Friday Feed Update: What did you miss last week?

Kemin debuts immune primer in Asia

Animal nutrition company Kemin Industries has introduced Aleta™ in varous regions in Asia. Aleta™ is a highly bioavailable immunomodulator that supports immunity and animal performance. The molecular structure of Aleta is very distinct when compared with the conventional yeast-derived beta-glucan. The product contains a higher purity of beta-glucan. Its particles are also much smaller in size, making it unique and easily assimilated by the immune system after absorption through the intestines.

New sensor checks bin feed levels remotely

Larger livestock units with many bulk bins, often on different sites, make it increasingly difficult for farmers, managers and stock-people to remember to check the amount of feed remaining in them. This problem has been overcome with a new electronic sensor device called the SiloMetric, supplied by ARM Buildings. Installed in the top of the bin it, remotely monitors feed level, via a laser giving a precise reading in real-time. The information is transmitted to the farm office computer, tablet or mobile phone via the cloud. Colour coding allows for a quick visual check on the state of the bins and an alarm can be set to alert the user when pre-determined level is reached.

Made by the Spanish equipment company, Rotecna, the sensor is battery powered so no cables are required making fitting simple. The sensor head can be removed easily for cleaning without the need to go into the bin – a useful safety feature. The SiloMetric sensors can be used for meal, pellets, liquid feed or other bulk ingredients in any shape or size of container. They are priced at £500 (€ 572), plus a nominal monthly fee for data capture and storage. This compares with up to £5,000 (€ 5,726) per bin for fitting load-cells under existing bins.

Olmix opens new production site in Vietnam

Olmix opened a new facility in the suburbs of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The company already has a sales office in Ho Chi Minh City. The mill employs 80 people and has 3 production lines for feed additives, both powders and liquids. The projected annual production is 5,000 tons of feed additives and nutraceuticals (equivalent to 5 million tons of finished feed). The mill is part of Olmix’s strategy to further growth in the South East Asian region.

Ocean Harvest Technology appoints Barentz as distributor

Barentz Animal Nutrition will formally act as a distributor for OceanFeed™ in much of Europe. OceanFeed is produced by Ocean Harvest Technology Limited of Ireland. The proprietary formulae of the OceanFeed™ branded products combine multiple species of brown, green and red macroalgae (seaweed) specially selected for their bioactive benefits including intestinal health balance, nutrient uptake and partial replacement of other feed ingredients. These have been shown to improve feed intake, increasing performance, weight gain, and fertility in livestock while allowing producers to reduce or remove antibiotic growth promotors. Next to this, when added in pet food for companion animals, it was shown to increase energy levels and stamina, as well as making the fur more shiny and soft, mainly as a result of the natural minerals in the seaweed. Ocean Harvest Technology will partner with Barentz Animal Nutrition, who have been serving customers in the feed industry for over 60 years, to deliver blended macroalgal products for the swine, bovine, pet food and other segments. The 2 companies will work together in various geographies including Germany, Italy, UK, Ireland, and Spain to improve animal health and nutrition to help serve customer needs.

Global collaboration between insect associations

The 2^nd International conference “Insect to Feed the World” was held from 15 to 18 May 2018 in Wuhan (China), and was the occasion to officially lay the foundation for the international collaboration between 4 insect regional associations: IPIFF, AFFIA, IPAA & NACIA. Representing respectively European, Asian, Australian and American insect producers, these associations decided to organise a roundtable in order to make a step toward the development of the insect industry by agreeing on priority topics to work on: Codex Alimentarius, certification, education and good hygiene practices.

FAMI-QS to apply the ViaSyst audit reporting system

FAMI-QS is a worldwide pre-eminent on feed safety management system scheme for specialty feed ingredients (feed ingredients sourced mainly via the following processes: bioprocess, chemical, extraction, formulation, mining and mixing) . To support and boost the growth of the scheme, FAMI-QS is applying the ViaSyst audit reporting platform for the implementation of the new version 6.0 of the scheme, from the beginning of 2019. FAMI-QS will use the entire potential of the ViaSyst platform, from its reporting to interactivity facilities as well as the online capabilities, where appropriate. With regards to FAMI-QS certification bodies, there are benefits ranging from avoidance of duplications to savings. For example, there would definitely be some simplification thanks to an App (available also on smartphones). This App, usable offline, with voice recognition facilities and ability to be synchronized with the platform on subsequent connections will revolutionize note-taking by auditors. It will also allow the uploading of pictures (as audit evidence), enormously facilitating preparation of closing meetings. For FAMI-QS, the availability of all audit and certification related data in one platform will allow enhanced and real time control of the scheme’s implementation and integrity programme, as well as simplifying the related internal processes. The time saved will then be invested in added value for the scheme users, e.g. training, support, awareness, monitoring of trends, guidance and interpretation.The publicly available certificate list will also be improved, with a dashboard, a map and easy search functions.

