Storm Emma has hit Ireland and the United Kingdom with blizzard conditions overnight. Temperatures have plummeted, and snowmen are popping up around the countryside. No matter where in the world you might be having a snow day, looking after calves properly in a winter wonderland will ensure growth rates do not decline.

Remember: The heifer calf is the future of the dairy herd and will determine the potential future production of the herd, no matter what the weather! During this cold spell, calf management should be a priority on-farm.

The InTouch Calf Programme offers focuses on four key areas for healthy growth in cold weather, including:

1. Colostrum
2. Early nutrition and energy intake
3. Environment
4. Immunity

1. Colostrum

We only have one opportunity to maximise the benefits a calf receives from colostrum. Colostrum is a nutrient-rich material containing immunoglobulins (antibodies) that are necessary for the newborn calf. A calf’s immune system is not fully functional until 1 to 2 months of age, so calves are dependent on the passive transfer of antibodies from the cow to protect them until this time.

The ability to absorb colostrum is at its highest in the first hour after birth and ceases at 24 hours. It is important, especially during cold weather, to bottle feed or stomach tube feed at least 3 litres of colostrum and give a second feeding eight hours later before transitioning to milk or calf milk replacer.

2. Early nutrition

Milk

In order to maintain growth and achieve a target of up to 0.6 kilograms of weight gain per day, aim to feed 15 percent of bodyweight (for a 40-kilogram calf, this equals 6 litres of milk per day). Calves require approximately 325 grams of milk solids for maintenance in thermoneutral temperatures. Calves weighing 40 kilograms on 4 litres of milk per day (which is 10 percent of their bodyweight) can achieve 200 grams of growth per day. However, calves weighing more than 40 kilograms will struggle to maintain weight on this amount. Milk replacer has lower fat and energy content, and a larger volume is therefore needed.

Calf milk replacer

When mixing milk powder, always remember that it takes 125 grams of powder to make up to 1 litre of milk replacer, not 125 grams of powder added to 1 litre of water. Milk replacer should be matched to growth targets.

In cold weather, milk solids should be increased 100 grams per day for every 10 degrees that the temperature drops below 20 degrees. Milk can be fed more frequently and at higher concentrations.

Calves require more milk for maintenance in cold weather. The thermoneutral zone for calves less than 3 weeks of age is 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. For calves that are older, the low critical temperature is 5 degrees Celsius. Every degree below 10 degrees Celsius requires 2 percent more energy in the newborn calf; a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius requires 20 percent more feed.

Fat content in calf milk replacer can be increased 2 to 3 percent in cold weather. Below freezing, daily energy requirements can increase by up to 30 percent. Draughts or wind chill can exacerbate this and will have the same effect as a drop in temperature.

Water

Ensure water troughs are not frozen. Water should always be freely available for calves in addition to the water that is consumed through liquid milk feeding.

3. Environment

Environment is a crucial factor in cold weather. Rest and space are a priority for calves, as they spend 80 percent of their time lying down.

Housing

Ensure calves are comfortable in their environment, with plentiful dry bedding and shelter from draughts and breezes. Thermal calf jackets can be a very useful addition to keep calves warm and maintain body heat. If calves are huddling in corners of the pen, adjust shelter accordingly and use bales to create shelter corners in the pen if necessary. Pen or group changes should be kept to a minimum to reduce stress.

4. Immunity

Adequate colostrum, as explained above, clean calving areas and a well-ventilated, hygienic calf shed environment will go far in preventing scours and respiratory diseases, along with using correct vaccinations.

Have a question or comment?

“You are what you eat” might strike you with a bit of fear or guilt depending on what it is that you are munching at the moment. While the origins of this phrase are probably as old as mankind, fundamental research now supports the importance of eating the right things, at the right time, both in humans and animals. 

Our genes are the blueprint that defines who we are. How genes express themselves in the presence of nutrition, to produce proteins, is called “gene expression.” The science that defines how we understand this interplay between what we eat and how our genes function is called “nutrigenomics.”

A small chip, representing all the genes in the tissue of the individual being examined, allows scientists to predict precisely what effects to expect from dietary changes by showing which genes are activated and deactivated (in other words, turned “on” or “off”).

Just over ten years ago, Alltech opened a first-of-its-kind facility dedicated to the study of animal nutrition’s impact on gene expression. This study of nutrigenomics has allowed scientists to determine what outcomes to expect from feeding specific foods, feeds and dietary supplements to animals without waiting the months or even years that are typical in traditional farm trials. Additionally, nutrigenomics is minimally invasive research, requiring little from animals, such as minor bloodwork tests.

Over the 10 years since the Alltech Center for Animal Nutrigenomics and Applied Animal Nutrition opened, nutrigenomics has been used to:

• Understand how specific foods and diet structures change gene expression.
• Quickly screen and identify new nutrients with similar benefits to existing elements of the modern livestock diet.
• Predict responses to novel nutrients or foods.

10 Nutrigenomics Breakthroughs

1. Truly Amaize-ing

Although considered “amazing” by some farmers who use it, Amaize® from Alltech was a product with an elusive mode of action.

Cattle and other ruminants rely upon their first stomach (the rumen) to break down fiber. Enzymes such as Amaize should help with this digestion process. Using traditional techniques, researchers demonstrated that adding Amaize resulted in carcass weight gain for beef and greater milk production in dairy.

Examining tissue samples using gene expression, however, added much more to the story. The enzyme’s impact on the animal’s metabolic system showed that Amaize optimizes animal growth.

Several key changes were noted in particular. Genes relating to the expression of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), insulin receptors and the growth hormone were affected positively. These genes all have a direct correlation to increasing metabolic activity and therefore body growth.

Nutrigenomics allowed scientists to precisely understand the true function of Amaize, making it possible to issue specific recommendations to farmers of how and how much to incorporate into their cattle’s diets to maximize production and profitability (primary scientist: Dr. Ronan Power, Alltech). 

2. EconomasE: An economical alternative to vitamin E

In essence, EconomasE is an antioxidant supplement, demonstrating similar biological functions to vitamin E, but more economically.

Vitamin E is known throughout the world for its powerful antioxidant properties. Antioxidants inhibit the oxidation of other molecules, which can produce free radicals. Free radicals, unpaired loose electrons, cause damage to cells in the body. Generally, therefore, a person who consumes antioxidants will be healthier and in better shape to fight off illness, which is why doctors advise eating antioxidant-rich foods like leafy greens, nuts and certain berries.

