Gut health and its management is an intricate and complex area governed by numerous factors, including nutrition, microbiology, immunology and physiology. When gastrointestinal health is compromised, nutrient digestion and absorption are affected, feed conversion becomes reduced, and susceptibility to disease is heightened, ultimately resulting in a negative economic impact.

Understanding the animal’s microbiome

The community of microorganisms in the gut is referred to as the “microbiome” and is recognised as a very diverse community of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses. Its diversity varies along the different regions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, with some regions having less tolerable conditions and containing reduced microbial diversity in comparison to regions more favorable to microbial growth.

The gastrointestinal microbiome plays a vital role in nutritional, physiological and immune functions. Poor intestinal health is associated with increased pathogen colonization and susceptibility to infectious disease, and it leads ultimately to poor weight gain and increased mortalities. 

Within the GI tract, there are multiple interactions between the host, intestinal environment and microbial cells, in addition to feed components. These interactions underline the critical role of the microbiota in the health and well-being of the host, although the exact manner in which this is achieved is not yet fully understood.

The role of microfloral diversity in reducing pathogens in chicken

The diversity of the microbiome plays a critical role in gut health, with beneficial microbes forming a protective barrier lining the gut. This barrier prevents the growth of pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Clostridia and Escherichia, among others.

There are numerous theories on how the beneficial microbes prevent pathogen colonization. Some suggest that potential attachment sites on the gut cells become occupied, thereby reducing the opportunity for attachment and colonization by pathogens. Another proposed mechanism is that the intestinal microbiota secrete compounds such as volatile fatty acids, organic acids and natural antimicrobials that either inhibit the growth of, or make the environment unsuitable for, less favorable bacteria.

Recent research has demonstrated that increased intestinal microfloral diversity correlates with increased resistance to pathogen colonization. In essence, the greater the diversity of microbes within the GI tract, the lower the risk of pathogen colonization.

By enhancing overall microfloral diversity, it is possible to reduce the abundance of pathogens, including those that impact host health as well as those associated with food safety.

Dietary supplements, which focus on enhancing and optimizing gut microfloral diversity to aid intestinal health and decrease the animal’s susceptibility to disease, can be broadly classed as either prebiotics or probiotics. Over the past number of years, a focus has been placed on identifying how nutrition can benefit the gastrointestinal microflora. In particular, there has been an emphasis on understanding how enhancing microbial diversity influences health and performance.

Ultimately, the goal with nutritional intervention is not only to control pathogens detrimental to host health, but also to reduce the transmission of pathogens through the food chain.

Utilizing prebiotic mannan-rich fraction to enhance microfloral diversity

From a nutritional standpoint, many feed supplements are focused on stabilizing the gut microflora to aid intestinal health and decrease the animal’s susceptibility to disease.

Of the functional ingredients currently in use for microbial control, mannan-rich fractions (MRFs) isolated from the yeast cell wall are widely used in animal nutrition and have been shown to improve animal performance in a manner that suggests they are a viable non-antibiotic alternative.

MRF products, most of which are derived from the cell wall of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, have been commercially available since the early 1990s. Since 1999, their use in animal feed has become more prominent, mainly due to the European ban on prophylactic antibiotic growth promoters in animal feed. Given their ability to bind to and limit GI tract colonization by gut pathogens, MRFs have proven to be an effective solution for antibiotic-free diets as well as providing support for immunity and digestion.

The effects of MRF supplementation on health and performance have been studied comprehensively, and they show that MRFs have proven effective at improving weight gain and feed conversion efficiencies as well.

Newer studies have focused on the effects of MRFs on the overall bacterial community of the gut — not just on specific bacteria — and such work has shown that supplementation with MRF can significantly enhance the diversity of the intestinal microflora. These studies have also demonstrated that such changes in diversity are associated with decreased abundance of food safety pathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli.

Conclusions

The challenges of modern production practices can restrict the diversity of the gastrointestinal microflora, in some instances resulting in an unhealthy imbalance that can lead to the development of a vicious cycle of pathogen colonization and recolonization. By improving the overall microbial diversity within the gut, we can aim to optimise gut microflora, thereby enhancing resistance to pathogen colonization and reducing the abundance of microbes detrimental to food safety.

Improving our understanding of how changes in the composition of the bacterial community in the GI tract might contribute to host health and performance is critical. However, it is only through looking at this composition of the bacterial community as a whole, rather than looking at specific beneficial or detrimental bacterial species, that we can begin to understand the specific and reproducible effects of nutrition on the microbiome.

About the author:

Dr. Richard Murphy is the research director at the Alltech European Bioscience Centre in Dunboyne, Ireland. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry in 1994 from the National University of Ireland, Galway. Subsequently, he earned a research scholarship from Alltech and his doctorate in the Department of Biochemistry at the National University of Ireland, Galway in 1999.