BASF and Biomin to introduce new phytase in Vietnam

The phytase Natuphos E helps pigs, poultry and aquaculture better utilize phosphorous and other key nutrients. It ensures more productive and sustainable output for the animal feed industry and local farmers. BASF will be launching the product in Vietnam, and Biomin Vietnam will be responsible for the distribution in the country. The majority of phosphorous in grains and oilseeds is bound to phytic acid, an anti-nutritive factor found in feed. Phytate-bound phosphorous cannot be absorbed well by animals such as pigs and poultry, and is therefore excreted and lost as a potential nutrient. As a result, manufacturers need to supplement the feed with either inorganic phosphates or very effective phytases to make sure the animals are supplied adequately with the required amounts of the essential phosphorous. Natuphos E also releases other valuable nutrients, making animals generally more efficient at digesting their feed. This leads to less excretion of undigested phosphate, which, as a result, helps reduce water pollution. In addition to Natuphos E, Biomin Vietnam will also be responsible for the distribution of Natugrain® TS, a feed enzyme containing highly purified NSP-degrading enzymes, in the Vietnamese market.

Nutriad starts distribution in Japan

Feed additives producer Nutriad announced it has reached an agreement with Watanabe Chemicals to distribute its’ products in Japan. This will allow Nutriad to become the first European producer to introduce a Sodium Butyrate portfolio into the Japanese market. The step further confirms Nutriad’s growth strategy in Asia.

With an annual feed production of 24 MMT, Japan is a global top 10 producer. The country’s industry is advanced in terms of production technology, with strong nutritional and veterinarian knowledge. Like several other countries in Asia, Japan is aiming to move away from its’ dependency on AGPs.

Veramaris to produce algae oil as of mid-2019

Veramaris, the DSM and Evonik joint venture that will revolutionize aquaculture with its sustainable omega-3 oil from natural marine algae, has celebrated a major milestone in the construction of its new production site in Blair, Nebraska. In the presence of Nebraska Lieutenant Governor Mike Foley, the management of Veramaris and the 2 parent companies Royal DSM and Evonik, a topping-out ceremony was held on 4 June 2018 in Blair, Nebraska. The construction of the US$ 200 million facility is progressing on-time and according to plan. Commercial quantities of algal oil will be ready for delivery in mid-2019. Pilot-scale quantities are already being supplied to selected feed producers and farmers for market development. The initial annual production capacity of the Nebraska plant will meet roughly 15 percent of the total current annual demand for EPA and DHA by the global salmon aquaculture industry. Veramaris uses locally sourced sugar in its fermentation process. The algae strain, Schizochytrium, which is applied, has the advantage of producing the essential omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA and the resulting oil has a concentration exceeding 50%. The production site will be entirely waste-free. Veramaris’ highly concentrated algal oil will, for the first time, enable the animal nutrition industry to keep up with the increasing demand for these two essential omega-3 fatty acids without any reliance on fish oil obtained from wild fish stocks.

New look and feel for GMP+ International

GMP+ International has introduced a new corporate identity, including a new logo, payoff, mission, vision and core values. These are also reflected in their website, online portal, newsletters, and other communication tools. The norms and standards of the GMP+ Feed Certification scheme, the FSA logo and FRA logo have not been changed. The main focus of GMP+ International will remain to serve the customer’s needs, collaboration and leading its community to feed safety worldwide.

Coppens International now named Alltech Coppens

Aqua nutrition specialist Coppens International will now be known as Alltech Coppens. Coppens was aquired by Alltech in 2016. During the past 2 years, there has been a focus on increasing capacity, which resulted in the expansion of the Alltech Coppens Aqua Centre in 2017 and the installation of a third extruder at the site. These improvements have allowed the team to meet elevated customer demands for more of its innovative products and technologies. The growth of Alltech Coppens has also allowed for expansion into new markets such as Norway, the US, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey as well as exciting collaboration work in Brazil. The rebrand comes at a pivotal time for the aqua nutrition business as it celebrates its 25-year anniversary.