All news

US feed groups and growers applaud passage of bill to reform Surface Transportation Board

15-Dec-2015 By Aerin Curtis

US feed and growers’ organizations are supporting the recent reauthorization of the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) saying it provides tools to protect producers.

Special Edition: Crop Science

US researchers see alfalfa yield boost using irrigation technique

14-Dec-2015 By Aerin Einstein-Curtis

Despite challenges, subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) may be offering promising results for alfalfa growth and yield in low water areas.

IRTA finds probiotics, prebiotics and plant extracts can improve immune status of chickens

14-Dec-2015 By Jane Byrne

A review endorses the immune boosting benefits of probiotics Lactobacillus spp and Bacillus spp for poultry.

Dow and DuPont to merge, pending anti-trust scrutiny

11-Dec-2015 By Jane Byrne

US chemical giants, DuPont and Dow, are to merge in a deal that will value them at $130bn.

Report released for COP21 conference in Paris

'The US is going to be increasingly important for global food security' - climate change report looks at risks for agricultural producers, feed and food supply

11-Dec-2015 By Aerin Curtis

Increasing global temperatures could have a negative influence on animal production, given that heat stress can result in poorer growth and reproduction rates along with a downturn in the generation of milk and eggs, found a new US report.

Purina looks at complete lifespan in new cattle feeding program

11-Dec-2015 By Aerin Curtis

US feed producer, Purina Animal Nutrition, says it has developed an integrated nutrition program for feeding dairy-beef cattle from birth to market.

Producer makes the case for enzymes in shift away from AGPs

10-Dec-2015 By Jane Byrne

Antibiotics will continue to be used therapeutically and prudently in animal production, but new alternatives and options are needed, says a US based enzyme producer.

De Heus buys Iberian compound feed producer

10-Dec-2015 By Jane Byrne

Dutch feed manufacturer, De Heus, has acquired Iberian feed producer, Nuter, from a private equity group to ‘consolidate’ its position in Europe.

USDA raises global wheat stocks

10-Dec-2015 By Aerin Curtis

Global wheat stocks were revised upwards from last month’s forecast by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Starfish meal may offer a new protein source for pig diets

10-Dec-2015 By Aerin Curtis

Starfish meal may offer an effective alternative protein source for piglet diets when included at the proper level.

Barley may outperform wheat as starter pig feed ingredient, says Canadian team

08-Dec-2015 By Aerin Curtis

Despite lower nutrient digestibility and energy value, low quality (LQ) or high quality (HQ) barley can fully replace wheat grain in diets for starter pigs, said Canadian researchers.

EPA seeks ideas to recapture waste nutrients from feed

08-Dec-2015 By Aerin Curtis

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking ideas to help animal producers take economic advantage of wasted nutrients from feed.

Olam to add animal feed operations to its existing business

08-Dec-2015 By Jane Byrne

Olam International is to enter the feed business by investing in mills and hatcheries in Nigeria.

‘It will bring us leadership in the trace mineral segment’ - Nutreco to acquire Micronutrients

07-Dec-2015 By Jane Byrne

Dutch player, Nutreco, has entered into a deal with The Heritage Group for the hydroxyl-based trace mineral producer, Micronutrients.

Probe into Vietnamese firms accused of using carcinogenic chemicals in feed

07-Dec-2015 By Jane Byrne

Vietnamese authorities allege that seven producers have added carcinogenic substances into some of their livestock feed products, according to local media.

Alltech mycotoxin report says levels could cause financial damage for US swine, poultry sectors

07-Dec-2015 By Aerin Curtis

Mycotoxins presence in feed grain may cause loss in performance and profitability for swine and poultry producers, finds recent survey.

Feeding strategies post hatch critical for future broiler performance, says Cargill

04-Dec-2015 By Jane Byrne

Cargill says it is increasingly focused on providing the right feed at the right time to newborns and/or to maternal animals during gestation.

Supplementing feed with larch sawdust may boost dairy cattle liver health

04-Dec-2015 By Aerin Curtis

The addition of byproduct larch sawdust to dairy cattle feed may improve liver function and cattle health.

Bird type, forage options play role in organic hen production

03-Dec-2015 By Aerin Einstein-Curtis

Genotype, diet protein level and forage material influence egg production for organically raised layer hens.

EU trade groups welcome proposed exclusion of former foodstuffs from the waste scope

03-Dec-2015 By Jane Byrne

The circular economy package, published by the EU Commission yesterday, confirms former foodstuffs of vegetable origin have nothing to do with waste processing or food waste recycling, says the EU Former Foodstuff Processors Association (EFFPA).

Mixed reaction among US feed producers, users to new biofuel final rule

03-Dec-2015 By Aerin Curtis

The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule on Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume obligations has generated mixed responses from several feed and crop organizations.

NCC moves to inform US consumers about feed inputs in chickens, as many believe hormones and steroids in use

03-Dec-2015 By Aerin Curtis

The US National Chicken Council (NCC) says findings from a survey it ran showed 77% of consumers ‘mistakenly’ believed US chickens are raised on hormones or steroids and 78% that chickens are genetically modified.

Be proactive not reactive on mycotoxin testing, says Alltech following US survey

03-Dec-2015 By Aerin Curtis

The 2015 fall North American harvest report from Alltech suggests that cattle producers ought to test feed for mycotoxin levels before use.

