If you ask any farmer or producer about their greatest challenges, one issue is sure to appear near the top of their list: how to share agriculture’s vital role in feeding the world and combating climate change with consumers. With misinformation and mixed messages about agriculture often making headlines, how can those on the front lines of ag connect with the rest of the world about sustainability in a way that truly resonates?

This question and many others were top-of-mind for attendees at the 2024 World Pork Expo, held in Des Moines, Iowa, in early June. Presented by the National Pork Producers Council, World Pork Expo brings together pork producers to discuss the latest challenges, opportunities and innovations for the sector through a tradeshow, educational seminars, presentations, networking events and more.

One panel discussion in the business seminar focused on sustainability and the importance of communicating effectively about agriculture’s commitment to improving it. The panel, moderated by Mark Hulsebus, sales and portfolio director at Alltech, featured:

• Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech
• Dr. Frank Mitloehner, professor and director of the CLEAR Center at the University of California, Davis
• Dr. Gordon D. Spronk, member of the National Pork Board and emeritus chairman of the board of directors at Pipestone
• Maria Zieba, vice president of government affairs at the National Pork Producers Council

The conversation began with an acknowledgement that the word “sustainability” carries a lot of weight — but that it is possible to see sustainability differently through the lens of another word: stewardship.

“I know there are many producers who have a beef, so to say, with the term sustainability,” said Mitloehner. “But I just want to propose the following: ‘Sustainability’ and ‘stewardship’ are pretty much the same thing.”

“If you think ‘sustainability’ is a curse word,” he added, “get over it. You should own it. You should be proud of it, because it should be your farm’s legacy. Don’t hide behind it. The world wants it. Why not showcase it?”

Being a good steward of the land and taking care of animals are top priorities for every farmer and producer.

“Who would say, ‘I don’t want to be the best steward of those animals, their welfare and health’?” Mitloehner asked. “We all want to be the best stewards — and by pursuing (sustainability), we are working on our legacy.”

Spronk said the concept of stewardship has always been fundamental to agricultural production — and the key now is to illustrate that to consumers in a tangible way.

“My grandfather never knew the word ‘sustainability,’ but he knew ‘stewardship’. He knew from his worldview that the land he owned and the animals he took care of were temporary,” said Spronk. “For us at the farm level, we understand stewardship; it’s doing the right thing every day, including for the land. And now it just seems like society is asking us to prove it. We need the data.”

The available data bears proof of the agriculture industry’s efforts to transform and improve. As Mitloehner explained, emissions from animal agriculture have been roughly stable since 1990, and farmers are making major impacts on the environment by utilizing anaerobic biodigesters, reducing methane emissions and implementing other environment-friendly management practices.

“When I look at all the data from 30, 20, 10 years ago versus today, the progress is amazing,” he said.

Spronk highlighted the widespread interest in access to these data points, which many farmers and producers are able and excited to provide.

“We have the best agricultural system in the world, and our competitors are now asking, ‘Well, prove it,’” he noted. “I think we’re fully capable of proving that through primary data to answer questions at both the policy level and the consumer level. We can specifically answer questions about our contribution to greenhouse gases, our contribution to carbon, our soil erosion rate.”

Zieba concurred — and encouraged the sector to share that data with others.  

“We’re in a new world where people do want to talk about sustainability, and they want to know what the metrics are,” she said. “We have a great story to tell. People are surprised that we have such a good story to tell. And I think producers should be really happy that we have that story.”

The experts on the panel all agreed, however, that the act of telling that story is where the agriculture industry has sometimes fallen short.

“You have the trust (in agriculture), but the messaging hasn’t been trickled out to enough people,” said Zieba. “I think that’s one of the biggest issues — because we have the data, we have the information, but it’s also how you message things. You can’t bombard people with facts.”

Lyons suggested that meeting the consumer where they are and sharing information about agriculture in new and surprising ways could be the key to changing the narrative.

“One of the seven values of Alltech is telling the story,” he said. “I think it’s interesting to try engage with people (over) the things that they like to do.”

Lyons also recommended that highlighting the crucial role of agriculture in feeding the world will be key to engaging with consumers more successfully.

“This industry is the industry that’s going to save the planet,” he said. “And I think that’s going to be the piece that we build upon. We just have to keep telling the story, because it takes a while for it to sink in.”

Alltech shares about agriculture’s vital role in feeding the world and combating climate change in numerous ways, including sharing sustainability stories on its Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™ website, through podcasts and blogs, and at its annual Alltech ONE Conference. Alltech is also involved in a new documentary, “World Without Cows,” which offers a scientific look at the cultural, economic and environmental impact of cattle on our world.

Mitloehner recalled a piece of advice from his father that farmers and producers would be wise to consider: Do good things and to talk about them.

“Let’s not forget about the second part of that sentence,” he added. “Because we are doing a lot of good things, and now we have to find out how to quantify it appropriately, how to communicate it effectively, how to get it into the heads of people who make decisions. Because we have a great story to tell. It’s time that we’re telling it.”

When working to maximize fertility in cattle, cows are often the focus. However, bull fertility is a crucial consideration for any beef operation. Not only do bulls contribute to the genetic improvement of the herd, but bulls with poor fertility — or any characteristic that affects their ability to breed — can significantly reduce the pregnancy and weaning percentage of the cow herd, lowering productivity and profitability.

Many factors, including management, genetics and even nutrition, can impact both female and male fertility. The nutritional status of the bull, and even the nutritional status of his dam during her gestation with him, have been linked to the calf’s gains, age of puberty attainment, and even semen quality.

How trace minerals boost fertility

While proper energy and protein supplementation are key, the importance of trace minerals cannot be underestimated. These essential nutrients, including zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and selenium (Se), are known to be involved in hormone secretion and synthesis, and they are needed for the normal functioning of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis (Watts, 1990).

