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methane and requires enormous amounts of fresh water. By increasing efficiency, we could save resources and help com- bat climate change. That’s where feed additives come in. For milk quality can be positively influenced by the right feed ad- ditives. Somatic cell count, a major indicator of milk quality, is the most important benchmark for udder health. When the number of somatic cells in milk increases, the prevalence of mastitis (inflammation of the udder tissue and mammary glands due to bacterial infection) rises too. This is a highly painful condition, leading to a loss in milk production for hu- man consumption. It is also the most common and costly dis- ease affecting dairy cows. A recent trial in Germany showed that cows fed a phytogenic feed additive had a significantly reduced somatic cell count compared to the control group (Figure 1). Even when the feeding groups were rotated, the somatic cell counts consistently decreased with the feed ad- ditive and increased with its removal. How does this help the climate? Imagine that we could use this feed additive and reduce the somatic cell count of all dairy cows. We would increase milk production while keeping the number of cows constant. This would take efficiency to the next level. Achieving more with less should be everyone’s concern. This is what responsible consumption is all about. Animal feed is the first link in the food chain and thus the right starting point for measures that ensure responsible pro- duction and consumption. Efficiency is key to achieving re- sponsible production while reducing our ecological footprint. Simply changing the production method results in saving a huge amount of resources. Another example: In 2018, 304.6 million tonnes of chicken feed were produced worldwide. Oil- seed meals, such as those made from soya, account for 20–30% of the poultry diet. Soya is the second largest agricultural driver of deforestation worldwide. In the Brazilian Amazon, the forest is being ploughed to make room for more soya production. The


loss of these native habitats will accelerate climate change. Phytogenic feed additives could help reduce deforestation. Chicken protein plays a crucial role in world nutrition, for chickens are not only cheap and easy to care for, they have an outstanding feed conversion rate, converting 1.8 kg of feed into 1 kg of meat. In contrast, a pig has to eat 3 kg and a cow 7 kg of feed to produce 1 kg of meat. That makes chicken a champion of efficiency. With the help of phytogenic feed ad- ditives, it is possible to decrease the feed conversion rate by up to 4% (Figure 2). If all farmers were to use such additives, it could save up to 12.2 million tonnes of feed and 3.6 million tons of soya every year.


Sustainability and success We will never achieve sustainability without adequate invest- ment in good nutrition. But we have the tools at our hands. Feed additives help improve performance by increasing ani- mal growth, consequently producing more protein to combat hunger. We can have a positive impact on food safety and se- curity by reducing the use of medication. And we can reduce our ecological footprint by improving efficiency. Feed addi- tives help avoid loss of food and feed in storage. By this, we play a vital part in securing the health and stability of our societies, nations and industries. There will always be new challenges and new crises. The best we can and must do is to strengthen people and businesses against their impacts. Agriculture is the key industry to secure the future for our world. All players along the value chain can, within their re- spective capabilities, play their part in improving animal wel- fare and striving for sustainability. Feed additives, with their contribution to safe feed, sustainable production and healthy food, are without doubt a crucial part of this solution, a solu- tion we all have to aim for. Because sustainability and animal welfare pay off, for everyone. And it all starts with the feed.


▶ SUSTAINABILITY AND WELFARE | OCTOBER 2020 33


Phytogenics have been used in medicine for thousands of years.


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