Dr. Murphy maintains strong links with numerous universities and research institutions and has been appointed as an adjunct professor on the faculty of science and health studies at Dublin City University. He has also served as an external examiner for undergraduate degree programs and sits on the board of management of the National Institute for Cellular Biology at Dublin City University.

His current research activities are diverse and include peptide biomarker detection, molecular fingerprinting of microbial populations, antimicrobial resistance, biogas production and transcriptional control, and regulation of protein production.

I want to learn more about nutrition for poultry. 

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — This year, U.S. farmers and producers have experienced droughts, high rainfall, and other weather events affecting the corn harvest, making it more critical than ever to analyze mycotoxin risks across the nation. The Alltech 2023 U.S. Harvest Analysis has collected and assessed almost 450  new-crop samples from across the U.S., and the results show regional variation in mycotoxin risk. Samples showed lower risk in the upper Midwest and higher risk in the East. A combination of drought and untimely rains led to much of the risk.   

Mycotoxins are produced by certain species of molds and are a concern for livestock producers, as they can influence feed quality and subsequent animal health and performance. The Alltech U.S. Harvest Analysis, a decade-long initiative, is a comprehensive step in understanding the complexities of new-crop quality, mycotoxin prevalence, and the threat that mycotoxins pose to animals and producers. To determine the most accurate representation of mycotoxin risk across the U.S., samples are collected by Alltech representatives and sent to the Alltech 37^+®laboratory at the company’s headquarters in Kentucky, which can detect up to 54 individual mycotoxins.

The corn silage and corn grain crops for the U.S. in 2023 have been a “moving target” for mycotoxin risk, according to Dr. Max Hawkins, technical support manager with Alltech’s mycotoxin management team.

“Drought in the Southwest and the Western Corn Belt created distinct fumonisin risks in this region, while further eastward, late season rainfall created ideal conditions for Fusarium toxins such as type B trichothecenes to flourish,” he said.

As always, Dr. Hawkins recommends routine monitoring of these ingredients during storage, noting, “Ingredients will rarely be in better condition than when they are harvested.’’

Key insights from the Alltech 2023 U.S. Harvest Analysis include:

•Dry conditions in the West created more fumonisin risk, while the later, rain-affected harvest in the East resulted in higher levels of deoxynivalenol (DON).

•In general, the mycotoxin challenge in corn grain and corn silage is lower in 2023 than in recent years. However, there are still pockets of higher risk in the Midwest and the South.

•A surprisingly high risk of aflatoxin B1 was identified in Iowa this year. Another surprising find was Penicillium present in grains, since they are typically a concern in forages.

•A good amount of corn went into storage at 14% moisture this year. It will be crucial to monitor corn coming out of storage, as it may be at higher risk now than when it was first stored.

Corn

Mycotoxin levels continue to be higher in the East and Midwest U.S., specifically for Fusarium mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON). Earlier harvest conditions and drier conditions in the West helped to create lower risk conditions. However, producers there should be aware of a higher fumonisin risk.

More than 190 new-crop corn grain samples were analyzed this year, and results show an average of 4.4 mycotoxins per sample, with 87% of samples having multiple mycotoxins. Beyond the DON and fumonsin risks already described, another interesting finding was a high level of aflatoxin B1 identified in Iowa. Producers should be vigilant about testing their grains.

Corn silage

Drought early in the growing season negatively affected corn silage in the West this harvest season. The stress of dry conditions followed by moisture allowed certain molds to flourish, particularly Fusarium molds. In the East, the risk was varied, but overall higher. Feed and livestock producers are encouraged to continue to monitor and test silage in storage every 60 to 90 days. This will help inform them of the mycotoxin risk they are facing as the season progresses.

The Alltech 2023 U.S. Harvest Analysis demonstrates that mycotoxins are an ongoing, dynamic issue that livestock producers need to manage. Although testing directly post harvest provides an overview of regional contamination patterns, what happens before the animal receives the feed — including storage conditions post harvest and feeding practices on-farm — can influence what the animal will actually be ingesting in terms of mycotoxins. To best manage this ongoing challenge, producers should consider a routine testing program that can uncover the specific risks. With this information, informed choices can be made on what mitigation strategies are necessary to support the health and performance of the animals. 

To access the complete report, as well as a series of videos that provide further species-specific insights, visit Alltech 2023 U.S. Harvest Analysis. For more information about Alltech Mycotoxin Management solutions, visit knowmycotoxins.com.

To assess an operation’s mycotoxin risk, the mycotoxin type and concentration must first be determined. Mycotoxin testing types are generally classified into either rapid test methods or the more advanced laboratory-based detection. The primary rapid test methods include lateral flow devices (LFDs) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Of the lab-based methods used for mycotoxin analysis, high-performance liquid chromatography and ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLCMS/MS) are two of the most widely recognized.