Table 1. Function and deficiency symptoms directly related to reproduction in ruminants (Ewing and Charlton, 2007)

Functions

• Zn: Involved in production, storage and secretion of hormones that regulate several systems including immunity. Key constituent of insulin, testosterone and adrenal corticosteroids.
   
• Mn: Involved in cholesterol synthesis, insulin activity, and production of thyroxine, in addition to the production and synthesis of hormones including estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.
   
• Cu: Component of, or essential to the activity of, many enzymes, including those involved in immunity and reproduction.
   
• Se: Plays a role in the production of thyroxine hormone, which can affect growth rates. Promotes reproductive function.

Deficiencies 

• Zn: Zinc deficiency can impair sexual function, with lower conception rates, reduced testis growth and severely impaired spermatozoan maturation.
   
• Mn: Manganese deficiency can lower fertility in adults and lead to reproductive failure through impaired or irregular estrus, fetal reabsorption, or deformities.
   
• Cu: Copper deficiency can be associated with reproductive failure, including issues with reduced fertility, delayed or depressed estrus, abortion, and poor semen quality.
   
• Se: Poor selenium status contributes to reproductive disorders including cystic ovaries and metritis, as well as problems with estrus, ovulation, embryo fertilization and development. It can also impair sperm motility.

Trace minerals to support both cows and bulls

In areas where known trace mineral deficiencies exist, especially in regards to zinc, manganese, copper and selenium, supplementation with organic trace minerals (such as Alltech’s selenium yeast technology Sel-Plex® as well as its Bioplex® Cu, Mn and Zn) can be advantageous. Organic trace minerals, as opposed to commonly used inorganic types, are more bioavailable and thus better utilized by the animal. This is less wasteful and more efficient, and it helps to prevent harmful excretions of unused minerals into the environment.

Reported improvements in reproductive efficiency with organic trace minerals have included higher pregnancy rates and weaning percentages, fewer open days, and earlier puberty attainment.

While trace mineral requirements are often higher than maintenance needs for optimized health and fertility, and while the 2000 edition of the NRC defines these requirements clearly for gestating and early-lactation cows as well as for growing and finishing cattle, no specific requirements are listed in the NRC for bulls. Given the importance of trace minerals, however, especially in relation to hormone synthesis and spermatogenesis, trace mineral supplementation should be a key part of bull management even well before the onset of breeding season. For example, it takes approximately 60 days for new sperm to be produced and to mature; therefore, proper supplementation prior to bull turnout is key.

Bull fertility starts in utero

Trace minerals can also have an impact on fetal development and programming. One published beef study looked at the selenium form (inorganic selenium vs. Sel-Plex) fed to cows during gestation, examining how these two selenium sources affected transcriptome profiles in neonatal calf testes. The authors reported that the selenium form fed to the dam affected the expression of 853 annotated genes, including several mRNAs involved in the regulation of steroidogenesis and/or spermatogenesis (Cerny et al., 2015). This indicates that the form of selenium fed to the dam could impact the eventual fertility of her offspring.

In conclusion, the development of fertility in both heifers and bulls can be strongly affected by nutrition, starting in utero. Ensuring proper nutrition for the entire herd, not just the cows, is essential for a successful and profitable breeding season. Even small changes in overall nutrition, such as the inclusion of organic trace minerals such as Bioplex and Sel-Plex, can pay huge dividends, not only for the immediate calving season but over the productive lifespan of replacement heifers and bulls as well.

About the author: 

Laurentia van Rensburg is the global head of commercial (nutrition), Technology Group at Alltech. Prior to this role, she was the technical mineral manager for the Alltech Mineral Management platform. Laurentia has more than 15 years of experience in the livestock and animal science industries and has served in various roles in South Africa, the Netherlands, Latin America and North America.

Originally from South Africa, Laurentia earned a master's degree in animal science from the University of Kentucky.

I want to learn more about nutrition for my beef cattle. 

The Alltech team recently contributed valuable insights at the American Society of Animal Science Midwest (ASAS Midwest) event in Madison, Wisconsin. ASAS Midwest is one of the best conferences about swine nutrition, both in the U.S. and globally. Attendees enjoyed many opportunities to gain practical knowledge that will empower them to enhance productivity and sustainability in their pig farming operations.

Meet our speakers at the event and learn what pork producers can apply from the research presented.

Dr. Henrique Cemin, senior swine nutritionist at Hubbard Feeds, an Alltech company

Dr. Cemin oversees research and development at Hubbard Feeds, where Alltech conducts about 25 trials per year involving over 40,000 pigs. The R&D team also provides technical services and support for Hubbard’s field team and customers.

He gave three presentations, addressing:

• the net energy of soybean meal
• the phosphorus requirement of nursery pigs
• the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio and their interactions

Dr. Cemin was invited to present on soybean meal net energy because of his research in this area during graduate school and at Hubbard Feeds. His calcium and phosphorus presentations were selected from submitted abstracts identified as important to the industry.

"Soybean meal is a key source of amino acids for swine diets globally, and it’s important to understand its energy value,” Dr. Cemin said. “Traditional prediction equations underestimate its energy for pigs, so updated values are needed for better diet formulation. For calcium and phosphorus, understanding their levels and interactions is crucial for pig performance and economic impact.

“Current research addresses these topics, but the answers evolve with genetic improvements and other advancements. Keeping updated with these changes is crucial for the industry’s progress.”

Dr. Cemin also explored issues around feed costs, overall profitability, supply and demand, and the pressures of disease.

