ORFFA

Orffa International, headquartered in the Netherlands, is a market leader in the area of specialized feed additives and ingredients for human and veterinarian pharmaceuticals. Click on image to visit company website. 

28/02/2014: Swine conference focused on new insights in nutrients

An iteroparous organism is one that can undergo many reproductive events throughout its lifetime. The pig is an example of an iteroparous organism (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Because world demand for feed raw materials for monogastric and especially swine production continues to increase, nutritionists have to look after new ingredients and solutions to optimise their utilization, more than 50 nutritionists attended the  3rd Swine Conference organized by Adisseo in early February in Paris, France. 

A better evaluation of their nutrient content and a broader use of additives, such as enzymes becomes essential, the delegates heard.

Global demand for pork meat continues to increase, especially in China, explained Jan Peter van Ferneij, from the Economic Department of Ifip, the French swine institute. 

In China, pig production is supported by the government, the goal being to satisfy the growing demand of the population. Consequently, Chinese demand for feed raw materials disrupts prices. 

Pierre Sabatier, Economist and Chairman of Studies of PrimeView Agency, emphasized the fact that the general increase of all the commodity prices is due to the entry of China into global trade in 2001. As evidence, between 2001 and 2012, soybean meal prices doubled and fishmeal prices increased three-fold, he explained.

In this economic environment of scarce and expensive raw materials for animal nutrition, Europe, which imports every year 33 million tonnes of soyabean meal from America, must explore new solutions, especially protein sources for feed.

Marinus van Krimpen, Animal Nutrition Researcher, Wageningen University, The Netherlands, made a list of potential European protein sources as alternatives for imported soybean products: Conventional solutions such as oil seeds, legumes but also new sources such as aquatic protein – algae, duckweeds – or even insects which are protein and fat rich ingredients.

But regardless of alternatives, a precise description of the nutrient contents of raw materials is essential. That is why Adisseo has developed PNE, Precise Nutrition Evaluation, a unique service based on the combination of NIR technology and in vivo and in vitro digestibility tests. 

Pascal Thiery, Technical Manager Adisseo, explained how this service allows to predict digestible amino acid contents of raw materials for swine nutrition.

Besides, the context will lead nutritionists to optimize utilization of available raw materials.

Enzymes, especially xylanases and phytases, become essential. Pierre Cozannet, Enzyme Researcher, Adisseo, gave a focus on the strategic use of exogenous enzymes in pig nutrition. He explained that enzymes are extremely specific for a given substrate, and that associations of different enzyme activities are required to degrade the different types of fiber found in raw materials.

For example, very high fiber content diets for pigs lead to a decrease in performance, as shown by trials presented by Florence Gondret, Research Director Inra, France.

Dr Gondret demonstrated that, even with high levels of added oil to reach the target energy content of the diet, pigs cannot adjust feed intake to dietary metabolizable energy level, and that both energy and protein metabolisms are affected by dietary energy sources.

A focus on methionine in pig nutrition was then presented by Yves Mercier, Amino Acids Research Manager, Adisseo. 

Sulphur amino acids are not the first limiting amino acids for swine production, but several trials carried out across the world show that added methionine has a positive effect on average daily gain of piglets and fattening pigs, on sow milk content, and meat tenderness. 

Furthermore, HMTBA, the liquid form which is an organic acid, was shown to contribute to acidification for piglets, and improve gut mucosa and digestible absorption ability.

Adisseo has developed an electronic version of the updated Rhodimet Nutrition Guide (e-RNG). This interactive tool supplies amino acid recommendations for piglets, pigs and sows which vary according to producers’ specific conditions and feeding programs.

Following the success of this meeting and the positive feed back from customers, Adisseo has announced a 4th Swine Conference in 2015.

Pictures

Jan Peter van Verneij, Ifip
Pierre Sabatier, PrimeView
Marinus van Krimpen, Université de Wageningen, Pays-Bas
Pierre Cozannet, Adisseo
Yves Mercier, Adisseo
Pascal Thiery, Adisseo

27/02/14: AB Vista Announces Inspire Forum Agenda, After a successful Asia edition, the World Nutrition Forum returns to Europe in 2014.

Inspire, also known as the International Non-Starch Polysaccharide forum will be held between the 31st of March and the 2nd of April this year (2014). This forum will have speakers from across the world discussing how enzymes are used and developed in order to meet the nutritional needs of poultry and swine. Academics from Iowa State University, Aarhus University, Auburn University, Max Planck Institute and the Swedish University of Agricultural Science will all by participating in this closed forum.

Read more here.

The World Nutritional Forum will be returning to Europe this year; with the venue being located in Munich. It is scheduled to take place on October the 16th of this year (2014) where it will hold its multi-day function - discussing topics such as sustainability and where the world will go in 40 years. Examining the four target species of poultry, swine, ruminants and aquaculture.

