Weekly update on feed business For this week, All About Feed wraps up the latest business and product highlights again from the international feed industry.

Lallemand acquires Nova Microbial Technologies

Lallemand Animal Nutrition announces the acquisition of Nova Microbial Technologies ─ forwarding Lallemand’s mission to provide natural microbial products and services for optimised animal performance and well-being. “We are especially pleased to work with Lallemand to offer the Micro-Cell® FS products containing the probiotic strain that is noted on the pre-harvest Production Best Practice document from the Beef Industry Food Safety Council,” Alan Larsen, President, Nova Microbial Technologies says. The combined portfolios will allow for potential synergies as well as prospects for innovation both in the United States and globally.

Nor-Feed launches the 2017 edition of its Veterinary Award

Nor-Feed, the French Company, which specialises in plant-based natural additives for animal nutrition, launches the 3rd edition of its Veterinary Award. The Nor-Feed Award rewards a recent veterinarian thesis (or a thesis of veterinary interest) on the functional properties of plants or plant extracts and their application in animal health and/or animal production.

To participate, candidates must submit their dossier by June 30th, 2017 at the latest.

Kemin’s new activities in the Middle East and Russia

Kemin Industries launched its organic trace mineral product line in the Middle East during a recent symposium in Jordan. With this new registration of KemTRACE Chromium in the Middle East, Kemin has accomplished an important milestone in organic trace mineral nutrition. With more than 20 years of research and development, chromium propionate is a proven source and is fed to millions of animals around the world. This Chromium product is used in dairy, beef and poultry diets in more than 30 countries. Today, this product is the only FDA approved source of chromium available in the USA for broilers, dairy and beef diets. Over the last several months, the Kemin regulatory team has been dedicated to registering the diverse KemTRACE minerals across the Middle East region.

Kemin also opened its new Russia manufacturing facilities and office this April. The new facility for the Kemin subsidiary, Kemin Industries (Lipetsk) LLC, will be located in the Special Economic Zone of Lipetsk. Construction of the Kemin facility began in spring 2016. Once construction is complete this April, Kemin will have the ability to manufacture specialty feed ingredients and will have additional space to add new lines of manufacturing and different classes of solutions to meet local needs. The facility creates approximately 40 new jobs in the Russian market.

The Pearse Lyons Accelerator project

A total of 183 start-ups from 38 countries applied to be a part of The Pearse Lyons Accelerator, a late-stage, agri-tech accelerator run by Alltech and Dogpatch Labs. The accelerator will commence with 10 start-ups that have been chosen to take part in a mentorship programne for agri-business innovators with a proven technology that is ready for market. The 10 successful applicants will work with Alltech and Dogpatch Labs to accelerate their business development through Alltech and its global network. The accelerator is a 15-week, mentorship-driven programme aimed at collaborative learning and seeking new business and/or partnership opportunities. The programme will culminate with the start-ups presenting on the main stage at ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, May 21–24, 2017, where more than 3,000 attendees from nearly 80 countries around the world will converge.

Parts of ALFRA machine 3D printed

At the end of 2016, KSE started using 3D printed parts for its ALFRA dosing and weighing systems. At first this was chosen because it was the quickest solution. “The designs and drawings were ready and the delivery time of the parts was simply the shortest when printed in 3D,” says Michiel Willemse, Manager Mechatronics Development. “In addition to that, the costs for the 3D parts are competitive compared to the conventional ways of producing.” This is not the only benefit for KSE. “We supply various machines, each with its unique features. This means one and the same part can differ per machine. By using 3D printing, we can produce very flexibly. This allows us to deploy developments much better and faster in a shorter time,” Willemse adds enthusiastically. KSE sees a lot of future opportunities for 3D printing. With a brand new assembly hall and many product innovations it continues to invest in the future to meet customer requirements.

Biomin launches new phytogenic feed additive

Biomin has launched its innovative, next generation phytogenic feed additive, Digestarom®DC. “With a clear and documented mode of action, this product results in improved palatability, enhanced digestibility, reduced intestinal challenge, better animal product quality, and improved animal welfare,” according to Michael Noonan, Global Product Manager Phytogenics at Biomin. One of the features of the product is that it incorporates an encapsulation technology that ensures the plant-based active compounds are delivered where they are needed to be most effective. This technology also demonstrates stability under common pelleting conditions,” stated Mr Noonan. “This ensures the triple action formulation can have the intended effects.”