Making animal production more sustainable

A new study led by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, which was published in the scientific journal of the Royal Society Interface, shows that reducing concentrate feed can be a feasible alternative for ensuring food security in a climate-friendly way.
Calculations using a model show that, should the predictions of the FAO become a reality, agriculture’s negative impact on the environment will increase significantly by 2050. One of the main reasons is the intensive feeding of livestock of crops like wheat, maize and soy. In order to intensify production, already diminishing cropland is increasingly used for feed production instead of the production of plant-based food. Thus, concentrate feed for animals competes with food for human consumption.
The study shows that by reducing the production of concentrate feed, more plant-based food can be produced while also protecting the environment and reducing GHG emissions. Calculations show that the number of animal products in human diets would decrease by 53% if feed production on cropland were to be reduced. This would mostly concern pork, poultry and eggs.
Grassland is more eco-friendly than concentrate feed
The connection between meat consumption and environmental damage of agriculture has long been a controversial topic. A common conclusion is to further intensify animal husbandry, i.e. to produce more high-energy concentrate feed on arable land. It is often regarded as the only way to meet the increasing demand for animal-based food and to reduce GHG per kg meat. However, the new FiBL study also shows that reducing concentrate feed would be a more sustainable solution for supplying the global population with food. According to the calculations, this strategy has great potential and ideally complements already existing approaches for food security like improving the efficiency of food production, distribution and use as well as decreasing consumption.
Newly developed model can be used for a variety of purposes
Researchers at FiBL, the FAO, the “Alpen-Adria” University in Vienna and the University of Aberdeen designed a global model system in order to calculate various scenarios of food availability and impacts of food production on the environment. This model system is able to calculate the complex material flows and resulting production volumes and environmental impacts of our food system. This allows for an in-depth analysis of changes in production methods and food consumption. The system is consistent with global statistics of the FAO and can be used in the future to answer various questions on the sustainability of agricultural and food systems.

Final Feed Pelleting Reference Guide section now available online

Log in to www.wattagnet.com  to download informative PDFs from sections one through five in the Feed Pelleting Reference Guide  . 
WATT Global Media and Kansas State University have now released the final section, section six, troubleshooting, in their exclusive Feed Pelleting Reference Guide for the industry. 
This free guide covers everything you need to know about feed pelleting in a convenient, downloadable PDF format. Within the PDFs, you will find detailed explanation written by industry experts with charts, photos and diagrams to illustrate the concepts. Section six contains two chapters: die maintenance and die change operations, and troubleshooting pelleting operations. 

The Feed Pelleting Reference Guide  is brought to you by Kansas State and WATT Global Media. 
Users can register or log in to WATTAgNet to download topical PDF files from each of the six sections at http://www.wattagnet.com/feedpelleting.html. 

FEFANA launches virtual library, publishes premixtures booklet

The EU Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and Their Mixtures, FEFANA, has created an interactive virtual library space on its website that showcases the association's publications.
FEFANA particularly foresees the release of a series of specific booklets related to different categories of products, said the association. The "Booklet on Premixtures" is the first of these intended publications.
The premixture sector has greatly developed over the last decades and is regarded as a key partner for the compound feed industry, farmers and other feed business operators. The FEFANA Working Group on Premixtures has designed and developed the "Booklet on Premixtures" to draw an overall picture of the European premixture industry. A description of the various types of premixtures is given first, followed by sourcing and procurement process of premixture ingredients, their formulation, manufacturing, packaging and transport. The final focus is on the quality management and safety of premixtures.

Kansas State feed short courses focus on HACCP, manufacturing

The American Feed Industry Association, along with the International Grains Program of the Department of Grain Science and Industry at Kansas State University, have partnered to offer two short courses on HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) and feed manufacturing.
The interactive courses, both held in Manhattan, Kan., are taught by instructors who provide in-depth training on all aspects of the industry associated with feed manufacturing and feed safety:

• The AFIA-KSU Advanced Feed Manufacturing Short Course will be held October 8–11. The course provides participants with an in-depth understanding of the specifics of feed processing. Emphasizing feed safety, this advanced course targets individuals with feed industry experience that understand the basic principles of feed manufacturing.
• Establishing a HACCP Program for the Feed Industry will be held November 5–8. The course focuses on the development of a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points plan for all sectors of the feed industry, including feed mill managers, quality assurance personnel and ingredient suppliers.
Registration can be found on the American Feed Industry Association's website. 

