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Co-occurrence of mycotoxins remains a challenge for industry

Written by c001os on . Posted in Nutrinfo.

Cargill Animal Nutrition and Health’s latest research involved more than 400,000 analyses across more than 150 feed plants, farm and storage locations, and found that 78% of samples contained 3 or more mycotoxins, which remains a major challenge for the industry.

According to the research, distinct regional variations were observed. For example, this year’s European research found that in Northern and Eastern Europe, there were milder fluctuations in mycotoxins and significantly lower deoxynivalenol (DON) levels in 2024 compared to the previous year. However, the feed sector in Southern Europe saw a late-year surge in DON, fumonisin (FUM) and zearalenone (ZEN).

The company said that its database was the largest, allowing for more precise regional insights but said mycotoxin levels varied significantly by geography and time, making a broad dataset essential for accurate risk assessment and proactive management.

Clement Soulet, Category lead – Cargill Micronutrition and Health Solutions – said feed safety was a crucial part of optimising livestock productivity, stressing that healthy animals performed better. “This database provides producers with real-time, location-specific risk insights, helping them make proactive decisions to protect their animals and their bottom line.”

The firm has carried out a study on how DON disrupts microbiota maturation, looking at the impact it has on broiler gut microbiota. It found that DON-contaminated feed disrupts the natural development of beneficial bacteria, while promoting the persistence of harmful pathogens such as Campylobacter and Salmonella.

These agriculture inputs are exempt from Trump’s tariffs

Written by c001os on . Posted in Nutrinfo.

Some agriculture inputs will be exempt from the 10% across-the-board and higher reciprocal tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on April 2, according to a 37-page document from the White House.

On April 2, Trump signed an executive order declaring that foreign trade and economic practices have created a national economic emergency and imposed a 10% tariff on all countries, which were originally to take effect on April 5. Reciprocal higher tariffs on countries with which the U.S. has the highest trade deficits were scheduled to take effect on April 9.

According to the document from the White House the following items are exempt from tariffs: fatty acids of animal or vegetable origin; lysine; glutamic acid; choline; certain herbicides, pesticides, insecticides and fungicides; ethoxyquin; vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B12, C and E and their derivatives; antibiotics; vaccines for veterinary medicine; certain fertilizers.

Last week, American agriculture industry groups warned that new across-the-board and reciprocal tariffs will negatively affect U.S. agricultural producers.

In a letter sent to members of the administration ahead of the April 2 announcement, agribusiness groups emphasized the need “for a trade policy that supports the growth of American agricultural production and the prosperity of our farmers, ranchers, growers and rural Americans at this time of economic stress in agriculture.”

While the groups said they support the administration’s goal of achieving a fairer trade balance, additional tariffs on imports “run the risk of significant retaliatory measures against U.S. agricultural exports” and that the impacts of these measures on U.S. agribusiness “are critical when determining potential trade actions.”

On its website, the White House said non-tariff barriers – meant to limit the quantity of imports/exports and protect domestic industries – deprive U.S. manufacturers of reciprocal access to markets around the world.

3D-printed sensors to tackle milk fever

Written by c001os on . Posted in Cattle, Nutrinfo.

Milk fever, or hypocalcaemia, in lactating cows has a significant economic impact on the dairy industry, with losses amounting to thousands of dollars per farm annually.

Farmers find it challenging to identify asymptomatic subclinical hypocalcaemia (SCH) in transition dairy cows, although monitoring SCH in milk samples can expedite treatment and improve the health, productivity and welfare of dairy cows.

SCH occurs when calcium levels in the blood fall below normal, and it can affect nearly half of mature dairy cows and a quarter of first-time calvers. The condition compromises muscle and nerve function, leading to reduce feed intake, lower milk production and increased susceptibility to other diseases.

Current diagnostic tools rely on blood sampling and lab-based analysis, which are costly, time-intensive and impractical for routine farm use. Researchers at the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech in the US wanted to develop an attomolar-sensitive sensor using extrusion 3D-printed sensing structures to detect the ratio of ionised calcium to phosphate levels in milk samples.

The 3D-printed sensor features intricate microstructures and a unique wrinkled surface creating using a solid-contact ion-to-electron transducer. These design elements enhance the surface area, enabling rapid and highly accurate detection of milk ions.

The diagnostic device can identify SCH in as little as 10 seconds with attomolar-sensitivity and, unlike bulky and expensive lab equipment, the sensor produced at Virginia Tech, with a solid-state feature, is portable and can be integrated with milking machines or farm pipelines. Farmers can now test milk samples on-site, eliminating the need for invasive blood tests or transporting samples to labs.

Lead researcher at Virginia Tech, assistant professor Azahar Ali, said the innovation bridges a long-standing gap in dairy diagnostics.