Read more here.

English: Hofgartentempel in Munich, Germany Deutsch: Hofgartentempel mit Bavaria im Hofgarten der Residenz in München, erbaut 1615 wohl von Heinrich Schön, Bavaria von Hubert Gerhard, im Hintergrund die Bayerische Staatskanzlei Français : Le temple du jardin de cour de la Résidence de Munich à Munich, en Allemagne (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Zheng Chang

Zhengchang, established in 1918, has made constant innovations in feed machinery industry and accumulated a wealth of experience in tackling the various challenges facing feed companies and, more importantly, is able to offer a range of comprehensive solutions. ZCME has now evolved into China’s largest manufacture of feed machinery and has 16 branches in China with over 1300 staff and more than thirty offices all over the world. Click on image to visit the Zheng Chang website.

27/02/14: Event: Join Perendale Publishers Ltd at Campden BRI Safety and Quality of Livestock Feed

Campden BRI will be holding a seminar on the safety and quality of livestock feed during the 6th of March 2014. Event site can be found here.

This event will be tailored towards feed producers and those within the food business who produce the raw materials necessary for feed. Providing an array of information for those who use and prepare their own feed.

Further exploring the important role that feed has within the food supply - providing a fundamental understanding as to how it effects the safety and quality of food products. Emphasizing on the importance that feed quality has within the agricultural, feed and food sectors. As the food sector and need for live stock increases Campden BRI believe it is important to highlight where the sourcing of material comes from and ensuring that feed quality is high while remaining safe.

Register here.

Topics:
Nutrition, Product Quality, Human Health, Aquaculture, Industry Services

Speakers and Organization (Link):
Angela Booth - AB Connect
Christopher Knight - Campden BRI
Ian Givens - Professor of Food Chain Nutrition, University of Reading
Professor Julian Wiseman - University of Nottingham
Michael Bedford - AB Vista
Poppy Frater - EBLEX, Division of AHDB
TorbjØrn Åsgård - Nofima Research, Norway
Roger Gilbert - Perendale Publishers

Event Programme (Link):

• 9:00 Registration and Refreshments
• 9:30 Chairman's Introduction
• 9:40  Needs of Ruminant Feed Industry - Future Perspectives
• 10:10 Legislation and Feed Safety
• 10:40 Refreshment Break and Opportunity for Exhibition
• 11:10 Management of Feed Safety in the Food Chain
• 11:50 Nutritional Content of Animal Feed and Product Quality
• 12:20 Influence of Feed Enzymes on Nutrient Availability
• 13:00 Lunch and Opportunity to Visit Exhibits
• 14:00 Can the Diet of Food Producing Animals Influence the Health of the Food Consumer?
• 14:30 Innovations of Poultry Feed
• 15:00 Aquaculture and Feed - Current and Future Developments
• 15:45 Chairman's Closing Comments and Discussion

Event Details -

Event Director: Nick Saunders

When?: 06/03/2014
Where?: Campden BRI, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, GL55 6LD, UK (Click here for map)

Contact:
Training Department
+44(0)1386 842104 (Direct Line)
Email: training@campdenbri.co.uk

Charge:
Members and AIC: £295 + VAT
Non-Members: £395 + VAT

Register here.

26/02/14: Precision feeding technology makes dairy gains, Russia increased production of meat and bone meal, UK farming needs long term strategic plan.

Using a new feeding process, dairy farmer Pa O'brien of Ireland is helping the dairy industry. Improving the conversion efficiency of feed; increasing total dairy milk produced while decreasing total feed with little metabolic changes in the cattle. By implementing this feeding system farmers will be able to improve their long term profit and facilitate future expansion.

Read more here.

Last year (2013); Russia improved its production yield of meat and bone feed meal by 23% more then the prior year (2012). Producing 253,000 tonnes of animal by-products for feed production. This is a strong outlook for the upcoming year, hopefully Russian feed producers will be able to maintain pace and push ahead.

Read more here.

Mr Kendall, the soon to retire president of the National Farmers Union (NFU) has attempted to address the issue of the United Kingdoms long term food production. Addressing a multitude of factors as well as policies that effect the long term viability and sustainability of this industry. Worryingly the country is currently only 62% self-sufficient, while the EU forces farm land out of production - the population still continuing to grow; increasing domestic demand.

Read more here.

English: Wheat near Bishops Court Dairy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

O&J Højtryk

O&J Højtryk is a trendsetter in its core area of business - mechanical engineering and the re-working of dies and rollers for the manufacture of feedstuffs and biopellets. Click on image to visit O&J Højtryk's website.