Morgan Hart, research coordinator and swine nutritionist at Hubbard Feeds

In her double role with Hubbard Feeds, Morgan Hart ensures that all proper measures are taken to effectively run research trials at Hubbard’s three commercial facilities. In addition, she works alongside Alltech’s U.S. Pork team to provide technical nutritional services for our customers.

At the conference, Ms. Hart presented on determining lysine requirements for pigs fed high-fiber diets after weaning.

“This research is crucial for pork producers, as we’ve found that incorporating fibers into pig diets can significantly enhance gut health, nutrient digestibility and pig survivability, especially during health challenges,” she said.

Dr. Jose Soto, director of monogastric research and technical lead at Alltech

Dr. Soto works closely with our Pork and Poultry teams, helping identify how Alltech solutions and services can support our customers while following Alltech’s ACE Principle of always prioritizing the Animal, the Consumer and the Environment. Driven by solving complex challenges, Dr. Soto and his highly competent team continue to deliver leading-edge technologies. Currently, they are making strong progress on:

• a phytogenic offering antibiotic-free growth promotion
• a technology, based on MOS (mannan oligosaccharide), that has shown livability benefits
• organic mineral nutrition to address antagonisms that can hinder performance

“It’s about delivering meaningful outcomes that drive producers’ profitability, and using Alltech technologies such as organic minerals to improve not only performance but sustainability,” Dr. Soto said.

The research overseen by these three experts is only part of the broad-based, in-depth research continuously conducted by Alltech. We are always evaluating and refining our programs, collaborating with universities and industry partners to enhance swine nutrition. The Alltech Pork team also provides tailored nutritional support to productions of all sizes, offering expertise, assistance, and a comprehensive approach to swine nutrition and management.

“The U.S. Pork team is uniquely positioned to support the industry in achieving its goals, because we understand the challenges and opportunities involved,” Dr. Soto said. “Our team of experts works together to help producers be more efficient and profitable. With talented individuals and a strong supply chain, we strive to minimize environmental impact while delivering high-quality technologies.”

About the author

Tien Le, Editorial Content Manager, Alltech

Tien earned her bachelor’s degree in advertising and marketing communications from the University of Greenwich, London, with the University Merit Award for Outstanding Achievement. She started her career at Alltech in 2016 as part of the Corporate Career Development Program, spending time in both the U.S. and Ireland before taking a role in Vietnam, her home country. Tien presently serves as the editorial content manager for Alltech, a role that allows her to fulfill her passions for writing, innovation and sustainable agriculture.

I would like to learn more about nutrition for my pig herd. 

The weaning and receiving period can be a stressful time for both calves and producers. Having a plan beforehand is crucial to ensuring things go smoothly. Here are some tips to get off to a great start.

1. Prepare your facilities

Making sure that your facilities are in good shape for the arrival of weaned calves can help smooth the transition from pasture. Check waterers to confirm that they are working properly, and offer feed in locations that are easy for calves to find. Portable feed troughs and low-moisture tubs can be placed along the fence line to help animals find feed quickly. Developing and increasing dry matter intake is key to maintaining health.

If weaning into larger dry lots, consider splitting lots with panels. This will minimize the need to commingle animals. The higher stocking density will help reduce pacing and keep pens moist, which will minimize dust. Dust can contribute to pneumonia, so keeping dust levels down is crucial. Additionally, ensure that the fencing is secure to prevent escapes and that there are adequate shelters or windbreaks to protect calves from harsh weather conditions.

2. Minimize stress

Stress is known to have negative impacts on health and performance. While stress can’t be completely eliminated, there are ways to minimize it through management.

One way is to vaccinate, deworm, dehorn and castrate before weaning. These procedures can be stressful, and performing them well in advance of weaning allows calves to recover fully before the additional stress of separation from their mothers.

Also, commingle new cattle as little as possible. This reduces the spread of disease as well as the stress from determining pecking order. Low-stress handling techniques, such as using calm and quiet methods when moving and working with cattle, can also help reduce stress.

3. Familiarize calves with feed

Getting newly received cattle on feed quickly is essential to maintaining their health. Calves are used to a diet of milk and forage while on pasture, so switching to the concentrated ration offered in the weaning pens can be difficult, involving differences in texture and nutrient digestibility.

Slowly transitioning calves to a concentrated diet while they are still alongside their mothers can help with the transition, minimizing digestive upsets associated with the higher starch concentration in weaning feeds. Providing high-quality forage in the weaning pen is helpful as well. Also, if low-moisture tubs are used on pasture, offering a stress tub in the weaning pen can help the calves transition more quickly.

4. Provide plentiful, fresh water

Water is one of the most overlooked nutrients. Fresh, clean water is essential for getting calves on feed as well as maintaining their health.

Some calves may never have used a water trough before. One trick that can help them adjust is to let the water continually run over for a brief period, helping the calves find it. Ensure that water sources are clean and accessible, as dirty or difficult-to-reach water can discourage calves from drinking. Providing multiple water sources also helps to ensure all calves have access to water, especially in larger groups. In colder weather, check that water troughs are kept ice-free, and in hot weather, provide additional shade to encourage water consumption.

Even with these plans in place, be sure to monitor water intake closely during the first few days after weaning, as dehydration can quickly lead to health issues.

5. Establish gut health

Gut health is critical to prevent calf health problems. Scours in calves are common during weaning and are a gut health issue. By fostering a healthy microbial population in the gut, Bio-Mos® 2 offers a natural approach to improving animal growth performance and health, along with producer profitability, during this transition.

Monitoring calves for signs of digestive upset, such as diarrhea or reduced feed intake, can help identify issues early and allow for prompt intervention. Bio-Mos 2 can quickly and easily address calf scours by being added to a ration through various current supplementation methods, including loose minerals, pellets, tubs/blocks, liquid supplements or carrier packs.  