The test method influences the risk assessment

As a greater number of mycotoxin types are analyzed, a better picture of the total mycotoxin risk can be determined. But what happens if a test only looks for a limited number of mycotoxins in the first place? Traditional mycotoxin guidelines that only consider one mycotoxin at a time are not always helpful for gaining a better understanding of the true risk of exposure for the animal.

This lack of information about the total risk is why the Alltech Mycotoxin Management team developed a tailored risk assessment method in 2012. Known as Risk Equivalent Quantity (REQ), this method provides feed and livestock producers with a unique way to identify the true risk associated with the presence of multiple mycotoxins in raw materials or finished feeds. Using the REQ value to compare the difference between assessing one mycotoxin, six mycotoxins or 54 mycotoxins, it is possible for producers to see how much they might be underestimating their risk if a test only analyzes the feed for a limited number of mycotoxins.

Mycotoxins in corn grain and the risk for monogastric animals

Based on samples analyzed by Alltech 37+ over a five-year period between 2018 and 2023 (Table 1), if aflatoxin (AF) was the only mycotoxin measured in the feed, the mycotoxin risk for sows would be underestimated by 96% (Figure 1). This makes sense, as aflatoxins were only detected in 9% of those samples, whereas other mycotoxins were detected more frequently.

In situations where the only option is to test for one mycotoxin, analyzing samples for deoxynivalenol (DON) is slightly better than analyzing for AF, as doing so led to an underestimation of 77% of the risk to sows. Still, there are many mycotoxins that are typically present in corn that are yet to be accounted for. When corn grain is analyzed for all six mycotoxins that can be detected through a rapid test method, the overall risk assessment is closer to what would be delivered by testing for an increased number of mycotoxins.

A similar underestimation of risk would occur for poultry. Using the same corn grain samples mentioned above, the risk assessment would be underestimated for broilers by 92% or 59% when the analysis only considered AF or DON, respectively (Figure 1), whereas an analysis of six mycotoxins reduces that risk underestimation to 21%. The presence of fusaric acid and other emerging mycotoxins would not be detected by rapid test methods, but many of the mycotoxins posing the greatest risk to pigs and poultry — such as DON, zearalenone and T-2/HT-2 — would be included.

Figure 1 – Differences in risk assessment in corn grain and corn silage (to broilers, sows and dairy cows)

Corn silage and dairy cows

Similar to grain, total mycotoxin risk assessment of corn silage can vary depending on the mycotoxins analyzed (Figure 1). In this case, assessment for only AF could result in a 99% underestimation of total risk for dairy cows, as AF was detected in only 9% of samples, with the majority of these containing very low concentrations (median <1 ppb). Sample analysis for only DON would be better — in this case, a 60% underestimation of total risk — but again, many key mycotoxin groups would not be detected. Assessment for 6 mycotoxins comes closer to the total risk assessed by the more advanced laboratory method, but this assessment in corn silage does not get as close to those results as the similar assessment in corn grain. This may be due to the higher occurrence and concentrations of mycotoxins such as fusaric acid, Penicillium mycotoxins and Aspergillus mycotoxins in corn silage.

Using readily available data, the comparisons in these examples were made using Alltech 37+ as the most comprehensive risk assessment method. This method identifies 54 individual mycotoxins. If other LMCS methods were used to identify an even greater number of mycotoxin types, the potential risk underestimation when only relying on rapid test methods would likely be amplified.

Mycotoxin testing plan

Although assessment of a limited number of mycotoxins by simpler analytical methods may not provide the full picture of an animal’s exposure to mycotoxins, these rapid test methods are still a valuable and accurate means of testing for mycotoxins. Many of these rapid test kits have been validated, with validation results published in scientific journals. The best mycotoxin management program is typically based on a combination of on-site rapid testing and laboratory-based analysis. Rapid tests can be used for routine testing where speed and cost are of concern, but periodic mycotoxin testing by laboratory-based methods can be used to learn about more complex mycotoxin mixtures.

Turning analysis into a control program

It is important to remember that at any point in time, the results of the average mycotoxin analysis can only show you a best-case scenario. In those cases, the mycotoxin levels will remain the same in the tested ingredient or ration — but they can continue to increase over time during storage. Equally, the total risk can be greater when multiple ingredient sources are brought together. Without knowing the full mycotoxin profile of a commodity or ration, developing a mycotoxin management program may be difficult. We also learned from the examples included above that analyzing samples for only one mycotoxin can lead to a significant underestimation of the total risk, even if the results for that particular mycotoxin type are accurate. Testing for a greater number of mycotoxins allows for the creation of a more accurate picture of the risk to the animal.

