance, profitability and sustainability, according to a 2020 metaanalysis in the journal Animals.

Agolin’s high-quality essential oil blends are scientifically proven to optimise feed intake and performance, including improved milk and meat production. Furthermore, Agolin® Ruminant was the first feed additive certified by The Carbon Trust for methane reduction in ruminants (2018). Today, organizations such as Verra and Gold Standard are including it in their major international climate protection projects.

“Agolin’s essential oil blends are a complement to Alltech’s proven nutritional technologies, such as Yea-Sacc® and Optigen®,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, Alltech’s president and CEO. “Governments, consumer brands and retailers are making important commitments to reduce their environmental impact. These commitments rely upon farmers, and we are dedicated to supporting them with the best available nutritional technologies to achieve more milk and meat while reducing their environmental footprint.”

Alltech state that their alliance with Agolin will help farmers to reach their sustainability goals while also supporting the performance and profitability of the cattle in their herds and supply chains. Adding that, the synergistic use of Alltech and Agolin nutritional technologies lead to benefits such as improved animal welfare, greater feed efficiency and conversion, enhanced milk and meat production, increased profitability, and a reduced environmental footprint, including a boost in nitrogen efficiency. Agolin has a presence in Europe, Asia and North America. Alltech’s majority interest in the company will expand the availability of Agolin to additional markets.

“We at Agolin are delighted with this strategic alliance to grow synergistically through the added technical expertise and global reach of Alltech,” said Kurt Schaller, managing director of Agolin SA. “This represents a new era for our business, and we look forward to breaking new ground in our industry.”

For more information, visit alltech.com/ agolin and agolin.com.

ConCernS that Farming iS being made the ‘SuStainability SCapegoat’

and only 13% had looked at using products to reduce methane emissions in the herd.

ForFarmerS FirSt Quarter

2023 trading update

Highlights first quarter 2023:

Volume Total Feed: -5.2%: largely due

• to pressure on volumes in pig sector, of which compound feed: -6.4%

• cluster Netherlands/Belgium

Gross profit: -0.6%: due to decline in

A new survey compiled by KW Feeds reveals dairy farmers are concerned about balancing environmental goals with profitability, but almost all of those questioned overwhelmingly recognise sustainability is important to their business. The survey did however highlight concerns over a lack of clarity when quantifying environmental credentials.

“Our survey shows that farmers are wanting to be more sustainable,” says Ms Ward. “There is increased recognition that this is important to the consumer, and if UK producers expect the public to eat and buy locally, they should be doing likewise with their own sourcing.

“While there is clearly a nervousness around hitting the balance between sustainability and profitability, and the lack of a standard across the industry, dairy farmers remain positive they are making a difference for the long-term,” she concludes.

Underlying EBITDA: +4.5%: mainly

• due to improvement in Germany/ Poland and the United Kingdom.

Pieter Wolleswinkel, CEO of ForFarmers: “I am honoured to have recently been appointed CEO of ForFarmers, at a time when opportunities and threats are not far apart. To be able to respond quickly and appropriately, we are placing the emphasis in our revised strategy on local approach and responsibility. Market position and returns are important to us. That is why we have recently started a reorganisation, so that the local approach can be implemented effectively and efficiently. Knowledge, innovative power and focus on cost reduction are key drivers. After all, volumes are under pressure, as they were in the first quarter. This is mainly due to the impact of bird flu in the United Kingdom and Poland and the crisis in the pig sector. However, the good result in the ruminant sector in the first quarter in the United Kingdom was gratifying. To contribute to the transition of the sector, we must continue to innovate and therefore, also to make returns. These are basic preconditions. My colleagues and I are convinced that we can make the adjustments in our approach and business operations and that we can include current and new customers in this transition. We will focus on this change in 2023.”

The full press release can be found on the ForFarmers website.

anpario plC haS aChieved the king’S aWard For enterpriSe Anpario plc announced that it has been honoured with the first ever King’s Award for Enterprise, recognised for excellence in Sustainable Development. Anpario is one of 148 organisations nationally to be recognised with a King’s Award for Enterprise, 15 of which received the award for Sustainable Development.

The Kings Award for Enterprise is the UK’s most prestigious business accolade, designed to recognise and encourage the achievements of UK businesses.

In the survey, 98% of the dairy producers questioned agreed that sustainability was important, with 84% already auditing their farm, or planning to do so, although the majority (79%) were doing so in response to retailer or processor pressure.

Responses to the survey revealed some concern to the parameters of different measurements, with experiences of several audits by all the major supermarkets, returning a variety of different results.

Given this experience, one respondent questioned the reliability of the auditing process, concerned it was ‘making a mockery’ of what they feel is ‘an already dubious sustainability agenda, making farming the scapegoat’.

Despite this, Charlotte Ward, ruminant technical manager at KW Feeds says the survey shows a positive approach to more sustainable farming activities, including the associated operational costs, as long as milk prices reflect the changes and consumers are prepared to pay for it.

“The majority of farmers we spoke to are optimistic about the benefits of operating in a more sustainable way, even if the costs may be higher now. Many felt that in reality, these changes will be self-funding due to improving efficiencies. Essentially there is a short-term cost for a longer-term gain, for the benefit of us all,” she says.

96% of those surveyed felt that using UK feed options were either important or semi-important, not just down to cost, but also from a sustainability perspective (69%).

It was felt home-grown options would support the British farmer, reduce potential supply chain and foreign exchange risk, while also helping support sustainability. The importance of good rationing is also seen as key to getting the full sustainability potential from UK feed.

“Accurate rationing formulation, for example only feeding the required amount of protein throughout the housing and grazing periods, was one key area highlighted, and this relies on reliable feed and nutritional advice, supply and support,” says Ms Ward.

The survey also looked at manure management, a subject increasingly on the agenda. Of those questioned 57% had considered changing manure management methods through a variety of means including the use of dribble bars, using additives to cut emissions or covering slurry stores.

