Brazil poultry, pig feed mineral levels revised

Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry has revoked legislation covering levels of minerals in poultry and pig feed, indicating that Directive 20 of 1997 had become increasingly obsolete due to changes in technology in the feed sector. The legislation was initially introduced to lay down minimum concentrations of minerals in commercial feed, guaranteeing adequate supplies for animals. However, many of these fixed values are no longer relevant as technological developments have permitted lower inclusion levels without comprising production or animal health, according to the ministry. Newer production methods result in better availability and better absorption and use by the animal, allowing lower levels to be added to feed. Another advantage of this change, said the ministry, is that environmental contamination is reduced as fewer minerals are excreted.