What is the DLG Test Center?

There’s more to the DLG FokusTest Label than meets the eye. When designs receive the distinction, they have passed usability testing intended to allow product differentiation and to highlight innovations in machinery and technical products. The designs in question are used primarily in agriculture, forestry, horticulture, fruit cultivation and viticulture, landscape, and municipal management. It focuses on testing a product's individual qualitative criteria, e.g. fatigue strength, performance, or quality of work. The scope of testing can include criteria from the testing framework of a DLG SignumTest, the DLG's extensive usability test for technical products, and concludes with the publishing of a test report and the awarding of a test mark.
The DLG FokusTest “Handling, Cleaning and Feed Dosing” includes repeated investigations at a real-life farm at different times during the fattening period and also examines the assembly of the bowls and the time needed for cleaning. The testing was based on the DLG testing framework for poultry feeding bowls, in the version of 1.2/2014. Other criteria were not investigated.
The DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs sets the benchmark for tested agricultural technology and farm inputs and is the leading provider of testing and certification services for independent technology tests. With the latest measurement technology and practical testing methods, DLG test engineers carry out testing of product developments and innovations. As an EU-notified test laboratory with multiple accreditations, the DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs provides farmers and practitioners with important information and decision-making aids, in the form of its recognized technology tests and DLG tests, to assist in the planning of investments in agricultural technologies and farm inputs.

Amino acids in animal feed positively affect environment

A new comparative life cycle assessment by Evonik affirms the positive environmental effects of amino acids in animal feed.
Farmers who add Evonik's amino acids to poultry or pig feed not only ensure proper animal nutrition, but also help to protect resources and the environment. This is the conclusion reached by the Animal Nutrition Business Line in a current comparative life cycle assessment (LCA), which was recently certified by the German standardization body, TÜV Rheinland.
Evonik is the only manufacturer of amino acids for animal feed to have conducted a life cycle assessment of its products – MetAMINO, Biolys, ThreAMINO, TrypAMINO and L-Valine – for comparison with alternative raw materials such as soy meal or rape seed. LCAs record and evaluate environmental impacts along with energy and raw materials consumption over the entire life cycle – ranging from the extraction of raw materials to the production of amino acids and the agricultural use of the animals' manure. Since the first LCA for DL-Methionine in 2002, the data has been repeatedly updated and has now been expanded to include all five essential amino acids for animal nutrition by Evonik (DL-Methionine, L-Lysine, L-Threonin, L-Tryptophan, L-Valine).
“The certificate by TÜV Rheinland is further proof of our effort to carefully evaluate all environmental impacts without bias, including with consideration for new products," said Dr. Thomas Kaufmann, senior vice president sustainability development of the nutrition and care segment. "The results are unequivocal – adding our amino acids to animal feed, combined with the associated consistent decrease of raw protein in the feed, is an extremely sustainable method to ensure healthy animal nutrition while providing eggs and meat to a growing world population and leaving minimal traces in the environment."
If an amino acid mixture is added to feed instead of supplementary soy or rape seed, the greenhouse effect in poultry farming decreases by a factor of 27. In pig farming, the reduction factor is a respectable 13. Over-fertilization potential is decreased by a factor of 39 for poultry and by a factor of 16 for pigs. The effect on acidification potential was determined as a factor 35 for poultry farming and a factor of 19 for pig farming.
These effects result from the fact that the added amino acids utilize domestic wheat rather than imported soy seed as a source of nutrition. This in turn eliminates the energy-intensive processing of soy beans as well as imports from the main producer countries U.S., Brazil and Argentina, where crops consume increasing amount of farmland and frequently cause the destruction of rainforest in the process.
These aspects of environmental policy will gain further significance in the future, considering that the world population has already reached 7 billion people. The Food and Agriculture Organization as well as the World Health Organization project that the global meat consumption will increase from currently 41.3 kg per capita and year to 45.3 kg per capita and year in 2030. That makes highly effective and resource-efficient production on small areas of farmland an even greater priority.
"Sustainable nutrition for the growing world population means that we must use the existing resources with the greatest possible efficiency," says Kaufmann. "Our certified comparative LCA is regular proof that our amino acids are making an important contribution. At the same time, we create transparency so that customers can see exactly how the purchased products affect the environment."

