PARTNER FEATURE ▶▶▶
Why research on neonates is crucial
AB Neo’s expertise in young animal nutrition is the perfect route to challenge how we can push the boundaries of neonate research and question how consumer influence will inevitably control supply chains in the future. In an interview with Simon Tibble, AB Neo’s technical director, we asked him to tell us how their newly reorganised business is approaching these issues.
BY JACKIE DOYLE, JAX MARKETING F
Simon Tibble, AB Neo’s technical director.
or many years, the four AB Agri businesses which now form AB Neo and collectively focus on young an- imal nutrition have invested significantly in both uni- versity and commercial trials to improve animal effi-
ciency and on-farm production profitability. As AB Neo looks to the future, the importance of expanding their knowledge about feeding neonates in an ever-changing environment is a critical priority for the business. “We require healthy, productive young animals that will go on to deliver full value over their entire lifetime,” Simon ex- plains. “Early life nutrition drives both physical and psycho- logical development; if it’s managed correctly, the animal is not only healthier, which of course impacts positively on wel- fare and sustainability and means less reliance on medica- tion, but producers also benefit from the full lifetime value of the animal.”
The importance of research The drivers of advancing nutrition are certainly broader to- day, according to AB Neo. While testing product ideas, refin- ing them and demonstrating their benefits is key, research within the business is about more than that. “It’s also about focusing on changing consumer requirements, reduced use of antibiotics, and learning how new and novel raw materials can benefit pig production, including their impact on a more sustainable production system. We aim to create more from less by adding value to low-quality ingredients,” Simon clari- fied. “As a newly reorganised business, we have brought to- gether a significant range of nutrition expertise – from PhDs and MScs to veterinary proficiency in different production systems and nutrition approaches seen around the world. We not only recognise how our new structure’s exchange of tech- nical knowledge will generate improved market solutions more quickly, but we anticipate that ideation and new concept innovation will also flourish.”
Centre of excellence Neonate nutrition that can meet future customer demands has led the business to formalise its research strategy into three core development steps, with a new emphasis on ‘near market’ work to ensure innovation is reflective of commercial aspects. In the past, the individual neonate businesses have formed close partnerships with universities and carried out hundreds of trials over decades, offering innovation and feed- ing efficiencies to their customers. Under the new structure, this process will continue but with an emphasis on ‘blue-sky’ thinking and measuring the neonate’s reaction to stimuli at the physiological level. “For the second sector of our strategy, we’re thrilled to announce we will be commissioning our AB Neo centre of excellence research farm in Spain,” Simon con- tinued. “It will be on-stream early in 2022 when it will be able to to take in its first placement of up to 8400 piglets. This fa- cility will allow us to test top class innovation in ‘near market’ conditions. “The state-of-the-art unit will have links to the maternity farm, allowing for pre-weaning nutrition evalua- tion, as well as to grower/finisher farms to fully evaluate im- pacts on lifetime performance. “It’s a very exciting time, main- ly because we’re giving our experts all the freedom, empowerment, and resources they need to become a leading influence in safe, sustainable food production. However, it’s
16 ▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 29, No. 8, 2021
PHOTO: ABNEO
PHOTO: RONALD HISSINK
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