Humans aren’t the only ones to benefit from antioxidants; all animals do, and this is why vitamin E is routinely included in the diets of all production animals. Vitamin E, however, is very expensive, and producers often seek ways to minimize its inclusion in their feed. The caveat is that reduction of vitamin E can increase the likelihood of requirement for antibiotics.

Using nutrigenomics, researchers were able to identify vitamin E’s mode of action and then set about identifying other compounds or combinations with similar effects. EconomasE proved capable of replicating the gene expression changes seen with vitamin E, and this was confirmed in 46 subsequent trials with poultry, swine and cattle. EconomasE maintained meat quality and the beneficial, protective antioxidative effects of vitamin E without the high price tag (primary scientist: Dr. Karl Dawson, Alltech).

3. Using zinc to facilitate development

Zinc is a trace mineral required by all animals to grow and develop properly. It supports immune function, allowing the animal to overcome immune challenges. In animals, through optimizing the immune response, it reduces risks associated with a severe infection known as necrotic enteritis (NE), which costs the poultry industry alone an estimated $5 to $6 billion globally and has mortality rates of up to 1 percent per day.

Necrotic enteritis is caused by the pathogenic bacteria family of Clostridium perfringens, resulting in lesions of the intestine that inhibit the absorption of nutrients, further weakening the sick animal and sometimes leading to death. In the last few years, scientists have been searching for ways to reduce the effects of necrotic enteritis in production animals such as poultry, pigs and cattle.

Nutrigenomics also confirmed that the form of zinc used is important. Forms such as zinc oxide and zinc sulphate that are typically used in animal diets, and in human supplements, are less effective than those connected to mixed peptides, which impact how the zinc is absorbed. Treating the animal in a holistic manner, supplying it with nutrients in the optimal form, enables that animal to be far better prepared to fight off potential infection, resulting in less antibiotic use and better efficiency of food digestion, both of which will save poultry producers (and consumers) billions of dollars annually (primary scientist: Dr. Daniel Graugnard, Alltech).

4. Mitigating myopathies in meat

As recently as five years ago, a condition known as “woody breast” wasn’t even on chicken producers’ list of concerns. Now, it is credited with losses conservatively estimated at $200 million dollars in the U.S. and affects chicken producers in Brazil, Spain and Italy, amongst others. An affliction of the chicken breast, it results in tough, chewy and otherwise inedible meat.

While genetics certainly play a factor, woody breast is generally considered to be directly correlated to how fast producers grow their chickens. Consider that in 1930, the average chicken was slaughtered at 2.5 pounds (1.1 kilograms) and took 50 days to gain each pound of weight. Less than 100 years later, we grow chicken to 6 to 8 pounds live weight, and they can put on a pound every eight days!

At a scientific level, fast-growing chickens are being affected by hypoxia (low blood), increased oxidative stress, inflammation and an increase in fibrofatty tissue.  From a consumer perspective, this results in chewy chicken and a generally unpleasant eating experience. However, understanding gene expression changes through nutrigenomics has enabled the development of a feed program that decreases the oxidative effects within the bird, resulting in normal tasting breast fillets for consumers (primary scientist: Dr. Rebecca Delles, Alltech).

5. Actigen: A stronger next generation of a proven success

For many years, Bio-Mos® has been a star ingredient in animal feed. It supported animal performance naturally by reinforcing the function of the digestion system and enhancing feed efficiency.   

The challenge was that the nature of natural is variation: color, odor and particle size relating to the natural process of production. Producers wanted the benefits of Bio-Mos, but they wanted it to be more concentrated, make it more economical and make it traceable.  

Nutrigenomic research quickly confirmed Actigen®’s similarities to Bio-Mos but also showed it to be 2.5 to five times more powerful.

Subsequent animal feeding trials later proved Actigen’s ability to help animals achieve their genetic potential. However, nutrigenomics confirmed its biological value much earlier, in a matter of weeks rather than months or years (primary scientist: Dr. Colm Moran, Alltech).

6. You are what your mother ate: The science of epigenetics

Epigenetics, or how an environment impacts the expression of inherited genes, is the next science that we expect will revolutionize the way we think of nutrition. In this case, what the parents ate, and what the parents of their parents ate, affects gene expression. And, it goes beyond nutrition. Studies have shown that overeating, undereating, exercise and smoking all have potential benefits or deleterious effects on future generations.

Pregnant sows at the world’s largest pig farm were fed Actigen during the last trimester and demonstrated epigenetic benefits. Tissue samples from their offspring exhibited gene expression changes suggesting stronger immune systems and enhanced nutrient uptake. So, as epigenetics suggests, feeding the mothers Actigen resulted in pigs that were much better off than those whose mothers did not receive it.

Healthier piglets will grow better, be more efficient, have stronger immune systems and less likelihood of disease infections/need for antibiotics (primary scientist: Dr. Kristen Brennan, Alltech).

7. Programmed nutrition: Conditioning gene expression

Within the lifetime of a person or animal, genes can be conditioned. In other words, we can design specific feeding regimes that prime the genes so that when a second diet is introduced, those genes express in ways that are more beneficial for the animal. This can be especially of benefit in the cattle industry, where cattle are bred and born in one location and often exchange hands three or four times.

Programmed nutrition shows that when newborn animals are fed supplements at specific levels and specific times, their bodies can better learn to utilize and retain these nutrients. As the animal grows, they become more efficient and require fewer nutrients than animals receiving excess supplements.

One example is EPNIX®. Part of a feeding program designed for genetic conditioning, the timing of feeding EPNIX to cattle is critical. It is a two-part process: the first part conditions the animal’s body to utilize nutrients better and the second part involves feeding the optimal nutrients.

EPNIX is a natural feed program that can positively improve cattle performance, meat quality and even reduce the environmental impact of beef farming (primary scientist: Dr. Vaughn Holder, Alltech).

Check out this podcast by Alltech research scientist Dr. Vaughn Holder to learn more about EPNIX.

8. In ovo feeding: Feed the egg before the chicken

Typically, the time from when an egg is laid to when it hatches is 21 days, almost the same amount of time it takes the chicken to grow. So it’s not surprising that poultry producers are increasingly wondering what nutrition a chick receives inside the egg.

Using nutrigenomics, scientists can look at what happens when different nutrients are introduced into the eggs. When used correctly, in ovo (Latin for “inside the egg”) feeding methods can be a powerful way to improve the development and health of the animal.

