[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – For recent university graduates and soon-to-be graduates who are eager to begin a career that makes a positive difference in the world of agriculture, Alltech’s new program could be a perfect fit.

Following the success of the company’s Corporate Career Development Program and specialized programs in quality, European beef, dairy and now ruminants, Alltech is introducing a region-specific model to North America focusing on beef, dairy and poultry. Applications are now open.

The Alltech North American Career Development Program (CDP) is a one-year, salaried, entry-level program, providing up to 12 recent university graduates the opportunity to train alongside experienced professionals in Alltech’s dairy, beef and poultry businesses. After an induction period at Alltech’s international headquarters in Nicholasville, Kentucky, trainees will be assigned to specific locations in the United States or Canada to prepare for sales positions. They will receive mentorship from senior managers who are experts in their respective fields. The CDP aims to equip and empower trainees with critical skills designed for a successful career at Alltech.

Dr. Aoife Lyons, director of educational initiatives and engagement at Alltech, is a licensed clinical psychologist who has conducted psychometric testing worldwide for hiring and training at Alltech for over 10 years. She works closely with the CDP programs and has seen firsthand how graduates have dived into the conversation about how we nourish the world’s plants, animals and people.

“These young people are chosen not just for their educational backgrounds and intelligence, but perhaps more importantly for their curiosity, enthusiasm and sense of adventure,” she said.

Like the existing corporate and specialized programs, the North American program will offer members the opportunity to train in a variety of functions to learn new business skills and sharpen soft skills that can be readily applied to support Alltech’s beef, dairy and poultry businesses.

“We look forward to welcoming a new group of talented, aspiring professionals who are passionate about agriculture and making a positive difference in the world,” said Suniti Mujumdar, manager of educational engagement at Alltech. “It is a privilege to be part of coaching the next generation of agribusiness leaders.”

The North American CDP is a unique first step on the path to an exciting and rewarding career at Alltech. Applications will remain open through Feb. 9, 2018.

Click here to apply, and visit the Alltech Education website to learn more about the program. Contact graduatecareers@alltech.com with any questions.

[GREEN BAY, Wis.] – More than 220 dairy farmers, nutritionists and industry professionals gathered at Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers, on Nov. 30 to discuss preparing for the next generation of dairy farming. The theme of the event was “Traditions That Last: Finding Your Team’s Competitive Advantage.”

The day kicked off with a pre-conference breakfast, during which three dairy producers and one industry professional from the Midwest shared how they use technology within their operations:

• Zoey Brooks of Brooks Farms presented on the advantages of the operation’s automatic calf feeder barn. This automated system has resulted in healthier calves and provides opportunities for public education and a youth apprenticeship program. 
• Craig Fietzer of Fietzer Farms discussed the collar-mounted cow identification, rumination and activity tracking sensors used on his dairy. The data from these sensors is used to determine the best times to breed each cow, resulting in improved labor efficiency on the farm.
• Craig Finke of Finke Farm spoke on his farm’s automated feeding system, which delivers fresh feed six times a day. Feeding and milking automation systems allow him to spend more time with his cows in a herd management capacity.
• Jack Hippen, North American and European Sales Director of STgenetics, shared how sexing technology and genomic testing allow for production of higher-value products and services.

Dr. Bob James, owner of Down Home Heifer Solutions and professor emeritus in the dairy science department at Virginia Tech, opened the main conference, speaking on strategies to care for calves and heifers. He encouraged the audience to adopt new technologies that can improve calf care, calf health and labor management.

Dr. Roger Hagevoort of New Mexico State University’s Agriculture Science Center focused on how best to train the next generation of farm workers. He encouraged producers to work with third-party resources such as extension and industry organizations to provide the necessary training. Hagevoort stressed the importance of hands-on training and having managers spend time with their on-farm employees.

Robert Walker, CEO of KEENAN, closed out the morning session with a discussion on how technology is disrupting agriculture worldwide. Walker explained that agriculture is in the midst of a technological revolution that will disrupt current business models.

The afternoon continued with Dr. Roger Scaletti, who supports the Alltech^® Mineral Management team, addressing the crowd on mineral use in the diet to capture more profits. Scaletti provided research results indicating that the inclusion of organic trace minerals such as those in Bioplex^® and Sel-Plex^® improves milk production and the transfer of immunity from cow to calf as well as increasing heifer performance.

