Agriculture and nutrition aren’t often thought of synonymously. Traditionally, human nutrition has been placed in the territory of health care professionals. However, farmers and producers play an integral role in providing access to diverse, nutritious foods – the foundation of good health. With a growing world population, nutrition-focused agriculture strategies are becoming increasingly important.

How can we position agriculture to improve nutrition and health worldwide?

Nutrition-focused agriculture strategies, including more sustainable approaches towards food production, dietary diversification and food enrichment can improve diet quality, combat nutrient deficiencies and boost overall nutrition. By applying a nutrition lens to agriculture, researchers, farmers, producers, agronomists and animal nutritionists have the potential to help close the “nutrition gap” – the gap between what foods are available and what foods need to be available for good nutrition worldwide.

Nutrient deficiency in plants, soil and livestock is a global issue that largely contributes to the deficiencies found in humans. The opportunity exists to address these deficiencies via nutrition interventions delivered by the agricultural sector. Improved agronomic practices and more nutritious animal and aquaculture feed have the potential to maximize the health and production of both plants and animals, while increasing the nutritional content of food and reducing health risks for consumers.

The role of biotechnology in improving health and wellness through the food chain is expanding.

Micronutrient-enriched fertilizers improve soil fertility and the plant’s ability to utilize nutrients, helping to support higher yields of more nutritious food. Correcting nutrient deficiencies in crops is a step towards correcting deficiencies of the same nutrients in humans.

Probiotic crop applications create a healthier environment for plants to grow. Probiotics assist in the uptake of nutrients by the plant to produce a more abundant nutrient-dense crop.

Enriched animal and aquaculture feed return essential nutrients back into the diet of livestock and fish. Enriched feed not only improves the health of the animal, it also naturally increases the nutritive value of the food product for consumers.

Improving global access to naturally occurring macro and micronutrients in whole, unprocessed foods will be a key contributor to success in improving human nutrition through agricultural investments.

As we look to the future, agriculture must be prioritized in human nutrition. By improving the health of animals, land and plants, we can provide higher quality, more nutritious food to nourish the world.

Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the most popular topics in health and nutrition today, and for good reason – this family of essential fatty acids provides a host of health benefits. Three fatty acids make up the omega-3 family: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Each of these omega-3 fatty acids is considered essential, meaning that they cannot be synthesized by the human body. However, not all omega-3 fatty acids are created equal. DHA is the most important of the omega-3 fatty acids, and is primarily responsible for the benefits commonly associated with omega-3 foods and supplements.

A common misconception is that our body’s need for DHA can be met by consuming flaxseed, nuts and other ALA sources, which our bodies would then convert to DHA. Yet studies have shown that ALA supplements are unable to raise blood DHA levels¹. Humans do have limited ability to convert dietary ALA to EPA and crucial DHA, however the efficiency of the conversion is very low (less than 1 percent)², and dietary intake of EPA and especially DHA is necessary to maintain sufficient amounts in the body.

DHA is essential for proper human development and health. Unfortunately, many diets are deficient in this vital nutrient. Alltech’s Algae Opportunity is working to mitigate this nutrient deficiency with naturally DHA-enriched functional foods by simply returning DHA-rich microalgae back into the diets of animals that produce meat, milk and eggs. By incorporating algae in the diets of livestock, both the animal and the consumer receive the expansive health benefits of DHA, improving health from feed to food.

1. Brenna JT, Salem N, Sinclair AJ, Cunnane SC. α-Linolenic acid supplementation and conversion to n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in humans. PLEFA. 2009 Feb-Mar; 80(2-3):85-91.
2. Simopoulos AP. The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids. Bio Pharm. 2002; 56(8):365-79.

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Jumping

For the ‘Final 4’ in Jumping, the four best placed competitors must jump the course with each of the four horses qualified for the final, starting with his/her own horse. Riders have the opportunity to school each of the horses for three minutes over two obstacles at a maximum height of 1.30m. Riders can change the saddle but the horse must remain in its own bridle, bit and boots. The rider with the lowest total penalties over all of the rounds of the final will be declared World Champion! In the event of equal penalties for first, second and/or third place there will be a jump-off against the clock over the same course but each competitor gets to ride their own horse.