Careful egg injections of tiny doses of water-soluble sugar called MR8, from a probiotic yeast, resulted in baby chicks with stronger immune systems at birth and more efficient digestive systems. Not only that, but their hatchability increased, with more chicks born and improved survivability in the first week. Additionally, nutrigenomics showed a more developed digestive system physiologically and structurally, giving the bird a strong head start when compared to chicks that didn’t get the sugar from the probiotic yeast.

Today, implementing in ovo feeding requires special machines for use in hatcheries incubating thousands of eggs. However, the technology is quickly emerging to make in ovo feeding a strong part of poultry nutrition’s future (primary scientist: Dr. Rijin Xiao, Alltech).

 9. Serving salmon sans sea lice

Fish have never been more popular with consumers. As such, fish farming, or aquaculture, has become very important. In fact, more fish now come from farms than are caught in the sea. Yet, aquaculture presents its own challenges, including managing diseases and parasites. Sea lice alone cost the aquaculture industry an estimated $1 billion dollars a year. The threat of sea lice to salmon is not new, and salmon have developed their own protection by the secretion of a mucous layer encompassing its scales. This works, but when the sea lice are big enough, they can harm the fish and sometimes even kill it.

Until now, no annotated gene chip for salmon existed. The only fish species available was zebrafish, which is more likely to be found in your child’s aquarium! Now, a new salmon gene chip allows researchers to test all kinds of nutritional changes from a nutrigenomics perspective, and already evidence has been generated showing how to reduce the threat of sea lice to salmon.

Scientists have learned how to harness the natural immune system of the fish. Dr. Keith Filer and the research team at Alltech have discovered how to help fish produce more of the mucous-producing cells, making them slimier and thus more difficult for the sea lice to attach. For more on sea lice and the salmon industry, check out “For salmon’s sake: Seeking solutions to sea lice” (primary scientist: Dr. Keith Filer, Alltech).

10. Retooling our approach to Alzheimer’s

From humankind’s perspective, the most important work at Alltech’s nutrigenomics facility is with a selenium compound called AT-001. Nutrigenomic studies have indicated this specific selenium has the ability to change biochemical pathways associated with many serious diseases such as Alzheimer’s or other neurodegenerative diseases.

In collaboration with the late Dr. William Markesbery, the former director at the University of Kentucky’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Alltech began testing AT-001, using a well-established mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to evaluate its effects on neurodegeneration.

AT-001 reduced the incidence of clumps of misfolded proteins, known as amyloid plaques, often associated with Alzheimer’s, by 45–50 percent in the brains of these AD mice. Furthermore, the overall destruction caused by oxidative damage in the brain tissue of these same animals was reduced. For example, oxidative damage to both DNA and RNA was reduced by 35 percent and 60 percent, respectively.

Now tested in other animal species and other tissues, AT-001 has been found to significantly increase mitochondrial activity. Mitochondria are the organelles responsible for producing energy in cells and are thus essential for life. It is well documented in scientific literature that even small decreases in mitochondrial activity are linked to the occurrence of at least 50 different illnesses.

These initial results have opened an entirely new field of research, evaluating the physiological impact of more than 100 individual sub-components of AT-001. Three small selenium compounds have displayed remarkable activity in cell culture and animal models with type 2 diabetes. In addition, the compound in AT-001 that is responsible for the reduction in amyloid plaques has been identified and characterized. AT-001 is currently in Phase II human clinical trials in a population of elderly subjects who are at risk of developing AD (primary scientist: Dr. ZJ Lan, Alltech).

The past 10 years have seen incredible scientific and technological advancements in our understanding of nutrigenomics. We believe these breakthroughs are only the beginning as technology and data analytics continue to advance. For humans, animals, and livestock and food producers, the future looks optimistic.

The following is an edited transcript of Tom Martin’s interview with Gijs Rutjes, technical sales support manager at Coppens International, an Alltech company. 

Gijs Rutjes is technical sales support manager at Coppens International, an Alltech company, in Helmond, the Netherlands. He joined Tom Martin to discuss recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). The technology dramatically reduces the amount of water and space required to intensively produce seafood products.

Tom:                   Let's begin by asking you to give us a brief history of RAS farming. Why did we start growing fish on land in the first place?

Gijs:                     One of the main reasons is that this offers the opportunity to farm, for example, tropical species in cold conditions. One big example is the African catfish in Holland. This is a fish that requires about 26 degrees Celsius (78 degrees Fahrenheit). In Holland, it could never survive. Still, it's a well-valued fish in Holland. So, we have to use RAS with heated water and purification systems to farm this fish. 

                            Another reason is that you are close to the market. You can position the farm close to the market where you want to be and lower  transportation costs.  

                            It also offers you the possibility to choose a great water supply in an area where you know the borehole water to be really good.

                            Another thing is that you control the conditions for the fish. You can look after optimal conditions all the time. In the case of any     diseases, you have much more control.

                            Finally, you can prevent escapees. In cage farming, sometimes fish unfortunately do escape and can mingle with wild stocks, but  this is near impossible in a RAS farm.

Tom:                   How is this technology being received by the industry? What position does RAS farming hold in the world of modern agriculture?

Gijs:                     I think its importance is increasing. It was a rather local affair in some countries. Holland was one of the first. Denmark also had a leading position. It spread first among the expensive species, but it has become more of a mainstay across the industry because of all the advantages that it has. It has modernized aquaculture, and I'm sure it will continue to modernize because we can still improve certain purification methods and reduce the amount of water needed to produce a kilo of fish.

Tom:                   What are the key challenges for farmers who produce fish in these recirculating aquaculture systems?

Gijs:                     One of the most important things is that you keep constant optimal conditions. For example, as you feed your fish, you will always have a certain fluctuation in the feed level. As you harvest the large fish, you also put in new young fish. Therefore, the feed rates tend to fluctuate. But the biology in the filter, the response to this can be a reason for fluctuating water quality. So, it's very important for the farmer to keep his conditions optimal and constant all the time because then the fish has no reason to feel uncomfortable and it will always eat well and grow well.

Tom:                   Let's say that I'm in the business. I have a fish farm. I have a RAS system. What are three things that I'm looking for in a RAS feed supplier?

Gijs:                     That’s a very good question. I think if you would ask me for one thing, it would be consistency. I think one thing people look for is that it gives a high feed intake and consequently a good growth.

                            Assume that you can have a really good FCR. So, feed intake is one of the first things that people will mention in line with growth. The second would be a low waste load, or low in organic matter — feces, you could say — and also low ammonium production. By changing or regulating the DPDE — that’s the ratio between digestible energy over digestible protein — you can reduce the amount of ammonium produced. Therefore, you can feed more.