Preparing facilities, minimizing stress, familiarizing calves with feed, providing fresh water, and focusing on gut health are all key steps in smooth and successful weaning and receiving. Producers who have a solid transition plan in place can expect healthier, more productive animals in the long run.

About the author: 

Dr. Shelby Roberts is a ruminant research scientist at Alltech in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Dr. Roberts' passion for the beef industry started at an early age while growing up on a commercial cow-calf operation in West Texas. She earned a bachelor's degree in animal science at West Texas A&M University, a master's degree in ruminant nutrition from Oklahoma State University and a Ph.D. in agriculture with an emphasis in ruminant health and immunology from West Texas A&M University.

With experience in ruminant nutrition and ruminant health, Dr. Roberts interests focus on applied beef management practices that aim at improving animal health through nutrition. 

I want to learn more about nutrition for my beef cattle.

Producers in today’s pork industry face a myriad of difficulties and restrictions in raising pigs successfully, and the health challenges we are presently faced with are a major part of that list. On top of that, the discourse surrounding antibiotic use continues to evolve, driven by supply chain disruptions, increasing consumer demand for antibiotic-free products, and a heightened perception of antibiotic resistance in barn infections. As good stewards of animal health, it is imperative that we preserve the efficacy of existing therapies while ensuring that our pigs receive the highest standard of care.

One proven way to support animal health on multiple fronts without the need for preventive antibiotics is to support one of the animal’s main natural defenses: a healthy gut microbiome, where beneficial bacteria thrive and where pathogenic bacteria are prevented from gaining a foothold. The gut is one of the first portals of entry into the body for many things, so maintaining a healthy microbiome builds a firm foundation for overall health and well-being that extends beyond the intestinal tract. 

Alltech’s robust portfolio offers various solutions and services to promote optimal gut health and growth performance. Cultivation of a healthy gut closely follows the principles we also follow in good crop production. At Alltech, we believe in the strategy of “Seed, Feed, Weed” to accomplish this: 

• Seed the animal’s gut with organisms favorable to promoting good health
• Feed the gut to boost and balance those organisms to allow them to flourish
• Weed out potentially harmful organisms  

Our swine team is constantly evaluating evolving needs and trends in pig production, and new technologies for gut health remain at the forefront for our product development strategies. The newest innovation is a product we call Levelset™, which builds on such time-tested Alltech solutions but is specifically designed for young pigs. By including carefully selected ingredients to “seed” the gastrointestinal tract with good bacteria from the beginning, Levelset helps to build a foundation for lifelong performance and profitability.  

Intended to be delivered to young pigs as a topdress on their feed, Levelset can be safely provided via both conventional and antibiotic-free systems. With the addition of our proven blend of flavors and sweeteners, Levelset also offers maximum palatability.

About the author:

Dr. Andrew Bents

Swine Technical Veterinarian, Hubbard Feeds

Dr. Andrew Bents attended the University of Minnesota where he earned both his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science, as well as his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. After graduation, Dr. Bents served the Worthington, MN area as a mixed animal veterinarian, with an emphasis on swine production.  

At Hubbard, his role is to support pork producers by integrating and managing the interaction of health on all aspects of pork production through cooperation with producers, nutritionists, and their veterinarians. He is passionate about finding ways to improve pig health through advanced husbandry, nutrition, epidemiology, and pharmacovigilance techniques.

In his spare time, Dr. Bents enjoys spending time with his family, serving his church and community, helping on the family farm and woodworking in his shop.

I want to learn more about nutrition for my pig herd. 

As I have traveled over the past couple of years, there has been a common theme when talking with cow/calf producers: an increase in unbred and open cows within their herds.

This issue has impacted the efficiency and profitability of many operations. However, record or near-record calf prices and cull cow prices have helped alleviate some of the financial strain of having fewer calves to sell. Trying to understand the reasons behind this challenge and evaluating current and additional strategies to address them are crucial for sustaining a healthy and productive beef herd and industry.

Why has there been an increase in unbred cows?

Several factors are contributing to the rise in unbred cows; weather, feed availability and quality, lack of protein and mineral supplementation, poor genetics, labor and time constraints, and management practices can hinder reproductive performance. As a result, cows may fail to conceive or may experience early embryonic loss, leading to increased numbers of unbred animals.

Fluctuating feed prices and availability, labor costs and shortages, and market demands can all impact producers’ ability to invest in reproductive management. In some cases, producers may have prioritized other aspects of production. A focus on calf weight gain and maximizing weaning weights, along with meat and carcass quality versus reproductive performance, could have led to a higher proportion of unbred cows, especially for producers that retained heifers in the cow herd.

What can producers do to help improve reproduction?

The most overlooked animals on the operation tend to be the bulls. They were put to work last year for 60 days, then pulled from the cows and moved to a different part of the operation. They have been out of sight and likely out of mind since.

Here are some questions you might want to ask:

• When was the last time you looked at your bulls?
• How many days until you need them to go to work again?
• What is their current body condition?
• Do they have enough condition to do the job you need them to do?
• What about a soundness exam to test semen quality and quantity?
• Are their feet in proper shape to travel and find the cows?
• Have they been properly supplemented with vitamins and trace minerals?

Studies show that supplementation with organic trace minerals, such as those in Bioplex® and Sel-Plex®, can enhance semen quality.

Nutrition management is critical for supporting reproductive health in the cow herd. Ensuring that cows receive adequate nutrition throughout the breeding season can help optimize fertility.

After feeding cows all winter, the excitement of green grass turnout could potentially be a detriment. Really? Green grass could be a detriment? Yes. Depending on current cow body condition and the current plane of nutrition, green grass can lead to reductions in breeding.