Dressage

Classical dressage first came to prominence during the Renaissance as it was developed for the Cavalry. There is even some evidence that some of the manoeuvres used in dressage were developed by the ancient Greeks.

Eventing

The 1956 Olympic Games were held in Melbourne. However, due to Australia’s strict laws, horses entering the country would have had to endure a lengthy quarantine. As a result, the equestrian events were held in Stockholm, Sweden!

Although Eventing became an Olympic sport in 1912 only male military officers were allowed to compete. It wasn’t until 1964 in Tokyo that the first woman took part in an Eventing competition.

Driving

Driving is the oldest competitive equestrian sport. Evidence suggests that horses were driven long before they were ridden. The discovery of the Sintashta chariot burials in the southern Urals show driving dates all the way back to 2000BC.

Para-Dressage

In the 1952 Olympic Games before Para-dressage was an official discipline itself, Danish rider Lisa Hartel, who was paralysed from the knees down, won a silver medal in Dressage!

Endurance

Organised endurance riding as a formal sport began in 1955, when Wendell Robie and a group of equestrians rode from the Lake Tahoe area across the Sierra Nevada Range to Auburn, in under 24 hours. They followed the historic Western States Trail. This ride soon became known as the Tevis Cup and it remains one of the most difficult of any 100-mile rides in the world because of the severe terrain, high altitude and high temperatures.

Vaulting

The youngest competitor at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games^™ 2014 in Normandy is 8-year-old vaulter, Ksenia Ermolaeva from Russia.

Reining

 Reining is often described as the western form of dressage. It originated from the herding of cattle in Mexico and south-western states like Texas and California. The horses needed to be able to move in certain ways for the rider to remain in control of the cattle, movements not unlike those performed in dressage.

When you hear the word audit you automatically think of revenue or taxation auditors, but did you know that Alltech runs farm audits to help improve the efficiency, profitability and sustainability of your farm?

Alltech believes the key to unlocking greater profitability in a sustainable fashion is by increasing efficiency of production. This is the driving principle behind the Alltech E=P+S programme. Alltech can predict the probable outcome in economic value and also highlight the expected reduction in carbon emission from the added efficiencies projected. The programme helps to predict and monitor the benefits on-farm, as well as clearly demonstrating the advantages through Alltech’s unique “What if?” tool.

It’s simple, according to Kevin Dardis, global dairy marketing manager, “farmers look to the opportunities that abound in dairy and beef production, Alltech is uniquely positioned to help resolve inefficiencies and boost profitability in a more sustainable way.”

So how does it work? Alltech’s E=P+S programme is comprised of a number of components which when taken together provide farmers with a complete audit and recommendation package for any farm unit.

The first component is silage production and quality. This is combined with advice on feed formulation and mineral specifications. Then our technicians audit the management of the herd using the Alltech programme. And we carry out manure sieving to help identify the amount of undigested feed passing through the rumen in a wasteful manner.

“As farmers look to the opportunities that abound in dairy and beef production, Alltech is uniquely positioned to help resolve inefficiencies and boost profitability in a more sustainable way,” says Kevin.

Our technicians are fully trained in feed formulation using Plurimix, a dedicated formulations program. Plurimix models the existing diet and allows for a comparison of the potential benefits of alternative diets. All diets can be compared nutritionally, by cost and by carbon output of the herd’s diet. This information can then be transferred, along with the basic operating performance indicators of the farm, into the unique Alltech “What if?“ tool. Calculations indicate the degree of cost benefit from the resolved inefficiencies to the farmer with the added bonus of reduced herd carbon footprint, which is great news for the consumer who is more concerned than ever with how their food is produced.