                            But as I said, the first important one would be the consistency. You need a consistent feed that is the same in taste and flavor and composition all the time because, otherwise, the filters will react. It's not so bad for the fish, but the filters will react, and that's not what you want.

Tom:                   What are the key challenges to achieving optimal gut health in RAS farmed fish?

Gijs:                     I think it starts with choosing high-quality ingredients that have a high digestibility and also that have a low level of antinutrients because you don't have to fix anything that you haven't damaged. Antinutrients are not good for gut health. So, that’s what we reduce in our RAS feeds.

Tom:                   Gijs, what are the benefits of RAS-produced fish over ocean-based fish farming?

Gijs:                     That’s a good question. I think the difference doesn’t have to be that big. You can produce good fish in either system. While RAS feeds need to fulfill higher requirements — you normally have a higher quality feed, perhaps with higher EPA or DHA. This could make for a higher quality fish considering the consumer demands. But you could have the same feed in a cage and produce similar fish. So, I think on the quality side, it doesn’t have to be a big difference.

Tom:                   You may have touched on this earlier in the conversation, but in recent years, there's been an issue with the occurrence of off-flavoring microorganisms in RAS systems. Has this been addressed and overcome?

Gijs:                     Yes and no. I think it's good to first outline that farms can have off-flavor because the two types of microorganisms that produce this off-flavor, geosmin and isoborneol, can live anywhere. They can live in filters — that’s where they like to live. RAS farms usually have them, but you have them in pond farms as well. So, a lot of RAS farms these days use moving bed bioreactors. That’s a place where these microorganisms do not like to live because they need a sort of fixed structure to attach themselves to. If you do have a moving bed bioreactor, by nature, they cannot attach. So, these systems normally have a very low amount of these microorganisms and often have no off-flavor at all.

                            I think it’s important to purge the fish from a pond farm, as well as from a RAS farm, and taste your fish. Just make sure that there's not even a hint of an off-flavor because that is not a nice taste, and it would really spoil the quality of your fish.

Tom:                  So, you really have to stay on top of it.

Gijs:                     Yes, always. Even if you don't have it in your farm. We have several customers that, mainly due to the moving bed bioreactors, do not have off-flavor issues, but they will still purge, even if it's for a few days, and test the fish before they sell to the market. Then the quality is always spot on. It takes only one farmer to spoil the market for all.

Tom:                   What does the future look like for RAS farming methods and aquaculture?

Gijs:                     I think RAS farming will increase and continue to improve the whole aquaculture industry. There's a very big movement toward keeping smolts onshore. It offers much more control and no issues with sea lice. So, this industry has seen that this is a big benefit to them. I think there will be more types of aquaculture that will use the RAS system.

                            RAS farming by nature is also very sustainable. You can reach a lower carbon footprint. You can use less water. You have less pollution. I think that the number of liters we require to produce a kilo of fish will reduce in the coming years.

Tom:                   Gijs Rutjes is technical sales support manager at Coppens International in Helmond, the Netherlands. Thank you for joining us.

Gijs:                     You’re welcome. Thank you very much.

Companion animals have now become an extension of the family. It should come as no surprise, then, that many pet parents would say their pet’s nutrition is just as important as their own. They pay as much attention to the ingredients in their pet food as they do to the food they put on the dinner table. 

Superfoods make it into the doggie dish

Consumers are gravitating to “superfoods” that tout beneficial effects on the human body, and they want the same for their dogs and cats. Functional foods now starring in the ingredient lists of pet food include: 

• Blueberries: Identified as a source of antioxidants, they can be found in dry dog food. 
• Carrots: Known for having beta-carotene, they can be found as a principle vegetable ingredient in pet food and can be given as a treat to dogs in their raw or cooked form. 
• Pumpkins: In the fall, when we are all inundated with pumpkin and pumpkin spice products, even pet food is not immune. Pumpkin is a good source of soluble fiber with beneficial digestive properties.

Sustainability: Supporting a positive cycle of “good” for pets and the planet

Sustainability is a concept that has become increasingly important to consumers when thinking about their own food. They want to know not only how nutritious their food is, but also what practices were used to grow the vegetables and feed the animals that are nourishing their bodies. 

This concern extends to pet food ingredients and how the grains, vegetables and fruits (and superfoods) were grown.

From this standpoint, the management practices used on the farm are very important to the concept of sustainability.

When a plant is stressed, whether from environmental factors, disease pressure or micronutrient deficiency, it lacks the necessary ingredients to attain its peak performance. This can result in subpar yield, size, flavor and texture. Growers will invariably use synthetic products to try and combat these deficiencies. 

However, a more sustainable approach will incorporate the use of products that are naturally based, with substances such as amino acids that enable micronutrients to be more readily available to plants, increasing their ability to fight stressors. The plant becomes stronger, and, by using these natural products, growers also limit residues that could be left on the fruits and vegetables that go into the pet food. 

The process is cyclical. By using sustainable practices that protect the soil, such as cover crops, crop rotation and precision agriculture, growers create a more active soil microbiome filled with beneficial microorganisms that help provide micronutrients to the plants. These micronutrients, in conjunction with natural plant biostimulant products, improve a plant’s resistance to stressors and help the plant protect itself. This in turn decreases the need for pesticides and other synthetic products that leave residues in the ground, on the field and in the food.

Plants raised on healthy soils with the micronutrients needed for plant health, supplemented with naturally based fertilizer as needed, have increased nutritional value. Meanwhile, these farming practices also improve the environmental footprint of the crop itself so you can be confident that your pets’ food is not only good for them, but for the planet, too. 

The following is an edited transcript of Tom Martin’s interview with Aidan Connolly, chief innovation officer and vice president of corporate accounts at Alltech.

Click below to hear the entire interview:

Now in its seventh year of analysis, the Global Feed Survey continues to provide valuable insights into the feed industry, serves as a barometer for agriculture as a whole, and demonstrates the economic strength of the countries surveyed. What can we learn from the 1.068 billion tons of feed produced globally?        

Aidan Connolly is chief innovation officer and vice president of corporate accounts at Alltech. He joined Tom Martin to highlight what has been learned from the seventh annual Alltech Global Feed Survey. New to the survey this year is information gathered from the Asia-Pacific region, including countries such as Cambodia and Laos, for a total of 144 countries representing more than 30,000 feed mills.

Tom:                            The 2017 survey documented world feed production topping 1 billion metric tons, an all-time high for a single year. How does that compare with the findings for the 2018 survey?