However, none of the respondents mentioned livestock management measures,

keep tmr and buFFer Cool to maximiSe Feed eFFiCienCy

Preventing rations from heating up this summer will be particularly important in the face of continued high commodity prices and tight forage stocks on many farms.

“As soon as temperatures increase, there is a greater risk of diets heating which can have a significant impact on performance and costs,” comments Lauren Judd from Trouw Nutrition GB.

“Higher temperatures lead to more rapid fermentation in TMR and silages, increased mould growth and heating of the whole ration. Heating leads to losses in dry matter and a decline in feed value as energy is used up, reducing yields and increasing feed costs per litre.

For a typical herd feeding 22kg dry matter of a TMR per cow per day, a 5% reduction in dry matter would mean you are losing 1.1kgDM per cow per day. Additionally, there is an increased risk of feed rejections due to reduced palatability. For a buffer fed herd, feeding 10kgDM per cow per day, the waste would be 0.5kgDM/day.

“In a full TMR, the lost dry matter is enough to produce 2.4 litres/day, while for a buffer fed herd could see yield reductions of around a litre per cow per day. With tightening margins, it is vital to maintain feed quality to maximise intakes and production while minimising feed losses.

“To minimise diet heating and spoilage it is important to maintain a low microbial load to reduce the fermentation activity. Adding Selko TMR, a blend of buffered organic acids and acid salts during the mixing of the TMR reduces the activity of yeasts and moulds. This results in less heating, improving palatability of the ration and reducing losses of dry matter and nutrient value.

“Selko TMR can be added to the diet in the mixer wagon or can be sprayed onto the silage face. It costs 0.5p/kgDM, equivalent to around 14p/day for a cow on full TMR but can deliver significant benefits in better feed efficiency.

“Preventing TMRs heating up will help retain full nutritional value and enable cows to milk to their potential,” Ms Judd suggests.

2023 edgar pye SCholarShip

The SFT Edgar Pye Scholarship for 2023 is now open for applications. This year there is a £2,000 prize fund available.

The Edgar Pye Research Scholarship Trust (Registration Charity No. 1004754) was founded following the untimely death of R. Edgar Pye in July 1989, President of the Society of Feed Technologists, to perpetuate his memory by offering research scholarships relating to the animal feed industry.

If you would like further information and how to apply, please email the SFT secretary directly at secretary@sft.uk.com.

reSurgenCe in pig houSing inveStment

Strong signs are emerging that pig farmers are investing to ‘future-proof’ their units, according to a national housing manufacturer.

“After long periods of losses, when many have left the industry, we are receiving an upsurge in serious enquiries for both new and refurbishment projects,” said Paul Marland, sales director of Staffordshirebased ARM Buildings.

In particular, producers have been looking at installing freedom-style farrowing houses. While several have updated their finishing accommodation, many farrowing houses are old and tired, having had no investment for 20 years. Litters are certainly larger than two decades ago and sows tend to be larger, too, so this has put pressure on the fabric of these buildings, he says. The freedom-style pens provide more space, in addition to other benefits.

Since fewer pens can be accommodated when converting existing buildings to this system, it often means an further house has to be added to cope with the same number of farrowings. There has also been interest in new weaner-grower buildings.

“It is encouraging that producers have sufficient confidence to invest, despite the problems they have encountered,” said Mr Marland. “High welfare systems are obviously going to be increasingly important in the future.”

national import banS For ukrainian grain & FeedStuFFS - FeFaC Call on eu CounCil preSidenCy and european CommiSSion to SaFeguard the Single market and the eu’S reliability aS a trade partner

FEFAC is urging the EU Council Presidency and the European Commission to seek rapid and effective solutions to tackle the recent unilateral decisions adopted in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Bulgaria which

impose import restrictions on Ukrainian grain and oilseeds, as well as other feedstuffs imports.

Asbjørn Børsting, FEFAC President, stated that “current decisions taken at a national level are undermining the integrity of the Single Market and the reliability of the EU as a trading partner, which could lead to further market destabilisation, in particular for feedstuffs for which there are no domestic alternative supplies”

He noted that “serious doubts remain about the practical feasibility of some of the proposed temporary bans and “in transit” arrangements, which could result in more market disturbances, just at a time when the EU feed sector needs more market stability, predictability, and legal certainty on the implementation of the EU Trade and Agricultural policy framework to maintain a level playing field for market operators”

He recalled that “the EU previously agreed to act with a single voice when tackling emerging feed and food security issues, a “hard lesson” learnt during the COVID pandemic and at the outbreak of the Russian aggression in Ukraine. Joint EU action led to the strengthening of EU feed and food sector resilience through respective Single Market Defence and Trade policy mechanisms and tools including the EU Green Lanes and Solidarity Lanes, as well related EU financial measures such as State Aid provisions and the EU crisis management fund”

FEFAC, therefore, calls on the EU Council Presidency and the EU Commission to act speedily, addressing concerns raised by EU border countries. The EU should consider using relevant CAP & trade instruments, without undermining the functioning of the Single Market and the EU’s trade policy. The EU needs to safeguard market access to essential supplies of feed grains and vegetable protein meals to the EU feed and livestock sector, in order to reduce market distortion and volatility resulting from the unilateral import restrictions.

plan ahead to avoid heat StreSS produCtion loSSeS

Dairy producers are being urged to start thinking about heat stress ahead of the warmer weather to help avoid significant production losses.

Speaking recently at The George Farm Vets Cow Convention conference, Nico Vreeburg, Lallemand’s ruminant technical support manager, warned that heat stress is becoming a bigger problem and encouraged farmers to start planning mitigation protocols now.

“Production losses occur long before cows show any signs of heat stress. Drops in milk yields, poor fertility and increased health challenges such as lameness and ketosis can all be seen as a result of heat stress. Cows start to express signs of heat

stress at 21oC, but losses start to occur as early as 18oC,” said Mr Vreeburg.

“With the hotter summers we have been experiencing, temperatures at this level are occurring much more frequently than in the past, so heat stress needs to be a fundamental part of any cow management plan.”

Mr Vreeburg said a proactive approach to heat stress is key and recommended farmers look at cow housing, nutrition and water access as starting points.