J&D Manufacturing gains Accredited Laboratory status

J&D Manufacturing recently announced it has received Accredited Laboratory status from the Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA) International for their new state-of-the-art Air Test Chamber. Terry Lyons, VP of Sales, Marketing and Engineering emphasized the significance of this accomplishment, “These days, a fan isn’t just a fan. It is part of an integrated system; a system designed to meet certain performance requirements. J&D provides fully integrated systems due to our ability to design, test and manufacture fans that perform as designed and advertised.”
“We are extremely proud of our AMCA Accreditation. J&D Manufacturing has invested a lot into makinthe Air Test Chamber, the only testing facility with AMCA accreditation in the United States, with the main focus being the agriculture market. This allows us to continue to better serve our customers and build the best product line in the market,” said J&D President, Tracy Trippler. AMCA is an international not for profit association of the world’s manufacturers of fans and related components with the mission to advance the health, growth and integrity of the air movement and control industry. J&D Manufacturing’s Air Test Chamber will allow for efficient development and testing of prototypes, and ensure their performance ratings are reliable and accurate.
“J&D has improved its ventilation program every year and now we have the instrument to take it to a whole new level.  J&D’s investment will allow us to design fans and ventilation systems that will ensure confidence in the performance in your operation. Our goal has always been to be the leader in agriculture ventilation and now we have another tool to strengthen our commitment.” said Don Redetzke, J&D Manufacturing’s CEO.

South Africa company testing maggots as alternative animal feed protein

South African company Agriprotein Technologies is testing maggots as a potential alternative animal feed protein for livestock and fish.
According to the company, the common household fly lays up to 750 eggs in its life (up to one month), and 1 kilogram of eggs will turn into 380 kilograms of protein within three days of hatching. One ton of final product requires 5 tons of maggots. "Magmeal works exceptionally well and is an easily convertible protein for livestock and fish," said Elsje Pieterse, of the University of Stellenbosch’s animal science department and a researcher with Agriprotein Technologies. Magmeal also does not contain toxins associated with vegetable proteins, he said.
More research is being done to study cost and availability; the company's small pilot plant is scheduled to be scaled up in 2012 to a trial plant.

Alltech 'great debate' experts discuss agribusiness uses for media technology

Tom Standage, business editor of "The Economist" and author of "A History of the World in Six Glasses" and "An Edible History of Humanity," was one of the panelists at Alltech's Great Debate.

Experts from the field of new media, economics and food company Nestlé discussed how agribusiness should respond to commoditization and innovation for a growing world population at the 2011 "Great Debate," held during the Alltech 27th Annual International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium.
The panelists commented to an audience of 2,100 delegates from 72 countries on topics ranging from adopting new media technologies and building new connections with consumers to utilizing the power of the World Wide Web to talk about food's ability to connect people to food sources. “Today social media provides a tremendous opportunity for the food industry to build relationships with consumers in a way that no other industry can ... through farm-to-fork traceability," said Tom Standage, business editor of The Economist and author of A History of the World in Six Glasses and An Edible History of Humanity "Consumers have an interest in where their food comes from."
Ben Self, with Blue State Digital, highlighted the importance of each stakeholder in the food chain, from the producer to the consumer to the retailer, in telling the story through new media technologies thereby making it more interesting, memorable and relevant. Hans Jöhr, corporate head of agriculture at Nestlé and director of the Sustainable Agriculture Alliance, addressed how the industry and all the stakeholders in it have an opportunity to create a sustainable agricultural platform. “The real game changer is to understand that we are working in a finite world and that we really need to take care of our assets and how we utilize them so that we can produce nutritious food for everybody,” said Jöhr.
Modern agriculture has many stories to tell but the challenge is how to effectively communicate these stories, said Alltech Vice President Aidan Connolly. "There is a world of opportunities available through new media technologies, which will allow each and every stakeholder in the food and feed chain to communicate messages quickly that connect with people’s emotions," said Connolly. "This presents a real game changer as we feed a growing population on finite resources.”

US sorghum being tested as poultry feed in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is looking into less expensive alternate grains to use as poultry feed, and the latest possibility to be tested is U.S. sorghum.
The Sorghum Checkoff and U.S. Grains Council sent 60 tons of sorghum to Saudi Arabia for commercial poultry feeding trials. According to Florentino Lopez, marketing director for the Sorghum Checkoff, U.S. sorghum is an excellent feed grain, but is at a market disadvantage right now. He said they hope production data at commercial farms in Saudi Arabia helps demonstrate its value in rations and eventually levels the playing field. Doing so would create more market opportunities for U.S. sorghum producers.
Once the trials are complete, the results will be distributed to the feed and poultry industries as well as government officials.

