Seminar highlights potential of algae in livestock feed

On June 18, 2013, Olmix, an animal nutrition company, held its "Marine Biomass for Nutrition and for Human and Animal Health" seminar at Hotel Sofitel in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. More than 100 participants attended the seminar discussing food safety issues and the potential for algae to be used for human and animal nutrition.
After Olmix highlighted the quality and abundance of seaweed in Britain and France, Dr. Frédéric Bernard from Zoopôle, a French livestock organization, presented the need for eliminating medication in the global livestock sector. Dr Henry Salmon from the French National Institute for Agricultural Research discussed the immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties of seaweed.
Representatives from Parc d'Iroise, a natural marine park off the coast of France, explained how the algae fields are a resource of active ingredients in the pharmaceutical industryand  could possibly reduce the need for antibiotics in livestock. Hervé Demais, consultant veterinarian for Olmix, said that algae could also be used in fish meal as a protein source.
The seminar was concluded by chef from the restaurant La Verticale, Dider Courlou, and some of his seaweed dish creations.
Olmix will continue its presentation of the potential benefits of algae at the SPACE conference in France, September 8-11. Called the "Breizh Algae Tour," the tour will start in Paris and take participants to Brittany to view different ways of harvesting algae and then visit the first algae bio-refinery. 

Livestock feed choice influenced by nutritional value, Trident says

When it comes to livestock feed choice, it is quality and nutritional value that has the greatest influence over on-farm decisions according to the latest results from an independent survey of more than 500 farmers commissioned by Trident.
Feed quality and nutritional value significantly influenced 81 percent of feed choices, and moderately influenced another 17 percent, making it a factor in 98 percent of decisions. Cost was close second, with a significant influence over 67 percent of choices and a moderate influence over 30%.
The weather and growing conditions influenced (either moderately or significantly) 90% of decisions, whilst availability and choice affected 80%, and storage facilities 77%. More surprising, perhaps, were the 93% of feed choices influenced by convenience and ease-of-use, the 69% by British provenance and the 60% by environmental impact and sustainability.
“These latest results hint at a change of focus within the industry, as environmental factors become more important to both end consumers and producers, whilst staff managing ever greater numbers of livestock per person require feeding systems to be simplified,” states Trident national general manager Richard Cross.
“The issue of British versus imported feeds, along with the future sustainability of feed supply, is also one that has become increasingly important in recent years. The fact that 69% of feed choices are affected by whether the feed is British demonstrates just how much farmers would rather buy locally-produced feeds than imports if given the choice.”

CHS, Consumer Supply Distributing form livestock feed company

Producer-owned cooperative CHS Inc. and Iowa-based Consumers Supply Distributing Co. are forming a livestock and pet food manufacturing and wholesale distribution company, Consumers Supply Distributing LLC. The Iowa-based company will offer the CHS Payback livestock and Equis horse feed brands, along with the range of livestock and companion animal products currently carried by Consumers Supply Distributing. "This is an outstanding opportunity to combine two strong, high-quality feed organizations to meet the livestock and companion animal nutrition needs of our current customers, as well as position this business for growth," said Rod Paulson, general manager of CHS Nutrition. David Patee, owner and operator of Consumers Supply Distributing, said partnering with CHS will allow the company to expand its business with an established feed company with a growing presence throughout the central and northwest U.S.

Pigeon pea to be studied as potential livestock forage

The pigeon pea, a subtropical, drought-resistant legume grown worldwide as a food staple, may have multiple U.S. applications, according to researchers at Texas A&M University, who received a $200,000 Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant to study the crop. Possible uses include as a forage for livestock, a garden crop, or edible landscape ornamental. "For the purposes of the grant, we wanted to look at pigeon pea as a forage for livestock producers," said John Sloan, a soil scientist and associate professor with Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas. "One of the main purposes of the study was to determine if cattle would graze pigeon pea or ignore it in favor of grasses. We found that pigeon pea does well drilled no-till into Bermuda grass pastures. It grows slowly so it won't outcompete the grass, and cattle will graze on it just fine. They don't discriminate," said Sloan. However, the study's results suggested that this was not the best way for farmers to utilize pigeon pea as a forage crop. "Without some sort of soil preparation, the uneven surface of most pastures will prevent proper functioning of the no-till planter and result in loss of seed and an inadequate population stand," said Sloan. "Next, the area where the pigeon pea is planted will have to be protected from grazing cattle until the plants have reached an adequate size. If allowed to graze the area immediately after planting, the pigeon pea plants will probably not survive beyond the first trifoliate leaf stage." Sloan said that a better way to use pigeon pea as a forage is to plant it after wheat harvest in July and then graze cattle on it when it matures to its flowering stage in September or October.