All of these components are pulled together into a comprehensive recommendation for diet, mineral specification, alternative protein sources and if required, mycotoxin control. Following implementation, the results and performance are regularly monitored by technicians to ensure the predicted improvements are achieved or bettered. Sounds simple right? If you are interested in seeing if Alltech can help you today contact your local Alltech representative.

The next stop on Norman’s global trot was Croatia, with its calming coastal landscape, misty mountains and various valleys, Norman knew he was in for a great day! There are numerous national parks in Croatia such as the Plitvice National Park were Norman paid a visit. This is the largest national park in Croatia and the oldest in all of Southeast Europe. The lakes were an astounding aqua blue and are one of the most incredible things Norman has ever seen. After buying a postcard to send his family, Norman left this wonderful place to visit Kušić Promet Ltd.

Norman takes a trip to Kušić Promet Ltd.

Kušić Promet Ltd. is a long serving customer of Alltech and an Alltech Official Partner of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy, for the second year running. So Norman was quite excited to reunite with his friends and hear their news. Mr. Kušić explained to Norman that he has successfully been using Alltech solutions for his cattle and so it was only natural for him to include Alltech solutions in his new line of Centaur® brand horse feeds.

Mr. Kušić´s knew that Norman loved show jumping, so as a nice end to an already brilliant day Norman was brought to the stables to greet Mr. Kušić´s show jumping mare, Lady Kracher. Norman neighed a lot with Lady Kracher and got some tips on how to become a leading show jumper. But all too soon it was time for Norman to leave and race off to his next stop.

Norman neighed hello to the Dominican Republic and was excited to learn more about its history and culture. Norman recalled that during Christopher Columbus’ second voyage in 1493, Columbus returned to the Dominican Republic bringing oranges, limes, citron, olive and walnut trees, wheat, rice, cinnamon, cloves, peaches, apricots, sheep, goats, cattle, pigs and of course horses!

Settlers used these horses in farming, gold mining and mercantile enterprises. Their descendents are today’s Paso Fino, a clever and planned mix of several Spanish breeds. It is the oldest native breed in the Western Hemisphere. Paso Fino translates as “fine step” in English. Its premier characteristics are a smooth and even gate and it’s known for its hardiness and natural presence. Norman noted how remarkably versatile the Paso Fino horse is. He was hoping to meet some Paso Fino horses on his journey but first he had to meet with Carolina Orizondo, a competitor in this year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy.

Norman meets with an Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy competitor

Norman was delighted to hear that Carolina Orizondo discovered her passion for horses when she was only five years old. Carolina told Norman that she has spent her whole life surrounded by both the equestrian and farming world. Her father introduced reining as a discipline in the Dominican Republic, where he trained his daughters in the sport. One of Carolina’s sisters participated in the World Equestrian Games some years back and that encouraged her to compete this year. The national qualifying rounds were among 12 horse riders and Faunty Garrido and Carolina Orizondo were selected to compete at this year’s Games in Normandy.

Before leaving, Carolina brought Norman to meet some Paso Fino horses in a nearby stable. Here Norman swapped tips on health and nutrition. The Paso Fino horses told Norman he must eat well and get plenty of rest during his journey around the world.

As Norman left the Dominican Republic he already looked forward to catching up with Carolina at the Games and he thought of all the other competitors he would meet on his global trot. 

As the Arctic blast wreaks havoc across many parts of the United States, regions are seeing record low temperatures and record highs of weather-related stress on livestock. Plummeting winter temperatures are making many dairy operations reconsider their winter survival tactics and preparation for disease challenges that can come with the change of the seasons.

One challenge that can often show up in dairy herds during this time is winter dysentery. Occurring from early fall through late spring, winter dysentery is characterized by the sudden onset of diarrhea and can affect 15 percent or more of the herd.  Fresh blood in the feces may be present, as well as, dehydration, loss in body condition, respiratory issues like coughing and nasal discharge, and a varying decline in milk production of 10 percent or greater, are also noted.  Winter dysentery has a high rate of morbidity, but a low rate of mortality.  Twenty to 50 percent of animals in the herd will exhibit clinical symptoms within the first few days and the rest of the herd within a week to 10 days.