Determining the presence of multiple mycotoxins is important, but there may be a limit on the number of mycotoxins that can be assessed in a ration. More than 500 mycotoxin compounds have been identified, but it is sometimes not possible to routinely test for this number. Furthermore, it is still unknown how many of those mycotoxins impact animal performance and health. However, most mycotoxins are detrimental to animal performance, welfare and profitability.

To effectively combat the mycotoxin risk, a complete mycotoxin management program that focuses on identifying, quantifying and mitigating the risk level is needed. From a nutritional perspective, risk mitigation can be achieved directly within the animal through the use of Alltech’s Mycosorb® range of mycotoxin adsorbents, a family of products that contain yeast cell wall extract and can help to manage the collective mycotoxin challenge in the animal. Recently published meta-analyses with broilers and nursery and grow-finish pigs (Weaver et al., 2022; Weaver et al., 2023) reaffirm that when mycotoxins pose a problem, Mycosorb can play a role in improving performance, efficiency and livability. Mycosorb has even been linked to the improved environmental sustainability of broiler production.

To learn more about the tools and technologies offered by the Alltech Mycotoxin Management program, visit knowmycotoxins.com.

References are available on request.

This blog post is an updated version of an article published in All About Feed on October 23, 2023.

[DUNBOYNE, Ireland] – Variable weather has once again dominated crop quality and mycotoxin contamination patterns in Europe, with a distinct split between northern and southern regions. The Alltech 2023 European Harvest Analysis has collected and assessed over 1,100 grain and forage samples from more than 20 different countries, and the results show an overall higher-risk mycotoxin year in Europe in 2023. While Europe enjoyed a reprieve this growing season from the extreme drought conditions of the past 2–3 years, rains that fell close to harvest in northern and western Europe caused delays in harvesting that created ideal conditions for mould and mycotoxin development.

Mycotoxins are produced by certain species of moulds and are a concern for livestock producers as they can influence feed quality and subsequent animal health and performance. The Alltech European Harvest Analysis, a decade-long initiative, is a comprehensive step in understanding the complexities of new-crop quality, mycotoxin prevalence and the threat that mycotoxins pose to animals and producers. To determine the most accurate representation of mycotoxin risk across Europe, Alltech has again collaborated with SGS, a global leader in mycotoxin testing and certification. Their expert testing, along with testing by the independently accredited Alltech 37+® laboratory in Ireland, which can detect up to 54 individual mycotoxins, has captured a highly accurate and robust set of new-crop mycotoxin data across 20 countries in Europe.  

‘’In contrast to recent years, it is excessive rain rather than drought that has been the primary driver of mycotoxin risk in Europe,” said Dr. Radka Borutova, European technical support manager with the Alltech Mycotoxin Management team. “The delayed harvest in northern and western regions has created particular problems in small grains and forages across this region, while further south, corn crops have fared much better than last year, although, as we always try to highlight, low risk does not mean no risk.’’

Key insights from the Alltech 2023 European Harvest Analysis include:

• Persistent rains close to harvesting have led to significant Fusarium-related challenges in wheat and barley crops across northern and western Europe.

• Barley shows the highest risk of the small grains, with an average of six mycotoxins per sample.

• In general, the mycotoxin challenge in corn is lower in 2023 than in recent years. However, there are still pockets of higher risk in central and southern Europe.

• The Penicillium risk continues to dominate in forages. In particular, grass silage in the UK and Ireland is heavily contaminated and presents an ongoing management challenge for dairy producers there.

Corn

Aflatoxin challenges arising from drought-stricken corn have dominated the mycotoxin picture in Europe in recent years, so growers were thankful not to suffer the same fate in 2023. However, it was still not a perfect growing season.

More than 700 new-crop corn samples were analysed this year, and results showed aflatoxins were detected in almost 70% of samples from central and southern Europe, with average levels of 6 ppb. However, most of the risk in corn is coming from Fusarium mycotoxins such as zearalenone, deoxynivalenol (DON) and T2-HT2 toxins. Ochratoxin was more prevalent this year than in 2022, with average levels detected of 28 ppb. The overall corn risk is deemed low to moderate when Alltech’s REQ metric is applied.

Wheat and barley

New-crop samples of wheat and barley typically originated in countries across northern and western Europe. Conditions in this region deteriorated badly around mid-June, and from then onwards, unsettled weather caused havoc with harvest dates, resulting in crops standing much longer in the field than they usually would. The combination of wet and humid conditions with a delayed harvest resulted in the ideal conditions for Fusarium moulds to thrive.

This has directly manifested in elevated levels of mycotoxins in these small grains, with barley posing particular problems. Although specific reasons are unidentified, barley is much higher risk than wheat, and contains almost double the number of mycotoxins per sample.