Aidan:                          In the previous year, we had also seen production exceeding 1 billion tons, but this one was a larger number, finishing at almost 1.07 billion tons. That confirmed that those numbers are correct.  Of course, the way that we calculate these numbers is through estimates. We ask people to estimate how much feed is produced in each of their countries, and then we collect all that information from our own managers in those 140 plus countries. So, the first year, to see it was over 1 billion tons, was great. To see it again at a bigger number just makes us very sure that we have the right number.

Tom:                            There had been a 7 percent reduction in feed mills from 2015 to 2016. Obviously, that trend has not continued.

Aidan:                          Actually, that's not quite true. I believe that the numbers of feed mills are continuing to consolidate and to drop, but we've reclassified quite a number of feed mills that were on farms, smaller scale, in places like Russia, in particular Eastern Europe, by changing our methodology. So, we actually ended up with a larger number of feed mills overall, even though the number of feed mills, I think, continues to drop.

Tom:                            You have identified seven key findings in the 2018 Alltech Global Feed Survey. Let's take them one by one and begin with what the data reveals about China.

Aidan:                          Yes. The Chinese feed production was down a little bit. And, in particular, some of the species did see a reduction. Specifically, aquaculture continues to drop. However, we saw a rebound in terms of the feed production for pigs, and that was quite significant. Of course, China is in the process of consolidating its pig farming. We did see a number of the smaller farms being closed over the last two to three years. That has led to a reduction in the number of breeding animals, sows. And overall, there was a reduction in pork production the previous years of about 7 percent. However, this year, feed production went back up. And overall, that had the effect that China in general was about flat.

Tom:                            These reductions are happening at a time when the Chinese population is going the other direction — is increasing, expanding. Is that cause for concern?

Aidan:                          No. Feed production is affected by many factors. It's affected by consumption of meat, milk and eggs, but it's also being reduced by the fact that we are genetically selecting animals to be more efficient. And in the Chinese case, they have had a lot of farms that were very inefficient. So, when we talk about closing small chicken farms — in particular, small pig farms, but also ducks, geese, fish farming, etcetera — typically we’re moving toward farms that are much more efficient in how they convert feed into food.

Tom:                            Russia has registered noteworthy increases in feed production. What's happening in Russia?

Aidan:                          Russia is a really interesting story. Of course, Mr. Putin, the president, wants to make Russia a strong country, bring it back to some of its glory days and, in particular, is focused on food production. Self-sufficiency of food production is a critical part of that. Russia has been importing a lot of food from the United States, was importing from Europe, and was also importing from Brazil, but it's been exerting its soft power in its ability to restrict the importation, in particular, of chicken and, more recently, of pork and is looking for its own farms to replace that, so they become, if not necessarily self-sufficient, less dependent on imports.

Tom:                            What is the significance of that independence?

Aidan:                          The significance for the feed industry is that feed production numbers grew quite significantly this year, by about 14 percent.

                                    That is being seen specifically in terms of pig farms, dairy farms and, to a lesser degree, chicken farms. But in general, it probably will mean for the Russian population more expensive food. But, obviously, that's a decision being taken at the government level in terms of the strategic desires of the government to not be reliant upon people who they often have arguments with.

Tom:                            Also noted in this year's survey coming on strong is India. Where do you see growth occurring in India's feed production?

Aidan:                           India’s species are much more restricted because, from a religious and cultural perspective, they don't consume beef. They are relatively limited in their consumption of pork, and even a certain percentage of the population doesn't want to consume chicken. So, eggs have continued to grow. Broiler meat is growing and did grow this year very strongly as well. But milk, in particular, continues to grow. So, those three species are very strong.

                                       India has become a significant exporter of shrimp. We have seen a growth in aqua feeds as well from India. There are some concerns over the use of antibiotics. India is relatively light in terms of its consumption of protein per capita. And if that grows, that will lead to growth in eggs, of chicken meat and, to a lesser degree, of milk.

Tom:                            Going back to aquaculture, India has more or less defied a global decline in aqua production. What are the country’s strengths in this area?

Aidan:                          Primarily, it's coming from a relatively low position to start with. It is a low- cost producer. But, specifically in the area of shrimp, a number of viral diseases have afflicted areas such as Ecuador and Thailand. Much of this comes from the desire to grow aquaculture in areas with either rivers or estuaries where the water can quite often move from one farm to another, passing disease from one farm to another. India has not had those diseases to the same degree as other countries, so far. If it continues to remain disease-free, then it can continue to be a very large producer of aquaculture, particularly for export.

Tom:                            What are the trends in aquaculture feed production, and in what parts of the world is growth strong right now? Where is it lagging?

Aid an:                          We had a lot of controversy in this survey about the aquaculture numbers, particularly following last year, when we also saw that the aqua production was flat. Much of the discussion about aquaculture is about the fact that we are consuming more and more farmed fish, and that undoubtedly is true, and that is displacing our part of the requirement for replacing the fish from the sea. What we are seeing, however, is that the largest producers of fish in the world — typically China represents about 50 percent of the world's production of fish, Asia represents overall about 65 to 70 percent — in those parts of the world, we are seeing a reduction in the feed production for farmed fish, for aquaculture.

                                    We believe that in the case of China, it’s being driven very much by government policies and, to a lesser degree, by the economics of larger, more efficient farms. We are seeing some changes from a cultural perspective: people consuming less fish at banquets, etcetera. In the rest of Asia, many of the numbers we saw related to disease.

                                      Globally, however, aquaculture did grow. So, if you look at salmon, trout, sea bass, seabream, if you look at tilapia in countries — Europe, in particular — we do see a continued growth. What you have is the drop in Asia being offset by strong growth in other parts of the world. I would also continue to underline that, as aquaculture becomes more efficient, as it's become more modern, it has required less feed to produce the same amount of weight. 

Tom:                            For a number of years now, the survey has tracked a pretty steady growth curve in the African feed market. What accounts for this?

Aidan:                          African economic growth continues to be strong. It's coming from quite a low level, though the economic growth is also spread across many countries. It's not coming from any particular country. So, on a yearly basis, we are seeing that the African continent is growing by, in excess of global averages, probably somewhere between 5 and 7 percent in terms of GDP, and that is widespread.

                                       In particular, we saw a very strong year in Nigeria. Of course, Nigeria is expected to be the world's third-largest population by 2050, exceeding the United States, exceeding Indonesia, exceeding other countries in the world, just following China and India. So, it's not surprising that we will continue to see an increase in protein consumption there. However, the cost of protein continues to be very expensive in Africa. Nigeria in particular, but also many of other countries, did report extremely high feed prices. And high feed prices mean high prices for eggs, meat and milk.

