Efstratia PapanikouEfstratia Papanikou is a Kansas State (MSc) and University of Illinois (PhD) graduate working as a consultant in the interface between plant and animal science: the feed ingredients. Papanikou can be contacted at [email protected].From the AuthorFeed Ingredient InsightsWhy feed mills should worry about fertilizer decisions made months agoProcurement teams should ask not only what the grain costs, but where it came from and what fertilizer conditions shaped it.Feed Ingredient InsightsBentonite and competing clays in animal feedsThey should not be treated as interchangeable clays with slightly different origin stories, but minerals that get lumped together far too easily.Feed Ingredient InsightsBentonite’s many distinct functional propertiesThis feed ingredient may be used as a binder, as an anticaking agent, to help improve pellet quality or as part of a strategy to manage mycotoxin risk.Feed Ingredient InsightsHow plant compounds support poultry healthMany of the same compounds that help plants cope with stress can also help birds manage the challenges of modern production.Feed Ingredient InsightsSecondary metabolites in poultry nutritionThe more we understand the plant biology behind these compounds, the better equipped we are to design diets that work with plant chemistry rather than against it.Feed Ingredient InsightsMaking a case for feed-optimized crop geneticsWhat if we intentionally bred crops with poultry nutrition in mind?Feed Ingredient InsightsHidden variability in poultry feeds from saved hybrid seedSaving grain seed from a previous harvest is sometimes viewed as a reasonable response to economic pressure, but this choice introduces variability that deserves careful consideration.Feed Ingredient InsightsDiscounted grains, hidden costs: the risk of damaged kernelsKernel damage fundamentally changes grain behavior in storage — and the associated risks are often underestimated.Feed Ingredient InsightsHow to recognize cereal mycotoxins in storageRecognizing early warning signs in stored cereals can help limit exposure, prevent further toxin development and support effective risk management.Feed Ingredient InsightsThe bird’s gut only reacts to nutrients, not names on ingredient labelsFormulating by nutrient function — not ingredient identity — reduces cost, variability and risk.Feed Ingredient InsightsLinseed in piglet nutrition: a gentle start with omega powerFor piglets, a touch of linseed can mean smoother digestion, calmer weaning and healthier growth.Feed Ingredient InsightsLinseed in poultry feeds for health and performanceWhile it brings nutritional advantages, linseed also presents formulation and handling challenges that limit how far it can go in commercial rations.Page 1 of 12Next Page
