Wishing Seasons greeting

Wishing all our followers Seasonal Greetings and a happy new year in 2012 

Novozymes accelerates enzyme research

MorphoSys AG, a German biotechnology company, and industrial enzyme manufacturer Novozymes signed a licensing agreement for MorphoSys’ patented Slonomics technology. Using Slonomics as an automated enzyme engineering tool will allow Novozymes’ researchers to reduce the time needed to develop new enzymes. “In order to develop the best enzymes in the most efficient way we need access to the best available technologies," says Ejner Bech Jensen, Vice President of Novozymes Research & Development. Read more ...

Three shows in one location Victam 2012

FIAAP Asia 2012

Victam Asia 2012

GRAPAS Asia 2012

Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC), Bangkok, Thailand

 February 15 – 17, 2012

The 2012 event will have a similar format to that of the successful 2010 show which attracted almost 6000 trade visitors. There will be FIAAP (feed ingredients), Victam (feed processing & biomass technology) & GRAPAS (rice milling & grain processing) exhibitors.

By co-locating the three events within one venue it enables visitors to view the products and technology they require in order to operate and safe and economic production facility. This also benefits the exhibitors as the three shows attract additional visitors to view their displays. Again there will be specific technical conferences on Aquafeed, Feed Ingredients, Petfood, Biomass Technology, Grain Processing and the Thai Feed Conference.

For further information on each exhibition please go to their pages or contact our head office in The Netherlands. Our local sales consultants will also be able to assist you. These are listed under Contact Information.

Biolek signs agreement with BioPoint

Polish based company Biolek manufacturer of innovative animal nutrition products recently acquired by Bioton, has signed an agreement with BioPoint, a major Polish maker and distributor of veterinary products, about the marketing of Biolek’s products on the Polish market. Adam Kiciak, CEO of Biolek, said "the distribution agreement in Poland covered the company’s entire portfolio". Read more ...

German feed companies merge

Two German co operatives Raiffeisen Emsland-Mitte in Klein-Berssen and Raiffeisen Grenzland in Laar (both in West Germany close to the Dutch border) have decided to merge their activities. The new name of the merged company will be “Raiffeisen Ems-Vechte”. The main reason for the merger is make better use of production capabilities of the two coops. Read more ...

Yeast protein concentrate from biofuels as novel feed ingredient

At the University of Plymouth they have been looking at biofuel products. The co products can often be used in animal nutrition. Plymouth working in co operation with AB Vista biofuel derived yeast protein concentrate (YPC) have been evaluating YPC as part of the ingredient of a novel feed in carp diets. A novel yeast co-product obtained from a bio-ethanol process in which wheat was the predominant feedstock was tested in a series of iso-nitrogenous (38 percent crude protein) and iso-lipidic (8 percent) diets for juvenile mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio). Read more ...

Biotechnology Industry Organisation (BIO) calls for tax credits

The Biotechnology Industry Organisation (BIO) representing the biofuel industry in America is calling for cellulosic biofuels tax credits to be extended to help companies raise the funds they need to build biorefineries. "The cellulosic biofuels production tax credit and the accelerated depreciation for cellulosic biofuel property have the potential to unlock this vital project financing. Algae biofuels also need to be eligible for these credits. But the  December 31, 2012 expiration date for these credits prevents project developers from leveraging their full value," says Brent Erickson, executive VP of BIO’s industrial and environmental section. Read more ...

Thai scientists develop stronger seeds

With recent events around the World, its not a surprise that Scientist from Thailand are developing a new strain of rice seed that are stronger. A series of new rice varieties able to resist rising temperatures, drought, insect infestations and even flooding will become commercially available in a few years. "Rice strains that can better resist rising temperature, disease and floods are on the way and will be in the market in 3-5 years," said Anek Silapapun, an executive vice-president of Bangkok Seeds Industry Co, a unit of the Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group. Read more ...

Study claims large dairies, feed lots are linked to air pollution

A recent study in the Yakima Valley suggest that large scale dairies and animal feed lots are linked to air pollution, providing environmentalist with what is hoped will be a useful tool for enforcing air quality regulations on such operations. "What our study means, it demonstrates that you can measure a difference in air pollutants and there (could be) an effect on those living close to them," said D'Ann Williams, the principal Johns Hopkins researcher.

