Cargill’s ‘most technologically advanced feed mill’ goes online in Vietnam
It is the agribusiness giant’s 12th animal nutrition facility in the country, but the company said this mill is its largest and most technologically advanced.
Binh Duong is a strategic location for Cargill given what the company reported is the province’s strong push to modernize its local agriculture industry, its move toward sustainable farming and its strong support for agriculture infrastructure development.
The 48,000 square meter feed mill produces a wide portfolio of poultry and swine feed, and has an annual capacity of 240,000 MT.
Cargill said that a large portion of the plant’s operations are automated, allowing for increased operational efficiency.
Animal protein consumption has been increasing in Vietnam and the trend is expected to continue in line with the country’s rapid economic growth and regional trends, said Cargill.
Vietnam has now recovered from the recent market turbulence caused by large pork over supply during the last two years, it added.
The Vietnamese feed market is forecast to grow about 3% annually, said the US company. It remains the largest commercial feed market in Southeast Asia.
Feed research trials
This week sees Evonik asking feed and feed additive producers to utilize a new research focused feed mill in Vietnam - a scientific collaboration between Evonik and Nong Lam University in Ho Chi Minh City. The facility was set up to carry out research trials and to foster technological advancement of a more sustainable feed industry in the country.
The facility will produce mash as well as pelleted feed for research trials and is designed for handling various small batches, while minimizing cross-contamination. It is open to other companies that wish to test their products
“Evonik alone will not be able to provide all of the solutions. We have, to a certain extent, specialized and concentrated on probiotics while other companies specialize in organic acids and alternative products. These need to be tested, compared and checked, and this is why we are looking for partners,” said Dr Alfred Petri, senior VP of animal nutrition sales, Evonik.
The facility, which took two years to complete, is aimed at tackling the production hurdles facing the animal feed manufacturing industry in Vietnam.
Dr Girish Channarayapatna, technical service director, Evonik, Singapore, told FeedNavigator last month that a major challenge for the feed and livestock industry in Vietnam is adapting or changing technology, particularly in terms of antibiotic-free animal production and the evaluation of alternatives feeding approaches and the use of feed additives.
“Development and validation of the research activities on feeding concepts, and new products based on industry requirements are essential to address the challenges of animal industry. Any new feeding concepts or the development of products for practical application should be tested in pelleted feed to allow for the adoption of the concept commercially.
“The new feed mill will improve the ability of Vietnamese specialists in animal nutrition to professionally evaluate feeding concepts as well as feed additives.
"In times of dramatic changes in animal production, it is essential to be able to differentiate good concepts from fake concepts and good products from fake products. The answer about what is good and what is fake can only be found in scientifically based animal trials and such trials require perfectly prepared trial feeds as an essential pre-condition. Such science-based evaluation of feeding concepts and feed additives will help [Vietnamese] feed and animal producers to improve their profitability.”