26/02/14: Canada eyes animal feed as pig-killing virus spreads, Elanco acquires Lohmann Animal Health

PEDv is a virus that effects live stock from the porcine family, often causing extreme dehydration due to the prevalence of vomiting and diarrhea. This virus which originated in Canada on the 22nd of January 2013 has killed one-to-four million pigs in the United States alone. Currently the (CFIA) Canadian Food Inspection Agency is working towards determining whether or not the virus outbreak originated from contaminated animal feed. It was reported that traces of the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus were found within a plasma from a US based manufacturer; which supplied the Grand Valley Fortifiers feed company operating within Ontario.

Read more here.


German company Eli Lilly has accepted Lohmann Animal Health into its animal health division. This will help Elanco's long term mission of providing its consumers with a safe and cost efficient product. The acquiring of Lohmann SE will solidifies Elanco's presence in the food industry - providing a solid base in which to develop new products and improve its long term capabilities. Improving commercial capabilities and opening up more possibilities.

Read more here.

Dengue virus (Photo credit: Sanofi Pasteur)

25/02/14: Olmix expanding operations into Ivory Coast, Miratorg launches new high-tech hatchery

The French animal nutrition company Olmnix which has been active in West Africa for the past 10 years met with the Ivory Coasts Minister of Livestock and Fishery Resources, Kobenan Kouassi Adjournani. Meeting him was the CEO of Olmix, Herve Balusson - where their expansion into the Ivory Coast was agreed upon. Establishing multiple zones in which Olmix could operate out of in order to produce feed and research.

Read more here.

Miratorg launches a new high-tech factory with the value of RUB 700million; alternatively $23 Million US dollars. Which will have the capacity of 75 million eggs per annum, including an integrated chicken broiler which can produce a capacity of 100,000 tonnes annually. The high-tech factory also prides itself on its ability to hold itself to the highest as well as strictest veterinarian standards - putting in place all the necessary redundancies and safeguards to limit the possibility of infectious diseases.

Read more here.

Day old chick (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Milleral

24/02/14: Several feed production plants to be build in Russia, Russia aims for 6 mln tonnes of poultry.

New feed protein plant inside Russia will finish development this summer within the Altai Krai region. This plant will focus on the production of animal proteins through the use of sunflower meal, helping to fill the animal feed protein deficit that Russia is struggling with. This plant itself will provide 6,300 tonnes of protein concentrate per year.
Full news available here.

Russia is currently planning to increase its production of poultry meat to 6 mln by 2020 according to the Ministry of Agriculture. More then RUB 300bn has been invested into the development of the Russian poultry industry within the last few years. This investment will be used to modernize and reconstruct 400 Russian poultry farms as well as enterprises.
Full news available here.

Poultry Keeping @Ogidiolu Farms, Ejigbo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

21/02/14: Event: Join Perendale Publishers Ltd at the 3rd GRAPAS Conference 2014

GRAPAS - an exhibition hosted by Victam International - runs alongside the Victam Asia and FIAAP Exhibitions.

Perendale Publishers Limited – publishers of our two sister publications - the International Milling Directory and the long-standing Grain and Feed Milling Technology magazine – is proud to be the chosen patron of the GRAPAS Conference and sponsor of the 2014 GRAPAS Awards. Roger Gilbert, Perendale Publishers proprietor will be chairing the conference.

What will the GRAPAS Conference involve?
Keeping firmly in mind the need to provide information and new ideas in a timely and efficient way, the 2014 GRAPAS Conference Asia will be held on the opening day of the Exhibition.

The conference - which will be presented in English with simultaneous translation into/from Thai - will run in three parts; one morning and two afternoon sessions.The conference is estimated to attract 100-200 delegates over the course of the day. There is no participation fee for those who register in advance. However, on the spot registration costs US$10.

Pre-registered attendees will receive a 'Certificate of Attendance' at the end of the day together with a 2014 subscription to GFMT magazine. All attendees will also receive a copy of the latest edition of the International Milling Directory 2013-14. There will be an opportunity for attendees to meet with speakers and other delegates during coffee breaks.

There is still significant progress being made towards those objectives on an annual basis and the GRAPAS Awards are designed to recognise the advances being made by industry in an area that has largely disappeared from view.

That recognition is made in the form of an award called GRAPAS, and is an integral part of the exhibition. To apply for the award a company must be exhibiting at the GRAPAS Exhibition.

When/where is the GRAPAS conference?
This year’s GRAPAS is scheduled to take place from 8 - 10 April at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC), Thailand.

For a full program list and to register, visit the GRAPAS Conference registration page here. 

21/02/14: Friday video: Animal Feed vs. Human Food: Challenges and opportunities in sustaining animal agriculture

This video by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) provides science-based information about the "feed versus food" issue including:

 - Global animal agriculture provides safe, affordable, nutrient-dense foodstuffs that support human health and well-being as part of a balanced diet as well as many by-products that benefit humans.