University of Reading takes lead role in project

As part of an European Union program to train a new generation of researchers, the University of Reading will take a leading role. The UK£3.5 million (US$5.424 million) project that will look into producing sustainable and healthy animal feeds. The project was set up because of the effects of climate change will have on food production including animal feed. Read more ...

The ESFA failed to follow procedural rules

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), failed to follow procedural rules, due to the fact that they allowed senior members of staff to move to Syngenta, a company that produces genetically modified crops, according to a report by the European ombudsman. The report was in response to a complaint filed by German research group Testbiotech. EFSA and the European Commission have not admitted any wrongdoing. “We are very concerned that both EFSA and the Commission have tried to deny their responsibilities in this case by rejecting our original complaints,” said Christoph Then of Testbiotech. Read more ...

Myanmar Aqua Feed Association warns of bad fish feed

Myanmar Aqua Feed Association has warned its members to test all bags of raw materials used to make fish feed that has been imported from India as some bags were found to contain waste products. Dr That Mhoo, the association’s general secretary, said six companies are importing Indian-made soy meal. “We found that some bags contain up to 10 percent of waste products such as bean shell or other plant stems”. “The samples of the feed they gave us to test were quite pure but the imported bags they have been selling has between 5 and 10 percent of waste product,” the manager of a feed factory in Hlaing Tharyar said. Read more ...

FEFANA Classification Tool

A practical tool to distinguish between feed additives and feed materials Brussels,  December 14, 2011 - FEFANA launches its electronic Classification Tool aiming at differentiating feed additives from feed materials.

The distinction between feed additives and feed materials has critical implications for the placing of these products in the European market. Making the wrong choice can have severe legal and practical consequences both for the company placing a product on the market or for those using it.

The legal status of any type of feed in the EU is mainly determined by the definitions contained in Regulations (EC) No. 1831/2003 on feed additives and (EC) No. 767/2009 on the marketing of feed. However operators and control authorities have faced difficulties to apply a consistent interpretation of these definitions in a somehow complex legal environment.

The EC Recommendation 2011/25 “Guidelines for the distinction between feed materials, feed additives, biocidal products and veterinary medicinal products”, released earlier this year were very positively perceived by the sector as a step towards more transparency and legal certainty. Nevertheless they were, according the opinion of a number of users, still seen to be somewhat theoretical.

One of the difficulties is that the legal status of a product has to be inferred from a combination of several criteria considered simultaneously. The FEFANA classification tool has made the next step bringing the guidelines at a more practical and operational level, while strictly implementing its definitions and criteria.

The classification tool aspires to support the feed business operators and the competent authorities to have a common understanding of a given substance and to document their assessment. However it does not aim at substituting the judgement of the person using it, but rather at being a reference around which building his/her final decision. The placing of a product on the market remains under the sole responsibility of the operator.

The tool has been organised and based on a limited number of straight and precise questions. It calculates a score based on the given answers, which categorises the product as a feed additive, or a feed material, or a feed material (functional feed ingredient).

In fact in addition to its use as a macronutrient or as a carrier, a feed material may also be used in order to perform one of the additive functions as defined in Article 5 of the Regulation No. 1831/200. While this distinction does not exist in the EU feed legislative framework, it corresponds to a practical reality: these products are close to the additive concept, while being legally defined as feed materials.

During its development phase, the tool has been extensively tested on numerous products by FEFANA members and external partners and it was recognised to bring consistency and logic in the assessment.

More details and using tips are provided with the Classification Tool itself, available on the FEFANA website homepage (under the implementing activities area),

at http://www.fefana.org/ClassTool/

or you may simply click on the logo here below:

Ireland is not GM free because of animal feed

Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has said, “the idea that Ireland is GM-free is not accurate in respect of the feed given to animals,” he added. Irish people had been eating meat reared on feed containing genetically modified (GM) elements for years. He said that his focus was to ensure that the Irish agri-food sector was competitive and safe and that New GM crops, which might be part of feeds imported into Ireland, would be rigorously tested, and he had faith in the European systems from a scientific and safety point of view. Read more ...

Genetic optimisation of algae using novel techniques

Aurora Algae are using new and novel techniques for the genetic optimisation to create advanced-trait algae strains for product development in the pharmaceutical, nutrition, renewable energy and animal feed markets of their industrial algal crops. One recent success was the development of a non-transgenic strain of algae with an altered lipid profile having a higher proportion of EPA, the valuable omega-3 essential fatty acid,” said Dr. Bertrand Vick, chief scientific officer and co-founder of Aurora Algae, and one of the senior authors of the article. Read more ...