“Farmers have traditionally relied on either expensive commercial analysers or subjective assessments based on visible symptoms like weakness or difficulty standing. Neither approach is sufficient for detecting SCH early enough to prevents its cascade of complications. Our 3D-printed sensor not only makes early detection feasible, but also democratises access to advanced diagnostics,” said Ali.

K-State researchers develop tests to detect ASF on surfaces

Written by c001os on . Posted in Nutrinfo, Pig.

Kansas State University researchers have published the findings of a study that looks at a seemingly simple way to add another layer of protection for the US swine industry against a crippling, viral disease, according to the K-State Research and Extension news service.

K-State swine production specialist and veterinarian Jordan Gebhardt said scientists have used some common household items to test their ability to detect the presence of African Swine Fever on equipment and surfaces where animal feed is transported.

Detecting the presence of the African Swine Fever virus on the surfaces of trucks, shipping containers and other materials entering the United States, “seems like such a simple research question,” Gebhardt said, “but there’s a lot of complexity in how that is done.”

The research, originating from fieldwork conducted by K-State scientists in Vietnam, relies on diagnostic tests known as polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, which use DNA or RNA from a sample to diagnose infectious disease. In most cases, a PCR test can give a reliable result within 24 hours, often much more quickly.

K-State scientists relied on simple techniques to collect PCR samples. Gebhardt said they swabbed surfaces that have come in close contact with feed using four materials that might be found in any consumer’s home: a four-inch square cotton gauze, polyester tipped swabs, sponge sticks and a dry sweep cloth.

“If we want to test a surface — whether that be a truck or a shipping container or a surface on a farm – we need to know how to collect a sample from that surface and then get the best diagnostic result we can to determine if the virus is present or not,” Gebhardt said. “We call that process environmental sampling. To date, there hasn’t been a strong set of qualified research projects that have done a great job characterizing the simple question of what’s the best way to collect that sample.”

Weak exports and dependence on piglet import burden Poland’s pig farms

Written by c001os on . Posted in Nutrinfo, Pig.

The general mood in Poland’s pig industry is somewhat depressed, Bartosz Czarniak, a spokesman from Poland’s pig farmers and breeders association Polsus, told a local news outlet Cenyrolnicze.

During the last weeks of December, pork prices in Poland stagnated. “I know that for those who were counting on a revival, this is poor consolation, but looking at what is happening on the market at the moment, this is, in fact, optimistic news,” Czarniak said. 

In this background, he indicated that quite a few fattening farms, which purchased imported piglets hoping for better prices, now have to sell pork at a loss. Prices have yet to reach the desired level because of waning demand for Poland’s and, in general, European pork on foreign markets, he assumed. “European pork is among the most expensive – if not the most expensive – in the world, which is why export results are falling,” he said.

The EU pig industry is losing ground on the global market. Everything indicates that in 2024, the United States will overtake the European Union and become the world’s largest exporter of pork, agreed Jakub Olipra, economist at Credit Agricole Polska Bank.

Czarniak said Poland needs to develop breeding farms to bolster the average pig industry’s profitability. “The dependence of the domestic market on imported piglets is clearly taking its toll, which is why we should take care of the domestic sow herd,” Czarniak said. “In my opinion, we should focus on rebuilding parent farms. All the more so if we look at the welfare policy in the EU. The limitation of animal transport time is still hanging in the air. This remains a big risk factor for fattening farms looking for piglets on the market. We should strive to rebuild our own piglet production,” Dr Olipra echoed the claim. “Without our piglet production, with such a high dependence on imports from Denmark, it is difficult to even talk about food security in the pork market”.

“Hyper eyes” that can see inside eggs

Written by c001os on . Posted in Nutrinfo, Poultry.

Two Canadian egg organizations and a technology company have developed an in-ovo sexing technology that can be used on both white and brown eggs and will soon be marketed to egg producers.

The HyperEye technology uses a combination of hyperspectral imaging and artificial intelligence and works on all eggs as early as the fourth day of incubation. The non-invasive method has been validated in commercial hatcheries.

The HyperEye technology is stand-alone and has a small footprint, making it able to be incorporated into a hatchery’s already existing process flow. The equipment was developed by Canadian Egg Technologies, a collaboration between Egg Farmers of Ontario and Egg Farmers of Canada, and technology company MatrixSpec Solutions.

“As farmers, we understand firsthand the need to continue to evolve our approach and use new innovations to address the challenges at hand,” stated Co-Chair of Canadian Egg Technologies Roger Pelissero. “HyperEye provides a unique solution for hatcheries world-wide and can help accelerate our collective efforts in addressing a complex area of our supply chain.”

Matrixspec CEO Dr. Michael Ngadi said: “Working directly with farmers has allowed us to understand the intricacies of hatcheries and the egg supply chain. Together, we are not only addressing animal welfare concerns but also offering a practical and scalable tool that is designed to integrate seamlessly into hatcheries.”