 - The global livestock industry faces considerable challenges as the population grows, and demands for more food must be aligned with concerns about the environment, economy, and sustainability. Many do not realize the productivity gains made by modern practices, by-product feeds, and technology.

 - Livestock production is important in the economic and social sustainability of developed and developing countries alike.

21/02/14: Seed technology program for corn farmers; healthier food projects in the UK; rise in demand for Indian poultry feed

Swiss chemical company Syngenta recently announced an agreement with agribusiness firm Gavilon to provide grain marketing opportunities for farmers who choose to plant Agrisure Duracade, a cutting-edge corn rootworm (CRW) control technology. 

Gavilon, as part of the new "Right to Grow" program, will accept Agrisure Duracade grain at market price while providing distribution services for producers.

Full news available here.

The Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) recently announced plans to support a series of new UK based food projects, titled 'Nutrition for Life'.

The projects - which include the creation of low calorie chocolate and high-fiber white bread - hopes to tackle the issues surrounding nutritional values, food safety, specific dietary requirements and food waste in the UK.

Full news available here.

A rising demand in poultry products from India could offer a substantial boost to domestic demands for corn and soymeal this year, traders announced yesterday. 

A higher demand for local feed could help reduce overseas sales that are already under pressure from cheaper grains from Latin America.  

Full news available here.

A loaf of white bread (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

India's rising appetite for poultry products will boost domestic demand for animal feeds corn and soymeal this year by about 9 per cent, traders said on Thursday.

The higher local feed demand could further reduce overseas sales that are already under pressure from cheaper grains from Latin America.

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/30731400.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppsIndia's rising appetite for poultry products will boost domestic demand for animal feeds corn and soymeal this year by about 9 per cent, traders said on Thursday.India's rising appetite for poultry products will boost domestic demand for animal feeds corn and soymeal this year by about 9 per cent, traders said on Thursday.

The higher local feed demand could further reduce overseas sales that are already under pressure from cheaper grains from Latin America.

India's rising appetite for poultry products will boost domestic demand for animal feeds corn and soymeal this year by about 9 per cent, traders said on Thursday.

The higher local feed demand could further reduce overseas sales that are already under pressure from cheaper grains from Latin America.

India's rising appetite for poultry products will boost domestic demand for animal feeds corn and soymeal this year by about 9 per cent, traders said on Thursday.

The higher local feed demand could further reduce overseas sales that are already under pressure from cheaper grains from Latin America.

India's rising appetite for poultry products will boost domestic demand for animal feeds corn and soymeal this year by about 9 per cent, traders said on Thursday.

India's rising appetite for poultry products will boost domestic demand for animal feeds corn and soymeal this year by about 9 per cent, traders said on Thursday.

The higher local feed demand could further reduce overseas sales that are already under pressure from cheaper grains from Latin America.

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/30731400.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

21/02/14: AFIA Supports New AMS/FDA Animal Feed Export Certification Program

AFIA Supports New AMS/FDA
 Animal Feed Export Certification Program  

The American Feed Industry Association has commended a new agreement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The agreement designates the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) as the authority to certify animal feed and pet food products for export to foreign countries.

“The agreement is a result of AFIA’s efforts to inform USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service about several issues that industry has had exporting to various markets, such as Brazil’s requirement for Good Manufacturing Practice certifications and products under the implementation of China’s AQSIQ Decree 118,” said Gina Tumbarello, AFIA manager of international trade. “The need to find a feed export certification solution for the increasingly popular requirements being put out by several countries ultimately led to these government agencies coming together to develop an agreement that would allow AMS to serve as the competent authority for feeds and register, audit and certify feed facilities as needed based on foreign requirements.”

AMS was selected to lead the program due to its experience in working with stakeholders to develop export certification programs that meet the specific requirements of foreign countries. The agreement was modeled after a previous USDA/FDA agreement on processed egg programs.

“This agreement is a big step toward helping U.S. feed exporters take advantage of the growing global demand for these products,” said AMS Administrator Anne Alonzo.

The agency now has the ability to certify a wide range of animal feed products, including pet food and treats, dried distillers’ grains with solubles, mixed-ingredient feeds and feed additives.

The program will not be implemented across the board for all feed and feed ingredient products to all markets. Instead, it will be addressed on a country-by-country basis. AFIA will help identify markets where the feed, feed ingredient and pet food industries are currently experiencing export difficulties related to certifications on foreign requirements. AMS will then work with the foreign government to determine if there is an opportunity for AMS to fulfill the requirements. The hope is for AMS to develop a program and certificate that could be used across several export market requirements, rather than creating a separate certificate for each market.

