Chinese nutritionists, poultry company leaders gather for Alltech China Nutritional Poultry Summit

The future of poultry nutrition was discussed by expert speakers at the Alltech China Nutritional Poultry Summit.

More than 150 Chinese nutritionists and leaders from large poultry companies recently gathered in the city of Qingdao, China, for the 2nd Alltech China Nutritional Poultry Summit. The summit addressed recent Chinese food scandals that continue to pressure the meat industry to change the way it looks at animal production.
Expert speakers covered a variety of topics such as amino acids, bioactive mannan rich fractions, organic trace minerals, organic selenium, solid state fermentation enzymes and glucan-based mycotoxin deactivators.
Speakers included Mike Kidd, University of Arkansas; Wang Zong, China Agriculture University; Peter Ferket, North Carolina State University; Lucy Waldron, editor of World Poultry Science, New Zealand; former Yum China director, Joaquin Pelaez; Aziz Sacranie, technical poultry director, Alltech; former CEO of Harim-Allen Farms, Gary Gladys; and Liu Yuehuan, China Academy of Agriculture Science. The summit was chaired by Aidan Connolly, vice president, Alltech.
Speakers Kidd and Ferket focused on nutrient supplementation needed in the diet for a bird's immune system in times of disease challenge. According to the presentations, an ideal diet, from a disease prevention point of view, will address the detoxification of mycotoxins through the use of effective mycotoxin binding agents. An ideal diet will minimize undigested material through the use of solid state fermentation enzymes, bioactive MRF carbohydrates and other plant extracts. It will also contain bioavailable, organically complexed minerals, as well as optimal levels of vitamins, amino acids and other nutrients to create a balanced diet.
"Safe and traceable food is more important than ever," said Dr. Mark Lyons, vice president corporate affairs at Alltech, during his concluding remarks. Despite the numerous food safety and farm disease challenges, Lyons believes that the future of the Chinese poultry industry is bright and he urged the audience to redefine the way they look at poultry nutrition.