Sometimes the grass may be really lush and high in water content, and the cow cannot physically eat enough dry matter to maintain her weight and condition. She is nursing her calf and nearing peak lactation at the same time she needs to get bred. A cow that is losing weight and going backward isn’t going to cycle as well as one that is gaining weight and condition going into breeding.

Ever noticed an increase in consumption — and, many times, an overconsumption — of loose minerals in the spring? Is that because the cows need more, or could they just be chasing some dry matter to fill their stomachs? Should you instead be feeding a little hay while on lush green grass to slow down rate of passage, maintain dry matter intake and prevent the cows from “starving” while standing in belly-deep washy grass?

And let’s not overlook proper animal handling to limit stress, along with sound management protocols for disease prevention, breeding and calving. Producers can also leverage technology and data-driven solutions to help identify and address reproductive issues more effectively. Tools such as reproductive ultrasounds, estrus synchronization protocols, and data analytics software are available to provide valuable insights into herd fertility and assist management decisions.

Unbred cows pose a significant challenge to the sustainability and profitability of each operation and to the beef industry. Understanding some factors that contribute to open cows, and looking at strategies to improve reproductive efficiency, can help producers overcome this challenge and ensure the long-term viability of their operations and the industry.

About the author: 

Bryan Sanderson grew up in Lake Preston, South Dakota, and spent most of his childhood working on pig, crop and cattle farms. After receiving a degree in animal science from South Dakota State University, with minors in ag marketing and ag business, Bryan began his impressive career in animal agriculture. With experience in livestock production, feedlot supervision, sales and finance, Bryan is currently the U.S. beef business manager for Alltech.

I want to learn more about nutrition for my beef cattle. 

Making an effective TMR requires an investment in the right mixing machines. There are many types from different companies, offering varying prices and quality.

The quality of the materials is important. For instance, since a TMR contains acidic, fermented raw materials, the mixer should have high-quality steel. And especially if straw is your TMR ingredient, the machine’s blades must be durable.

Types and characteristics of TMR mixers

The most commonly used types of TMR machines are horizontal mixers and vertical mixers.

Horizontal mixer

This type usually has 2–4 spiral augers, depending on capacity. The machine works by the bottom spiral auger spinning to mix feed materials and cutting them with blades at the edges of the spirals. Long pieces of grass and straw will be cut into smaller pieces.

The limitation of the horizontal machine is that if hay is the main ingredient, a large amount of it will not be mixed so well because of this mixer’s slow motor speed. Therefore, it is better to chop ingredients into small pieces before putting them through the horizontal mixer. This type of mixer does work well if the ingredients are fresh grass, corn silage and/or grass silage; in fact, generally, every type of mixer works well with short pieces of fresh or dried raw materials.  However, if we mix these ingredients for too long, it can make the grass pieces too short. Use a suitable mixing time to produce a feed size between 1 centimeter and 1 inch.

Horizontal mixer with paddles

This type of horizontal mixer has a large horizontal auger in the middle of the mixing chamber, with blades for cutting and paddles for rotating the feed material. This rotation prevents compression of feed materials and prevents the materials being chopped into too-small pieces.

A horizontal mixer with paddles mixes materials more quickly than other types, and it is the most modern TMR mixer, able to mix all kinds of materials well.

Vertical mixer

This mixer has one to four screw-like spiral augers, depending on capacity. The blades are at the ends of the augers. A vertical mixer can mix hay, straw, fresh grass and corn stover well. If the straw is dry, it should be mixed with water or molasses to increase the moisture to 50% so that the feed mixes better.

As with a horizontal mixer, the materials should be managed appropriately and mixed for a suitable amount of time to produce feed of a good size.

Location options for the mixer

Some machines are designed to be towed from place to place by tractor; others stay in one central place. What are the benefits of each?

Mobile mixer

A mobile mixer is suitable for a cattle production that:

• already has a tractor
• wants to mix its own feed
• wants to expand its operations

The mobile mixer is connected to a tractor, and it mainly runs on the power from the tractor. Therefore, a tractor with engine power corresponding to the capacity of the mixer must be used.

This type of mixer is convenient if locations of roughage and concentrate sources are far away. You can simply drive it to the different locations to both mix and dispense the TMR on-farm. Not much manpower is required.

With a mobile mixer, the feed trough does have to be adjusted to have lower walls, so that the TMR truck can dispense feed to the trough. However, troughs are not popular in modern feeding systems, since they are difficult to clean and require a lot of manpower. Therefore, a flat cement floor with a concrete apron on the pen side is usually made, so that the TMR feeder can directly dispense feed onto the floor.

Stationary mixer

This type is suitable for a farm that wants to be a TMR feed center or distributor. On such a farm, locations of raw materials should not be so far from one another.

The feed production house must have a conveyor belt to convey ingredients up to the mixer.

For small to medium-sized farms that want to invest prudently, a mobile mixer is recommended over a stationary one, because opting for the mobile mixer will save the production from costs such as building a feed-mixing plant or acquiring and maintaining a forklift.

Capacity of the mixer

Mixer size is often referred to by volume, using the units of cubic meter or cubic foot (1 cubic meter is 35.3 cubic feet). Mixer companies usually offer a specification table showing the mixer's capacity in volume and the required engine power. Mixing capacity will vary based on the moisture level of the TMR materials. Also, it is advised to fill the mixer only to 70–80% of the total capacity, leaving space for the TMR materials to be mixed well and quickly.

For example, a farm of 200 animals will need a 500-cubic-foot (14.2-cubic-meter) mixer. If the animals are fed twice a day, the mixer capacity can be 250 cubic feet (7.1 cubic meters) and requires a 75-horsepower tractor. Details are different for different machines.