Record year for the Polish poultry industry

Written by c001os on . Posted in Nutrinfo, Poultry.

Poland’s poultry industry experienced an outstanding year in 2024 as monthly production reached a record level, the National Chamber of Poultry and Feed Producers (KIPDiP) revealed.

The organisation said that monthly poultry production exceeded the threshold of 150 million heads during the year at least 3 times. “A few years ago, we wondered whether a monthly production record of over 100 million chickens could be maintained,” recalled Katarzyna Gawrońska, director of the National Chamber of Poultry and Feed Producers. “However, it quickly turned out that such a number of broilers produced on a monthly scale was not an exception but a rule for the industry. We can now celebrate achieving another milestone,” she added. The industry’s growth this year has even triggered an occasional shortage of hatching eggs.

Poland is the largest producer of poultry meat in Europe, accounting for one-fifth of the EU’s total output. Spain and Germany, ranked second and third in the list of largest manufacturers, are far behind, with 13% and 14% in the EU’s poultry supply, respectively.

Despite the general positivity, Poland’s poultry farmers express concerns over growing dependence on foreign trade, Gawrońska said. Poland’s market can consume less than half of the broiler meat the country manufactures, meaning significant shifts in demand in other EU countries – the key sales market for Poland’s broiler meat – could be quite painful for the industry.

Against this background, Gawrońska rang the alarm bell over the looming agreement between the EU and the Mercosur countries. She noted a potential devastating impact of increased poultry meat imports from Brazil to the EU, warning that it c

Can IVF technique halve dairy methane emissions?

Written by c001os on . Posted in Cattle, Nutrinfo.

Hilda is the first to be born in the Langhill cow herd. Located in southern Scotland, the cow has been born through IVF and specifically bred to produce less methane.

Three technologies have been used to create Hilda, including systems that can predict an individual cow’s methane production based on DNA. Eggs were also extracted for fertilisation at a younger age with semen pre-sorted for sex.

“You mix those three [technologies] together, and that enables you to accelerate female selection for reduced methane, one calf at a time,” said Mike Coffey at Scotland’s sustainability-focused Rural College, who explained repeating this process would eventually lead to a low methane herd. The ultimate goal is to create a stock that significantly reduces methane emissions.

Traditional selection of cows for dairy and meat based on these traits has brought emissions down by around 1% annually. It is believed that by adopting this tech-enabled approach the methane output of a herd would plummet by 30% over the next two decades.

The economic feasibility of such innovations remains a challenge. Today, the cost of producing Hilda is around double the economic value of the animal itself. This means government intervention could be needed to make the approach cost effective, in the same way EVs have become established through policy levers. This comes at a time when several countries are competing to cut methane emissions from livestock.

The efforts unfolding in Scotland reflect the global drive to rapidly reduce methane emissions. These technology-driven solutions could shape the future of sustainable agricultural practices worldwide.

Cystic Ovarian Disease: a threat to dairy productivity in the UK

Written by c001os on . Posted in Cattle, Nutrinfo.

A common disease affecting between 5% and 60% of dairy cattle in the UK, cystic ovarian disease negatively impacts cow productivity, with effects on both farm efficiency and profitability.

The disease leads to a prolonged interval between calving and conception, resulting in decreased milk production and increased culling rates. These factors collectively affect the economic sustainability of dairy farms, emphasizing the need for effective management and treatment strategies.

Veterinarians and farmers are urged to collaborate closely to mitigate the impacts of this disease through regular health monitoring and appropriate medical interventions. Cystic ovarian disease remains a critical concern for the dairy industry, demanding continued research and attention to ensure the welfare of cattle and the viability of dairy operations.

Weighing without scales wins Dutch innovation prize

Written by c001os on . Posted in Nutrinfo, Pig.

The annual contest of most promising pig innovation in the Netherlands has been won by a novelty to weigh pigs using camera images, without the use of scales.

It was the 9th edition of the contest, which is officially called “Het beste idee van Varkensland” (which roughly translates to “The Best Idea in the Pig Community”). The winning innovation, developed by ICT expert Pieter Hoenderken, revolves around the use of artificial intelligence, which will help translate the dimensions of a pig into its weight – a process that can be done using fixed cameras. The intention behind the concept is to create a portable solution that the pig farmer can use to move around the barn.

Monitoring pig growth and health are important issues – as one of the main targets of producing swine is to get them to slaughter in a uniform manner. In case of deviation from the average, something may be wrong. Hence Hoenderken’s claim that the innovation can even contribute to improving pig welfare.

The technology is initially being prepared to determine the correct pig delivery weight. In the long term, it will be possible to monitor the development of pigs with the invention and link that to the management system.