Aarthus University get funding for amino acid research

Aarthus University is too receive funding for a project on developing new methods of measuring the amino acid requirements of pigs. The aim of the project is to reduce feed use  protect the environment and improve the economy of the farmers. Jan Værum Nørgaard, scientist at Aarhus University, has just received 4.1m DKK (€551,600) funding for from The Danish Council for Independent Research, Technology and Production Sciences.

 “Our experiments with standards for amino acids are currently based on a technique that we have been using for many years. We have not really moved on, and the industry could do with a more precise method. Because the reality is that we can set up 10 feeding experiments and get 10 different conclusions,” explains Værum Nørgaard. Read more ...

Animal feed producer invests in expansion

Japfa Comfeed Indonesia an animal feed producer is planning to invest Rp900 billion (US$99 million) in 2012 to boost its production. The expansion program will include revamping its factories in Sumatra and Java as well as expanding its production capacity at its chicken feed mills in Medan and Pedang in Sumatra increasing its production output by another 96,000 tons. “We will focus next year on our basic business - animal feed. That’s where we will put our investments next year,” Putut said in Jakarta. Read more ...

In China over 90,000 detained over illegal food production

The Chinese government has launched a major offensive on illegal food producers. The high profile campaign was launched on August 22 and aims to eliminate illegal food producers, vendors, factories producing counterfeit products. A statement issued by the ministry particularly noted the results of operations against manufacturing and sale of clenbuterol, an illegal fat-burning drug that is sometimes illegally used as an additive in pig feed, and "gutter oil," or reprocessed cooking oil that is illegally produced using waste oil from restaurants. More than 132,000 cases have been investigated with more than 90,000 suspects being detained since November. Read more ...

Ghana fish feed company supplies bad feed

Raanan Fish Feed West Africa Limited from Ghana, has supplied a batch of contaminated fish feed that was locally produced. The feed was delivered between November 21 and 28, 2011. At Kpeve-Tornu at least 30 individuals and groups has suffered loss of their stock of tilapia fingerlings, in all several million fish died from the poison fish feed that was delivered. One fish farmer from Matfrankston Fisheries Limited said he operated six cages and he noted that the mortality rate was alarming and abnormal, and generated a stench by the lakeside. Read more ...

National Grain and Feed Associations conference well attended

The National Grain and Feed Associations (NGFA) country elevator conference will be attended by more than 690 country elevator managers and their key employees as well as those that supply goods and services to the industry. Known as the meeting of the year for country elevators and grain merchants the event is due to take place on December 11 to 13, in Chicago. The day-and-a-half conference and trade show will feature business-focused sessions on the most important topics and issues confronting the industry in 2012. Read more ...

The influence of feed structure on the health

The influence of feed structure on the health of the GI-tract in pigs has been extensively studied in recent years in Denmark and more recently in Germany (Hannover DBIS), among others to find a relationship between particle size and the prevention of Salmonella infections. When comparing pelletised and mash feed with each other, the thermally treated (thus pelletised) feed obtains superior pig performance due to gelatinisation that takes place in the pelleting die.

In addition the pressure and temperature during pelleting also form a perfect hygienisation stage. Up to 99 percent of the natural microbial flora is eliminated. Therefore in Denmark for years it was ruled that feeds for fattening pigs had to be heated to at least 81°C during the pelleting process, so that any Salmonella would be killed. Author: Dr Heinrich Kleine Klausing. Read more ...

Bacteria still resistant after two and a half years

A Canadian study showed that two and a half years after stopping the administration of antibiotics on farms, bacteria was still showing resistance to antibiotics. The study report said that farms quitting antibiotics may still be a breeding ground for drug resistance germs. Ecologist Martin Chénier and his colleagues of McGill University, Canada, wanted to know whether drug resistant bacteria would, when their exposure to antibiotics ceased, throw out the genes that code for antibiotic resistance, the team plan to publish their work in Microbial Ecology. Read more ...