Steps are already underway to use this program to address certification requirements for processed plant-based feed products under China’s AQSIQ Decree 118 and AFIA looks forward to future opportunities to use this new mechanism for certification of feed and pet food products for export in other markets.

AFIA has been supportive of the USDA/FDA agreement since its early stages of development. The organization plans to work collaboratively with AMS, FDA and other representatives from the feed, grain and pet food industries as this program develops.

Visit the AFIA website here. 

Tapco

Tapco stocks the largest inventory of elevator buckets and bolts in North America, some 900,000 buckets in 64 sizes, and 15 million bolts. Click on image to visit Tapco's website 

20/02/2014: A turnkey project at Hangzhou Wahaha Group for processing rice and beans

Leading Chinese producer trusts Bühler expertise to improve quality and reduce costs with the installation of advanced cleaning and grading lines

The Bühler Group, a global leader in rice and pulses processing and optical sorting solutions, has announced a further strengthening of its commitment to excellence in Chinese rice and bean processing with the completion of a turnkey installation at the Hangzhou Wahaha Group’s plant in Haining. Dedicated to the production of historic Chinese eight treasure porridge under the Wahaha brand, the new Bühler cleaning and grading plant has allowed Hangzhou Wahaha, one of China’s largest and most prestigious food and beverage manufacturers, to make dramatic improvements to the quality of its end product and reduce the cost of its eight treasure porridge operations.

Bühler’s advanced cleaning and grading line for processing rice & beans at Hangshou Wahaha

Dating back more than 2200 years, to the Han dynasty, when it was consumed on the eighth day of the 12^th month in the Chinese lunar calendar, eight treasure porridge is now a popular favourite in China and consumed every day as a convenient, cost effective and nutritious ‘fast food’. It is made with various ingredients, including red beans, cranberry beans, myotonin (Chinese barley) and oats, as well as sticky rice and black glutinous rice to create a rich porridge that can be simply opened and consumed.

With such a frequently consumed and well known product, derived from a wide variety of different raw materials, coupled with the rigours imposed by an increasingly discerning consumer in China, Hangzhou Wahaha’s mission to produce the finest porridge, reflecting its high standards, had been  severely challenged in recent years.  In order to build on its reputation for quality and drawing on its knowledge of Bühler’s expertise in tailor-made engineered solutions, the company trusted Bühler to help automate its operations, create a more hygienic working environment and achieve the high quality production of eight treasure porridge that its customers were demanding.  

Replacing the existing, largely manual cleaning and sorting process,  the Bühler installation involves two complete, compact and advanced lines, each of which can clean and grade the various raw materials. Currently, one line is dedicated to rice and the other to beans. Each line incorporates Bühler’s MTSD De-stoners, MTRC Vibrosifters, metal detection equipment and SORTEX Z+ sorting machines.

Incoming product is mechanically cleaned to remove impurities that are larger and smaller than the product. Then stones and metals are targeted for removal, as they are passed automatically to de-stoners and magnetic metal detectors. Reinforcing the drive for safety and quality, the produce is then fed through Bühler‘s SORTEX optical sorters, which can identify and remove product defects as well as foreign materials. The sorters effectively eliminate contaminants such as glass, stones, wood, sticks and soil blocks, as well as deformed or discoloured beans, and discoloured or unwanted varieties of rice.,

Each machine in Hangzhou Wahaha’s compact cleaning and sorting solution is fitted with an aspiration system that extracts any dust or dirt particles, to create a hygienic working environment that also reduces the risk of fungal growth. By automating the entire process and creating a closed system, human intervention for checking or adjustments is minimised. Bühler has removed the chance for cross contamination and boosted Hangzhou Wahaha’s throughput significantly.

“Our investment in Bühler’s advanced technology and custom-designed solutions has surpassed our expectations. It has drastically reduced our customer complaints about foreign body contamination, which are expensive to handle in terms of both customer service and reputation; reduced our operating costs dramatically; and given us consistent quality in production,” said a spokesperson from Hangzhou Wahaha. “We trusted the Bühler team to deliver and the resulting solution fits our requirements exactly. We look forward to working with Bühler on future projects.”

Bühler’s installation of this successful turnkey solution for Hangzhou Wahaha substantially reinforces the company’s leading position and influence in delivering innovative, customised technology projects in China and underpins its reputation for technology expertise and quality.

About Bühler - Bühler is a global leader in the field of process engineering, in particular production technologies and services for making foods and advanced materials. Bühler operates in over 140 countries and has a global payroll of over 10,000. In fiscal 2013, the company generated sales revenue of CHF 2,322 million.

20/02/14: Event: 2nd Global Milling Conference

The 2nd Global Milling Conference will be
hosted in the same week and city as VIV India 2014.