Penicillium mycotoxins are not something we would typically associate with small grains at harvest time, but they have been more commonly detected this year, possibly due to the extremely challenging field conditions. Emerging mycotoxins are the most common groups detected across both ingredients, but the most risk is coming from type B trichothecenes. In barley, average levels of this group were at 922 ppb, with an extraordinary maximum of almost 29,000 ppb detected in one Finnish sample.

Forages

Although the Penicillium challenge has been the dominant talking point with forages over the past few years, it is worth comparing the mycotoxin profiles and primary risk drivers in corn silage and grass silage.

As with most ingredients, emerging mycotoxins are most prominent. However, in corn silage, type B trichothecenes are present in over 95% of samples, with average levels of 1,561 ppb, amplifying the risk. In comparison, grass silage is facing the greatest risk from Penicillium mycotoxins, with average levels of 338 ppb and an occurrence above 62%. Dr. Borutova has noted that when both of these ingredients are included in a total mixed ration (TMR) diet, this can create an even greater risk for dairy or beef animals.

The late harvest in northern and western Europe amplified the challenge in straw that was lying on the ground for a prolonged length of time. The 60 straw samples submitted to the lab this year were, as in recent years, heavily contaminated with emerging mycotoxins and type B trichothecenes. Average levels of type B trichothecenes were almost 1,500 ppb. This is something for livestock producers to be aware of wherever straw is being used either as bedding or as a feed material.

The Alltech 2023 European Harvest Analysis demonstrates that mycotoxins are an ongoing, dynamic issue that livestock producers need to manage. Although testing directly post harvest provides an overview of regional contamination patterns, what happens before the animal receives the feed — including storage conditions post harvest and feeding practices on-farm — can influence what the animal will actually be ingesting in terms of mycotoxins. To best manage this ongoing challenge, producers should consider a routine testing program that can uncover the specific risks. With this information, informed choices can be made on what mitigation strategies are necessary to support the health and performance of the animals. 

To access the complete report, as well as a series of videos that provide further species-specific insights, visit Alltech 2023 European Harvest Analysis. For more information about Alltech Mycotoxin Management solutions, visit knowmycotoxins.com.

[LEXINGTON, Kentucky] — Alltech, a leading global animal health and nutrition company, has been awarded a silver medal from EcoVadis — putting it in the top 25% of sustainable companies globally. The EcoVadis silver medal testifies to Alltech’s purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty^TM and its commitment to prioritizing the efficient production of nutritious food while minimizing environmental impact, implementing environmentally and economically sustainable solutions, promoting fair labor practices and fostering ethical business conduct. 

Alltech has also earned the EcoVadis platinum medal for its production site in Springfield, Kentucky, USA, which puts it in the top 1% of the over 200,000 businesses assessed by EcoVadis. Alltech Coppens, which produces industrial feeds for the aquaculture sector, earned gold-medal status, putting it in the top 7% of sustainable companies globally.

“We are delighted to have received multiple EcoVadis medals, as an external endorsement of Alltech’s ongoing commitment to the journey that is sustainability,” said Tara McCarthy, global vice president of ESG at Alltech.

EcoVadis is the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, intelligence and collaborative performance improvement tools for global supply chains. Backed by a powerful technology platform and a global team of domain experts, EcoVadis assesses companies on environmental, social and ethical performance in over 200 purchasing categories and 175 countries.

“At Alltech, we see opportunities in every challenge. We are dedicated to delivering smarter, more sustainable solutions to advance the health and performance of animals while also lowering their impact on the environment,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “These awards from EcoVadis recognize the actions we are taking to align our business with our Planet of Plenty purpose — working together to provide nutrition for all, revitalize local economies and replenish the planet’s natural resources.”

Earlier this year, Alltech released its 2022 Alltech Sustainability Report, which demonstrates the actions the company is taking to align the business with its commitments to the United Nations Global Compact, the U.N. Ten Principles and the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, the report outlines the steps Alltech has taken to promote an inclusive work environment and highlights its team members’ efforts to make a difference in the communities in which they live and work.

For more information, visit Alltech.com.

The Alltech ONE World Tour (ONE), a series of international events bringing the ideas and inspiration of the annual Alltech ONE Conference to the world, resumed today in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. ONE Dubai welcomed international attendees to explore collaborative solutions to the greatest challenges facing the agri-food industry in the Middle East, Africa and beyond.

For the past 38 years, the Alltech ONE Conference has been held in Lexington, Kentucky, the home of Alltech’s global headquarters. In 2023, however, the company — a global leader in the field of agriculture — is bringing the conference to its partners, customers, suppliers and friends around the world, providing the opportunity for more people than ever to experience the power of ONE.