“Cows spend 75% of their time inside, so it’s worth investing in good housing. Badly designed sheds could be 5oC hotter than the temperature outside, however in a good shed, the temperature could be 5oC cooler,” he said.

“Ventilation is a really important factor – there should be fresh air 24/7 in the barn. Cows also need access to a reliable source of fresh water as they will drink more in the heat.”

As an example, Mr Vreeburg said a cow producing 21 litres of milk per day will drink 103 litres of water when the temperature is 21oC and 109 litres of water when the temperature is 27oC. A cow producing 45 litres of milk per day will drink considerably more – 128 litres of water when the temperature is 21oC and 135 litres of water when the temperature is 27oC.

Insulating the roof and providing shade as well as cooling cows with sprinklers or vertical fans also formed part of Mr Vreeburg’s recommendations.

“If designing a new shed, white roofs can help keep the building cool,” he added.

Mr Vreeburg also suggested that dairy farmers should look closely at nutrition to limit a reduction in feed intakes.

“Forage management is key to optimising silage quality and stability at feed out. Cow dry matter intakes decline when they’re suffering from heat stress and so it’s important that what they do eat is of highquality.”

He added that feeding a live yeast has also been shown to help mitigate the effects of heat stress.

“Including the live yeast Levucell SC at double the standard dose in rations is a proven feeding strategy that helps combat the negative effects of impaired rumen function and diet digestion during heat stress. Trial results show a 6% increase in feed efficiency and milk yields when feeding a Levucell SC to cows under heat stressed conditions.”

WynnStay agm Statement

Wynnstay held its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 21st March and made the following comments on its current trading.

“Trading in the first four months of the new financial year has been broadly in line with management expectations. The Group is now entering the most important period in its first half, with activity seasonally high as farmers purchase inputs for their livestock and arable operations. As expected, the Group’s fertiliser blending activity at Glasson has had to contend with the reversal of the spike in urea and ammonium nitrate prices, which are now close to the pre-exceptional levels of late 2021. While this reversal has impacted margins, Glasson has managed the volatile period well and is now replacing its fertiliser raw materials at these more sustainable levels.

Cost management remains a factor for farmers and while input pricing pressures are decreasing, some farmgate prices are also reducing. Wynnstay’s balanced business model will help the Group to mitigate the expected variations in performance across the farming sectors.

Tamar Milling, the manufacturer and supplier of blended feed products based in Cornwall and acquired at the start of the new financial year, is integrating well. The business has made a very encouraging first contribution to results and is increasing the Group’s profile in the south-west of England.

Clarification of the Government’s Environmental Land Management scheme continues with Defra providing further updates and refinements to the scheme. This clarification has been helpful and enables the Group to focus on its ‘whole farm’ approach to help farmers deliver their environmental activities.

Despite the current uncertainties in the sector, the Group remains well placed to deliver a good outcome for the year and make further progress with its strategic plans, which will strengthen its position in the sector.”

andritz introduCeS

ComprehenSive SolutionS to produCe alternative protein ANDRITZ is expanding its offering to the food and feed industries with solutions to produce alternative proteins. The company will help customers scale up alternative protein production to a commercial level and provide support over the entire equipment life. The new offering will initially focus on alternative protein sources such as peas, pulses, lentils, insects, and animal residues, with more to come soon.

ANDRITZ experts will help customers find the optimal solution for their alternative protein production needs based on wet or dry processing. The tailored end-to-end solutions include concept design, process engineering, realization, automation, and service. In announcing the news ANDRITZ declared that it has “Proven technologies for all key process steps available in the group, including milling, conditioning, dewatering, drying, extrusion, and pelleting – all backed by innovative process automation and proven global service. To produce alternative proteins, ANDRITZ will draw upon the broadest product portfolio worldwide as well as its expertise in project management by dedicated and experienced teams.”

To support customers, ANDRITZ is also building an innovative test center at Waddinxveen, The Netherlands. The “Food Innovation Xperience” will open in the 4th quarter this year, enabling customers to validate their concepts by scaling up production and testing quality, consistency, and energy efficiency at industrial levels.

ForFarmerS SellS belgian Compound Feed aCtivitieS to arveSta

ForFarmers has decided to sell ForFarmers Belgium to a leading agricultural and horticultural expert Arvesta. The current context, in which the agricultural sector is being put under pressure to produce even more sustainably, is leading to more consolidation and cooperation in the chain. Accordingly, ForFarmers and Arvesta entered into discussions about ForFarmers Belgium and closer cooperation in the chain.

By means of the acquisition of ForFarmers Belgium, Arvesta takes over both the approximately 80 employees who produce and sell approximately 420k tons of feed and the production site in Izegem in West Flanders. In addition, the mill and site in Ingelmunster are also included in the transaction. Arvesta already has production sites for professional feed in Aalter, Merksem, Kortrijk, Andenne and Hombourg.

The two companies will work more closely together especially in the broiler sector in Belgium, with ForFarmers continuing to produce feed in the Netherlands, so as to continue smooth deliveries to broiler farmers among other things. In addition, Arvesta will transfer its feed activities in the broiler sector in the Netherlands to ForFarmers and the parties will also focus on further improving the chain concepts in this collaboration.

The sale of co-products, the activities in Belgium of the organic feed producer Reudink and the horse feed producer Pavo are not included in this transaction. In line with strategic objectives, with perspective for stakeholders

The company state that this transaction is in line with ForFarmers’ strategic focus, emphasising ecological and economic

returns. This acquisition is also in line with Arvesta’s continued strategy and strengthens its position in the Belgian market.

ForFarmers shall receive a net amount of €25 million from Arvesta for the transaction, to be paid in cash at closing of the transaction. This is expected to take place in the second half of 2023.