Feed company Ridley sees net profit second quarter 2012

Livestock feed company Ridley Inc. saw a net profit of $4 million in the second fiscal quarter of 2012, down from 2011's $4.9 million, according to the company's latest financial report. Increased raw material prices were largely responsible for the drop in profits. Ridley's Canadian feed operations and U.S. feed operations were both down from 2011 numbers, coming in at $200,000 and $1.8 million as opposed to $800,000 and $2.4 million, respectively, for the quarter. Net earnings for the first six months of fiscal 2012 are at $4.7 million, compared to $6.6 million in 2011.

JBS United, DeKalb Feeds partner on feed manufacturing

JBS United and DeKalb Feeds have entered into a joint venture, Central Nutrition Services LLC, focusing on manufacturing livestock feeds and nutritional supplements for both JBS and DeKalb and their customers throughout the Midwest. 
The venture takes advantage of an existing Frytown, Iowa, mill facility which DeKalb acquired in September 1996, and which has never been fully utilized. According to Doug Webel, COO of JBS, the mill can be operated more efficiently and cost-effectively by combining the companies' efforts.
The facility also includes a large warehouse space and office space, which will allow the new company to grow and accommodate more production, according to the partners. The mill’s central location is expected to allow JBS to react to customer needs more effectively and efficiently. 

AFIA sells out inaugural Import & Export Seminar

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) sold out its inaugural Import & Export Seminar, which was held last week.
Nearly 100 representatives from the livestock feed and pet food industries attended the event, which focused on the latest issues, events and other matters relating to the import and export of feed, pet food and ingredients. Jane Doherty from the United States Trade Representatives' office gave the opening presentation on promoting the trade of feed, feed ingredients, pet food and other agricultural products. Other presenters included representatives from AFIA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Foreign Agricultural Service, the USDA's Veterinary Services Program, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's National Center for Import & Export and the Food and Drug Administration.

Muscatine forms Kent Nutrition

Nutrition firm Muscatine Foods announced it has united its livestock and pet nutrition subsidiary companies to form Kent Nutrition Group Inc. The group will have two divisions: the feed division will focus on products and services for commercial producers, horse owners, and “lifestyle” farmers, while the pet division will develop products for dog and cat owners, small animal enthusiasts and birders.
The group replaces subsidiary companies Blue Seal Feeds Inc., Kent Feeds Inc. and its Evergreen Mills, which operated independently geographic U.S. regions. The new feed division will be led by Rich Dwyer, who was president of Kent Feeds, while the new pet division will be led by Kevin Fields, former president of Blue Seal Feeds.

Girl Scout handbook says to eat less meat

A Girl Scout handbook for high schoolers includes an exhortation to “eat less meat” based on the consumption of ingredients used to feed livestock.
The handbook says, “Feeding grain to animal is not an efficient way to produce food,” and makes the claim that close to 800 million people could be fed with the grain currently given to U.S. livestock.

2009 feed projections at 30 million metric tons

For calendar year 2009, the United States is expected to produce more than 30 million metric tons of livestock feed from a record corn crop, according to the Renewable Fuels Association.
The record-breaking 2009 corn crop of 13.2 billion bushels was produced on 7 million fewer acres than were required to produce the previous record-holding crop, 2007’s 13.0 billion bushels, according to the association.
In the January Crop Production report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that farmers averaged 165.2 bushels of corn per acre in 2009, shattering the previous record of 160.4 in 2004.
"Despite unfavorable weather conditions from start to finish, farmers produced considerably more corn than the food, feed and fuel markets are demanding," said Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association.