Carl Babler concluded the main conference with a market update. He shared his insights on the future of the dairy market in the Midwest, the United States and the world. According to Babler, the United States is positioned to be the animal protein provider of the world, and dairy products will play a factor in this position. There is a need for dairy producers who produce milk as a product and milk as a commodity, but it is important for operations to determine to which group they belong.

Larry McCarren, former Green Bay Packer and current host of “The Mike McCarthy Show,” then shared insight into past and current Packers team members, and how the team’s veteran players take it upon themselves to guide rookie players on how to be successful in Green Bay both on and off the field.  

Held each year in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the Alltech Wisconsin Dairy School is a long-standing tradition within the Wisconsin dairy industry. More than 2,700 dairy industry professionals have attended since it was first held in 2003. 

[DUNBOYNE, Ireland] – Last week, during Nov. 20 to 24, a group of 130 dairy farmers from seven countries embarked on a European tour of dairy farms with Alltech to learn about new innovations and different approaches being adopted by farmers.

Visiting seven different dairy farms in Germany, the Netherlands, France and Ireland over the four-day journey, the tour also provided a networking opportunity for farmers to discuss and share ideas about the future of dairy production.

The host farms included a German farm near Berlin called Milsana, which has 3,600 cows. Herd health and performance are paramount at this large-scale operation, and it currently achieves 12,000 kilograms per lactation and 27.5 kilograms of dry matter intake. In the Netherlands, the group visited two family farms, one of which is outsourcing heifer rearing and calving at 22 months as well as placing emphasis on excellent silage management and quality to drive farm efficiency and performance.

Farm diversification was a common theme in each country, with biogas plants present on several farms in order to generate alternative sources of revenue and sustainable energy. In addition, a German farm showcased how it is developing its own brand of milk and selling it on-farm as well as a Dutch farm that welcomed the group to it’s very impressive new B&B facility.

In France, the group had the opportunity to visit Drakkar Holstein, a well-known genetics specialist selling high-genetic value animals, embryos and semen around the world. It also hosts an annual on-farm auction. On the final day of the Alltech Euro Tour, the group learned about Ireland’s unique grass-based system and seasonal calving at John Wynne’s impressive unit in County Wicklow, which is currently achieving a 72 percent conception rate to first service.

In addition to farm tours, the group heard presentations on the global dairy market outlook from Dr. Markus Fahlbusch from the University of Göttingen in Germany as well as the impact of digital technologies on dairy farming from David Hunt, CEO of Cainthus.

“The Alltech Euro Tour is a clear reminder of the desire for farmers to meet with, learn from and share experiences with neighbouring farmers across Europe,” said Julien Martin, Alltech regional director for Northwest Europe. “With many changes and uncertainties across the agricultural industry, the benefits of travelling to see what other farmers are doing, engaging in group discussion and idea sharing on occasions such as this are so invaluable.”

The tour experiences made a strong impression on the participating farmers, with one farmer in his 60s admitting that, instead of looking to retirement, he is now eager to take on some new projects, including a biogas plant, on the family farm.

“Alltech is extremely proud to have brought together this fantastic group of seven different nationalities,” added Martin. "We hope each attendee has walked away with at least one new idea to improve or change their business for future sustainability.”

Advanced education contributes to Alltech’s expertise in yeast fermentation technologies for animal, crop and human health

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – Specializing in brewing and distilling may sound like a hobby — or even a covert practice — but it is indeed a formal degree, and biotechnology leader Alltech considers master’s degree graduates of the program to be essential to its core business. For that reason, the company is proud to congratulate Kendon Jacobson, Alltech’s 21^st employee to receive a master’s degree in brewing and distilling from Scotland’s Heriot-Watt University, known for graduating some of the foremost brewing and yeast fermentation experts in the world.

According to Becky Timmons, global director of applications research and quality assurance at Alltech, Heriot-Watt’s course offers the most practical advanced education for employees given Alltech’s focus on yeast fermentation technology.

“We are very excited to add Kendon to our growing list of Heriot-Watt graduates,” said Timmons. “Yeast fermentation is fundamental to our core business in animal health and nutrition, and I have found that this unique program provides background on a range of subject matter that is beneficial in our industry.”

Alltech is currently collaborating with Western Kentucky University to offer a similar degree. The program would serve the rising craft beer industry in the U.S. as well as the burgeoning bourbon industry.

Such a partnership is not uncommon for Alltech, a company that considers education to be the foundation of both the present and future. This emphasis is reflected in Alltech’s current work with universities globally to collaborate on research, create further educational opportunities for its employees and provide work experiences to the universities’ current students. 