The transaction is subject to approval of the Belgian competition authority.

goudSmit developS 10,000 gauSS rotary magnet Separator

The recently developed 10,000 gauss rotating cleanflow magnet from Waalrebased Goudsmit Magnetics filters magnetic and paramagnetic particles out of poorly flowing, greasy powders in the animal feed industry. The magnet rotor is composed of 7 strong magnet bars, equipped with Neodymium-iron-boron magnets, each with a diameter of 32 mm. This is 40% thicker than regular magnetic bars and also used by the magnet manufacturer in the static version of the cleanflow. The company states that the magnetic separator was developed in response to many customer requests. It is suitable for free-fall lines and captures both iron and AISI 304 and AISI 316 particles as small as 30 µm from milk powder, for example. An additional advantage that the company are pleased to present is the higher capacity powder that the new cleanflow magnet type can process compared to the 8- or 12-rod magnet separator. The magnetic extractor is designed to be interchangeable one-to-one with existing rotary cleanflow systems.

The powerful magnetic bars in the cleanflow separator filter metal particles and paramagnetic particles from fatty powders and granular products. The separator is available in 3 sizes of which the largest model is suitable for product flows of up to 45m3/ hour. The magnetic flux density of 10,000 gauss was measured on the contact surface of the bars. The maximum working and product temperature is 140°C, the minimum and maximum ambient temperature: -20°C to 40°C. The disadvantage of greasy (milk) powder is that this product does not flow well; the reason why the magnetic bars rotate in the product flow. This counteracts bridge formation and material accumulation and ensures optimal magnetic contact to capture metal contamination. The result is a high degree of separation and a clean product.

During the manual cleaning cycle, the operator removes the rotor from the housing and pulls the magnetic bars out of the extractor, after which the metal particles are loosened and can be disposed of. The company has also developed a special cleaner system, which allows easy and hygienic cleaning of the extractor.

To see how it works watch the video on the Goudsmit YouTube channel

eu Compound feed production estimates for 2022 / market outlook 2023

Industrial compound feed production in the EU decreased by more than 5 million tonnes in 2022 compared to 2021. The main market drivers for 2023 are avian influenza, economic uncertainty, and “green and animal welfare” policies.

EU compound feed production (EU27) for farmed animals in 2022 is estimated at 148.9 million tonnes, a decrease of 3.8 % compared to 2021, according to data provided by FEFAC members. Production decreased for animal feed sectors but more significantly for the pig sector (-6.7 %) and poultry sector (-3.2 %) mainly due to the spread of animal diseases (AI and ASF).

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the related EU energy crisis have had a significant impact on the EU economy and inflation, leading to a reduced demand for animal products, hence impacting the production and finally demand for feed. In general, only AT, FI, IE, PL and SI have managed to slightly increase/stabilise their feed production. Whereas “Green environmental and animal welfare” policies continued to play a role in key member states (BE, DE, NL,) & kept the pressure on reducing livestock population numbers.

In 2022, the pig feed sector was the most affected. The production fell by 3 million tonnes compared to 2021 when many Member states (BE, BG, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FR, HU, IE, PT and RO) experienced a decrease of more than 5%. In some countries, especially small farms closed their businesses due to the deteriorating economic situation and profitability of farms. Pig meat exporting countries reduced their production as China continues to recover from ASF and no longer imports pork volumes at previous levels. African swine fever continued to play a role in certain countries, such as Germany and Romania impacting the economic efficiency of pig farms.

Poultry feed production in 2022 decreased by almost 2 million tonnes as several countries (BG, CZ, FR, HU, IT, SK, and PT) were

heavily impacted by AI and reduced their poultry production. Also, the high cost of utilities during the winter led to the situation where some farms skipped cycles, all impacting the demand for feed.

Cattle feed production slightly decreased by 0.5 million tonnes compared to the previous year as a result of the stabilisation of production compared to 2021 when severe drought led to increased demand for Dairy feed (consequently this has increased demand for compound feed).

market outlook for 2023

According to the Commission, production of main animal species (bar poultry) is expected to decrease in 2023. The herd decapitalisation is progressing in the main EU producers while uncertainties around feed and fertiliser prices as well as inflation are influencing the market. This will have undoubtedly an impact on the feed market. FEFAC market experts estimate that compound production in 2023 will further decline by 1.5% to a level of 146.8 million tonnes. The poultry & pig feed sectors may experience a rebound in Q4 but this will not compensate for the entire loss in 2021/2022. Avian influenza, economic uncertainty, and “green and animal welfare” policies continue to be the main market drivers for the upcoming year. Regulatory uncertainty may further weigh on farmers and their decisions to stay in/leave businesses. Serious doubts remain on the impact of UKR raw materials import bans/restrictions on local markets and production in neighbouring (HU, PL, SK, RO) & other (BG) countries. At the same time, drought problems in southwest Europe may lead to increased needs for imports of raw materials, hence it will be important to maintain the functioning of the Black Grain Sea initiative. Growing Import of animal products also from other third countries may further weigh in on EU feed demand.

“Excential Selenium 4000 is the first and only dust free organic selenium source in the market guaranteeing workers safety!”

adisseo extends technical Support team

Adisseo has appointed Kirsty Farnan as Ruminant Technical Advisor for UK and Ireland in response to the increased demand for precision amino acid supplementation in dairy diets.

Kirsty’s undergraduate degree was in Human Nutrition before she studied for an MSc in Animal Nutrition at Nottingham. She then completed a PhD at Nottingham University working with dairy heifers, looking at the effect of heifer nutrition on the growth rate, age at first calving, milk yield and the carbon footprint of dairy production. She was a finalist in the recent BSAS Industry Prize for her work on the effect of DUP and amino acid content on growth and development in pre-pubertal heifers.

Adisseo UK Ruminant Technical Sales Manager Andrew Grimston comments: “With the increased focus on both overall feed efficiency and particularly Nitrogen Use Efficiency to improve economic and environmental sustainability, dairy farmers are increasingly aware of the benefits of ensuring diets are balanced for amino acids to optimise milk yield, milk quality and fertility to maximise margins.

“Kirsty will work alongside Senior Ruminant Technical Manager Dr Sion Richards, and her recruitment means we can further support nutritionist’s and farmers with the increasing opportunities for formulate diets to overcome the common amino acid deficiencies seen on farm and reduce total dietary protein content.”