The causative agent in winter dysentery is still unclear.  However, Bovine coronavirus (BCV) has been cultured from the feces of affected animals, which is also a culprit in bouts of diarrhea and respiratory disease in young calves.  Additionally, elevated BCV titers have been measured in afflicted herds. Ingestion of contaminated feed or water is the most common route of infection.  Viral particles in the respiratory secretions of affected animals can also exacerbate transmission. 

Clinical symptoms of winter dysentery typically subside within two weeks of onset.  However, the time to recover the loss in body condition and milk production can take months.  Thus, financial ramifications of an outbreak of winter dysentery can be severe.  Recovered animals appear to be immune from the disease from one to five years, but carrier animals can be a source of repeated outbreaks.

The first step in managing the disease is to stop the cycle. It is also recommended to caution access to outside visitors during an outbreak of winter dysentery.  Controlling the movement patterns of cattle and people on the farm can be beneficial, as well as having farm employees working with cattle change out of soiled clothes and sanitize boots as often as necessary for their particular job. Eliminating manure contamination in water, feed, feed bunks, and feeding equipment is also critical in avoiding transmission of this virus.

Besides management practices, producers may also want to consider their nutritional programs in assisting the herd to get through an outbreak with less stress. Alternative non-antimicrobial products such as direct-fed microbials and/or mannan oligosaccharides (Bio-Mos®) have shown some benefits in improving the animal’s balance of intestinal bacteria (International Dairy Topics Vol. 4 No. 3, 2005).Direct-fed microbials and mannan oligosaccharides can help to maintain healthy immune systems in dairy and efficient nutrient transfer from cow to calf. Palatable feed and fresh water should be available at all times, and in severely affected cattle, fluid therapy should be administered.  Currently, there are no vaccines for BCV.

In most cases, affected cattle recover spontaneously. However, measures such as proper hygiene, constant awareness, quarantining of new animals, and certified testing remain important and should continue to be used on the farm to help in preventing and treating potential outbreaks.

Meet the cow’s amino acid requirements

In order to reach maximum milk production potential, cows need not only a sufficient amount of protein but a protein that provides the proper amino acid balance.  Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and the quality of a protein is determined by its balance in term of essential amino acids.  Not all protein sources are created equal. 

A cow’s protein and amino acid requirements can be met by a protein source with an amino acid composition that closely matches the composition of what the cow is producing, such as milk protein and muscle.  By focusing on the amino acid composition of the protein supply to the cow, we can efficiently meet the cow’s protein requirements without overfeeding protein while meeting the correct amino acid balance.

Feed the rumen

Ruminants derive protein from two sources: microbial protein synthesized in the rumen and escape protein provided in feedstuffs.  Microbial protein provides 50 - 60 percent of the protein supply to the typical dairy cow.  Bacteria and protozoa in the rumen ferment carbohydrates and protein supplied from the ration into more bacteria and protozoa that will provide protein to the cow.  Microbial protein is a very high quality protein in that the amino acid composition matches that of milk protein. 

Feed the cow

For high producing dairy cows, microbial protein alone will not provide a sufficient protein supply.  A feed source of protein is required to meet a high-producing cow’s protein requirements.  This protein must escape degradation in the rumen and will directly provide protein to the cow.  The amino acid profile of escape protein sources is critical to how well that protein can positively affect milk production and efficiency.

New technology to provide optimal amino acid supply    

A study conducted at South Dakota State University by Dr. Javier Sabbia et al. (2012)1 demonstrated the importance of proper protein nutrition as well as the application of a product designed to meet the cow’s requirements for amino acids.  DEMP (DEMP®, a yeast-derived microbial protein produced by Alltech, Inc.) is a source of high quality protein with an amino acid prodile that closely matches that of reference protein sources such as milk protein and microbial protein. The product is partially digested by the microbes in the rumen and supplies essential peptides (small proteins) and free amino acids that may maximize microbial protein synthesis.  In addition, the portion of DEMP that escapes the rumen supplies the cow with a high quality protein directly from feed.  Research showed that DEMP supports the protein supply to the cow by increasing microbial protein production and by supplying a feed source of high quality amino acids.