Calculation of ecological footprint of amino acids and phytase ‘just got easier’

01-Dec-2015 By Jane Byrne

Newly devised product category rules (PCRs) for specialty feed ingredients will allow additives like amino acids or phytase to be included in the evaluation of mitigation measures to reduce the environmental impact of animal production on a global basis,...

Animal scientists look to enhance a pig-specific precision feeding system

01-Dec-2015 By Aerin Curtis

International researchers are looking to refine a multiphase-individual precision pig feeding system to make it more efficient for use with breeding-finishing pigs, sows and broilers.

Forms created by sponsors have to include information specific to the VFD drug, said FDA officials.

01-Dec-2015 By Aerin Curtis

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released draft guidance on a proposed common type of order format under the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) rule.

Special Edition: Precision Feeding

Predictive models and ingredient interaction insights will change precision nutrition science: Alltech

30-Nov-2015 By Jane Byrne

Is radical restructuring of industry standard feed formulation models required to take precision nutrition to the next level?

Pig growth, gut health may see boost from protease supplements

30-Nov-2015 By Aerin Curtis

Protease supplementation may improve the growth performance and gut development of weaned piglets, particularly those on fishmeal replacement diets, say Chinese researchers.

Formulating diets for individual cow needs more suited to smaller scale operations, says nutritionist

30-Nov-2015 By Aerin Curtis

With increasing competition and shrinking margins, producers need maximum efficiency on their dairies. Precision nutrition is said to help save labor costs and improve animal performance.

UK feed firm director must pay £75,000 penalty over worker death

27-Nov-2015 By Jane Byrne

A director of a UK feed manufacturer, Protein Feeds Ltd, has been fined £75,000 ($113k) over the death of an employee.

No change to soymeal story for 2016, says Rabobank in its agri commodity outlook

27-Nov-2015 By Jane Byrne

Rabobank says solid growth in poultry and hog numbers will continued to fuel strong global demand for soymeal.

China looks to reduce domestic corn prices to shift stock levels: report

26-Nov-2015 By Jane Byrne

For the second year in a row, Beijing is planning to cut Chinese maize prices in a bid to encourage local processors to buy domestic stocks, reported Reuters citing industry sources.

Low mycotoxin load in wheat in the UK and Ireland, finds survey

26-Nov-2015 By Jane Byrne

The 2015 Nutriad wheat mycotoxin survey concludes that this year’s harvest of wheat in the UK and Ireland is of very good quality in terms of mycotoxin contamination.

Special Edition: Precison Feeding

US dairy farmers using precision tools to track milk yield, mastitis and milk components

26-Nov-2015 By Aerin Curtis

As precision farming technology has improved, there has been greater take up in the US dairy sector but the numbers investing in such tools still remain fairly low, says an animal science expert.

Special Edition: Precision Feeding

‘We want to nail down the architecture of feed efficiency’ – EU funded research aiming for more sustainable pig and poultry farming

24-Nov-2015 By Jane Byrne

Reducing access to phosphorous and methionine in chickens shows feed efficiency gains later on finds the EU funded project, ECO-FCE.

Poll shows EU consumers have high acceptance of insect derived protein in feed

24-Nov-2015 By Jane Byrne

Three quarters of EU-wide consumers polled would be “comfortable” eating livestock fed on insect protein, says the organization behind the survey - the €3m EU funds backed insect to feed research initiative, PROteINSECT.

Tyson sales, operating income see fourth quarter hike

24-Nov-2015 By Aerin Curtis

Tyson Foods’ adjusted operating income jumped 21% to $568m in its fourth quarter 2015 as chicken business delivers.

Feed sector backs FDA’s recommendations for voluntary GMO labeling in the US

24-Nov-2015 By Aerin Curtis

US feed organizations have hailed the recent decision from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to support voluntary labeling for genetically modified (GM) feed ingredients.

Syngenta files complaint against accusers in corn case including Cargill, ADM

23-Nov-2015 By Aerin Curtis

Syngenta is suing Cargill, ADM and other agribusiness groups in the US over their claims alleging serious damages incurred from the sale of the Swiss company’s Viptera seed into the US prior to Chinese trait authorization.

Bacillus-based feed additive may improve dairy milk efficiency, boost health

23-Nov-2015 By Aerin Curtis

The use of Bacillus pumilus in dairy cattle feed may improve milk production efficiency and improve health during transition.

AFIA, ASA among groups to support proposed US trade deal

20-Nov-2015 By Aerin Einstein-Curtis

Several US feed and grain organizations have come out in support of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Skretting invests as Egyptian aquaculture sector forecast to nearly double by 2020

20-Nov-2015 By Jane Byrne

Nutreco’s aqua feed division, Skretting, is teaming up with local experts to expand tilapia production in Egypt as it also hikes its fish feed capacity in that country.

Cargill CEO brings in ‘more streamlined’ strategic management, job cut rumors dismissed

20-Nov-2015 By Jane Byrne

Minneapolis agribusiness giant, Cargill, says restructuring at the executive level will allow for speedier decision making in the company.

EFSA draws a blank on safety of ethoxyquin use in feed

19-Nov-2015 By Jane Byrne

EFSA says it cannot conclude on the safety of antioxidant, ethoxyquin, as a feed additive for any target animals, its safety for consumers or the environment.

USDA report underscores huge impact of ethanol production on US corn supply

19-Nov-2015 By Aerin Curtis

The increase in ethanol production since 2000 has resulted in the ethanol industry moving from being a market for US corn to being the primary user of the grain by 2010, according to a USDA report.