Wynnstay group plc board Changes

Wynnstay is pleased to announce the appointment of Steven Esom as Senior Independent Non-executive Director, with immediate effect. He succeeds Philip Kirkham, Vice-chairman and Senior Independent Director, who will be retiring after 10 years as a member of the Board of Directors on 24 May 2023.

Steven has extensive senior-level experience in the UK food and retailing industries and significant experience of the UK agricultural sector. He was Managing Director of Waitrose & Partners, where he regularly engaged with farmers and was involved with the oversight of Waitrose-owned farmlands. He was also Executive Director of Food at Marks & Spencer, and held senior commercial buying roles at J Sainsbury plc for 12 years as well as at Texas, the DIY retailer, then part of Ladbroke Group.

Steven is Chairman of Sedex, a leading global supply chain consultancy focused on environmental, social and governance (“ESG”)

outcomes, which operates the world’s largest data platform for supply chain assessment. He is also Chairman of Andrews & Partners Ltd, the residential estate agency and lettings and management group, and Chairman of Advantage Travel Partnership, the UK’s largest independent travel agent group. Until December 2022, Steven was a non-executive director of Rank Group plc and, for nine years until 2018, was a non-executive director of Cranswick plc, a leading UK food producer and FTSE-250 constituent.

Steve Ellwood, Chairman of Wynnstay Group Plc, said: “On behalf of my colleagues, I would like to thank Philip for his tremendous contribution to the Board and to the Group over the last ten years. Philip’s insights and expertise have been much appreciated. We are delighted to welcome Steven, who succeeds him as Senior Independent Non-executive Director.

“Steven is a highly experienced business leader and brings extensive commercial experience of food production and retailing, and a significant understanding of the agricultural industry. We are confident that he provides additional complementary strengths to the Board of Directors as we continue to grow and develop the Group.”

abn appoints Steve mcnamara to head up Continuous improvement team

ABN has appointed Steve McNamara to head up its new Continuous Improvement (CI) team, overseeing operations across AB Agri UK’s monogastric businesses. Having taken up the position as Head of Continuous Improvement in December 2022, Mr McNamara has already introduced a series of initiatives designed to bring to life the philosophy of development and improvement, while linking in with the strong sustainability agenda across all AB Agri businesses.

In his first five months in the role, Mr McNamara and his team have focussed on a new programme entitled ‘Everyday Excellence’, initially targeted at four pilot sites, but to be rolled out across the whole estate through the remainder of 2023 and into 2024, including ABN’s 11 feed mill sites.

Originally from the North West of England, Mr McNamara is married with two children and lives in Suffolk. With a background in various food industry and agricultural supply chain roles, he is actually returning to familiar territory, having spent six years with another Associated British Food (ABF) business, British Sugar.

premier nutrition expands poultry offering as lottie Farrow Joins the team

Premier Nutrition has welcomed Lottie Farrow who will boost their poultry team proposition with her extensive practical experience of premix and compound feed formulation and manufacture.

Ms Farrow, who joined the company in March as a commercial nutritionist, will support poultry customers across broilers, layers, and turkeys, using her formulations knowledge and keen interest in nutrition strategies to optimise their production efficiency, costs and minimising environmental impact. Welcoming Ms Farrow to the team, Premier’s Poultry Nutrition & Innovation Manager, Ralph Bishop, added: “Lottie has a great range of skills, from the evaluation and use of novel ingredients and how they sustainably feature in modern day poultry diets, through to QC analysis planning and these add seamlessly to the expertise of the current team. I’m excited to begin to introduce Lottie to our customers and watching those business relationships develop and grow.”

new addition Further Strengthens trouw nutrition gb monogastric technical team

To help continue the drive to accelerate the development and uptake on sciencebased solutions to the multiplying challenges facing the monogastric sector, Trouw Nutrition GB has extended its monogastric technical team.

Amanda Mantovani has been appointment as Technical Support Coordinator in the Monogastric and Feed Additives team. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science, from University of Sao Paulo State - UNESP Brazil, and a Postgraduate Degree in Agribusiness, from University of Sao Paulo – USP, Brazil.

From July 2021to December 2022 she worked for Aagaard Farm Agricultural Co-operative in Denmark where she was an Animal Nutrition and Production Specialist. One of her main responsibilities was the management of the swine maternity unit of a farm with 2,500 sows, providing excellence in nutritional and technical support to ensure that customers’ needs are met in line with the business requirements.

In her role with Trouw Nutrition Amanda will provide support to the monogastric and team across the full breadth of products and services offered including technical specification checking and laboratory support. She will support the introduction on the NutriOpt rationing system and the myfeedprint online environmental footprint service.

Commenting on the appointment, Monogastric Business Director Antony Taylor says: “The UK monogastric sector is facing increasing economic, environmental and welfare challenges as it strives to remain financially and environmentally sustainable. Key to this at both feed manufacturer and farmer level will continue to be the implementation of

well-thought out and implemented technical solutions based on robust science. Amanda’s experience enhances our ability to work across the industry to deliver the most effective approaches and ensure we continue to deliver exceptional back-up to our broadening product portfolio.”

uFaC-uk appoints david turnbull as new national Sales manager

UFAC-UK has appointed David Turnbull as its new UK and Ireland Sales Manager. Returning to UFAC-UK having spent four years as Northern Sales Manager between 2012 and 2016, David will officially take up the new role from the start of July 2023. He will be succeeding Nigel Bateson, who is retiring after a respected career within the animal feeds and genetics sector, most notably in his roles as Area Sales Manager and National Sales Manager at UFAC-UK over the past five years.