“As our customers and partners continue to face many challenges and uncertainties, we determined that 2023 would be dedicated to meeting them in their markets,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “This special edition of the ONE endeavors to deliver global expertise to locally relevant issues. In the midst of economic and political uncertainties that fuel regionalization, this ONE reflects the responsibility we have as a global company to be a connector of people and ideas, ever advancing our purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™.”

Alltech ONE Dubai features discussions led by local and international experts about the latest trends in sustainable agricultural, animal nutrition and business, including presentations from Dr. Lyons; Tara McCarthy, global vice president of ESG at Alltech; Sheikh Dr. Majid Al Qassimi, founding partner at Soma Mater; and Gerald Kiernan, general manager of dairy farms, Emirates Food Industries (EFI).

In his opening remarks, Dr. Lyons welcomed delegates to Dubai to discuss agriculture’s role in saving the planet.

“Agriculture can transform things in ways that other industries cannot and we are at the interface of nourishing the present and preserving the future,” he said. “Our belief is that agriculture has the greatest potential to positively influence the future of our planet, provide nutrition for all, help rural communities thrive and replenish our planet’s resources.”

Alltech recently released the results of the Alltech Sustainability Insights report, and McCarthy discussed those findings in further detail during her presentation.

“Our industry is navigating unprecedented disruption yet remains confident and committed to evolving toward a more sustainable food system,” she said. “The key to success will be the development of innovative solutions, but even more critical is the capacity of the industry to work together across the value chain.”

Sheikh Dr. Majid Al Qassimi focused on how the UAE is making food and agriculture systems more equitable, accessible and sustainable.

"For the National Farms Sustainability Initiative, it wasn’t enough to have our own farms start, but to ensure that we start with sustainability in mind,” he said. “Today, more than ever, consumers want to see sustainability in all their products, including their food.”

Kiernan spoke about Alltech’s and EFI’s recent Planet of Plenty™ partnership with National Dairy Farms and Masakin Dairy Farms, two prominent companies owned by EFI, to bring leading-edge carbon footprint benchmarking and methane-reducing technologies to the Middle East.

“With growing concerns about climate change, companies worldwide are under increasing pressure to adopt eco-conscious practices,” said Kiernan. “As industry leaders, National and Masakin recognize the importance of curbing greenhouse gas emissions and setting new sustainability benchmarks.”

Kiernan’s comments were echoed by Paul McVeigh, regional manager for Alltech in the Middle East.

“The solidification of many years of collaboration with EFI in a Planet of Plenty Partnership represents the goals of the wider global Alltech family,” said McVeigh. “This partnership illustrates what is possible in the Middle East region when companies join forces toward a single goal, and we are dedicated to supporting them with the best available nutritional technologies to achieve more milk while reducing their environmental footprint.”

As ONE Dubai continues, delegates will hear from industry experts on various topics, including ruminant and poultry sessions focused on mycotoxin management, calf nutrition, dairy farming waste management, egg quality and mineral management, as well as carbon policies.

The Alltech ONE World Tour will continue with international stops in 2024, uniting changemakers and thought leaders throughout the global ag value chain to explore opportunities for agriculture. For more information and to register for an Alltech ONE World Tour stop, visit one.alltech.com.

How do you cook the perfect Thanksgiving turkey? Dr. Roy Brister, strategic poultry advisor at Alltech, joins the Ag Future podcast to discuss his journey in the poultry industry, upcoming trends for 2024 and his top tip for achieving turkey perfection.

The following is an edited transcript of the Ag Future podcast episode with Dr. Roy Brister hosted by Tom Martin. Click below to hear the full audio or listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts.

Tom:                      I’m Tom Martin, and joining us today is Dr. Roy Brister, a strategic poultry advisor for Alltech. Dr. Brister joined Alltech at the start of 2023 following an extensive career at Tyson Foods. Dr. Brister, thank you for joining us.

Roy:                        Thank you for the invitation.

Tom:                      Your background in the poultry industry is truly impressive. I wonder if you could provide our listeners with some insights into your journey and what initially sparked your interest in this industry.

Roy:                        It’s been a good ride. I grew up in a family that was always involved in agriculture. We didn’t have any land ourselves, but we always worked for people that had land and animals. And at a young age, I thought I wanted to become a veterinarian. And so, I always loved agriculture and wanted to be a part of agriculture and help feed the world. I went to school to become a veterinarian, got an ag ed degree, and wasn’t able to get into vet school. And I had a younger brother that happened to be on a 4H poultry judging team and got a scholarship to Texas A&M in poultry science. And after watching him, he had a lot of opportunities being offered to him as an undergraduate student.