American Feed Industry Association to hold Education Forum at IFE/IPE 2012

The American Feed Industry Association’s International Feed Education Forum will be held on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at the at the International Feed Expo/International Poultry Expo.
The International Feed Education Forum will address issues unique to feed manufacturers. Three speakers will be featured at 2012 program: Tim Lease, WL Port-Land Systems Inc., will present the opening session on Selecting the Proper Equipment to Maximize Efficiency; Richard Sellers, AFIA's vice president of feed regulation and nutrition, will provide an update on the Food Safety Modernization Act; and Keith Epperson, AFIA’s vice president of manufacturing and training, will conclude with an overview of Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations.
The program will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Conference Hall A, Room 404 of the Georgia World Conference Center.

Carbon dioxide pollution may help weeds survive against herbicides

According to a study published in the latest edition of Weed Science, carbon dioxide acts as a fertilizer to invasive exotic grasses, resulting in higher growth rates and larger leaves, and makes them more resistant to glyphosate, an herbicide commercially known as Roundup.
The study looked at the effects of elevated carbon dioxide levels on four species of grass and gauged the tolerance of these plants to glyphosate. The four species tested are all invasive exotic plants in Australia that have previously been chemically controlled with glyphosate. When treated with the herbicide, three of the four species showed a significantly higher survival rate under elevated carbon dioxide levels compared with ambient levels.
Based on the study's results, the use of herbicides may need to be increased to counter the effects of stronger weeds — a move that could have significant implications for affected industries.

Duck management, feed technologies discussed at Grimaud Asia seminar

Grimaud Frères Sélection employees discussed the latest duck management and feed technologies at the company's second Asia seminar, held in Vietnam on Dec. 7 and 8.
Roughly 10 Asian companies were represented at the two-day event, providing performance information on the various Grimaud duck breeds of the East Asia region. Presenters and audience members discussed ways to develop high-quality and profitable duck meat production, with particular emphasis on the Vietnamese market.

Novus partners with Kenya's Egerton University to help develop local capacity, support local feed economy

Novus International Inc.'s Novus Scholars program has partnered with Kenya's Egerton University.
The partnership will allow Novus to assist the school in developing its local capacity and support the local feed economy by providing equipment and training. "We have established a repeatable model with our Novus Scholars program that benefits students, professors and our employees," said Dr. Giovanni Gasperoni, executive vice president for marketing and sales. "I have witnessed the growth of these programs. They are encouraging knowledge transfer and developing real employment opportunities for graduates."
The program works with universities around the world to award professors and students who are, or will be, industry leaders in agriculture with scholarships and fellowships.

AFIA announces dates for symposium, conference

The American Feed Industry Association will host the 2010 Liquid Feed Symposium and Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas, September 14-16. This symposium will incorporate an educational program with 15 speakers reviewing regulatory updates, marketing, production costs and recent research. The concurrent trade show will display new products and developments.
The AFIA will also hold the Annual Equipment Manufacturer’s Conference at the Lowe’s Vantana Canyon Hotel in Tucson, Ariz., from November 4 through 6. The theme will be “Positioning for Recovery”. Presenters will include specialists from engineering, construction, finance and academia and updated information together with forecast for the industry will be provided.
For more information about either of the events, visit the AFIA’s website.

Make plans to attend the WATT Online Feed Forum

Wherever you will be on Thursday 24 June 2010, you can participate through the Internet in an important online event that will be highly relevant to all feed markets internationally.
The WATT Online Feed Forum on 24 June offers a valuable mix of educational seminars and information on products and services from major suppliers to the feed business, plus the opportunity for you to interact directly with other decision-makers from around the world.Even better, registration to be a participant at this virtual forum is entirely free of charge.
The conference agenda for the Forum contains presentations from top experts in five key areas. Dr Leland McKinney of Kansas State University, USA, and Will Henry of Extru-Tech will discuss practical aspects of feed manufacturing and extrusion. Dr Jules Taylor-Pickard of Alltech and Dr Gerd Schatzmayr of Biomin lead the discussion of mycotoxin control in feed materials. Professor Phil Garnsworthy from the UK’s University of Nottingham describes new feeding techniques for high-yielding dairy cows. Dr Kristjan Bregendahl from Hy-Line International provides guidance on the feeding of the modern laying hen. Dr Albert Tacon from Aquatic Farms Ltd in Hawaii will review the supply of feed ingredients for sustainable aquaculture.
See www.wattevents.com for full details about the WATT Online Feed Forum, including how to register. The forum on 24 June will run from 08:00 GMT until 23:00 GMT --- so you can take part at a time of day to suit you.

International feed manual to be released

The International Feed Industry Federation and the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations will release a new international feed manual at the Third Global Feed and Food Congress in Cancun, Mexico, April 20-23, 2010.

Feed industry education on HACCP

The American Feed Industry Association and Kansas State University will be offering a four-day course
on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point systems on October 6-9 in Manhattan, Kan. The course, which is designed to train feed mill managers and quality assurance personnel, will have contributions from industry and university experts.
For further information contact Keith Epperson , vice president of manufacturing and training for AFIA.