David will be working alongside Nigel until the beginning of July. Before returning to UFAC-UK, David was appointed National Sales Manager and then Commercial Director at Micron Bio Systems, the UK based bio-science solutions business. He then stepped up to the role of European Sales Manager when the business was acquired in August 2021 by Volac. David began working with Davidsons Feeds, later joining leading animal genetics company Genus,

Guide BUYERS’Guide BUYERS’

Product and Service Finder for the Animal Feed Industry

Also available interactive and online at www.feedbuyersguide.com

Trouw Nutrition GB, Blenheim House, Blenheim Road, Ashbourne DE6 1HA

Tel: 01335 341100 Fax: 01335 341171

E-mail: customerservices.gb@nutreco.com

Web: www.trouwnutrition.co.uk

(See Acidifiers, Analytical Services, Animal Health Products, Antibacterials, Chelated Minerals, Enzymes, Feed Additives, Feed Supplements, Milk Replacers, Mould Inhibitors, Mycotoxin Binders, Salmonella Control, Silage Additives)

Promtek Ltd

Fisher Street, Brindley Ford, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST8 7QJ

Tel: 01782 375600 Fax: 01782 375605

E-mail: info@promtek.com Web: www.promtek.com

(See Calibration and Weighing Services, Process Control Systems)

CLASSIFIED LISTINgS

ACIDIFIERS

Trouw Nutrition GB, Blenheim House, Blenheim Road, Ashbourne DE6 1HA

Tel: 01335 341100 Fax: 01335 341171

E-mail: customerservices.gb@nutreco.com

Web: www.trouwnutrition.co.uk

ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE ENHANCERS

Adisseo

Tel: +353 87 766 8848

E-mail: info.nauk@adisseo.com

Web: www.adisseo.com

ANIMAL HEALTH PRODuCTS

Kernfarm B.V.

De Corridor 14D

3621 ZB Breukelen, The Netherlands

Tel: +31 (0) 346 785 139

Email: info@kernfarm.com Web: www.kernfarm.com

Mervue Laboratories Ireland

Unit 9 Watergrasshill Business Park, Watergrasshill, Co. Cork, T56 HH98, Ireland

Tel: +353 21 21 4391080

E-mail: info@mervuelab.com

Web: www.mervuelab.com

Trouw Nutrition GB, Blenheim House, Blenheim Road, Ashbourne DE6 1HA

Tel: 01335 341100 Fax: 01335 341171

E-mail: customerservices.gb@nutreco.com

Web: www.trouwnutrition.co.uk

Feed Compounder

ANALYTICAL SERVICES

DM Scientific Ltd, Main Site, Dalton, Thirsk, North Yorkshire YO7 3JA

Tel: 01845 577757

Email: dmacmillan@dmscientific.co.uk

Web: www.dmscientific.co.uk

Trouw Nutrition GB, Blenheim House, Blenheim Road, Ashbourne DE6 1HA

Tel: 01335 341100 Fax: 01335 341171

E-mail: customerservices.gb@nutreco.com

Web: www.trouwnutrition.co.uk

ANTIBACTERIALS

Adesco Nutricines, 23 Strandside South, Abbeyside, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford X35 W778, Ireland

Jack: +353 87 2208816 Seán: +353 85 1667512

Email: info@adesco.ie Web: www.adesco.ie

Trouw Nutrition GB, Blenheim House, Blenheim Road, Ashbourne DE6 1HA

Tel: 01335 341100 Fax: 01335 341171

E-mail: customerservices.gb@nutreco.com

Web: www.trouwnutrition.co.uk

ANTIOXIDANTS

Adisseo

Tel: +353 87 766 8848

E-mail: info.nauk@adisseo.com

Web: www.adisseo.com

AuTOMATED BAggINg & PALLETIzINg

EquIPMENT

BAggINg EquIPMENT

Concetti S.p.A

S.S. 75 Centrale Umbra, km 4, 190 Ospedalicchio

06083 Bastia Umbra, PG - Italy

Tel: +39 075 801561 Fax: +39 075 8000894

E-mail: sales@concetti.com Web: www.concetti.com

BuLK STORAgE AND HANDLINg

Croston Engineering Ltd, Tarvin Mill, Barrow Lane, Tarvin, Chester CH3 8JF

Tel: 01829 741119 Fax: 01829 741169

E-mail: admin@croston-engineering.co.uk

Web: www.croston-engineering.co.uk

CALIBRATION AND WEIgHINg SERVICES

Promtek Ltd

Fisher Street, Brindley Ford, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST8 7QJ

Tel: 01782 375600 Fax: 01782 375605

E-mail: info@promtek.com Web: www.promtek.com

CHELATED MINERALS

Trouw Nutrition GB, Blenheim House, Blenheim Road, Ashbourne DE6 1HA

Tel: 01335 341100 Fax: 01335 341171

E-mail: customerservices.gb@nutreco.com

Web: www.trouwnutrition.co.uk

COMMODITY CLAIMS MANAgEMENT

RMC Commodity Claims Management

3 Clement Road, Fulwood, Preston PR2 9LG

Tel: 07841 198733

E-mail: enquiries@rawmaterialclaims.co.uk

Web: www.rawmaterialclaims.co.uk

ENzYMES

AB Vista

3 Woodstock Court, Blenheim Road, Marlborough Business Park, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 4AN. United Kingdom

Tel: +44(0)1672 517650 Fax: +44(0)1672 517660

E-mail: info@abvista.com Web: www.abvista.com

Adisseo

Tel: +353 87 766 8848

E-mail: info.nauk@adisseo.com

Web: www.adisseo.com

Danisco Animal Nutrition IFF

PO Box 777, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 1XN

Tel: 01672 517777

Fax: 01672 517778

Web: animalnutrition.dupont.com

Trouw Nutrition GB, Blenheim House, Blenheim Road, Ashbourne DE6 1HA

Tel: 01335 341100 Fax: 01335 341171

E-mail: customerservices.gb@nutreco.com

Web: www.trouwnutrition.co.uk

FEED ADDITIVES

Borregaard UK Ltd

Clayton Road, Risley Employment Area, Warrington, Cheshire WA3 6QQ

Tel: 01925 285423 Fax: 01925 285433

E-mail: glenn.dearsley@borregaard.com Web: www.lignotechfeed.com

Cargill Animal Nutrition

Provimi Ltd., Dalton Airfield Industrial

Estate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3HE

Tel: 01845 578125

www.cargill.com/feed

Inform Nutrition Ireland Ltd

Whitescross, Cork, T23 KD50, Ireland

Tel: +353 21 4394770

E-mail: info@informnutrition.com

Web: www.informnutrition.com

Orffa

Pancosma SA

Kemin UK Ltd.

