[QINGDAO, China] – Experts from agricultural colleges and research institutions throughout China joined together to discuss agricultural and environmental challenges, including how to reduce waste and making farming operations more sustainable, at a recent Alltech China Research Alliance meeting, held in Qingdao.

Alltech China has built long-term cooperative research relationships with 10 well-known universities, research institutes and leading feed and food enterprises.

“The Alltech China Research Alliance is focused on building toward a green agriculture future in China,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, global vice president and head of Greater China for Alltech. “The roadmap to this future requires practical solutions, which will be developed through advanced scientific research and technology and the powerful partnership of these leading agricultural minds.”

Defa Li, professor at China Agricultural University and academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Kangsen Mai, professor at Ocean University of China and academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, along with more than 30 other professors from agricultural colleges and research institutions, attended and spoke at the meeting, sharing the results of their latest research.

“This meeting of the alliance explored how to reduce antibiotic residues in food, how to effectively use limited resources in the midst of population explosion, and how to reduce water and soil pollution,” said Karl Dawson, vice president and chief scientific officer at Alltech.

A new mycotoxin detection method

The Institute of Agriculture Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IQSTAP) has established a method for the simultaneous detection of 21 mycotoxins, or their metabolite residues, in the plasma of animals. These include toxins such as aflatoxin B1. This testing is expected to become the agricultural industry standard for the detection of mycotoxins in China.

Recently, Alltech and IQSTAP published an article entitled "Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Simultaneous Determination of 21 Kinds of Mycotoxins or Their Metabolites in Animal Plasma." Dr. Ruiguo Wang of IQSTAP, who introduced the study, says that it established a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method that simultaneously detects animal plasma aflatoxin B1 and 21 other kinds of mycotoxins or their metabolite residue.

Existing mycotoxin detection methods have very complex sample treatment operations, and high detection costs make it generally difficult to do a variety of simultaneous determinations of mycotoxins. The QuEChERS method (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, Safe) is a fast, sample pre-treatment technology developed for agricultural products. It uses the interaction between adsorbent filler and the impurities in the matrix to adsorb impurities to achieve purification.

In this study, 21 samples of mycotoxins and their metabolites in animal plasma were developed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) based on the QuEChERS principle. The method is simple, rapid, low-cost and accurate. It can be used for combined mycotoxin animal exposure assessment and mycotoxin toxicokinetic study. Wang said this method has been submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China for review and is expected to pass as a fungal detector by agriculture industry standards.

Functional ingredients for better pork quality

Another breakthrough came from collaboration between Alltech and Jiangnan University to improve food safety and quality. A Jiangnan University research project showed that the addition of rapeseed selenium in the diet can improve the quality of pork, increasing its water-holding capacity and tenderness. An article published based on Alltech and Jiangnan University’s study confirmed that the additions of flaxseed oil and sesame selenium to the diet can improve pork quality, reducing drip loss by 58–74 percent. The organic selenium diets increased muscular selenium content up to 54 percent. Flaxseed oil and selenium can be used to alter the fatty acid structure of pork, increase omega-3 fatty acids and reduce the proportion of omega-6/omega-3 fatty acids in meat, which can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in consumers.

Minerals matter: How trace minerals can impact pollution

Improper sewage treatment and greenhouse gas emissions are leading to heavy pollution of water, soil and air, and some small-scale farms have been closed because of this pollution.

"This will require improved feed conversion, which will reduce damage to the environment without affecting the performance of the animal," said Li.

Inorganic trace minerals in feeds have contributed to this environmental pollution. Due to their low absorption rates, 80–90 percent of inorganic zinc and copper will generally be excreted by the animal, contaminating water and soil.

Organic trace minerals, however, are absorbed more readily. Alltech’s Total Replacement Technology™ is a groundbreaking approach to organic trace mineral nutrition. It features products such as Bioplex®, which includes copper, iron, zinc and manganese, and Sel-Plex®, which includes selenium. Compared to conventional inorganic minerals, these formulations are better absorbed, stored and utilized by the animal and are thus able to meet the higher nutrient needs of modern livestock for rapid growth, maximum reproductive performance and animal health. Additionally, because they are absorbed more readily, less is excreted into the environment.

Some Chinese feed companies are already using Alltech’s Total Replacement Technology. In addition to aiding in animal performance and health, many customers have noted it improves the smell of pig farms.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Great Green Getaway: Alltech & KEENAN launch sweepstakes for U.S. dairy producers

Three winners will receive trip for two to Ireland for the week of St. Patrick’s Day 2018

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – Ireland is known as “the land of a thousand welcomes,” and staying true to its roots, Alltech is upholding the enduring tradition of Irish hospitality by launching The Great Green Getaway. In partnership with KEENAN, an Alltech company, maker of the “Green Machine” mixer wagon, the sweepstakes invites American dairy farmers to enter for the opportunity to win one of three travel-expense-paid trips for two to Ireland in March 2018, coinciding with St. Patrick’s Day.