How to choose a TMR mixer

Now that you have the basic information you need to differentiate between mixer types, you can consider the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of each type in regard to your needs.

What size of mixer will be able to make enough TMR to feed all the cattle on your farm? What types of materials will it need to handle? Do you need a stationary mixer or a tractor-towed mobile one? What other accessories, such as scales and magnetics, will be required for your needs?

With all the answers to those questions, it will be easier to make the right decision for your operation.

Alltech thanks Prof. Dr. Viroj Pattarajinda for the courtesy of granting us permission to share this article for the benefit of cattle farmers.

In the dynamic landscape of beef and dairy production, achieving optimal performance while prioritizing sustainability is paramount. Enter Optigen®, a consistent and reliable source of rumen-available nitrogen developed by Alltech. Optigen is a high-quality nutritional technology that is designed to further advance ruminant nutrition and to address the dual challenges of performance enhancement and environmental stewardship.

Let's explore how Optigen serves as a catalyst for progress in the beef and dairy industries by integrating data and insights from recent research findings.

Maximizing feed efficiency

One of the key pillars of sustainable farming is maximizing feed efficiency. Optigen plays a pivotal role in this endeavor by enhancing diet flexibility thanks to a reduced need for the inclusion of plant protein sources, which helps create space for more energy-dense diets.

According to a meta-analysis conducted by Alltech, the inclusion of Optigen in the diets of dairy cows resulted in a remarkable 23% reduction in the use of plant protein sources. This reduction translates to improved feed conversion rates and reduced feed costs, which helps contribute to the overall profitability of the operation while minimizing the waste of natural resources.

Supporting rumen health

The health of the rumen is crucial for efficient nutrient utilization and animal performance. Optigen supports rumen health by promoting the activity and growth of rumen bacteria. This, in turn, fosters a more sustained availability of ammonia to the rumen environment, ensuring that rumen bacteria have continued access to this essential food source. These improvements encourage more optimal digestion and absorption of nutrients from the diet, leading to enhanced animal performance.

Along with its ability to help optimize rumen function in beef and dairy cattle, Optigen also works to minimize the environmental impact of dairy and beef farming, as it facilitates the more efficient utilization of dietary resources.

Reducing nitrogen excretion

Excessive nitrogen excretion poses a significant environmental challenge in dairy and beef production systems. Optigen addresses this issue by improving dietary nitrogen efficiency, thereby helping to reduce the excretion of nitrogen into the environment by livestock.

In one recent study, the utilization of Optigen in dairy diets led to a 4% increase in nitrogen utilization efficiency, which resulted in a 14% reduction in the total carbon footprint of milk production diets. This reduction in nitrogen excretion not only helps mitigate the environmental impact of beef and dairy farming but also aligns with widespread regulatory standards and the shared goal of improving sustainability in agriculture.

Promoting balanced diets

Well-balanced diets are essential for optimizing animal health and minimizing the environmental footprint of beef and dairy operations. Optigen enables the formulation of more balanced, lower-protein diets without compromising performance. One meta-analysis of beef production, for example, showed that the partial replacement of vegetable protein with Optigen resulted in an 8% increase in liveweight gain and feed efficiency. This highlights the potential of Optigen to promote sustainable beef production while reducing the environmental footprint of feedlot operations.

Utilizing Optigen to achieve more sustainable livestock production

Optigen serves as a unique innovation in the realm of livestock nutrition, offering producers a holistic solution for enhancing both the performance of their animals and the sustainability of their farming practices. By maximizing feed efficiency, supporting rumen health and reducing nitrogen excretion, Optigen empowers producers to achieve their production goals while minimizing their environmental impact. As the agricultural industry continues to evolve, Optigen remains at the forefront of innovation, driving positive, long-term change towards a more sustainable future for livestock farming.

About the author: 

Tien Le earned her bachelor’s degree in advertising and marketing communications from the University of Greenwich, London, with the University Merit Award for Outstanding Achievement. She started her career at Alltech in 2016 as part of the Corporate Career Development Program, spending time in both the U.S. and Ireland before taking a role in Vietnam, her home country. Tien presently serves as the editorial content manager for Alltech, a role that allows her to fulfill her passions for writing, innovation and sustainable agriculture.

I want to learn more about nutrition for my cattle. 

Traditionally, hog prices follow seasonal patterns, with annual highs in the summer and lows in the fall and winter. This phenomenon is driven by multiple factors, which include:

• higher pork demand in summer, for grilling and outdoor activities
• decreased breeding and farrowing performances observed during hot months, known as seasonal infertility syndrome
• lower voluntary feed intake in all pig categories during heat stress periods, resulting in slower growth

In summer, the presence of additional environmental stressors, including heat, can severely impact growth performance. Of course, we must ensure that animals are constantly supplied with fresh water during this time. But nutrition also plays a surprisingly pivotal role in preventing the problems associated with heat stress.

During the hotter months, grow-finish pigs in particular significantly decrease voluntary feed intake. Therefore, if the objective is to take advantage of summer markets, nutritionists must carefully re-balance the nutrient composition to meet specific requirements at different stages of growth, considering the changes in feed intake. This includes optimizing levels of energy, amino acids and minerals to support healthy growth, efficient feed utilization and overall well-being.

Nutritional strategies such as adjustments to dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), soybean meal, fat, and feed additives are all proven to help maximize growth and performance for pigs marketed in summer. By lowering DDGS and increasing corn, we can increase the net energy of the diet and ensure that pigs are getting adequate nutrition, even given a decrease in feed intake. As with DDGS, it’s advised to offset soybean meal with an increase in synthetic amino acids. Pigs fed high-crude-protein diets tend to have higher heat increment levels, and this is counterproductive, especially during the hotter months.

