Friday Feed Update: The latest business insights

Wisium opens new plant in Algeria

Wisium strengthens its global presence and invests in North Africa by opening its first production plant in Algeria and the 13th Wisium plant worldwide. This investment will expand the offer on the Algerian market and facilitate the exports to the Middle East and North African (MENA) countries. Wisium is willing to respond to the MENA region’s increasing demand by providing high quality premix products and tailor-made services for the animal nutrition players. The new plant is located in Oran, Algeria and has a surface area of 4,000 m² including a storage area of 2,000 m² for raw material and finished products. The factory holds 6 silos designed for Wisium macro ingredients such as wheat bran, salt, carbonate, 16 micro dosing silos for the micro ingredients as vitamins, minerals, and a double helix mixer of 500kg. The production of premix in Algeria has started in June 2018. In Africa, Algeria is one of the largest and developing markets in animal health and nutrition. The poultry market has increased by 10% in layers and by 11% in broilers within 2 years. The production of complete feed in Algeria is estimated at 4 million tons and the Algerian feed production is worth € 1.3 billion in 2018.

Orffa establishes legal entity in Colombia

Colombia is a fast growing market in terms of feed production. Animal numbers are growing constantly, making it on of the leading emerging markets in Latin America. In order to coordinate and develop activities in the Andean Countries, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia, Orffa has established a legal entity in Colombia, in order to offer local service and optimal technical and commercial support to key customers in the region. The company is convinced that this next step in business development in Latin America, will accelerate its market penetration with its product portfolio.

Balchem Corporation acquires Bioscreen Technologies

Balchem Corporation, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Balchem Italia S.r.l., acquired Bioscreen Technologies, S.r.l., a small privately held manufacturer of encapsulated and fermented feed nutrition ingredients, headquartered in Bertinoro, Italy. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Bioscreen manufactures high-performance encapsulates and fermented products that deliver value-added solutions to an international animal nutrition and health customer base. Launched in 2005, Bioscreen has focused on developing and marketing new and improved technologies to meet customer needs. Bioscreen’s existing business will be integrated within Balchem’s Animal Nutrition & Health business segment.

First Critical Location in Poland accepted by GMP+ International

After publishing the renewed GMP+ Feed Certification scheme License Agreement last year, GMP+ International has now accepted its first ‘Critical Location’ in Poland: DEKRA Certification Sp. z.o.o.. Among other things, the License Agreement deals with so-called Critical Locations. The GMP+ International community continues to grow in Poland. DEKRA Certification Sp. z.o.o. contributed significantly in this growth. Critical Locations facilitate in providing easy access of GMP+ certification services in the certain regions. Critical Locations are third-party locations conducting one or more key activities on behalf of the GMP+ accepted Certification Bodies. GMP+ International wants to make sure the contractual link between GMP+ International, the Certification Body and the third party is safe and secure. To this end, GMP+ International has started to accept and approve Critical Locations in both the Czech Republic and now in Poland. GMP+ expects to accept more Critical Locations in the future.

New research programme on feed minerals

Lead by animal nutrition company Animine, the Eurostars funded programme SUMINAPP (Sustainable Usage of trace MINerals for Animal Production Programs) has been kicked off. The collaborative project is supervised by a consortium which includes PigChamp Pro, the Spanish company specialised in vet services and health consultancy through research and data management, and CIRAD, the French agricultural research organisation. Aiming at fine tuning optimal supply of zinc and copper, the programme will include studies on pigs, poultry, ruminants and fishes. Innovative biomarkers will measure nutritional status and intestinal health of growing animals. Not only mineral quantification but also metal speciation in animal wastes will be assessed. Ultimately, this ambitious programme of a total budget of € 2.2 million will provide data for ecotoxicity and integration in life cycle analysis calculations.

Alltech Coppens Aqua Centre becomes 4th bioscience center

The Alltech Coppens Aqua Centre (ACAC) is to become an Alltech bioscience center. For more than 15 years, the ACAC has carried out practical and applicable research within the field of aquaculture. In 2017, Alltech invested heavily in the facility, which will now become its 4^th bioscience centre. This centre will be home to an expanded team of aqua researchers dedicated to quality, innovation and the development of new applications in aqua feed. As part of the ACAC’s progression to a bioscience center, Alltech Coppens is delighted to announce that Dr. Philip Lyons will be taking on a new role as a global aquaculture research manager to help coordinate research activities at the new centre with Alltech’s ever-expanding global research programmes. In addition to supporting and evaluating Alltech Coppens feed formulation initiatives, the new bioscience centre will actively focus on beneficially altering fat digestion, optimising mineral nutrition, and developing novel nutritional approaches for reinforcing gut health and preserving product quality while minimising the environmental impacts of aquaculture. It is expected that this centre will be the site for both basic and applied research as well as serving as a site for graduate student and intern training activities.

New calf growth app from Volac

Cattle youngstock rearers now have a quick and easy way of recording and monitoring individual calf growth rates against pre-set targets, thanks to the availability of a new smartphone App from Volac. Launched as a free tool available as a download from the company’s refreshed ‘Feed for Growth’ website, the new calf growth App is one of an innovative range of practical resources available from Volac to help farmers grow better cows. Once you have registered on the new website and keyed in your growth ‘roadmap’ target data (i.e. calf birthweight; weaning weight; age at weaning; mature bodyweight; and desired age at first calving), simply download the App and get started. The App allows you to set up different holdings and record a calf’s unique ear tag number. You then simply record an individual calf’s weight as it develops and instantly see if it is on track against your pre-set roadmap graph, allowing you to make changes to its feeding programme as necessary.

Amlan International holds first poultry summit

To learn more about next generation AGP-alternatives, poultry producers from around the world attended Amlan’s First Summer International Poultry Seminar Aug. 2–3 in Chicago. Attendees heard from industry-thought-leaders about the latest research into the impact of bacterial resistance on modern poultry operations and what measures are needed to drive progress in global poultry production. “We hosted experts on the forefront of academic research and producers on the leading edge of animal husbandry practices for a deep look into barriers to optimal intestinal health, productivity and profitability in poultry production,” said Flemming Mahs, President, Amlan International. “Even more exciting was to see the new technologies that are addressing some of these challenges. It is this new innovation that promises strategic progress for poultry producers and can provide benefits throughout the food chain.” Seminar presenters included leading poultry producers such as Amick Farms (OSI Group), which produces 3 million chickens per week and Tyson Foods, one of the largest companies in the global food industry. Leading academic researchers included Dr Margie Lee, Department Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Tech University; Dr John Maurer, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia; Dr Peter Ferket, Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University; and Dr Marvin Whiteley, Biological Sciences, Georgia Tech.

BioMar production facility receives tick of approval

BioMar Australia announced it’s Wesley Vale aqua feed production facility had received the final tick of approval from Latrobe Council, marking an important milestone in the projects future. BioMar Australia Technical Customer Account Manager Alasdair Bradley said the organisation was delighted to receive approval for the Development Application (DA). “As part of the DA process, the Environment Protection Authority also approved the Development Proposal and Environmental Management Plan, ensuring BioMar’s facility meets all required environmental responsibilities and practices,” Mr Bradley said. “The DA approval is also an important indication of industry, local council and community support for BioMar’s expansion in to Australia, and importantly Tasmania. “Receiving DA approval now allows us to take the next steps in the projects timeline and move forward with the construction phase which will generate up to 250 jobs in the local region. “We will be awarding a civil works contract to an Australian firm next, and we expect ground works on site to kick off following the reception of the Building Permit from Latrobe Council.