Tom:                            As mentioned in the introduction, new to the 2018 survey is information gathered from the Asia-Pacific region. What did you find?

Aidan:                          Really, we’ve just been digging in every year deeper and deeper into establishing which countries produce feeds. Now, not surprisingly, we continue to skip a few: Andorra, for argument’s sake; Monaco is just famous mainly for gambling; Vatican City, which is mainly famous as a city-state for the Vatican.

                                    Nonetheless, of those 200 plus countries in the world, we think we've gotten to almost every single country that's producing feed in any significant, or even less significant, manner. We added in a few more countries this year. Those were in Asia, but they don't add to anything more than just creating a database of information, which is stronger and more robust.

Tom:                            There seems to have been steady growth in the equine industry, and it looks like it's happening nearly everywhere. What's going on there?

Aidan:                          The consumption of horse feed, of course, is driven primarily by the economics of the world, and last year was a good year. I know some of our listeners may feel that maybe their pockets didn't feel quite as full in terms of cash. But globally, it was a good year for the world economy. And in fact, for this coming year, the Economist magazine is predicting that only four countries in the world will not grow, and two of those were Venezuela and North Korea. So, you can see that we are in a period of general global economic growth that is leading to a larger middle class. It's leading to more people moving to a city, so more urbanization. And those typically are favorable trends for horse production.

                                       It has been quite hard to capture data relating to horses — not entirely sure why this is. People seem to be quite secretive, even in the United States, about how much horse feed they produce. So, we have struggled to be accurate in our estimates. I think this year's estimates were more accurate than previous years. I know the American Feed Industry Association issued a number that was much larger than ours but included forages, included other forms of feeds that of course don't go through feed mills. But, in general, I would say economic growth is lifting the tide and is helping the horse feed industry.

Tom:                            And you mentioned money in pockets. What does the survey reveal about feed costs?

Aidan:                          Feed costs, thankfully, have remained low, and I say “thankfully” because feed represents about 70 percent of the cost of the production for chickens, pigs, also for eggs, milk and aquaculture. So, effectively, for every protein that we consume, feed represents most of the life cost of that. And of course, when you further process it, it still continues to be a very significant contributor.

                                       Feed costs were low last year and remained low this year, by historic standards. Of course, in real terms, that means that they continue to drop, and that is directly correlated to the price of corn, soybeans, to a lesser degree, other forms of cereals such as wheat and barley, and other forms of protein such as canola, etcetera. That relates to the fact that we've had tremendous harvests. And even in years that we've got droughts, when it appears that we haven't done as well in the middle of the growth cycle as we expect, we still seem to take a lot out of the field, which has been good for farmers. It’s been good for feed. And, eventually, that means it's good for consumers.

Tom:                            As you keep your eye on current trends, do you have any early forecasting of what we'll see in the 2019 survey?

Aidan:                          If you look at some of these economic forecasts, it looks like consumers will continue to see their affluence grow. Certainly, we will see economic growth, which we hope will translate into consumer benefits. If that means that feed costs are low, food costs are low, and we can expect that harvests continue to contribute more and more to the silos of the world, I think it could be an excellent year for the feed industry.

Tom:                            Aidan Connolly, chief innovation officer and vice president of corporate accounts at Alltech. Thank you for joining us, Aidan.

Aidan:                          Thank you, Tom.

Click here to sign up to download a booklet of results and explore an interactive map.

If you’ve recently added a young feline family member to your home, then you may already know that one of the best ways to give your kitten the right start to a great life is by providing proper nutrition. But with an overabundance of choices in kitten foods, you may be feeling unsure of the best selection for your new friend. Or, if you own more than one cat, you may be considering feeding them all the same food. Unless your cats are all at the same life stage, this is not recommended.

Thanks to modern research and technology, we have achieved a much better understanding of the precise needs of growing cats. Properly balanced nutrition is essential to the appropriate development of both mind and body, but unfortunately, there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to nutrition. However, there are some general guidelines that can be followed to get you and your cat on the right track.

1. Kitten nutritional needs versus adult cat needs: Kittens need more calories than the average adult cat. In fact, a kitten’s weight may double or even triple in their first few weeks of existence. A high-quality kitten food will contain higher calories to meet a young cat’s needs. Most kittens will need three to four meals per day to meet energy requirements. Kittens also require a higher level of many critical vitamins, minerals and amino acids. In addition, they need more protein than adult cats. You can read more about the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutritional guidelines for growing kittens here.

2. High-quality kitten food: Select food from a trustworthy source, preferably recommended by your veterinarian or another trusted person. These foods are made with high-quality ingredients and are generally proven to provide superior health benefits. Check the label for a statement from AAFCO. Ideally, it will also contain the phrase "complete and balanced."

3. Wet versus dry food and how much to feed: Very young kittens should be fed some canned food to supplement their diet. This is because they have small teeth and are unable to chew dry food well. As far as how much to feed, it is generally recommended to follow the pet food label guidelines based on your cat’s age. Do not overfeed.

4. How long to feed kitten food: Generally, cats are considered kittens until they reach one year of age. They should be fed a kitten formula up to this point. Still, there are exceptions to every rule; one example would be a large breed cat like the Maine Coon. They are not considered adult cats until they reach 1.5 to 2 years of age and should be fed kitten food until that time.

5. Switching food: Cats are notoriously considered extremely picky eaters. They can develop a static preference for flavors and textures, so it is recommended to offer some new food and old food in separate bowls when attempting to make a transition. Over time, smaller amounts of the old food may be offered while simultaneously offering more of the new food. It is important to remember that changes to a cat’s diet should be made gradually (five to seven days is commonly recommended) to avoid stomach upset.

It is critical to avoid overfeeding your cat. Like the human obesity crisis, pet obesity in the U.S. has reached epidemic levels. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention estimates that 59 percent of cats in the United States are overweight or obese. This is entirely in your control as a responsible owner. Even a few extra pounds can lead to chronic health issues and a shortened lifespan. Follow recommended guidelines for feeding, even for treats, and provide ample exercise opportunities to keep your cat at a healthy weight.

Discussion topics to include blockchain technology, beef in China and value-added opportunities  

Register before March 31 at one.alltech.com for savings of $400

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE18), held May 20–22 in Lexington, Kentucky, will bring together producers and industry experts from around the globe to share insights and solutions to today’s most pressing issues within the beef industry.  

