WORLD’S FIRST SCALABLE PRODUCTION OF ALGAE FROM CARBON EMISSIONS AIMS TO REVOLUTIONISE PROTEIN IN


ANIMAL FEED A pioneering global partnership between responsible protein specialists Livalta, an AB Agri company, and technology leader Pond Technology will create the world’s first commercially viable production of algae- based animal feed ingredients from CO2 emissions. Algae are gaining increasing attention


as potentially game-changing animal feed ingredients. Until now, the technology to produce algae at the scale, quality and cost required to be an affordable ingredient for animal feed, has remained elusive. This exclusive partnership, which brings together Pond’s ground-breaking technology with Livalta’s expertise in new proteins for animal feeds, is set to change that. The first product will be spirulina,


combining 60% protein with Omega 6 and essential vitamins and minerals. Spirulina is renowned for its nutritional and functional value both in food and animal feed, as proven in numerous scientific studies. Plans are in place for Pond to install


Livalta’s first pilot plant at British Sugar’s Wissington site in Norfolk in 2022. This will be followed by a commercial-sized plant at the same site producing 20,000 tons of spirulina from CO2 emissions, with the prospect of additional collaborations in the future to develop further production sites. AB Agri Chief Executive José Nobre said:


“At AB Agri we are committed to pioneering new and bold technologies to provide safe, high-quality nutrition, whilst minimising our environmental footprint. That is why we created Livalta as a specialist division to address the global protein challenge.” Managing Director of Livalta, Valerie


Schuster, commented: “We believe that science and technology are key to turning the protein challenge into an opportunity. We are very excited about this partnership with Pond and the potential that lies in their technology to produce algae using CO2 emissions. We look forward to working together to make positive change happen.” President & CEO at Pond Technology,


Grant Smith, said: “This landmark commercial partnership with AB Agri gives Pond global access to the multi-billion-dollar animal feed market. The further validation of our model provides us significant momentum in expanding our sales funnel. Together with AB Agri and their new responsible proteins division, Livalta, we are working to develop algae as a cost-effective responsible feed ingredient, transforming climate change emissions into commercial animal feed ingredients. AB Agri and Pond joining forces to tackle producing affordable, high quality and responsible food is a major step forward and this commercialisation


project will foster excellence in the way our industry produces food for people and animals. AB Agri is a perfect partner, having a strong history of bringing new animal feed ingredients to market and the vision to see responsible proteins as a key growth driver in the years to come.”


TOP TIPS FOR FEEDING THIS


YEAR’S SILAGE Dairy farmers across the UK and Ireland are being encouraged to analyse their forages regularly during feed-out, to ensure rations meet performance targets and support rumen health. According to Lientjie Colahan, technical


sales support at Lallemand Animal Nutrition, this year’s silage could present a challenge for the rumen due to the variable spring weather playing havoc with usual cutting practice. “It has been a tale of two halves this


year. Some were able to get their first cuts harvested very early and others had to wait much later than usual. As a result, we are faced with two likely scenarios. Farmers will have either early-cut ‘rocket fuel’ silages that are highly digestible and could impact rumen pH, or high NDF silages that were cut late and are not as digestible as you’d want them to be,” she says. Where first-cut was later, silages will have a higher lignin content. “Plant fibre is made up of cellulose and


hemicellulose - both of which can be digested by ruminants - and a third component, lignin, which cannot. As grass leys age the lignin content increases, lowering overall fibre quality and digestibility. So, for those who took cuts later than planned, this could be an issue,” says Mrs Colahan. She explains for farms who cut early


and made high quality, high ME but low NDF silage, the problem will be the opposite. “These highly digestible silages will


move through the rumen quickly and could increase the acidosis risk by challenging the stability of rumen pH.” In either scenario, Mrs Colahan says it


will be important to analyse forage regularly and balance diets accordingly to maintain cow health and performance. “For example, highly digestible silages


could be balanced with a cereal whole-crop that has a high straw content. This will slow down the passage rate through the rumen and maximise digestion of the rations fibre component. Or if your forage is very stemmy and high in NDF, making sure the chop length of the total mixed ration (TMR) is as short as possible will help decrease the particle size of the feed. This helps the microbes break down the fibre more easily and will maintain good dry matter intake of the ration.” she says. Mrs Colahan also recommends the


inclusion of a rumen specific live yeast, which she explains will prove beneficial in both situations. “The function of a live yeast is to help


the good microbes outcompete the bad microbes, and therefore establish a more favourable balance within the rumen. “When it comes to high NDF silages,


specific live yeast has a positive impact on the rumen fungi that work to break open the outer layer of the fibre particles. This allows the rumen bacteria to then break down the fibre further, making it more digestible and improving its utilisation by the cow. “On the other hand, in a situation


where acid load may be increased as a result of highly digestible forages, a live yeast promotes the bacteria that utilise lactic acid as a food source as-well as competing directly with the lactic acid producing bacteria for their food source. This regulates the rumen pH by reducing the amount of lactic acid present.” Mrs Colahan concludes by saying


regardless of the type of silage you have to work with, close attention to detail during feed-out will help you get the most out of the available forage and support productivity.


THE SFT VIRTUAL PIG


CONFERENCE AND LIVE Q&A • Chair: Professor Ilias Kyriazakis, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University, Belfast. • Iron supplementation of piglet feeds: Professor Cormac O’Shea, Associate Professor of Non-ruminant Science, University of Nottingham. • Effects of birth and weaning weight on lifetime performance: Dr. Ramon Muns, Principal Scientific Officer, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Hillsborough. • Low crude protein diets and amino acid nutrition: William Lambert, Scientific and Technical Manager Metex Noovistago. • Sustainability of different protein sources: Dr. Michael Marsden, Product Development Director, AB Agri. • Update on liquid Feeding; recent research findings: Dr. Peadar Lawlor, Principal Research Officer, Pig Development Department Teagasc, Ireland. • Considerations of water quality: Joost Straathof, Managing Director of JSWater The Conference format is in 2 parts: 1. Pre-Recorded Presentations by the speakers made available on the SFT website to delegates on 28th


October.


2. The Live Q&A will be held 7 days later on 4th


November 2021 at 3.30pm-5pm.


The session will be chaired by Professor Ilias Kyriazakis, Institute for Global Food Security Queen’s University, Belfast.


To book your place on the virtual conference please visit: https://sft.uk.com/ Please send your questions to secretary@sft.uk.com prior to the Q&A.


FEED COMPOUNDER SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 PAGE 53


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