Meeting the food and feed security needs of nine billion people by 2050 will again form the basis of this two-day annual event that has moved from Chennai in Southern India (where the inaugural sessions were held in February this year), to Bangalore, a more accessible centre for millers from throughout the country.

What will the 2nd Global Milling Conference involve?
Hosted jointly by our sister publication Grain and Feed Milling Technology and Assocom-India, the Global Milling Conference will feature a host of international speakers and delegates with the aim of reviewing the Indian milling industry - flour, rice, feed and grains - from a milling processing point-of-view.

India, with its one-billion-plus population, will be a major user of milled products and a leading country in total milled grains in the decades ahead and will lead the region in technological advancements.

Milling in India will benefit from the adoption of modern milling practices and processes which this conference aims to highlight.

When/where is the 2nd Global Milling Conference?
Hosted in the same week and city as VIV India 2014, the conference takes place  at the Vivanta Taj Hotel, Bangalore, India from 23 - 24 April 2014.
Delegates will be able to attend both events during the one visit to Bangalore.

For more information and to register, visit the Global Milling conference website here. 

20/02/14: A ghostly silhouette over Brooklyn; European mill report; who doesn't like butterscotch?

Yesterday, British daily newspaper the Daily Mail published news of a grain elevator abandoned in 1965 in Red Hook, Brooklyn, US.

Built in 1922, the 29-foot long and 12-story high structure was used for the washing, drying and storing of grain from the Great Lakes, before it was loaded onto freight ships and delivered to breweries, distilleries and flour mills.

Full news (and great photos) available here.

Ireland based international market data source Research and Markets, recently announced the new addition of its “Grain Mill Product Manufacturers (European)" report.

Harnessing a wealth of financial information, the report provides a detailed overview of the European Grain Mill Product Manufacturers market and delivers a comprehensive individual analysis on the top 400 companies.

Report available here. 

A recent study published in this month's Animal Feed Science and Technology journal has determined that butterscoth is the most favourable flavour when added to creep feed. Creep feed is a method of supplementing the diet of young livestock. 

As part of the study, which focused on piglets, five different flavoured creeps (toffee, apricot, butterscotch, apple and red fruit) were added to the creep feed.
Full article available here.  

Butterscotch Candies (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Symaga

19/02/14: 133.6kg/capita - Setting a global benchmark for feed production

This article was published in the January February 2014 edition of Grain & Feed Milling Technology magazine. Click here to see the magazine in full.  

---

Roger Gilbert was invited to participate on the recent round of VIV Roadshows, speaking in Abuja, Nigeria at the beginning of January 2014 and more recently at the IPPE’s VIV Pig Production Summit USA. His topic was: ‘The role of a robust compound feed to meet the needs of a growing world population’ and based on survey results from Alltech’s feed survey showing world production in 2013 at 963 million tonnes. 

 

 

Looking at production statistics and population figures in isolation does not provide us with a clear view of where we have come from and where we are likely to end up in a world that is being challenged to feed itself adequately. 

Static figures do not encourage us to address issues that are looming.

I’m of the view that information is knowledge, knowledge brings responsibility, and together provides us with influence and power to bring about change. If we ‘know’ we have a responsibility to ‘act’. 

Nigeria represents one of the few countries on the planet that is adding substantially and significantly to its population base. In the next decade it is projected by the US Census Bureau to add 50 million people to its current 177 million population base and by 2050 challenge the USA for the third most populated country at just under 400 million people! It’s an issue that our industry, and the food industry in general – both in Nigeria and globally - will have to address.

Nigeria is just one example, an extreme one, of what is likely to happen in developing countries over the next 35 years.

However, there is good news for Africa. From the FAO, and surveying the first 12 years of the 21st century, Africa IS increasing its production of foodstuffs faster than anywhere else on the planet. The area being harvested is increasing at twice the rate of that of any other region while two regions – the Americas and Europe – show no increase in area harvested at all.

Product quality is also improving at the fastest rate in this region while yield increases are matching those being achieved in the America and Asia.

Click to expand
Nigeria population growth

While world food production growth is increasing on average at 2.1 percent per year, Africa is moving ahead at 3.5 percent – and Nigeria is in amongst the countries achieve these higher-than-average increases.

Food consumption per capita based on an index of 2004-06, shows Africa achieving the fastest and most sustained growth rising from 78kg/head to 117kg/head since 1992.

As we are addressing compound feed production it is interesting to see what is happening to the consumption of meat and eggs. Total food supply has doubled in that period to 1.4 million tonnes and per capita consumption of meat up from 7.4kg/head to almost 9kg/head.

That in fact, highlights the next point I wish to make. How can ‘meat’ supply double yet per head consumption rise by less than 20%? The answer is straightforward – population increase. And that is why grams/day consumption of ‘meat’ products (in protein and fat terms) has largely stagnated in Nigeria since 1997.

