NUTRIAD RELEASES 2017 GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND 2017
MYCOTOXIN SURVEY For many years multinational feed additives producer Nutriad has been analyzing crops across the world to determine mycotoxin contamination levels, so it can better support local producers in their mycotoxin management strategies. The presence of mycotoxins in feed and foodstuffs continues to be an important concern for human and animal health. Mycotoxin contaminated grains cost grain handlers and the livestock industry several hundred million dollars annually. The 2017 Nutriad Mycotoxin Survey
covered 51 wheat samples from across Great Britain and Ireland. All samples were collected directly from farms or animal feed production sites almost immediately after the harvest when the probability that some storage mycotoxins, such as ochratoxin A (OTA), will have developed was low. More than 350 analyses were conducted
to test for the presence of the 7 mycotoxins most frequently found in agricultural commodities intended for animal production. The survey provided insight into the incidences of aflatoxin B1
(DON), T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, fumonisins (FB1 + FB2
(AfB1
), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol ) and OTA. Typically, the levels of DON
and ZEN in wheat tend to be lower in Northern England and Scotland, moderate in Western England, Wales and Ireland and highest in Southern and South-eastern England The results show that 74.5% of wheat samples were contaminated with DON
and none of the samples contained AfB1, T-2 toxin, HT2-toxin nor FUM. The average concentrations of all identified mycotoxins were medium while the highest concentration of DON found in one of the samples reached 1180 μg/kg. Although 35% of the samples were contaminated with ZEN, a mycotoxin affecting reproductive functions of all animal species, its average concentration was negligible at only 38 μg/kg. However, the maximum concentration of ZEN found in one of the samples was 164 μg/kg and this level may be significant for sows, boars and piglets. As expected, none of the samples were contaminated with OTA. When comparing DON and ZEN
contamination levels of wheat in the years 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, the contamination levels in 2017 are significantly higher than in the 3 previous years. The Nutriad 2017 mycotoxin survey concluded that this year’s harvest of wheat in Great Britain and Ireland is of medium quality (>LOQ but below EU recommendation levels) in terms of mycotoxin contamination. The quality of wheat is slightly worse than
the previous year and significantly worse than in the years 2014 and 2015. Based on the results of this survey conducted immediately after the 2017 harvest, the 2017 wheat crop in Great Britain and Ireland should not automatically be considered safe for inclusion into finished feed rations for all animal species and a degree of vigilance is prudent Vigilance is always advisable in any case
as cereals in animal feeds originate from many sources and some continental European cereals and South American soya harvested in 2017 have been shown to be contaminated with medium to high concentrations of mycotoxins. The last possible line of defence is the detoxification of mycotoxins in vivo. The addition of proven mycotoxin deactivators to animal feeds is a very common method to prevent mycotoxicosis and is an effective strategy to keep mycotoxin risk low under all conditions.
REDUCING ANTIBIOTICS, BUT
NOT PROFITABILITY IS POSSIBLE Management strategies based on an integrated approach encompassing feed, farm and health offer the potential to reduce antibiotic use in poultry production cost-effectively according to Antony Taylor, Monogastric Business Manager with Trouw Nutrition GB. “Although the monogastric sector
has historically been responsible for the largest proportion of agricultural antibiotic consumption, there are several drivers to reduce routine usage,” he comments. “Besides legislation changes that restrict the use of antibiotics around the world, there is also a surging demand for antibiotic-free produced meat from both the retail and food service perspective, offering an additional incentive to producers.” Reducing antibiotics in broiler production
is a global necessity. The main concern is the potential drop in animal performance and profitability. However, new studies show it is possible to reduce the need for antibiotics while maintaining or improving profitability by implementing an integrated feed-farm-health approach. Mr Taylor says that to reduce the need for
antibiotics, it is essential to review the whole system to identify and manage challenges. These include raw material management, feed safety, biosecurity and hygiene, water quality and health management. By optimising all these aspects, he says producers can refine their system to reduce antibiotics use while maintaining or improving profitability. “For example, gut health challenges
which are a significant threat to performance and a major reason for antibiotic use can be managed with feed additives. A combination of different products can improve poultry gut health significantly, preserving or enhancing productivity. While some additives work to support digestion and the natural barrier against Gram-negative bacteria, others improve the microbial balance throughout the
small intestine, boosting gut barrier integrity. “In a recent study, a poultry integrator in
Israel was able to reach the goal of producing without antibiotics and ionophores. The number of flocks raised without antibiotic intervention increased from 89.1% to 98.8%, and feed conversion ratio was improved by 3% compared to when they still used antibiotic growth promoters and ionophores. This demonstrates the potential to reduce antibiotics without harming profitability”. “The aim now must be for producers to
take a lead in the drive to reduce antibiotic usage to meet the demand of legislators and consumers through the adoption of integrated management practices,” he concludes.
EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH & FOOD SAFETY VISITS FORMER FOODSTUFF
PROCESSING FACILITY On 28 November 2017, EFFPA (the European Former Foodstuff Processors Association) organised a factory visit for European Commissioner of Health & Food Safety, Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis, to Agrifirm in Veghel (The Netherlands) to provide a first-hand introduction to former foodstuff processing. Former foodstuff processors transform foodstuffs no longer suitable for commercial human consumption into high-quality animal feed. Examples are broken biscuits, incorrectly shaped chocolates or incorrectly flavoured crisps.
After the visit, Commissioner Andriukaitis
said: ‘I am very satisfied with the visit. It is always useful to see how things are done one the ground. The notion of ‘circular economy’ becomes very tangible. Indeed, thanks to the top technology you have it in action - a broken biscuit is transformed into safe feed for animals. This is one way of how circular economy works and how food waste is prevented’. For EFFPA the visit was another milestone
in its existence as a sector-representing organisation. EFFPA President Paul Featherstone: “The possibility to showcase the role of former foodstuff processing in the circular economy to European Commissioner Andriukaitis further establishes us as part of safe and sustainable feed production. At the same time we have clearly demonstrated former foodstuff processing is not in competition with food banks”.
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