High levels of risk from DON, fusaric acid, T-2 and fumonisin present

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – In 2016, corn growers faced challenges from mycotoxins, and those challenges seem likely to show up for them again as they harvest this fall. The 2017 growing season was challenging across the U.S. Growers in different regions experienced varied weather conditions that could not only reduce yield, but could also increase plant stress and lead to challenges with mycotoxins.

Corn silage samples from across the entirety of the U.S. have shown extremely high levels of mycotoxins, particularly deoxynivalenol (DON), type A trichothecenes (T-2), fusaric acid and fumonisin. It is important to note that once there are mycotoxins in the crop, they will not go away. There will be higher levels of mycotoxins on farms practicing monocropping of corn, as opposed to those farms that are rotating crops or using deeper tillage methods.

Samples submitted to the Alltech 37+^® mycotoxin analytical services laboratory between Sept. 1 and Nov. 1, 2017, show that grains contained mixtures of mycotoxins, including DON, fusaric acid and fumonisin. Forages such as corn silage, barlage and haylage samples also contained multiple mycotoxins in 2017, including DON, fusaric acid, T-2 and fumonisin.

Fumonisin is trending higher across all states as of this time and can have a negative impact on feed intake, gut health, liver function and immune response. Swine and horses are particularly sensitive.

Mycotoxins are a regular concern for producers, as they influence feed quality and animal safety. They are produced by certain species of molds and can have toxic properties that impact animal health and performance.

“Understanding the risk of mycotoxins and combinations of mycotoxins, even at lower levels, allows livestock owners and managers to institute a management program for more optimum performance and health,” said Dr. Max Hawkins, nutritionist with the Alltech^® Mycotoxin Management team. “Testing feedstuffs and finished feeds is paramount to putting this management program in action.”

Mycotoxins are seldom found in isolation, and when multiple mycotoxins are consumed, they may have additive, or even synergistic, interactions that increase the overall risk to performance and health. As a result, an animal may have a stronger response than what would be expected if it was only experiencing a single mycotoxin challenge.

For feedstuffs harvested in 2017 and that are currently being fed, it is important to conduct a mycotoxin analysis that identifies the storage mycotoxins, including Penicillium and Aspergillus mycotoxin groups, as there is potential for additional mycotoxins to develop during storage. Proper mycotoxin management techniques can reduce the risk of mycotoxins coming from feed materials as well as help to prevent the negative effects mycotoxins can on have animal health and performance.

Alltech will be hosting a webinar to review the 2017 Alltech Harvest Analysis results for the U.S. with Dr. Max Hawkins on Dec. 14, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. ET. Register for the webinar via this link.

For more information on mycotoxin management, visit knowmycotoxins.com.  

The Alltech Young Scientist program offers fully funded Ph.D. and postdoctoral positions for undergraduate and graduate winners

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – The Alltech Young Scientist (AYS) program is considered the world’s most prestigious agriscience competition for university students. Now in its 13th year, AYS has discovered some of the best and brightest upcoming researchers from universities around the world. Rising agri-scientists now have until Dec. 31, 2017, to register for the 2018 competition.

Undergraduate and graduate applicants will compete first within their home regions of North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific or Europe/Africa. Regional finalists will be invited to attend an all-expense-paid Alltech Young Scientist Discovery Week held May 17–23, 2018, in Lexington, Kentucky, where they will compete in the global competition. Global winners will be announced during ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE18) on May 23. The prizes include a fully funded Ph.D. position and $5,000 USD for the global undergraduate winner and a fully funded postdoctoral position and $10,000 USD for the global graduate winner.

“Lifelong learning is a core value within Alltech, and we are proud to invest in young, bright minds through our Alltech Young Scientist program,” said Dr. Aoife Lyons, director of educational initiatives and engagement at Alltech. “It provides a global stage for students to present their research and have the opportunity to further their education and join the Alltech team.”

Students must be nominated by a professor in order to participate and may submit scientific papers on topics such as animal health and nutrition, crop science, agriculture analytical methods, food chain safety and traceability, human health and nutrition, and other agriscience-related sectors. Paper submissions may be completed online through Dec. 31, 2017, and regional winners will be announced in March 2018.

For more information and to register for the Alltech Young Scientist program, visit AlltechYoungScientist.com, and stay connected through the Alltech Education Facebook page.