Castlethorpe Court,Castlethorpe,BRIGG

North Lincolnshire DN20 9LG,England

tel:+44.1652.65.10.10 fax:+44.1652.65.54.13 www.kemin.com

Kemin UK Ltd 34 Botanic Road, Southport, Merseyside PR9 7NG Tel: +44 (0)1704 537702

Vierlinghstraat 51 4251 LC Werkendam

Minervum 7032 4817 LZ Breda

The Netherlands

The Netherlands

T +31 183 44 77 66 E info@orffa.com

Find your Orffa specialist at www.orffa.com

Voie des Traz 6, 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex, Geneva, Switzerland

Tel : +41 22 929 84 84 Fax : +41 9259 84 95

E-mail: info@pancosma.ch Web: www.pancosma.com

Trouw Nutrition GB, Blenheim House, Blenheim Road, Ashbourne DE6 1HA

Tel: 01335 341100 Fax: 01335 341171

E-mail: customerservices.gb@nutreco.com

Web: www.trouwnutrition.co.uk

FEED MILL DESIgN AND CONSTRuCTION

Croston Engineering Ltd, Tarvin Mill, Barrow Lane, Tarvin, Chester CH3 8JF

Tel: 01829 741119 Fax: 01829 741169

E-mail: admin@croston-engineering.co.uk

Web: www.croston-engineering.co.uk

Turner Process Equipment Ltd

5 De Grey Square, De Grey Road, Colchester, Essex CO4 5YQ

Tel: 01206 752017 Fax: 01206 854484

E-mail: sales@turnerprocessequipment.co.uk

Web: turnerprocessequipment.co.uk

Van Mourik Group

Boylestraat 34, 6718 XM Ede, The Netherlands

Tel: + 31 (0) 318 64 11 44

E-mail: info@vanmourik-group.com

Web: vanmourik-group.com

FEED MILL EquIPMENT

The sole UK supplier for Feedtech and supplier of all new and used milling equipment

Go Green Pelleting Solutions Ltd, Unit 8A Brindley Road, St Helens WA9 4HY

Mick Swift – 07500887637 David Kelly- 07500335621

Office Number – 01744808600

www.gogreenpelletingsolutions.co.uk www.feedtech.com.tr

FEED PATHOgEN CONTROL

Adesco Nutricines, 23 Strandside South, Abbeyside, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford X35 W778, Ireland

Jack: +353 87 2208816 Seán: +353 85 1667512

Email: info@adesco.ie Web: www.adesco.ie

Anitox Ltd

7 Regent Park, Booth Drive, Park Farm, Wellingborough NN8 6GR

Tel: +44 1604 811228

Fax: +44 1604 811013

E-mail: anitoxEMEA@anitox.com Web: www.anitox.com

FLAVOuRS & PALATANTS

Adisseo

Tel: +353 87 766 8848

E-mail: info.nauk@adisseo.com

Web: www.adisseo.com

Inroads International Ltd

Unit 4, Wem Engineering Centre Church Lane, Wem, Shropshire SY4 5HS

Tel: +44 (0)1939 236 555

Fax: +44 (0)1939 236 450

Email: info@inroadsintl.co.uk Web: inroadsintl.com

FEED INgREDIENTS

Azelis UK Ltd

Axis House, Tudor Road, Manor Park, Runcorn WA7 1BD

Tel: 01928 793090

Fax: 01928 716997

Email: nutrition@azelis.co.uk

www.azelis.com

Gemcom Ltd

68 Great Portland Street, London W1W 7NG

Tel: +44 (0)20 7580 8004 Fax: +44 (0)20 7580 8002

E-mail: info@gemcom.co.uk

Web: www.gemcom.co.uk

WestendAgri The Heath Business & Technical

Park, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 4QX

Tel: + 44 (0)1477 544400

Mobile: +44 (0)7961 977623

E-mail: sales@westendagri.com Web: www.westendagri.com

FEED SuPPLEMENTS

Inform Nutrition Ireland Ltd

Whitescross, Cork, T23 KD50, Ireland

Tel: +353 21 4394770

E-mail: info@informnutrition.com

Web: www.informnutrition.com

Premier Nutrition

The Levels, Rugeley, Staffordshire WS15 1RD

Tel: 01889 572500

Fax: 01889 577074

E-mail: info@premiernutrition.co.uk

Web: www.premiernutrition.co.uk

Trouw Nutrition GB, Blenheim House, Blenheim Road, Ashbourne DE6 1HA

Tel: 01335 341100 Fax: 01335 341171

E-mail: customerservices.gb@nutreco.com

Web: www.trouwnutrition.co.uk

MANuFCTuRINg OPTIMISATION SOFTWARE

Promtek Ltd

Fisher Street, Brindley Ford, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST8 7QJ

Tel: 01782 375600 Fax: 01782 375605

E-mail: info@promtek.com Web: www.promtek.com

METHIONINE

Adisseo

Tel: +353 87 766 8848

E-mail: info.nauk@adisseo.com

Web: www.adisseo.com

MILK REPLACERS

Trouw Nutrition GB, Blenheim House, Blenheim Road, Ashbourne DE6 1HA

Tel: 01335 341100 Fax: 01335 341171

E-mail: customerservices.gb@nutreco.com

Web: www.trouwnutrition.co.uk

MINERALS/PHOSPHATES

WestendAgri The Heath Business & Technical Park, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 4QX