Additionally, incorporating fats or oils into pig diets can create a more energy-dense feed, reducing the overall amount of feed required to meet pigs’ requirements for optimal growth. A rule of thumb nutritionists use to determine whether fat prices into rations is whether fat is four times or less than the price of corn. Although a simplistic approach, it can give a quick idea around the economics of fat. More complex economic models have been developed and are available for in-depth analysis.

Fat can improve feed efficiency in grow-finish pigs any time of year, but it is typically most cost-effective when fed in the summer, when pigs tend to eat less. On average, feed efficiency is improved by 2% for each 1% increment of added fat. Although this is significantly more variable, improvements in average daily gain may also be increased by 1% for each 1% addition of fat.

In addition to adjusting macronutrients, we can use feed additives to enhance growth performance during summer-induced heat stress. For instance, the inclusion of tribasic copper chloride in grow-finish diets has consistently demonstrated positive outcomes, yielding higher hot-carcass weights, average daily gain and feed intake, all of which are pivotal in the summer. Some supplements available from Hubbard, like Assist™ and Opti-Pak® Efficiency, have been shown to enhance growth performance by optimizing pH levels in the digestive tract and augmenting nutrient utilization.

It takes pigs roughly 115 to 120 days to grow from 50 to 280 lb. Therefore, to capitalize on the profits of the summer markets, we must consider grow-finish diet modifications starting as early as February.

A variety of beneficial feed additives is available in the marketplace. Consult with your nutritionist to identify the most suitable feed additives for your specific needs.

Nutritional values of ingredients

Accurate nutrient values for ingredients are paramount in formulating swine diets that precisely meet the nutritional requirements of pigs. Each ingredient contributes differently to the overall nutrient profile, and variations in nutrient content can significantly impact pig performance and diet cost. If we overestimate or underestimate the value of an ingredient, we can miss that optimal market window and face discounts at the packing plant. Relying on precise nutrient values ensures that diets are formulated correctly, promoting optimal growth rate, feed efficiency and diet costs.

Routine sampling and testing of raw ingredients helps provide us with accurate nutrient values and allows nutritionists to adjust nutrient loadings as needed. For example, if a nutritionist is using soybean meal (SBM) with a crude protein level listed at 48% in the ingredient profile, but the actual crude protein content is 46%, the discrepancy could cost producers an extra ~$0.20 per pig in feed costs to feed a pig from 50 to 280 lb., due to the inaccuracies of the ingredient profile. This decrease in crude protein could also decrease growth performance and disrupt the ideal window for marketing.

If nutritionists have the correct nutrient loadings for each ingredient, they can predict pig performance (ADG and F/G) more accurately. This allows for ongoing nutritional adjustments that will support the pigs in reaching the desired market weight within the optimal timeframe. This not only maximizes profitability but also minimizes production costs associated with extended time in the barn.

With the help of feed formulation technology, the nutrient profiles of ingredients can be uploaded, along with growth prediction equations, in order to more precisely formulate least-cost rations to maximize economic and sustainability metrics. Instead of just using a standard ingredient for all pigs, we can formulate diets to maximize producer profitability as a result of targeted and predictable animal performance.

About the author

Morgan Hart is a swine nutritionist for the Swine Technical Team at Hubbard Feed, an Alltech company. 

At a young age, Morgan realized she wanted to have a career working with animals. She was always volunteering to bring animals into her home, whether her mother approved of it or not. During high school she spent time raising ducks and rabbits for the county Fair but didn’t get involved with pigs until college. Morgan earned her bachelor’s degree in animal science and master’s in monogastric nutrition from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Morgan likes to say she didn’t choose pigs. Pigs chose her. During college, Morgan spent time working for numerous university research labs that focused on using swine as a biomedical model for human disease. Her commercial swine experience consists of working at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Livestock Lab, Swine Teaching Center, and interning with Iowa Select Farms. After college, Morgan was a farm manager for a small biotech pig operation in Wisconsin before starting her position at Protekta Inc as a monogastric specialist. After that, she joined the Swine Technical Team at Hubbard Feeds as a swine nutritionist.

Morgan grew up in southern Wisconsin, where she and her husband currently reside with their daughter. Her hobbies outside of work include training and competing in triathlons, enjoying outdoor activities, and spending time with her family and dogs.

I want to learn more about nutrition for my pig herd. 

Trace minerals such as copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) are essential for growth, development and health. They participate in many metabolic pathways and physiological functions, including reproduction, growth, immunity, bone formation and energy metabolism (Dieck et al., 2003; Bao et al., 2007; Dibner et al., 2007).

For the most part, recommendations for supplementing these essential nutrients have been based on Nutrient Requirements of Poultry, issued by the National Research Council (NRC). This has been a valuable tool to the global poultry industry. However, with the latest edition published now more than 20 years ago, it is out of date in regard to levels and types of mineral supplementation. The high inclusion rates that it recommends, typically utilizing inorganic trace mineral sources including sulfates, oxides and hydroxy-type products, were intended as a safety net to avoid deficiency symptoms, due to the low bioavailability typically associated with inorganic sources (Vieira et al., 2020). In fact, many producers are even overshooting the NRC recommendations, supplementing inorganic minerals at two to ten times the suggested levels (Aksu et al., 2010).

However, advances in research, genetics and production systems in the intervening decades have shed new light on this topic. According to Applegate and Angel (2014), our perception of nutrient supplementation has shifted from simply preventing deficiency to a larger purpose of optimizing growth or egg production response per unit of nutrient intake.