AFIA contracts with Eurofins Scientific for facility audits

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has contracted with Eurofins Scientific Inc. to provide audits to AFIA's International Safe Feed/Safe Food (I-SF/SF) Certification Program. 
The audits will meet the European Union (EU)'s Feed Additives and Premixtures Quality System (FAMI-QS) standards for the importing of feed ingredients. FAMI-QS is a third-party certification program, and is only one of three such systems officially adopted by EU authorities. The agreement is a result of increased scrutiny in the U.S. of the use of accredited certification processes to increase oversight.
"AFIA is pleased to contract with Eurofins Scientific to offer this valuable service to the U.S. feed and ingredient industry," said AFIA President and CEO Joel G. Newman. "Now U.S. facilities can be certified for AFIA's International and Domestic Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program as well as the FAMI-QS program through one comprehensive audit."

I-SF/SF Certification Program now available in EU

As a result of collaboration between the American Feed Industry Association and the European Union Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and Mixtures, the I-SF/SF Certification Program is now a reality, paralleling the U.S. FAMI-QS Program.
The new certification program will facilitate exports to the EU, ensuring compliance with Feed Hygiene Regulation EC183-2005 which requires application of HACCP. The FAMI-QS is one of three systems officially adopted by EU.
The first certificate has been issued to Kemin AgriFoods with other manufactures undergoing the certification process.
“AFIA welcomes this important achievement in feed and food safety, which is a result of the shared and coordinated efforts of the EU and U.S. industries,” said Joel G. Newman, president and CEO of AFIA.

AOAC approves Neogen’s Aflatoxin DR Assay System

The Association of Official Agricultural Chemists has awarded Performance Tested Method approval for the Neogen NeoColumn™ for Aflatoxin DR. Approval was contingent on independent evaluation of the Aflatoxin level in corn and peanuts with direct-read fluorometry and HPLC as reference techniques.
The NeoColumn for Aflatoxin allows extraction from a ground sample. The method uses positive pressure to create flow through the column with determination of Aflatoxin by antibody. Toxin which is present is eluted using ethanol and is then assayed using direct-read fluorometry or HPLC.
The Neogen Corp. produces a range of mycotoxin test kits including DON, Ochratoxin, T-2, fumonisin, and zearalenone.

AFIA requests revision of FDA draft guidance on Reportable Food Registry

Formal comments provided to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) recommended revision of definitions relating to “responsible parties,” “transfer” and “reportable food” with respect to the proposed Reportable Food Registry.
The AFIA has requested that the FDA revise the draft guidance to include the following statement: “No reportable food report is required if a load of incoming product has been sampled, but legal transfer has not occurred, providing the trailer is on the premises of the facility only for as long as is necessary to sample, test and reject the shipment, and no longer. Your facility has not ‘held’ reportable food, therefore you are not a ‘responsible party’ with regards to such food.”
The situation under consideration relates to the relative responsibilities of the feed mill and consigner for a shipment of ingredients which may contain an adulterant and the responsibility of the recipient to report the contaminated load before ownership is transferred. The second issue relates to microbial contamination of ingredients in animal feeds. The present draft guidance requires that any positive test result subjects the raw material or feed to be classified as a “reportable food.”
The AFIA has invoked the Food and Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization’s 2007 report relating to the presence of human pathogens in ingredients or livestock feeds. This provision specifically relates to the presence of Salmonella spp. which may be present in feed at low levels but does not “generally make animals sick and poses little risk to livestock owners.”
AFIA Vice President Richard Sellers said the FDA needs to establish when action should be taken to ensure human food safety in relation to animal feeds, basing decisions on the best available science.

SGS expands its food, feed testing lab

SGS Agricultural Services has invested $1 million to expand its analytical laboratory in Brookings, S.D. The addition will meet growing demand for independent food safety and feed quality testing, the company said.
Major additions included new equipment for DNA analysis, and more that adds to SGS’s ability to test for the quality and safety of grains, feed, food, ingredients, co-products, and seeds.
The company offers testing including microbial analysis for bacterial contamination such as E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria; pesticide residue screens; nutritional labeling information; testing for contaminants such as melamine and antibiotics; GMO testing; oil analysis and mycotoxin testing.