Click to expand
Nigeria population growth

By comparison world food supply has also shown a steady upward trend, increasing by almost 1/5th over a 20 year period.

However, in contrast to that, world per capita consumption has fallen from a high of 151kg on average to 146.5kg. Not much you might think in terms of total weight, but the additional population over that period is having an impact and we are likely to see this downward trend continue.

And based on consumption per person, the supply of protein in our diets is showing a steady decline as well. On average we are consuming a gram less protein per person per day. Again not significant you might think, but highlights an ongoing tend that can only accelerate.

Fat consumption on the other hand remains relatively unchanged, at between 5.9-6g/head per day. Possibly reflecting the tremendous increase in palm production throughout Asia over recent decades.

Population pyramids

I want to show here how developing country populations are going to increase – again based on figures from the US Census Bureau. I have compared them to the country I live in – the UK - for comparison. You’ll notice that Nigeria has a wider population base compared to the UK (which given the total difference in numbers, is only natural). Also, the UK shows a ‘bulge’ in the 40-60 year olds groups due in part to the baby boomers following the Second World War. What is also evident is the increased number of people living longer in the UK than their counterparts in Nigeria.

As we move ahead through time – to 2030 - the Nigerian population base has widened by an additional 8-10 million births in the 0-4 age group (with a total of 38 million) while the shape of the pyramid remains the same; and with no more people living longer. In the UK on the other hand the population base has remained largely unchanged while even more people are living longer.

Click to expand
World food supply

Finally, by 2050, the year in which it’s calculated the world will reach 9.5 billion people on the planet, and before stabalising at around 10 billion for the remainder of the century, Nigeria, while maintaining its pyramid shape, will once more see its population base expand, this time adding almost 70 million people in one-to-four year olds!  Again the UK is largely unchanged with a static population base.

These are in general the two key trends that differenciate between today’s developed countries and those ‘developing’.

Global feed production

I’m basing my comments on the latest Alltech Survey 2013 which provides output figures up until December 2013: the most comprehensive available for our industry worldwide and which we should be grateful to have.

The world currently manufacturers annually just under a billion metric tonnes of compounded or formulated animal feed. These feed statistics were collected by 600 Alltech staff from 130 countries involving 28,196 feedmills. Note: Numbers for less developed countries may be less accurate; but that will have little influence on overall dataset.

The top 10 countries in descending order of output are: China, USA, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, India, Russia, Japan, Germany and France which account for 611 million tonnes or two-thirds of world production.

Click to expand
global feed
production 2013

Poultry, which includes layers, broilers, turkeys and others, account for 444.4 million tonnes of feeds while pigs account for 242.8 million tonnes and ruminants – dairy, beef, calves and others – 195.6 million tonnes.

Key survey findings include:

• China leading producer at 189 million tons
• Asia leading overall region with 348 million 
• US and Brazil 2nd and 3rd largest countries
• Africa fastest growing region; up 7%
• Middle East has largest feed mills by annual production

Other key findings:

• Poultry still the leading species
• 46% of all feed is poultry feed, 61% of that is for broilers
• 444.4 million tons fed to poultry worldwide
• Aqua experienced fastest growth up 17% over 2012 – exceeded 40 million tons.
• Pig feed production increased 11% (esp. China)
• Pet food up slightly, Equine up 14%
• Ruminant feed production declined 20%
• Decline in both Beef and Dairy
• Able to switch to forages when grain prices high

Click to expand
Global feed production 2013

The 16 important countries in terms of feed production are ranked in the bar chart above because I want to make the point that countries producing more feed do not necessarily have more feedmills. In fact, this chart is ranked by countries on the left with the least feed mills to the most on the right. And what is really interesting is that the average production from feedmills is not too dissimilar between countries and between regions at 30,000-60,000 tonnes per year.

A developing country’s prospects

Nigeria ranks 54 out of the 133 countries surveyed, in terms of total formulated feed production at 1.9 million tonnes (this does not include home-produced feeds or feeding straights or unformulated feeds). I’d like to extrapolate some figures from the information presented and raise a question or two for you to ponder.

1. What are the populations of other countries producing a similar amount of feed to Nigeria?
2. How much feed is being produced by those countries with similar populations?

The reason I ask these questions is that I believe there is a correlation between the volume of compound feed produced in a country and the ability of that country to feed its population adequately.

And I have identified a ‘benchmark’ that I believe all countries need to exceed in order to claim they are providing the nutritional requirements for their populations.

As FAO and other UN organisations, including their associated NGOs, demonstrate safe and affordable food supply is not the responsibility of those with commercial interests alone to fulfill; there is a need for governments to assume responsibility in ensuring food is produced in volumes that are safe and affordable for all.