DEMP vs. soybean meal      

To examine the implications of a protein source on lactating dairy cows, Sabbia and colleagues replaced varying portions of soybean meal with DEMP.  Plant proteins such as soybean and canola meal and distillers grains comprise most of the protein fed to ruminants in the United States.  By replacing equal amounts of soybean meal with DEMP at 0, 300, 600, and 900 grams per cow per day, the researchers were able to compare how well DEMP versus soybean meal met the amino acid requirements for a lactating cow. 

The cows were fed a typical Midwestern lactating TMR primarily composed of corn silage, alfalfa hay, ground corn and soybean meal.  The researchers found that milk production increased by replacing a portion of soybean meal with DEMP at varying rates.  The rations containing 300 and 600 grams of DEMP resulted in the most milk, 92 pounds compared to 87 pounds for the control (standardized to 4 percent fat and 3.2 percent protein).  Milk fat content increased by 0.09 to 0.13 percent with the inclusion of DEMP. 

In addition to measuring performance parameters, the researchers at SDSU took measurements to determine the effect of treatment on rumen function, using both ruminally canulated cows as well as an in vitro procedure in the lab.  Rations including DEMP resulted in lower rumen ammonia and branched-chain VFA concentrations.  Both of these parameters indicate protein degradation in the rumen; lower values for the DEMP ration indicate degradation of feed protein was lower.

 Together these variables indicate that DEMP is less degradable in the rumen than soybean meal and will provide more high quality escape protein from feed to the cow.  Using an in vitro procedure developed to simulate rumen fermentation in the lab, researchers observed that true dry matter digestibility increased by 1.4 to 2.7 percentage units when DEMP replaced soybean meal.  This observation supports the second hypothesis on DEMP’s method of action: improving rumen efficiency thereby improving feed digestion and microbial protein flow. 

Feed a complete protein

Improving protein supply to the cow by increasing the flow of high quality microbial protein from the rumen and providing a feed source of high quality protein can allow for increased milk production, as observed in the high producing cows used in the South Dakota State study.  The benefits of replacing common sources of plant protein with a high quality protein include increased milk production, higher efficiency of protein utilization, and the potential to feed lower protein rations.

• Microbial protein and DEMP have similar amino acid profile
• Microbial protein and DEMP closely match the amino acid profile of milk protein
• Soybean meal and other plant proteins do not match the amino acid profile of milk protein as well, indicating that soybean meal does not meet the animal’s requirements for amino acids

The full article can be accessed at journalofdairyscience.org.

1Sabbia, J.A., K.F. Kalscheur, A.D. Garcia, A.M. Gehman, and J.M. Tricarico.  2012.  Soybean meal substitution with a yeast-derived microbial protein source in dairy cow diets.  J. Dairy Sci.  95:5888-5900.

Amanda Gehman1, Javier Sabbia2,3, Ken Kalscheur2, Alvaro Garcia2, and Juan Tricarico4
1Alltech, Inc., Nicholasville, KY
2South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
3Biotech Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay
4Innovaton Center for U.S. Dairy, Rosemont, IL

I want to learn more about nutrition for my dairy.

How different are eggs, really?

You can choose eggs based on color, eggs based on size, enriched eggs, and eggs from hens raised in a variety different production systems. Price, of course, may be the most basic difference, and it’s linked to all of your other choices.

Today is World Egg Day, celebrated on the second Friday of every October. It's a day to celebrate egg farmers and promote the incredible edible egg. To celebrate, let’s discuss the large array of choices on the market. Eggs are a ubiquitous source of delicious protein for people around the world, but many people aren’t sure of the differences between the types of eggs that are available.

So really, how are all these eggs different? Let’s break down the list.

Color

There is no nutritional difference between a white and brown egg of the same size. So pick whichever your heart desires.