ONE18 beef focus sessions include*:

• The Chinese Border is Open for Beef: Now What?

After 14 years, U.S. beef is back on the shelves in China, creating new opportunities in 2018. To succeed, you need to know the key players in the global beef market and hone your strategy — after all, the right message and the right product can make or break a sale.

• Kerchin: Breaking Down the Beef Blockchain

“Blockchain” is a word everybody hears but few understand. Hear from Chinese beef producer Kerchin on how they have broken down blockchain into the building blocks of beef’s future in China. Discover how modern technology can optimize your operation today.

• Blueprint for Beef

Integration has happened for the pork and poultry industries. Why not for beef? Some say our industry is too big and too segregated — but is it? Maybe we just need a few new ideas. Learn how Alltech is redesigning the way cattlemen support animal health throughout all phases of production with Blueprint^®, a beef nutrition program designed to maximize cattle performance and profitability.

• Mineral Myths: Mining the Truth About Organic Trace Minerals

Why are we still using inorganic minerals? Science has spoken and the message is clear: Organic trace minerals mean less inclusion, less waste and better meat quality. What mineral myths prevent you from embracing the future? Uncover the truth and learn how a simple change in your ration can have a big impact on your bottom line.

• The Abscess Obsession

Liver abscesses are a major issue in feedlot cattle at slaughter and represent a significant economic cost to the producer, the packer and, ultimately, to the end consumer. Yet pushing “hotter” cattle rations is key to increased performance. Join us to discover the real science behind this problem and how one scientist is blazing an innovative new trail.

• From Ivy League Student to Feedyard Foodie: Anne’s Journey

Before she became a cattle farmer and one of ag's leading voices, Anne Burkholder was a competitive swimmer and distance runner, and then an Ivy League student. Listen as she shares her incredible journey and offers valuable insight into how modern cattle management can transform the way consumers see, hear and experience food.

• Making Money in Value-Added Programs: How It’s Done

We’ve all heard about the explosion of natural, antibiotic-free and European beef programs, but where does the money really come from? And how can you get a cut of the action? Join us as we get into the nitty-gritty details of value-added programs and how your operation can qualify for them. With just a few key changes, learn how to make the extra profit and score a bigger return.

*Topics subject to change as the schedule evolves.

Now in its 34^th year, Alltech’s conference is attended annually by nearly 4,000 people from over 70 countries. Whether producers are navigating a fundamental change within the beef industry or just need a little inspiration, they’ll learn about real-world opportunities and solutions at ONE18.

Learn more and register at one.alltech.com for a savings of $400 before March 31. Join the conversation with #ONE18 on Twitter, and follow the ONE18 Facebook event page for updates.

Discussion topics to include increasing milk’s market value, robotics on the farm and feeding organic trace minerals

Register before March 31 at one.alltech.com for savings of $400

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE18), held May 20–22 in Lexington, Kentucky, will provide dairy producers with a unique opportunity to participate in a global conversation about the innovations, challenges and solutions facing their industry. Focus sessions designed to educate and inspire will allow producers to gather insights from leading dairy experts and exchange ideas with peers from around the globe.

ONE18 dairy topics:

• Get More From Your Milk: Increasing Milk Value

What can the dairy industry do to strengthen milk’s position in the market? From organic varieties to cheese, milk has the potential to create new opportunities all along the food chain.

• Why Does Organic Matter?

Feeding trace minerals in organic form has been proven to increase uptake and achieve a greater response than inorganic trace minerals. As we continue to seek better performance in dairy cows, can we explore new ideas for delivering nutrition more efficiently?

• A Voice for Agriculture

Dairy farming has changed considerably in the last 20 years, but consumer perception of the industry has not adjusted accordingly. What does it mean to be an “agvocate,” and how can we effectively educate the public about our passion to provide a safe product with healthy, happy cows?

• Robotics on the Farm

Are we ready to embrace the inevitable change as today's farm goes robotic? How will you implement the next idea at your dairy operation? Hear how to prepare today for the technology of tomorrow.

• Digital Detox: Data to Ensure a Safe, Healthy and Sustainable Food Chain

Our farms are being invaded by connected instruments and devices that make up “the internet of things." What technologies will ensure our daily meal?

• Bytes: Tech That Feeds Us

Stakeholders in our food supply chain are becoming inextricably linked, blurring the lines between science, farming, food and retail. Let's imagine how the food chain will link in the future.

*Topics subject to change as the schedule evolves.

Now in its 34^th year, Alltech’s conference is attended annually by nearly 4,000 people from over 70 countries. Whether producers are navigating a fundamental change within the dairy industry or just need a little inspiration, they’ll learn about real-world opportunities and solutions at ONE18.

Learn more and register at one.alltech.com for a savings of $400 before March 31. Join the conversation with #ONE18 on Twitter, and follow the ONE18 Facebook event page for updates.

As much as we try to keep our pets healthy and protect them from illness, they can still get sick. Luckily, much like ours, your pet’s body has a built-in line of defense to fight pathogens that cause illness. Optimal selenium nutrition can help strengthen these defenses and enable your pet to fight its best battle against disease.

What happens when your pet is infected by a virus?

When your pet is exposed to a virus, their body launches a series of defense mechanisms that make up the immune system response. The immune system is responsible for identifying foreign intruders called pathogens that can cause disease and mounting a defense against them before they can make your pet sick. The immune system has two main components: the innate and the adaptive immune systems. The innate immune system is the first line of defense and includes barriers like skin and non-specific immune cells like macrophages, whose sole purpose is to attack at the site of infection. This general, non-specific immune response is a rapid onset, taking only a few hours.

But what happens if this isn’t enough and the virus or pathogen continues to infect? This is where the adaptive immune response kicks in. The components of this part of the immune system remain quiet until they are activated and adapt to the presence of the virus. The adaptive immune system is comprised of humoral, mediated by antibodies produced by B cells, and cell-mediated response, mediated by T cells. B cells make special proteins called antibodies that locate the virus and help the body destroy them. T cells, on the other hand, take a less direct route and form helper T cells and killer T cells. Killer T cells find and destroy viral-infected cells, while helper T cells coordinate the effort. The cells are destroyed and viral shedding to other cells is reduced.

To better help your pet during subsequent exposure, components of the adaptive immune system can produce memory cells. These cells “remember” the pathogen so when the same pathogen infects your pet again, the response is faster and stronger. The challenge with some viruses is that they mutate, causing small changes that make it so your pet’s body doesn’t recognize it as the same pathogen.

What role can organic selenium play in your pet’s health?  