                               So when I finished my ag ed degree, I thought, I’m gonna try this poultry thing. And I always loved nutrition and was able to get into the poultry science department, work on a master’s and Ph.D. in poultry nutrition, and with that got out of school and worked for a company called Diamond Shamrock for four years before getting into the poultry industry. It’s been a good trip, and I’m thankful for a little brother that sort of showed me the light of the poultry industry.

Tom:                      Well, it’s very clear that you had a front row seat to the substantial growth of the poultry industry, especially in the broiler segment, throughout your career. From your unique perspective, what key factors do you think have been the driving forces behind this success?

Roy:                        I think there’s many reasons. If you look just at the genetic progress that the industry has made, improvements in housing, biosecurity, nutrition, and of course chicken being a great product, people love to eat chicken, it’s eaten all over the world, it’s economical, it’s nutritious, and I think all those things together have continued to see the growth.

                               And I was just reading some articles. It appears that it will continue to see growth on into the next decade. It will be the fastest-growing meat consumed. And with that, it will bring a lot of opportunities for the industry itself, but an opportunity to help feed the world a sustainable, nutritious source of protein.

Tom:                      Well, having spent a large amount of your career making impactful nutrition and business decisions for a big poultry producer, how does it feel to now work within the allied industry sector? Are there any differences you’d like to touch on and talk about?

Roy:                        Well, I think it’s been great to see both sides, to have sat on both sides of the desk a little bit. There’s a lot of opportunity in the allied side to bring new technologies. When I was sitting in the production side of it, we were working every day to try to improve what we were doing, but the allied industry has some opportunities to actually do the research and bring those things forward to production companies. So, I think it’s exciting what we can do and what we will probably doing in the future. I think we sort of help lead and guide and direct some of the production companies and help solve the problems they run into each and every day. 

Tom:                      Having taken the role of a strategic poultry advisor at Alltech earlier this year, as we look ahead to 2024, what advice would you offer to poultry producers as they get ready for the upcoming year? 

Roy:                        Well, I think 2024 is going to be a tough year for agriculture in general. Tough times do not last, but tough people do. So, just try to partner with companies such as an Alltech. They can help you make it through these difficult times. Use them as part of your technical team. That’s what I did at Tyson Foods: tried to find companies that could be a part of my technical team, that I could call on in difficult times to help provide answers to things I didn’t have time to work towards. And I think we have so many good companies out there, Alltech being one of them, that I would partner with those companies to help make it through the difficult times and look forward to the next times of growth and prosperity in the industry. 

Tom:                      Well, Dr. Brister, feeling lucky here because of the time of year, we can’t pass up the opportunity to ask you, of all people: What would be your top advice for cooking the perfect Thanksgiving turkey? 

Roy:                        My top advice would be to pull out the smoker, get the Traeger cranked up, put your turkey on there. There’s nothing better than a great smoked turkey. Turkey is such a versatile product. You can stick it in the oven, you can deep-fry it, but I think you can’t go wrong with smoking it. Invite your family and friends and just celebrate the time of thankfulness that we’ve been blessed with in this industry.

Tom:                      All right. That sounds wonderful. Roy Brister, strategic poultry advisor for Alltech. Thanks for the conversation. 

Roy:                        Thank you very much yourself. 

Tom:                      I’m Tom Martin, and thanks for listening.

Agri-food leaders around the world believe the industry can work together to create a better, more sustainable food system, according to the Alltech Sustainability Insights report, released today.

Alltech conducted a global, industry-wide survey to gather insights on the issues that matter most to the agri-food value chain and its stakeholders. In collaboration with Opinions, an independent research agency based in Ireland, Alltech collected insights through 26 interviews with industry leaders and via a comprehensive survey completed by more than 2,500 members of the agri-food industry. This effort presented an exciting opportunity to quantify attitudes and perceptions about sustainability from stakeholders across the agri-food value chain and identify tangible actions to build a more sustainable future.

“Our goal was to listen to the voices of our industry and its stakeholders and develop a robust, future-facing program of insights that are relevant, ambitious and genuinely impactful,” said Tara McCarthy, global vice president of ESG at Alltech. “Our industry is navigating unprecedented disruption, yet it remains confident and committed to evolving toward a more sustainable food system. The key to success will be the development of innovative solutions, but even more critical is the capacity of the industry to work together across the value chain.”

The survey questions were focused on five areas: challenges and opportunities; drivers and priorities; attitudes toward change; support and guidance; and who they believe is going to pay for sustainability. The key findings of the survey include:

• While four out of five respondents agree that “climate change will make food production much more difficult in the future,” perspectives differ across the regions. A very real series of crises faces the agri-food industry and, for the most part, survey respondents acknowledged the gravity of those challenges and the fragility of our food system. There is a strong level of optimism and positivity however, with 85% of respondents agreeing that the food system can rise to the challenge.
   