Click to expand
Global feed production 2013

Here, I show Nigeria’s total population in 2014 alongside the volume in tonnes of its compound feed production (just under 2 million tonnes). I’ve compared that to other countries producing approximately two million tonnes of compound feed and show here the populations those countries feed.

If my proposal has any substance, then the people of Bosnia will be enjoying a healthy diet of livestock and fish products than their counterparts in Sweden or Czech Republic. Or they are enjoying healthier incomes from export sales.

When comparing Nigeria’s 177 million population of today with similarly populated countries we can compare their compound feed production; it is quickly evident that Nigeria is faring no better than Bangladesh and is a long way behind a country like Brazil.

For every Nigerian to enjoy the ‘world average’ supply of animal proteins based on compound feed, then the Nigerian Feed Industry has to rise to the challenge and lift production from 1.9 million tonnes to 23.6 million tonnes annually: over a 10-fold increase on what it is producing now.

Give our industry a chance

Click to expand
Top ten countries

I believe that scientifically-formulated compound feeds offer the solution to this world feeding itself adequately by 2050.

We not only have to meet the future needs of humans arriving on the planet, but we also have to meet the needs of those wanting to improve their diets as they become more economically advanced. On top of that we have to address the one billion people FAO tells us are receiving less food than is required to sustain themselves. That figure has not been diminishing, but increasing in recent years.

You may not believe that growing livestock and fish for protein is the way forward however, growing and consuming cereals and crops has not proven to be the complete answer either. Livestock and fish have many advantages in the production of protein for human consumption over grains and cereals (which we cannot go into here) and we should give this industry a chance to prove itself as it offers huge utilization and conversion efficiencies yet to be fully realized.

Unless we measure where we are we cannot set meaningful ‘benchmarks’ for ourselves or our industry for the future.

Alltech’s figures are the first comprehensive figures the industry has on just how much compounded feed is being produced and used. Based on these figures and our current world population, I put it to you that each country must set an annual benchmark that sees every citizen having access to food that is based on 133.6kg/head of scientifically-formulated compound feed.

After all, that’s the world average and every country should be striving to be equal to or rise above the average in terms of supplying safe and affordable food to its people. 

19/02/14: January/February 2014 edition of Grain & Feed Milling Technology now online!

The January February edition of Grain & Feed Milling Technology is now available to view online for free. Read our guest editors comments for this edition in the new interviews section (on the tabs above).

19/02/14: Event: Cassava World Africa in Lusaka zooms in on commercial opportunities

Fufu, or cassava bread, is made in Africa by
first pounding cassava in a mortar
 to make flour, which is then sifted before being
 put in hot water to become fufu.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This year's inaugural Cassava World Africa, organised by the Centre for Management Technology, will showcase the transformation of cassava from a staple food to a commercial crop used in production of flour, beer, feed, starch and as source for bioenergy.

What will the conference involve?

His Excellency Honorable Robert K.K. Sichinga, MP & minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Zambia will inaugurate the conference that will focus on‘transforming cassava in Africa into agro-industrial products’. The conference will cover a range of different topics including:

• food security
• financing projects
• breeding processes
• cassava use in commercial production of flour, starch and bioenergy

International speakers will present a range of key sessions. Speakers include:  

• Dennis Beunk, agricultural development & agro-processing specialist, Brightface Enterprise who will provide an overview of ‘Enhancing Food Security, Income Generation, Value Adding and Economic Empowerment through Commercialization of Cassava’
• Diogo Machado, senior economist, LMC International pwill resent a paper on ‘Global Starch Market Outlook & Feedstock Economics’
• Louw Burger, MD/CEO, Thai Farm International will discuss the ‘Challenges of Operating a Cassava High Quality Flour Plant in  Africa’ 
• Jens Thomsen, International Starch Institute A/S will look at the ‘Challenges of Implementing Industrial Cassava Projects in Africa’

The conference agenda also includes country/ region specific sessions:

•  Investment Update on Cassava Plantation & Value Addition Project in Tanzania – Matthew GW de Klerk, general manager, Cassava Starch of Tanzania Corporation (CSTC)
•  Commercializing Cassava: New Opportunities For Universal Industries and Malawian Smallholders – V. Navin Kumar, GM, Universal Farming & Milling
•  Status of Bioenergy Industry Development in Zambia – Prof.Thomson Sinkala, chairman, Biofuels Association of Zambia
•  Project Status and Challenges in Developing a Cassava Biorefinery in Nigeria – Richard Bennett, CEO, Sunbird Bioenergy Africa

When/where is Cassava World Africa?

Cassava World Africa will take place from 20 - 21 March 2014 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lusaka, South Africa.

 

For more information and to register, visit the Cassava World website here.

For enquiries, contact:
Ms. Huiyan 
Email: huiyan@cmtsp.com.sg
Tel: +65 6346 9113