The tour destinations include a “how it’s made” tour of the KEENAN production facility in Borris, County Carlow, Ireland, a guided VIP experience at the new Pearse Lyons Distillery (opening summer 2017), visits to a host of high-performance Irish dairy farms and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Dublin City Centre.

“We are proud to work with dairy farmers around the world and provide technology to increase on-farm productivity and maximize feed efficiency,” said Robert Walker, chief executive officer of KEENAN. “We are looking forward to welcoming the sweepstakes winners to Ireland to show them our innovations while also celebrating Irish traditions.”

The sweepstakes opens June 28, 2017, during National Dairy Month, and the winners will be announced on Oct. 7, 2017, at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. The sweepstakes is open to U.S. dairy farmers who have 50 cows or more and are over 18 years of age.

For more details and to enter The Great Green Getaway sweepstakes, visit http://go.alltech.com/greatgreengetaway.

[BROOKINGS, S.D.] – The agriculture community recently banded together at the fourth annual Prime Time Gala to support Feeding South Dakota, which provides food assistance to hundreds of men, women and children across the state. Both Alltech and Hubbard Feeds, an Alltech company, supported the successful event, which raised a total of $236,508.

The highest-bid item at the event’s fundraising auction was a KEENAN mixer wagon donated from Alltech South Dakota, which raised $40,000 and was sold to Mike Winter from Brandt, South Dakota.

“Alltech is proud to support the Prime Time Gala with the donation of a KEENAN mixer for auction, as the money raised for Feeding South Dakota will go back to the people in our communities who need it most,” said CJ Tanderup, Alltech regional sales manager.

The event, hosted by the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, welcomed more than 1,540 guests. To date, the Prime Time Gala has raised a total of $737,508 for Feeding South Dakota, which has helped purchase 414,644 pounds of beef for those in need across the state since 2014. Also presented during the gala were $10,000 in scholarships to four students attending South Dakota schools who are interested in improving beef production and promotion.

“Hubbard Feeds is honored to be part of the Prime Time Gala as our agriculture industry and community come together to raise money for those struggling with food insecurity and to show our support for the South Dakota beef industry,” said Tyler Melroe, beef nutritionist for Hubbard Feeds.

For more information about the Prime Time Gala, please visit sdprimetimegala.com.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – For three days in May, Lexington, Kentucky, USA, became the nexus of global food and agribusiness. ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference welcomed 4,000 people from nearly 80 countries to discuss breakthrough technologies and business practices that have the potential to disrupt the marketplace.

For those who missed the discussions or are yearning for a replay of their favorite talk, recordings of most presentations are now available on the Alltech Idea Lab. Access is free upon signup.

Available presentations from the 33rd international conference include:

• Boundless Potential – George Blankenship
• Can Agriculture Save the Planet? – Jack Bobo
• Why Simple Wins – Lisa Bodell
• A World of Abundance – Peter Diamandis
• Meeting the Demands of the Rising Billion – Dr. Mark Lyons
• Disruption in Washington – Damien McLoughlin
• Into the Cloud: Disruptive Digital Technologies – Robert Walker
• The Next Blockbuster Drug – Ronan Power
• Are the Disruptors Being Disrupted? – Aidan Connolly
• Pitches from The Pearse Lyons Accelerator program for agri-tech and food startups
• Special breakout sessions on beef, dairy, poultry, pig, aquaculture, crop and equine topics of interest, in addition to business and finance, health and nutrition and food and beverage

ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE18) will return to Lexington, Kentucky, USA, from May 20–23, 2018. Visit one.alltech.com for more information and to save $500 by registering before Aug. 1 for the 34th international conference.

To better contribute to China’s agriculture, Alltech signed a memo of understanding with Guangdong Evergreen Conglomerate to carry out research on sustainable aquaculture.

[DUNBOYNE, Ireland] – On June 10, Chunhua Hu, Communist Party secretary of Guangdong, led a trade delegation consisting of representatives from the biomedicine, information and communication technology, and financial industries to visit Ireland. During this economic exchange, the delegation paid a special visit to Alltech’s European Headquarters in Dunboyne, Ireland. While there, they learned more about the world-leading animal nutrition company’s interest in building a production base in Guangdong province, which would become its second production facility in China, and signed a memorandum of understanding to further aquaculture research.