The Alltech Young Scientist program offers a fully funded Ph.D. position for the undergraduate winner and a postdoctoral position for the graduate winner.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – Entering its 13th year, the Alltech Young Scientist (AYS) program is considered one of the world’s most prestigious agriscience competitions for university students. AYS has discovered some of the best and brightest upcoming researchers from universities around the world, and applications are now open for rising agri-scientists who wish to take part in the 2018 competition.

Undergraduate and graduate applicants will compete first within their home regions of North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific or Europe/Africa. Regional winners will be invited to attend an all-expense-paid Alltech Young Scientist Discovery Week in Lexington, Kentucky, where they will compete in the global competition during ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE18), which will be held May 20–23, 2018. The prizes include a fully funded Ph.D. position and $5,000 USD for the global undergraduate winner and a fully funded postdoctoral position and $10,000 USD for the global graduate winner.

“Lifelong learning is a core value within Alltech and we are proud to invest in young, bright minds through our Alltech Young Scientist program,” said Dr. Aoife Lyons, director of educational initiatives and engagement at Alltech. “It provides a global stage for students to present their research and have the opportunity to further their education and join the Alltech team.”

Registration is currently open for the 2018 competition and will close on Oct. 31, 2017. Students must be nominated by a professor in order to participate and may submit scientific papers on topics such as animal health and nutrition, crop science, agriculture analytical methods, food chain safety and traceability, human health and nutrition and other agriscience-related sectors. Paper submission may be completed online through Dec. 31, 2017, and regional winners will be announced in March 2018.

For more information and to register for the Alltech Young Scientist program, visit AlltechYoungScientist.com and stay connected through the Alltech Education Facebook page.

Matthew Aardsma wins award for paper on relative metabolizable energy values for fats and oils in young broilers and adult roosters

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — Connecting the farm to the lab through research is critical for agricultural innovation. Illustrating its commitment to encouraging student research, Alltech presented the 34th Alltech Student Research Manuscript Award to Matthew Aardsma of Purdue University during the 106th annual Poultry Science Association meeting, held in Orlando, Florida, July 17–20.

The Alltech Student Research Manuscript Award is given to a student who is the senior author of an outstanding research manuscript in Poultry Science or The Journal of Applied Poultry Research. Aardsma’s winning paper titled, Relative metabolizable energy values for fats and oils in young broilers and adult roosters, focused on developing a bio-assay where feed-grade fats and oils were evaluated for their relative metabolizable energy content quickly and accurately. The paper showed results for several fats and oils that are commonly fed in the poultry industry, and that the results obtained for adult roosters are the same with young broiler chickens.

"Research is an integral part of Alltech and the poultry industry's success to date," said Dr. Ted Sefton, director of poultry for Alltech Canada. "Alltech is proud to sponsor the Alltech Student Research Manuscript Award to encourage students to publish their research in peer-reviewed journals and communicate new technologies and discoveries being made in the lab that can have a direct impact on the farm."

Aardsma grew up in Central Illinois, where his parents encouraged him to explore his interests in agriculture and animal production. He received his bachelor’s degree in animal sciences from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2013 and his master’s degree in animal sciences with an emphasis in poultry nutrition in 2015, working with Dr. Carl Parsons. After a summer internship at Southern Illinois University working in aquaculture nutrition, he began a Ph.D. program in animal nutrition at Purdue University. Aardsma is currently studying with Jay Johnson and focusing on nutrition-based stress physiology in poultry and swine.

Alltech has sponsored the Alltech Student Research Manuscript Award since 2000, recognizing young leaders in scientific innovation for their commitment to publishing and sharing their work within the poultry sector.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – Two students accepted the top global awards for the 12th annual Alltech Young Scientist (AYS) program, the world’ most prestigious agriscience competition for university students.
The AYS awards, recognizing pioneering research in the agriscience sector, were presented at ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17), an event dedicated to inspiring innovation in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, held May 21–24. Now in its 33rd year, the annual international conference is expected to draw approximately 4,000 attendees from nearly 80 countries to network and discuss disruptive ideas in business, technology, food and agriculture.

The global undergraduate winner was Joshua C. Gukowsky, who attends the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the U.S. Gukowsky was offered a fully funded Ph.D. position and $5,000 USD. The global graduate winner was Jonas de Souza, who attends Michigan State University in the U.S. De Souza was offered a fully funded postdoctorate position and $10,000 USD.

Dr. Aoife Lyons, director of educational initiatives and engagement at Alltech, and Victoria Liu, Alltech Young Scientist program manager, presented the awards in the famed Rupp Arena during ONE17.

