From WATTAgNet:
The past week brought us news about GMO labeling laws, antibiotic usage trends, corn supplies, how feed additives can create meat and egg superfoods and a recently released mycotoxin study.
Antibiotic usage trends promote new ways to raise pigs
Regional disparity in antibiotic growth promotion (AGP) use reveals longer-term trends toward AGP replacement while new research suggests diminishing returns. The rise of natural growth promoters will outpace antibiotic growth promoters by a factor of 2 to 1 through 2030. From a performance perspective, several natural feed additives can effectively serve modern livestock production and generate profits.
The high cost of metabolic diseases in dairy cattle
Metabolic disorders are extremely costly to dairy farmers and the overall cost is certainly greater than the direct loss of income from reduced milk production. Most metabolic disorders are not ‘stand-alone’ – the occurrence of one tends to increase the risk of another.
South Africa seeks solutions to expected corn shortage
South Africa is looking for solutions to mitigate the anticipated corn shortage brought on by drought.
#tbt: China corn crop to hit record high
In September 2011, the Chinese corn market was at a record high due to increased demand. China used 105 million tons of corn per year at that time for animal feed, with another 60 million to 70 million tons used in the processing sector for such products as starch, citric acid and ethanol.
Allen Harim chickens now 100 percent vegetarian-fed
Allen Harim Foods LLC is now one of the few companies that offers 100 percent vegetarian-fed chicken products.
2016 chicken production under control, profitable
Despite lower broiler chicken prices, chicken supply is under control – expected to rise by 2.5 percent in 2016 – and U.S. chicken producers should be profitable in the coming year. Speaking at the 2016 Annual Meat Conference, poultry industry economist Dr. Paul Aho said chicken prices are lower than in 2015, but feed and fuel prices are likely to remain low through 2018.
How animal feed additives create meat, egg superfoods
Selenium and DHA are two nutrients that many people are not getting enough of in their diets. It is possible to feed livestock higher than usual levels to produce enriched milk, meat and eggs that can then be marketed as improving human health and nutrition.
Vilsack: Farm sectors suffer as Congress stalls on TPP
Congress needs to approve the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement as soon as possible so the U.S. feed, poultry and pork sectors can enjoy the benefits of the reduced and eliminated tariffs promised by the agreement, said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Vincent ‘Zippy’ Duvall.
Proposed bill blocks state GM labeling laws
U.S. Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) introduced legislation to prevent state-by-state labeling requirements for genetically modified (GM) foods.
Safety of vitamin B2 product confirmed
A new additive has been assessed by the European Food Safety Authority as a safe and effective source of riboflavin (vitamin B2) in animal feeds.
Mycotoxin study reveals biggest risks to birds globally
There is probably no safe level of mycotoxins in livestock feed, yet most poultry diet components contain them.