Yue Xiaoyong, China’s ambassador to Ireland, and Paul Kavanagh, Ireland’s ambassador to China, were present during the visit. Senior government officials for Guangdong’s provincial government also attended, including Wen Guohui, mayor of Guangzhou, Zhong Weiyun, director general of the 7th Bureau of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, as well as several other officials from Guangdong province.

Dr. Mark Lyons, global vice president and head of Greater China at Alltech, and Aidan Connolly, chief innovation officer and vice president of corporate accounts at Alltech, welcomed the delegation and led the visit.

During the visit to Alltech’s European Headquarters, Hu heard a presentation by Lyons on the status of Alltech’s global business.

Since 1985, Alltech has adhered to what the company calls the ACE principle, a promise that in doing business Alltech has a positive impact on the Animal, the Consumer and the Environment. Since entering the Chinese market in 1994, Alltech has witnessed and been heavily involved in the rapid development of China’s agriculture industry. Alltech shares China’s vision and understand the challenges being faced in the field and on the farm.

Alltech is committed to the concept of green agriculture. On March 8-9, Alltech hosted the Greening of Chinese Agriculture Environmental Conference, to discuss and commit to energy conservation, production optimisation, improved management practices, and agriculture laws and regulations. Alltech called for 10 agriculture companies to sign a proposal promising to optimise their production processes and work together to realise China’s green agriculture.

Guangdong is one of biggest agricultural provinces.

“I hope Alltech solutions will help Guangdong and China’s agriculture sector work toward practical solutions for sustainable farming,” said Lyons.

“Five years ago, I came to China,” continued Lyons. “I like to work and live in China, especially in Guangdong, which is a big agriculture province. We have many important clients, and they have become our good friends.”

The delegation heard of Alltech’s interest in building a second production base in Guangdong, which would provide strong support to Alltech’s production in Asia. It would also drive the scientific and technological innovation for Guangdong’s, and even China’s, agriculture industry, promoting the development of biotechnology as well as the local economy while doing so in an environmentally friendly manner.

Alltech regards innovation as a top priority and is committed to discovering sustainable nutritional solutions for plants, animals and people. Similarly, the basic principles of the China Manufacturing 2025 Report include being innovation-driven, putting quality first, green development, structure optimisation and being talent-oriented.

Guangdong is China’s largest economic province, having led the country’s economic development for many years, and is considered China’s “south gate”.

“If it were a country, Guangdong would be the 16th largest national economy in the world,” said Xin Xiaowei, director of the Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Statistics, in a media interview.

It is a major shipping and transportation hub and home to South China Agricultural University, one of the leading universities and institutions around the world with which Alltech has established more than 20 research alliances. Combined with the talented people who work in the local agriculture sector, these qualities make Guangdong an ideal home for Alltech’s new production base.

In addition, to better contribute to China’s agriculture, Alltech signed a memo of understanding with Guangdong Evergreen Conglomerate to carry out research on the sustainable farming of aquatic species. Through the collaboration between Alltech and Guangdong Evergreen, both parties aim to advance the development of aquaculture nutrition and feed sciences, including the improvement of aquatic feed nutrition, antibiotic-free technology in aquaculture and aquatic ecological breeding technology (e.g., the reduction or replacement of fish meal and/or fish oil) with Alltech products such as Bioplex®, NuPro®, Allzyme® SSF, Actigen® and ForPlus™.

Alltech also intends to promote a programme in Guangdong that could follow in the very successful footsteps of The Pearse Lyons Accelerator 2017 program. The Guangdong programme would be in partnership with local agricultural companies and would support and guide agricultural start-ups to encourage innovation.

Yue and Kavanagh expressed how the cooperation between Alltech and Guangdong strengthens the connection between Guangdong and Ireland, deepening economic ties among enterprises in both countries. This is extremely beneficial to the continued cooperation between the two countries and will result in the creation of more business opportunities.

[DUNBOYNE, Ireland] – Dairy producers strive for long-term production and productivity with their herd, right from the start, and the pre-weaning growth of a dairy calf is a good indicator. While diarrhoea is one of the most common antagonists in issues with poor digestion and weight gain in calves, supplementing with Bio-Mos® has been shown to enhance performance and improve gut health.

A recent meta-analysis conducted by Dr. Anna Catharina Berge of Berge Veterinary Consulting BVBA concluded that Bio-Mos® supplementation in milk or milk replacer increased daily weight gain in dairy calves. These trials revealed, on average, 0.14 pounds improved weight gain per head per day in pre-weaned dairy calves, which corresponded to 8.37 pounds increased weight for calves weaned at two months of age. The long-term improved performance in heifers with improved pre-weaning growth would be equivalent to 220 pounds more milk in the first lactation, generating additional farm income, and improving gut health and digestive function.