• Almost three in four respondents reported feeling that a lot more guidance is needed to support their improvements in environmental sustainability. The need for guidance is expressed most strongly at the latter end of the value chain (e.g., retailers, food-service operators and manufacturers).
   
• Most respondents agree that regulation is putting pressure on all areas of the supply chain. Respondents were similarly realistic about the need for support for the primary producers of the food that the 8 billion people on this planet eat: 66% agree that until the farmer is incentivized financially, things will never change.
   
• Many recognize that we will not be able to resolve the challenges ahead without a huge degree of innovation and harnessing technology to enable us to feed ourselves sustainably, with 92% of respondents believing that technology and innovation are key to more sustainable food systems.
   
• There is a near-universal recognition that we need a collaborative conversation and effort across the value chain, with 93% of respondents agreeing that we all must work together to create a better food system for the future.

“Our industry is navigating extraordinary times, but the opportunities for positive impact are even more unprecedented,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “Imagine what is possible when we all work toward the shared goals of providing nutrition for all, revitalizing local economies and replenishing the planet’s natural resources.”

For more information and survey results, visit alltech.com/sustainability-insights.

Leveraging the strength of a global marketing team embedded within local markets throughout the world, Alltech is enhancing its marketing capabilities and establishing new teams to deliver greater strategic partnership across the business for Alltech’s customers.

“We are capitalizing on the geographical and value chain differentiators of our global marketing structure, providing more pathways for our field-based team members to bring the voice of the customer back into the business,” said Susanna Elliott, chief marketing and communications officer at Alltech. “Our globally connected yet locally focused marketing strategy is aligning to deliver more relevance – and competitive edge – to our customers.”

Within marketing, the company is establishing a new Data & Insights function, positioning its creative team to take a global creative agency approach and building new pathways for market and customer engagement. To champion these enhanced capabilities, new appointments within Alltech’s global marketing team include:

Creative team:

• Lisa Smith (USA), Director of Creative Operations & Marketing Development
• Alan Henthorne (USA), Creative Director
• Irene MacHugh (Ireland), Associate Creative Director
• Jennifer Allen (USA), Global Art Director
• Ruth Kelly (Ireland), Design Manager for Europe and Asia-Pacific

Data & Insights team:

• Amanda Stumbo (USA), Director of Business Insights
• Roel Coenders (USA), Associate Director of Data
• Leona Shaojing Luo (Ireland), Associate Director of Business Intelligence
• Clare Fahey (Ireland), Director of Customer Insights

Communications team:

• Lorie Hailey (USA), Director of Communications
• Liana Dobler (Spain), Spanish & Portuguese Communications Manager

Species teams:

• Danieke Ewalts (Netherlands), Global Aqua Marketing Lead
• Species marketing councils have been created that include regional marketing experts in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

For more information about Alltech, visit alltech.com.

Backed by more than 40 years of scientific research, Alltech is dedicated to providing solutions and products that contribute to the success of the global animal health industry. This commitment continues with the publication of a new study, “The Effect of Organic Trace Mineral Supplementation in the Form of Proteinates on Performance and Sustainability Parameters in Laying Hens: A Meta-Analysis,” recently published in the journal Animals. Results show that the inclusion of Bioplex® organic trace minerals in layer diets significantly benefits production performance and egg quality traits and contributes to a lower carbon footprint. The findings also suggest that the most bioavailable form of essential minerals is crucial for optimizing health and performance in laying hens.

The meta-analysis, led by Dr. Laurann Byrne, research project manager at the Alltech European Bioscience Centre, considered the importance of mineral form on production performance, egg quality traits and carbon footprint. It combined data from 32 global studies involving 107 dietary assessments of 30,992 laying hens.

Dr. Byrne looked at the impact of supplementing laying hen diets with organic trace minerals in the form of mineral proteinates, specifically Bioplex copper, iron, manganese and zinc. The study demonstrated that using Bioplex led to improvements in hen-day production, feed conversion ratio, egg mass, egg weight and egg loss. Eggshell parameters such as thickness, strength, weight and eggshell percentage also were improved.

A life-cycle assessment model — the Alltech E-CO2 Poultry EA™ — was used to evaluate the carbon footprint of egg production. Results showed a reduction in feed and total emission intensities per kilogram of eggs when using organic trace mineral proteinates. The inclusion of Bioplex® in layer diets resulted in a 1.65% reduction of the carbon footprint for every dozen eggs produced (feed emission intensity per dozen eggs).

"With correct formulation, more cost-effective feeds can be produced, resulting in a greater return on investment and a lower carbon footprint,” Dr. Byrne said. “As the results show, there is a proven track record of improvement in performance and sustainability with organic trace minerals.”

For more information, click here to read the study or visit Alltech.com/Bioplex.