NutriNews International is ready for its unveiling at Eurotier 2022!

The biggest European and International Livestock farming event, will serve as the perfect showcase for all the new trends and innovations in agriculture. It will take place at the Hannover Exhibition Grounds, from the 15th to the 18th of November 2022 where approximately 1,700 companies from 55 countries will be exhibiting their full range of products and services destined for modern animal husbandry. The event’s theme “Transforming Animal Farming”, is never more relevant than now, in a highly convoluted world demanding solutions for the challenges of the present and the future. The organizer of this great trade fair as well as its technical program are DLG (German Agricultural Society).

Production and value chains as well as social and environmental demands on livestock farming are changing rapidly in Europe and also increasingly worldwide. This makes it all the more important for farms and agribusinesses to play an active role in shaping the future. This is where EuroTier  the world’s leading trade fair for animal husbandry and livestock management  comes in with its international platform to showcase the latest innovations and approaches for adapting to changing conditions.

Consumption patterns have shifted towards a greater proportion of animal derived products despite the world’s rising population. This can be partially explained by increased incomes per capita which result in higher consumption levels of animal products.  Bringing along higher expectations and social demands upon agriculture. Besides focusing on the production of high-quality food, consumer demands also encompass the productive conditions under which such food is being produced. Aspects like: sustainable production, environmental protection, animal health and animal welfare are key points within this discussion. Driving innovation and research towards this direction.

Under such scenario, farm inputs of various kinds are of great importance for the success of every agricultural business. Therefore, it is not surprising that interesting developments and innovations within this area will be presented at EuroTier 2022.

Animal feed trends 

Amongst the many products and topics to be covered, animal feed trends will have a predominant role within the event. Detlef Kampf, Head of Animal Nutrition, DLG Competence Center Agriculture, has provided an overview of such trends which will be presented by multiple exhibitors. The following are some of the categories worth mentioning:

1. “Functional” complementary feeds

Supplementary feeds or pre-mixes do not focus primarily on supplying energy and major nutrients to the animal, but are intended to support them through the inclusion of special ingredients. These could include amino acids and enzymes, medium chain fatty acids, oligo- or polysaccharides or polyphenolic acids that promote intestinal function, metabolism and the immune system, and thus animal health. Complementary feeds are of particular interest currently as they can assist in reducing the amount of antibiotics used on livestock farms.

2. Optimizing compound feeds for nitrogen and phosphorus

Our understanding has grown into how excess nitrogen and phosphorus in livestock rations passes through the animals and are excreted in manure, where it can pollute the environment. Nutritionists continue to look at how they can reduce the damaging effects that may result. The aim of nutrition is to match rations to the animal’s actual requirements to maintain body functions as well as for meat, milk or egg production.

Due to the high protein requirements of animals, protein supplementation often exceeds nutritional-necessary levels. This is also the case with phosphorous, where the available quantity in the diet from a particular source can vary so there could be more than expected, or it may be in a form that’s poorly utilizable by the animal and immediately excreted. Protein requirements can be better balanced by optimizing the feed protein quality through targeted feed processing, supplementation of free amino acids, as well as through the use of specific enzymes. Most important is meeting the precise nutritional requirements for an animal’s particular performance level and or growth phase.

3. Alternative non-GMO protein sources

As it becomes increasingly difficult to source soybean meal from suppliers that can guarantee that the product does not include material from genetically modified (GMO) plants, more and more farmers in  European countries have stopped using imported soybean meal or feed that may include this material. Therefore, there is a growing requirement for alternative protein feedstuffs that can be used instead, such as rapeseed meal (non-GMO!), field beans, peas, lupins or sunflower meal. All of these are now in demand, and research continues into the extent to which each of these feeds can be used in animal diets without affecting animal health, feed intake and efficiency.

Concluding Remarks