What’s in store for the animal feed industry in 2020?


With over 125 years’ worth of combined experience, the Premier Nutrition team looks ahead to key changes and industry developments that 2020 may bring, for the ruminant, pig, poultry, pet and equine sectors.


Ruminant


Anna Dinsdale, ruminant nutritionist Low quality forage stocks I’m expecting another interesting year forage-wise. The winter of 2018/19 saw high demand for concentrates as the previous hot and dry summer led to depleted forage stocks, and its likely demand could increase again in 2020. Although, this won’t be due to the lack of forage availability, but it


will be to compensate for the poor forage quality that we’ve seen as a result of the wetter summer. This means we could see an influx of demand for carefully tailored


feed premixes to meet the needs of cattle requiring a greater volume of concentrate feed. Accurate concentrate formulation will be key as many cows are


currently presenting lower than ideal Body Condition Scores (BCS), again from grazing lower quality grass during the summer.


Carbon foot printing One thing we expect to be high on the agenda for 2020 is the continued drive to reduce carbon emissions. So feed manufacturers are being encouraged to start making improvements now, to help achieve the NFU’s target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by 2040. From a nutrition point of view, there are ways in which we can


alter the amount of methane produced by ruminants, such as feeding diets higher in starch and lower in fibre. There are also feed additives available. For example, essential oil


based products can aid in the reduction of methane production from ruminal bacteria. Premier is putting focus on sustainably sourced ingredient options,


including waste products from human food production, such as biscuit meal and dried distillers’ grains (DDGS). In addition to this, the protected amino acid (AA) market is


growing as more competitively priced products become available. This provides increased opportunity to replace proteins such as soya, with locally sourced alternatives, supplemented with the AAs – lysine and methionine.


PAGE 36 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 FEED COMPOUNDER Poultry


Steve Pritchard, poultry nutritionist Increasing use of crystalline amino acids 2019 saw two new crystalline AAs become available for use in poultry diets and we’re expecting to see the roll out of their use in 2020, to help achieve a 1% reduction in crude protein. As with ruminants, the drive to reduce soya use is important for the


poultry sector. The new AAs will not only help to reduce reliance on soya by adding more options to the nutritionist’s toolbox, but they should also improve litter conditions, gut health and overall bird performance. However, as the ingredients are new to the market, we must ensure


they can be used cost-effectively. So, our focus at Premier will be to fine tune the delicate balance between ration cost and the performance benefits a diet can provide.


Extending the laying cycle As breeding companies continue to work towards extending the laying cycle, with the overall objective of producing a bird capable of laying 500 eggs by 100 weeks of age, the challenges of realising this potential nutritionally are coming into focus. We already know that establishing a strong and healthy pullet in


the rearing stages will set the bird in good stead for a longer laying cycle. So, we’re working to fine tune this knowledge in order to support our customers and help the industry move forwards. Pullets need good frame development and to have the ability to


respond to a plethora of vaccines in order to establish long lasting immunity. The bird also needs supporting later in lay with a supply of key minerals, vitamins and trace elements to ensure we give it every chance to lay down a strong eggshell.


Pigs


Mick Hazzledine, pig nutritionist Rev iewing mineral and v i tamin requirements At a time when pig genetics and productivity are changing at a rapid pace, it can be difficult for research data and nutritional


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  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68