“The results are a significant improvement in average daily weight gain,” said Aidan Connolly, chief innovation officer and vice president of corporate accounts at Alltech. “This improvement leads to greater returns for the producer through enhanced milk production, health and development, and long-term productivity.”

The meta-analysis included 23 cohort studies performed in the U.S.A., the United Kingdom, Brazil, Chile, the Czech Republic, India, Japan, Peru, Poland, Spain, and Turkey between 1993 and 2012. Bio-Mos was supplemented at 2–10 grams per day, with an average inclusion of 3.8 grams per day. Twenty-one of the studies reported an increase in daily weight gain for calves fed Bio-Mos in milk or milk replacer compared to control calves.

For more information on Bio-Mos, visit http://go.alltech.com/bio-mos.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – The National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) has awarded Alltech with its Preferred Supplier seal for companion animal and equine feed products.

The NASC Preferred Supplier program ensures quality and confidence in the supply chain, from start to finish. For a company to display the NASC Preferred Supplier seal, it must meet and comply with strict criteria set forth by NASC.

“We are very pleased to have been awarded the National Animal Supplement Council’s Preferred Supplier status,” said Dr. Juan Gomez-Basauri, global director of Alltech’s companion animal business. “This award is a validation of Alltech’s long-standing commitment to the pet food and equine industries to provide nutrition that is safe and beneficial to animal health.”

Central to the development of all Alltech nutrition products and feeding programs is the guiding Alltech ACE principle. This principle sets the standard for all company efforts, from the lab to the production floor, and ensures that what Alltech delivers is safe and beneficial to the Animal, Consumer and Environment.

For more information about Alltech nutrition for pet health and horse health, visit Alltech.com/Animal-Nutrition or contact your local Alltech sales representative.

[DUBLIN, Ireland.] – Global animal health and nutrition company Alltech is proud to announce that Professor Gerald Byrne, chairman of KEENAN innovation and R&D board, received the Fraunhofer Thaler Award. The award is in recognition of Byrne’s outstanding leadership and significant achievements in the field of applied research.

Established in 1949, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is the leading research and technology organisation for applied research in Europe. Its research activities are conducted by 69 institutes and research units at locations across Germany. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft conducts research in collaboration with research partners and innovative companies around the world and KEENAN is proud to congratulate Byrne on his recent award.

“We are absolutely delighted to congratulate Professor Byrne for his outstanding contributions to research,” said Robert Walker, KEENAN CEO. “We recognised Professor Byrne’s unique leadership and innovative thinking when asking him to chair the KEENAN Innovation and R&D board. The KEENAN team is dedicated to bringing the latest innovations and technologies to farmers around the world and it gives us great pride that the first Irish person to receive this award from Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is on our team.”

Byrne was appointed as chairman of the KEENAN innovation and R&D board in February of this year to ensure KEENAN continues to be an innovator in the farm machinery sector. Byrne spent five years as dean of engineering at University College Dublin (UCD) and now focuses on streamlining production, fast-tracking efficiency and optimising plant configuration at KEENAN’s headquarters and main manufacturing facility at Borris, County Carlow, Ireland. Among Byrne’s many other credentials are his honorary professorship at Tianjin University in China, being the first and only Irish member of the International Academy for Production Engineering and a membership in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

[BROOKINGS, S.D.] – Global animal health and nutrition company Alltech is proud to announce the donation of a KEENAN mixer wagon to be auctioned at South Dakota’s Prime Time Gala on June 17, 2017.

Hosted by the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation, the Prime Time Gala is an annual fundraiser that benefits Feeding South Dakota, an organization that provides emergency food assistance to thousands of people in any given week and hundreds of men, women and children every day across South Dakota.

“We understand the impact that an event such as the Prime Time Gala has, not only on our state, but our local community,” said CJ Tanderup, Alltech regional sales manager. “We are proud to donate the KEENAN mixer wagon to a great cause in order to raise money for those in need and to show our support for the South Dakota beef industry.”

Since hosting the first Prime Time Gala in June 2014, over $501,000 has been raised for Feeding South Dakota to purchase over 361,804 pounds of beef. Feeding South Dakota provides emergency food assistance for an estimated 190,000 people every year and nearly 50 percent of the individuals are children and infants. To learn more about how to support Feeding South Dakota through the Prime Time Gala and to order tickets, visit www.sdprimetimegala.com.