“This year, we encouraged students to think about the ONE disruptive idea that will transform the way we think and work in agriculture in order for it to thrive and be sustainable,” said Lyons. “The international panel of judges, led by Irish professor Maurice Boland, was encouraged by this group of hugely talented students, all of whom place a huge emphasis on their scientific education.

“I speak for all of the judges on this year’s panel when I congratulate the 2017 winners,” continued Lyons. “The students not only exemplified great skill, but also aptitude and curiosity, which, in our minds, demonstrate their potential as the scientific leaders of tomorrow.”

This year, the program received more than 150 nominations from 134 professors, representing the world’s top 121 universities from 36 countries. To participate, students were nominated by their professors and submitted scientific papers on topics such as animal health and nutrition, agriculture analytical methods, food chain safety and traceability, human health and nutrition, and other agriscience-related sectors. Each student’s paper first competed within their own region of North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, or Europe and Africa. The first place regional winners, eight in total, were invited to an all-expenses-paid Alltech Discovery Week in Kentucky that culminated at ONE17, where a panel of leading judges selected the winners for the 2017 program.

“Thank you, everyone — this is a great honor to receive this prize,” said de Souza, the graduate winner. “Thank you to Dr. Aoife Lyons for putting this competition together to support new and young scientists. We are all winners in this program.”

De Souza’s research focused on altering the ratio of dietary palmitic, stearic and oleic acids, or fatty acids, in diets with or without whole cottonseed and the responses of dairy cows.

“Wow, thank you so much — I was really not expecting this,” said Gukowsky, the undergraduate winner. “First and foremost, I want to thank my parents and family.”

Gukowsky’s research featured detecting antibiotic residues in the foods we consume.

Entry for the 2018 program will open in September 2017.

For more information about ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference, visit one.alltech.com. Join the conversation online with #ONE17.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — In just a few short weeks, some of the brightest scientific thinkers from colleges and universities around the world will gather under one roof for an opportunity to compete at the highest level and be rewarded for their innovative research. The Alltech Young Scientist (AYS) program, now in its 12th year, features the world’s largest agriscience competition, with 154 nominations from 134 professors representing 121 universities from 36 countries in 2017 alone.

The regional finalists will attend AYS Discovery Week, held in conjunction with ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17), May 21–24 in Lexington, Kentucky, to present their papers to a panel of international judges. The prizes include a fully funded Ph.D. position for the global undergraduate winner as well as $5,000 USD and a fully funded postdoctorate position and $10,000 USD for the global graduate winner.

The regional finalists selected for the graduate AYS award and their paper topics are:

• Tanimowo Damilola, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
  • “Broiler nutritional programming using betaine”
• Syed Saad Gilani, University of Adelaide, Australia
  • “Gut health biomarkers in poultry”
• Delano Dias Schleder, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil
  • “Shrimp resistance to stress and disease”
• Jonas de Souza, Michigan State University, United States
  • “Fatty acid metabolism”

The regional finalists selected for the undergraduate AYS award and their paper topics are:

• Sophie Hazelden, Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom
  • “Pre-weaning dietary supplementation in piglets”
• Sujiyanto, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
  • “Trehalose supplementation for heat-stressed broilers”
• Nicolàs Curubeto, Universidad Argentina de la Empresa, Argentina
  • “Edible coatings for food applications”
• Joshua Gukowsky, University of Massachusetts Amherst, United States
  • “Detecting antibiotic residues in foods”

“The Alltech Young Scientist program provides a great opportunity for students to showcase their research talent in front of a global audience, including some of the most respected leaders within agriculture and agriscience,” said Dr. Aoife Lyons, director of educational initiatives and engagement at Alltech. “We are rewarding the undergraduate and graduate competition winners with the opportunity to join our global team.”

For more information about the Alltech Young Scientist program and to view the regional placements from this year’s program, please visit: AlltechYoungScientist.com and stay connected through the Alltech Education Facebook page.

Tanimowo Damilola, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, has been selected as a graduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

Syed Saad Gilani,University of Adelaide, Australia, has been selected as a graduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

Delano Dias Schleder,Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil, has been selected as a graduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

Sophie Hazelden,Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom, has been selected as an undergraduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

Sujiyanto,Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, has been selected as an undergraduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

Nicolàs Curubeto,Universidad Argentina de la Empresa, Argentina, has been selected as an undergraduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

Joshua Gukowsky,University of Massachusetts Amherst, United States, has been selected as an undergraduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.