And we now know that we can achieve these higher goals with lower inclusion rates, as long as we are choosing optimal forms of the supplements we feed. Aksu et al. (2010) reported that antagonisms of dietary inorganic trace minerals not only result in decreased absorption but, at the high inclusion rates commonly used today, they can also result in higher excretion in manure. For this and other reasons, supplementation at these high levels is detrimental to the environment. This realization is increasingly reflected in industry regulations; for example, inclusion rates of Cu and Zn in monogastric diets are now regulated by many EU and Asian countries.

All of this emphasizes the need to consider alternative strategies when it comes to trace mineral supplementation.

Several studies suggest that organic, or chelated, forms of trace minerals are more bioavailable than their inorganic counterparts. Thus, when provided in the organic form, concentrations of trace minerals such as Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn can be reduced while achieving the same, or even better, effects on growth and performance as the recommended doses of their inorganic forms (Brennan et al., 2013). 

The question is, how much lower can we go when supplementing with organic trace minerals?

Organic trace minerals

The term “organic trace mineral” refers to any metal ion that is bound, complexed or chelated to a carbon-containing molecule, an organic ligand. However, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) points out that, based on the production process and the type of ligand used, organic trace minerals can be further classified into more specific categories.

Just as there are fundamental differences between inorganic and organic sources, there can also be significant differences between types within the organic category. This indicates the need for product-specific research as well as product-specific recommendations, since the degree to which the organic ligands remain bound to the metals under physiological conditions can differ from product to product, even within the same product category or classification.

The difference in stability and rate of disassociation, or separation, can also potentially explain the varying supplementation strategies proposed by the multiple companies that produce the different trace mineral products.

Even though partial replacement strategies (typically, replacing a certain amount of inorganic trace minerals with an equal or lower amount of organic trace minerals) are currently more popular, mostly due to cost, there is growing interest in total replacement strategies such as the Total Replacement Technology (TRT™) proposed by Alltech. These strategies involve the complete replacement of inorganic forms with organic ones at lower levels. In the case of TRT, these organic trace minerals are provided via Alltech’s Bioplex® and Sel-Plex® nutritional technologies.

Recommendations for organic vs. inorganic trace minerals

The fourth edition of the Brazilian Tables for Poultry and Swine, issued in 2017 by the Federal University of Viçosa in Brazil, recognized that with growing knowledge of the benefits of organic trace mineral sources, and with the growing commercial availability of new supplements, nutritionists increasingly have the option to choose between organic and inorganic supplementation.

The 2017 Brazilian tables, in fact, feature separate sets of recommendations based on mineral form. Based on these recommendations, supplementation with organic sources can be done at much lower levels (50–70% lower) than with inorganic sources.  

This approach has also been validated by several university studies. Vieira et al. (2020) evaluated the effects of organic vs. inorganic trace minerals in diets fed to 1-day-old male broiler chicks. Two sources of supplemental trace minerals (inorganic and organic, with Bioplex metal proteinates as the organic source) at four levels of supplementation (12.5%, 25%, 37.5% or 50%), plus a positive control containing inorganic trace minerals at 100% of recommended levels according to Brazilian industry standards, were used in the diets.

The authors reported the following findings:

• Broilers fed organic forms had better feed conversion (FCR) throughout the trial (1.754 organic vs. 1.783 inorganic; P<0.05), improved livability (95.8% organic vs. 93.6% inorganic; P<0.05) and higher weight gain at 48 days (3.941 kg organic vs. 3.881 kg inorganic; P<0.05).
• At lower dietary inclusion levels (12.5% and 25%), the birds fed organic trace minerals had a four-point improvement in FCR (P<0.05).
• The lower levels of organic trace minerals in feed reduced the mineral concentrations of Zn, Cu and Mn in the feces and litter (P<0.05).

Also, in a recent meta-analysis, the authors analyzed over 32 studies to examine the impact of organic trace minerals (provided via Bioplex) on the production performance and egg quality attributes of laying hens. They reported that overall inclusion of organic trace minerals (Bioplex Cu, Mn, Zn and Fe) not only had a positive impact on performance and overall egg quality but also contributed to a lower carbon footprint, improving the overall sustainability of egg production.

The impact of nutrition on performance of breeders in terms of body weight profile, egg production, egg size and shell quality, mortality, fertility and hatchability has also been well documented. Several studies have reported a positive impact when using organic trace minerals, even at lower levels, especially in regard to hatchability and chick quality.

Thus we see that utilizing a total replacement approach, even at very low levels of supplementation, can provide poultry producers with a cost-effective and sustainable approach that can maintain or even improve performance while reducing harmful trace mineral excretions.

Conclusion

The need for alternative, sustainable trace mineral strategies is becoming increasingly more urgent. Besides the inefficiency and potential environmental impact of oversupplying poultry diets with excessively high levels of inorganic trace minerals, the negative impact of these higher inclusion rates on other dietary ingredients, including enzymes and vitamins, cannot be overlooked.

Many studies and recommendations on partial or total replacement of inorganic trace minerals with highly bioavailable organic trace minerals are product-specific, reflecting that due to differences in stability and relative bioavailability, not all sources will perform equally. Still, as more producers explore, develop and adopt organic options around the world — especially where environmental concerns prevail — we are learning more about these variations and about the benefits of replacing inorganic trace minerals with their organic counterparts.

To learn more about Alltech’s organic trace minerals, please contact your local Alltech sales representative or email poultry@alltech.com.

References available upon request.

About the author:

Laurentia van Rensburg is the global head of commercial (nutrition), Technology Group at Alltech. Prior to this role, she was the technical mineral manager for the Alltech Mineral Management platform. Laurentia has more than 15 years of experience in the livestock and animal science industries and has served in various roles in South Africa, the Netherlands, Latin America and North America.

Originally from South Africa, Laurentia earned a master's degree in animal science from the University of Kentucky.

 I want to learn more about nutrition for poultry.