search.noResults

search.searching

dataCollection.invalidEmail
note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
INTERVIEW ▶▶▶


Nukamel: 65 years of producing milk replacers


Nukamel, a producer of milk replacers based in the Netherlands and Belgium recently celebrated its 65th anniversary. All About Feed talked with Jan Druyts, Managing Director of Nukamel.


BY MARIEKE PLOEGMAKERS


All About Feed: Can you tell a bit more about the history of Nukamel? The company was founded by Wessanen in 1954, followed by a restructuring in the mid-90s and a buy-out in 2003. That was the moment that I, working as managing director, and two colleagues bought the company and continued the busi- ness from the Olen plant in Belgium. In 2010 we took over a factory from Provimi in Weert, the Netherlands. Since then the company has doubled in size. We are active in more than sixty countries worldwide, but our home market, the EU, re- mains our stronghold.


This year Nukamel celebrated its 65th anniversary, looking back on this period what shifts have taken place in the dairy sector? The dairy sector is a rapidly evolving industry. In the past, you had mainly 2 raw materials: skimmed milk powder and whey powder. Nowadays, dairy processors have become large re- fineries and extract as many nutrient components as possi- ble, resulting in a residual product with a lower nutritional value. Which means that our people have to become more specialised, to be able to make concepts that meet the nutri- tional requirements. The productivity of livestock – and thus the nutritional needs of animals – is increasing.


How does Nukamel contribute to this rising productivity? We focus on epigenetics, i.e., the quality of the first phase of life has an effect on the animal’s later life. For example, a calf that had a good start and a steep growth curve, will have fewer health problems in later life and therefore need less antibiotics. Also stronger growth in early life will affect milk production. Every 100 grams of extra growth in a youthful life results in about 500 kilograms of milk extra per lactation.


Young animal feeds are expensive, but the return on invest- ment is high.


Besides the increasing productivity of livestock, what other challenges will the dairy industry face in the future? The European dairy market it is a relative stable environment. However, the world is changing and becoming increasingly unpredictable. Therefore, cooperation is becoming more im- portant. In the feed sector we have a number of important shared interests that we must tackle together. Finding that collaboration will not be easy. In addition, production needs to become more efficient and more sustainable.


In September the 65th anniversary conference of Nu- kamel took place; how do you look back on this event? It was very successful, with about 200 people participating. The programme consisted of excellent speakers with a scien- tific background and, on the other hand, there were pres- entations that highlighted market trends. It was also a good moment to strengthen our relationships.


▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 28, No. 1, 2020 17


Jan Druyts, Man- aging Director at Nukamel.


PHOTO: NUKAMEL


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28