AY-carotene displays a unique combination of immunological properties

Chemaphor Inc presented its new growth promoting alternative OxC at the Antimicrobial Stewardship in Canadian Agriculture & Veterinary Medicine Conference held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dr Graham Burton, President & Co-Founder of Chemaphor spoke about Pathways to Complementary Medicines, providing an overview of Chemaphor’s proprietary compound, OxC-beta, and its potential as a natural alternative to antibiotics currently being used for growth promotion in feed animals. “Unlike traditional antibiotics used in livestock agriculture, OxC-beta provides productivity gains without causing antibiotic resistance, because its action does not involve killing bacteria directly”, commented Dr. Burton. Read more ...

EFEV appointed as distributor by Agromed for Chinese market

Agromed and EFEV have joined into a partnership deal for EFEV to distribute Agromed products in the Chinese market. Agromed Austria, a provider of premium natural feed additives are working with EFEV Group, a distribution company of feed additives and animal health products in China. This new partnership will enable Agromed to enter and develop their OptiCell product line in the China market as part of its expansion plans in Asia Pacific. Read more ...

European Union approve Estonian probiotic

Estonian scientist have discovered a lactic acid bacterium, which has been approved by the European Food Safety Authority (ESFA), paving the way for use throughout the European Union. The particular strain of probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum NCIMB 30236, is used in animal feed to ferment silage. The director of TAK, Ene Tammsaare, credited scientists from the University of Life Sciences, University of Tartu and the Estonian Research Institute of Agriculture, and the company Starter ST, who had done years of work. "To this point Estonia has imported silage preservatives but now we have a domestic one with high export potential," she said. Read more ...

Worker dies poultry feed mash in India

One worker died and three others escaped after they fell into slush at a poultry feed company. The accident happened at Vimala Feeds manufacturing unit at Shamirpet, near Hyderabad in India. “There are three large above-ground silos, each 10 meters high, which can store nearly 350 tons of feed," a fire brigade spokesman said. When maize is ground and mixed with other ingredients, the mixture turns into a mash. Read more ...

Cargill donates 10,000 metric tons of rice

Cargill has sent a ship carrying 10,000 metric tons of rice to the people of the Horn of Africa, Cargill believes its has a duty to help the starving. Right now, more than 13 million people in the Horn of Africa are facing that region’s worst famine in 60 years. Tens of thousands of people are dying, including vulnerable children. Disease, crime and despair are sweeping the region. People are fleeing their homes on foot in hopes of finding safety and food. The 10,000 metric tons of rice will provide 50 million cups of rice. Join Cargill and the US Agency for International Development  in making a difference. Read more ...

Cargill to reduce workforce

Cargill has announced that it will shed 2000 jobs from its global workforce of 138,000. The majority of the redundancies will take place over the next six months, all employees affected will get severance and outplacement support in keeping with policies and with local laws and regulations. Cargill has blamed the weak global economy for the decision to reduce its workforce. “As economic conditions change, so must we,” said Mike Fernandez, corporate vice president of Cargill Corporate Affairs. Read more ...

European Union delays changes to organic poultry feed

The National Farmers Union (NFU) have welcomed the decision by the European Union (EU) to delay the proposed changes to organic poultry feed. The EU is delaying the controversial plans that were due to be brought in on January 1, and have told producers to carry on as normal. The EU also wants other changes implemented as well as the 100 percent organic feed they want to force producers to grow a large proportion of feed on their own holding or region. Read more ...

Gene exchange encouraged by antibiotics in swine feed

A study by Heather Allen and her colleagues at the USDA National Animal Disease Center (NaDC) in Ames, Iowa published in an online journal called mBio showed that by adding antibiotics to swine feed causes microorganisms in the guts of the pigs to share genes that could spread antibiotic resistance. “Induction of the prophages is showing us that antibiotics are stimulating gene transfer,” says Allen. “This is significant because phages have previously been shown to carry bacterial fitness genes such as antibiotic resistance genes.” Read more ...

Wheat decrease If triazole fungicides are banned

Danish wheat growers along with other EU wheat growers are waiting to see if the EU bans triazole fungicides. If the ban goes ahead the wheat producers that use triazole fungicides could be facing a loss of €34 million (US$45.467 million), which corresponds to a five percent drop in yields. This is the result of an investigation carried out by senior scientist Lise Nistrup Jørgensen from Aarhus University in collaboration with scientists from the United Kingdom and France. The results will be presented at the 2012 Plant Congress on 10-12 January in Herning. Read more ...