Selenium is an essential trace mineral that is required in the diet of animals. Once consumed, selenium is incorporated into a family of proteins called selenoproteins. Selenoproteins are expressed in almost all tissues of the body and have vital biological roles. Selenoproteins function in hormone metabolism, redox regulation and antioxidant defenses. Selenium can be found in the diet in two primary forms: inorganic (a salt form) and organic (selenium yeasts).

You may wonder how your pet’s immune system, viruses and selenium relate. Selenium has two roles: maintaining proper function and strength of the immune system, and counteracting the oxidative damage associated with infection.

In chickens, selenium can reduce viral shedding and increase the expression of important anti-viral genes like interferons. In horses, selenium increases the expression of cytokines in immune cells. This link between selenium status and innate immune system function becomes clearer when you look at studies using selenium-deficient animals. These animals not only have higher pathogen loads, but they have reduced numbers of immune cells. The cells that are present do not function as properly as those of a normal animal. Luckily, these problems can be reversed simply by adding selenium back to the animal’s diet. At the adaptive immunity level, selenium can improve antibody production by B cells and accelerate T cell proliferation and total numbers.

Conclusion

A healthy immune system is your pet’s first line of defense against sickness and disease. If you remember when you were little, your mom might have said you have to “feed a cold.” While it might have sounded silly at the time, she wasn’t far off. Proper nutrition, especially selenium, is essential to make sure your body can fight off viral infections. The same is true for your dog or cat. No one likes when their pet gets sick, so ensuring they are eating a healthy diet containing optimal levels of selenium can help prevent this.

Sel-Plex^® is Alltech’s proprietary organic form of selenium yeast and is manufactured to mimic what is found in nature. Click here to learn more about Sel-Plex.

I want to learn more about pet nutrition.

Big data is ready for the farm. But is the farm ready for big data?

84 percent of U.S. farmers who responded to a recent Stratus Ag Research survey said they have high-tech equipment that captures reams of data from livestock, planting, harvesting or crop protection operations. Yet, only 42 percent of them are transferring this information to a field data management software program for further analysis. 

The question is: How can producers harness all of this information to drive efficiency and profitability once it has been collected?

KEENAN, a technological entrepreneur of diet feeders, stepped up to this challenge by expanding into farm data analysis with InTouch technology, which delivers solutions on-farm in real time.

“We've been involved with the internet of things (IoT) since about 2011,” said Conan Condon, director of KEENAN’s InTouch system. “At that stage, there wasn't much connectivity. There were about 12 million connected devices. Today, there are about 6.4 billion connected devices.” 

At present, more than 2,000 livestock operations, ranging in size from tens to thousands of cows, use the InTouch system, a live review and support service that helps producers apply actionable intelligence to their operations, giving them the benefit of KEENAN’s access to data on more than 1.3 million monitored cows.

InTouch technology: Acting on data today

KEENAN InTouch is a simple, cloud-based communications platform that offers real-time performance monitoring. The system allows for all feed ingredients to be added to the diet feeder in consistent orders and ratios, thereby promoting feeding consistency and improving livestock performance and profitability.  

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Producers are looking for easy alternatives to interpreting and actioning data. InTouch supports that process, as data is automatically transferred and received after completion of every load. Not only are paperwork and time delays eliminated, but the InTouch platform also allows for instant feedback. This means that producers can make informed decisions on maintaining and/or improving ration accuracy, consistency and presentation, thereby maximizing livestock performance. InTouch can also incorporate data from other herd management software programs and services such as the Dairy Herd Improvement Association, resulting in better quality analysis. 

Convenience is also a key feature of InTouch. Ration changes can be made from a computer or smartphone, through the InTouch customer service center or programmed directly to the KEENAN diet feeder. Nutritionists can also send ration changes directly to the weigh scale on the diet feeder.

The pre-self-loading order and mixing time takes the guesswork out of loading accuracy, suggesting a mixing order based on type, length of cut and moisture levels of the ingredients. It also calculates the required number of mixing revolutions needed to maximize effective fiber and delivers a consistent, uniform mix, based on 17 years of data gathered from farms all around the world.

To maximize profits for producers, InTouch’s support services help them monitor everything from feed costs and diet feeder performance to proper inclusion rate accuracy in order to maximize profits. Daily, monthly and annual performance reports for feed efficiency, the cost to produce 100 pounds of milk, profit margin per cow and production trends are automatically produced. This means no more combing through data or handwritten notes to find patterns that might unlock efficiency — using InTouch, farm consultants can generate benchmark summary reports that can reveal management practices to improve livestock performance and profitability.

The MechFiber difference

Based on years of data from more than 1 million cows, KEENAN has developed a range of products tailored to the needs of farmers, including reel, self-propelled, vertical and static machines for small- to medium-sized farms and pro-mixers for high-volume feed manufacturing and larger farms. These machines are designed to improve rumen health, resulting in improved feed efficiency and livestock production.

They are durable and easy to maintain, with a low daily operating cost and stationary blades for controlled chopping. They have a simple drive system, with no gearbox required and they empty completely, so no ration ingredients intended for one group of animals are fed to another.

Each diet feeder has two chambers (mixing and dispensing) and, together with a six-paddle reel and patented fixed-knives system, is engineered to produce a consistent, uniform, fluffy mix called MechFiber, which is unique to KEENAN machines.

Independent trials have consistently shown that MechFiber retains the fiber structure needed to stimulate rumination, allowing greater absorption of energy and maximizing feed conversion efficiency.

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KEENAN diet feeders produce consistent rations from as little as five percent capacity up to 22,000 pounds. They easily handle and deliver a consistent, uniform mix for smaller dry cows, post-fresh cows and heifer groups. KEENAN customers can purchase separate ingredients to prepare their own premixes.  

Additionally, the low-power requirement design saves up to 50 percent in fuel consumption and reduces tractor and KEENAN diet feeder maintenance costs. Larger, more expensive tractors are not required compared to equivalent capacity vertical mixers, as a 120-horsepower tractor will operate a 1,000-cubic-foot diet feeder at recommended speeds of 1,200–1,500 revolutions per minute.

KEENAN started manufacturing quality diet feeders with cutting-edge designs and technology in 1978. In 2016, Alltech acquired KEENAN and is re-establishing the diet feeder in the U.S. market with a fresh approach to innovation that builds on KEENAN’s strong reputation for quality and performance.

Manufactured in Borris, County Carlow in Ireland, KEENAN products are available for purchase in the U.S. For more information about KEENAN, visit www.keenansystem.com. 

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