Tel: + 44 (0)1477 544400

Mobile: +44 (0)7961 977623

E-mail: sales@westendagri.com Web: www.westendagri.com

MOLASSES PRODuCTS

E D & F Man Liquid Products UK Ltd

Alexandra House, Regent Road, Bootle L20 1ES

Tel: 0151 944 5100 Fax: 0151 944 3919

E-mail: info.mlpuk@edfman.com

Web: www.edfmanliquidproductsuk.com

United Molasses GB Ltd

48 Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 0EJ

Tel: 0151 955 4850

Fax: 0151 955 4860

E-mail: molassesgb@umgroup.com

Web: www.unitedmolasses.com

MOISTuRE MEASuREMENT & CONTROL

Adesco Nutricines, 23 Strandside South, Abbeyside, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford X35 W778, Ireland

Jack: +353 87 2208816 Seán: +353 85 1667512

Email: info@adesco.ie Web: www.adesco.ie

MOuLD INHIBITORS

Adesco Nutricines, 23 Strandside South, Abbeyside, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford X35 W778, Ireland

Jack: +353 87 2208816 Seán: +353 85 1667512

Email: info@adesco.ie Web: www.adesco.ie

Trouw Nutrition GB, Blenheim House, Blenheim Road, Ashbourne DE6 1HA

Tel: 01335 341100 Fax: 01335 341171

E-mail: customerservices.gb@nutreco.com

Web: www.trouwnutrition.co.uk

MYCOTOXIN BINDERS

AB Vista

Edificio Twin Golf A, C/Perú, 6, 2º Floor, Office 4 28290 Las Rozas, Madrid, Spain

Tel: +34 91 859 1787 Email: info@abvista.com

Web: www.abvista.com

Adisseo

Tel: +353 87 766 8848

E-mail: info.nauk@adisseo.com

Web: www.adisseo.com

Trouw Nutrition GB, Blenheim House, Blenheim Road, Ashbourne DE6 1HA

Tel: 01335 341100 Fax: 01335 341171

E-mail: customerservices.gb@nutreco.com

Web: www.trouwnutrition.co.uk

NuTRITION TOLL MANuFACTuRE

B2B Nutrition, Fordton Industrial Estate, Crediton, Devon EX17 3BZ

(A division of the Denis Brinicombe Group)

Tel. 01363 775115

Contact David Mills 07803 736196

Email dmills@b2bnutrition.co.uk Web www.b2bnutrition.co.uk

PACKAgINg SOLuTIONS

Fischbein

Tel: +44 (0)20 8344 6600

E-mail: salesuk@fischbein.com Web: www.fischbein.com

PELLETINg EquIPMENT

Compound Feed Engineering Ltd

5 Haydock Lane, Haydock, St Helens, Merseyside, WA11 9UY

Tel: +44 (0) 1942 728188 Fax: +44 (0) 1942 408430

E-mail: info@cfegroup.com

Web: www.cfegroup.com

PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS

DSL Systems Ltd

Adbolton Hall, Adbolton Lane, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 5AS

Tel: 0115 981 3700 Fax: 0115 981 3702

E-mail: sales@dsl-systems.com

Web: www.dsl-systems.com

Promtek Ltd

Fisher Street, Brindley Ford, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST8 7QJ

Tel: 01782 375600 Fax: 01782 375605

E-mail: info@promtek.com Web: www.promtek.com

SALMONELLA CONTROL

Adesco Nutricines, 23 Strandside South, Abbeyside, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford X35 W778, Ireland

Jack: +353 87 2208816 Seán: +353 85 1667512

Email: info@adesco.ie Web: www.adesco.ie

Trouw Nutrition GB, Blenheim House, Blenheim Road, Ashbourne DE6 1HA

Tel: 01335 341100 Fax: 01335 341171

E-mail: customerservices.gb@nutreco.com

Web: www.trouwnutrition.co.uk

SELENIuM

Adisseo

Tel: +353 87 766 8848

E-mail: info.nauk@adisseo.com

Web: www.adisseo.com

SIEVINg & PRECLEANINg

Turner Process Equipment Ltd 5 De Grey Square, De Grey Road, Colchester, Essex CO4 5YQ

Tel: 01206 752017 Fax: 01206 854484

E-mail: sales@turnerprocessequipment.co.uk

Web: turnerprocessequipment.co.uk

SILAgE ADDITIVES

Trouw Nutrition GB, Blenheim House, Blenheim Road, Ashbourne DE6 1HA

Tel: 01335 341100 Fax: 01335 341171

E-mail: customerservices.gb@nutreco.com

Web: www.trouwnutrition.co.uk

TRACE ELEMENTS

Chemox Pound Ltd

Unit 1, IO Centre, Swift Valley, Rugby, CV21 1TW

Tel: 01845 575065 Mobile: 07884 231880

E-mail: lawrence.green@chemoxpound.com Web: www.chemoxpound.com

CASSIDA FOOD GRADE LUBRICANTS FOR THE COMPOUND FEED SECTOR

Using a food-safe machine lubricant is critical to the pellet feed manufacturing process in order to guarantee the essential protection of the consumer. Our CASSIDA range of food grade lubricants meets all of the required approvals for good manufacturing practise and offers other benefits too:

• Longer component Lifetimes

• Extended Maintenance Intervals

• Improved Pellet form

> PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

CASSIDA FM GREASE HD 2

• UFAS trusted

• Fully traceable

• All CASSIDA products are NSF ISO 21469, Kosher & Halal certified

Specialty semi-synthetic heavy-duty greases for food, beverage and feed processing equipment where frequent changes and re-applications of the grease charge are required. NSF H1 I NSF ISO 21469 I Kosher I Halal - Available pack sizes: 500G CRT I 19Kg I 50Kg I 170Kg

Applications

Slow/medium speed plain I Rolling element bearings I Heavy/shock-loaded applications I Joints I Linkages I Slides

Overhead track systems I Protective antitrust film I Release agent on gaskets and seals

Benefits

• Good wash out resistance to hot and cold water

• Good oxidation & mechanical stability

• Good adhesive & corrosion prevention characteristics

www.cfegroup.com/lubricants info@cfegroup.com

• Very low viscosity within pelleting applications

• Compatible with industry elastomers, gaskets, seals and paints

• Neutral odour and taste