EU and USA difference of opinion on antibiotics

The debate over the use of antibiotics in animals has stepped up as the European Union and the United States seem to be on a collision course concerning the antibiotic. In the EU the European Commission has introduced an action plan with 12 concrete actions to be implemented in close cooperation with member states.

But in the US the Food and Drug administration (FDA) has refused two petitions to limit the use of antibiotics on farms. The petitions filed in 1999 and 2005 by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) along with several medical and environmental organisation  have called upon the FDA to act in reducing the use of antibiotics on farms. Read more ...

France opposed to the use of animal meal

A recent report by the European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA), has described the risk of using animal meal (meat and bone protein) in animal feeds as negligible with the risk associated with the residual presence of processed animal proteins.

However France's Minister for Agriculture and Food, Bruno Le Maire has said that animal meal will not be reintroduced into France. Mr Le Maire said that he strongly opposes any changes in the regulations of animal feed, and has pledged that whilst he is Minister the use of animal meal in France will not be reintroduced. Read more ...

Pocket guide to identify any pest present

A pocket guide has been developed for growers in Australia by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). The Stored grain pests identification Back Pocket Guide provides a snapshot of common pests found in stored grain in Australia.

As well as images and descriptions of common pests, the guide contains information about how to monitor and identify grain pests; control measures; and how to send samples for testing so that insects can be checked for resistance. Read more ...

It can be downloaded from the GRDC website here, or growers can visit the stored grain information here.

UK Farming crucial to stabilising the economy

New figures confirmed that the UK farming industry is playing an important role in stabilising the economy the National Farmers Union (NFU) have stated. During 2010 the industry contributed UK£7.4 billion (US$11.614 billion) to the wider economy a 5.3 percent increase year on year. “However, these figures show that farming still faces challenging business conditions. The overall profitability of UK farming fell by some £173 million (US$271.523 million), (-3.6 percent) in 2010 as the industry saw input costs rise by 5.5 percent. Projections from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) show higher input costs will again influence 2011 profitability, but indicate a two percent rise in farming’s total income in the current year. Read more ...

EU investment in agriculture reaches 22 million people

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and World Food Program (WFP), have assisted over 22 million people hardest hit by the global food crisis with the help of generous funding from the European Union's Food Facility (EUFF). "In establishing the EUFF, the European Union sent a strong message to both developed and developing countries that it was time to join forces and get agriculture, a sector suffering from decades of underinvestment, back on track in the fight against poverty and hunger," said FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf. Read more ...

Meat Consumption increasing in Asian countries

Animal protein has become increasingly important in Asian diets over the past decade, according to Peter Duggan from the Strategic Information Services of Bord Bia-Irish Food Board. Even though there is a surge in the consumption of meat in Asian countries, they still lag behind the more developed countries with the greatest density of consumption in the US and Australia. According to Dr Henning Steinfeld from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, by 2050 the world will need 50 percent more food and between 70 and 80 percent more meat to feed a population that is expected to grow by 30 percent. Read more ...

Ukraine increases soybean production and export

The Ukraine is actively increasing its production of soybean and by 2015 the volume could reach four million tons from a total area of two million hectares. In 2011 they only managed to get 2.3 million tons from an area of 1.1 million hectares. Victor Timchenko, president of the Ukrainian Association of soybeans producers and processors (ASPP), said. "The export of soy from the Ukraine in 2015 may reach 1.1 million tons against 800,000 tons in 2011". Read more ...

Will the EU be ready for the meat stall ban

A British Pig Executive Report expressing concerns that many European countries would not be able to meet the new conditions on time and which said that even Denmark may have problems complying with the EU ban. John Howard, Market Director (UK) at the Danish Agriculture & Food Council said that the Danish industry will be ready. Mr Howard said: "Their report regarding the situation in Denmark was based on a single report in the Danish media a few months ago that "nearly one-third of producers will not be able to comply with the new welfare requirements." Read more ...

Bill approved to dismantle CWB

Canada's legislators have approved the bill that will strip the Canadian Wheat Board of its monopoly powers, and will soon allow grain growers to begin negotiating contracts to sell their barley and wheat for delivery after August 1, 2012. "This is a tremendous day," said Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, hours before the vote but anticipating the bill's approval. "This is a movement forward. This is what we have been waiting for for decades. We will get the job done." Read more ...