Size

This is pretty self-explanatory. Eggs are usually labeled as medium, large, extra large or jumbo. Differences in egg size are largely due the age of the hen, though sometimes it is related to the strain or breed as well.

Enriched eggs

Enriched eggs have a higher than normal content of a particular nutrient. For example, hens that consume more Omega-3 will produce eggs with higher levels of Omega-3.

Enriched foods must follow specific guidelines. According to the FDA, “A food that is labeled as ‘enriched’ with a nutrient must contain at least 10 percent more of the Daily Value of that nutrient than a food of the same type that is not enriched.”

Different production systems

First, there are conventionally raised hens. This traditional way of raising hens has been going on since the 1950s. Hens are raised in cages, with five to eight birds per cage. This system has been used for many years, and farmers excel at taking care of their hens under this production system.

Cage-free eggs are also common. These hens are still raised indoors, but not in cages. Another familiar label on the market is free-range. These hens are raised in a big barn with 24-hour access to the outdoors, as long as the weather permits.

Finally, there are organic eggs. These hens are raised just liked free-range hens; but their feed is different. Organically raised hens have a strict set of rules on their diet set by the USDA.

Who ever would have guessed that there is so much to know about eggs? If you’d like to learn more about eggs, you can check the USDA’s site or the American Egg Board site.  You can learn more about Alltech’s work with egg farmers here.

Now that you have a better idea of the choices out there, you can buy some eggs and celebrate World Egg Day! Countries across the world will be celebrating that delicious wholesome protein source we call an egg. So let’s get together and boil, scramble, or poach your favorite eggs!

There is no substitute for face to face interaction. Some of the best interaction at Global 500 takes place on our farm tours, which are scheduled before and after the sessions. Dairy and beef farmers from all over the world had the chance Monday and Tuesday to visit some of Ireland’s most progressive farms. Tours are also scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Over the next several weeks we will be posting interviews from the Irish host farmers and farmers from all over the world who went on the tours.

In the meantime we have some great photos from the tours on our Dairy Heroes Facebook page and we will be adding more photos over the next couple of days.

Here are highlights from some of the farms that we visited. Thanks to Farm Tours Ireland for coordinating them for us.

Dairy Farms

Pat Callan, Philipstown, Co. Louth
This farm milks 160 Montbeliarde cows and the annual herd average is 8,000 litres. The herd is split, calving between autumn and spring. A large emphasis is placed on detailed grazing management and all forage is produced on the farm in the form of grass and maize silages.

Michael McDonnell, Termonfeckin, Co. Louth
The herd produces an average of 10,000 litres annually and is split between autumn and spring calving. High quality grass silage and maize silage are an essential part of the farm strategy to achieve high performance.

Bingham Farm, Co. Antrim
The Binghams milk 500 high-yielding Holstein cows. They produce quality grass silage as the main forage source and achieve excellent yields from their forage inputs. Recent investment in housing and milking facilities has resulted in production benefits.

Beef Farms

Tara Farms Ltd., Dunboyne, Co. Meath
Tara Farms is a large-scale feedlot finishing approximately 1,500 animals annually. There is a mixture of bulls and heifers, all produced for the Italian market, a premium market for Irish beef producers. Excellent weight gains and high levels of efficiency are achieved on this farm.

Moyvalley Meat Farm, Co. Meath
Moyvalley Meat Farm is integrated with Moyvalley Meats and finishes approximately 2,000 steers and heifers throughout the winter period. Quality grass silage is produced on the farm.

Brian McCabe, Co. Louth
This farm is a small feedlot, finishing 600-700 animals annually, which are mainly heifers for the Italian market. Mr. McCabe produces grass and maize silage and feeds them together with large volumes of homegrown wheat and barley. The unit achieves impressive weight gains and high quality carcasses.

Joseph O’Reilly, Co. Louth
This farm has 110 crossbred cows which are split between calving in autumn and spring. All animals are finished on farm. Mr. O’Reilly has a preference for using Limousin as the terminal sire. All forages produced on the farm are of the highest quality.