The world is set to undergo tremendous changes, and climate change headlines a slew of tectonic shifts.

 

How to deal with this far-reaching event has placed sustainability as one of the top global agendas. Agriculture industries, their partners and academia are thus looking into more efficient ways of production and alternative feed sources (like the black soldier fly larvae) for animals.

 

But when alternative diet sources may take time to be adopted in certain markets, traditional feed sources like soybean and corn remain as preferred options. Considering the rising prices of these inputs, how can we better utilise them in animal feeding? How can we also determine the extent of efficacy with the solutions employed?

 

In this issue of Livestock & Feed Business, Phytobiotics and AB Vista describe their methods for analysing the beneficial impact of their products.

 

Phytobiotics practices statistical process control "to analyse many replicates in the field and account for variability in common factors, such as feed, health status and the season of the year," explains product manager Sophie-Charlotte Wall (pages 8-9). With this method, the company's plant-based Sangrovit® feed additive was shown to boost average daily gain, reduce feed conversion ratio and help cut medication cost per animal by 30%.

 

AB Vista taps into holoanalysis to "pick up the net effect of… minor changes (in animal livability) in a response variable (during a trial), given that it follows a consistent trend" (pages 10-11). Holoanalysis enables the company to prove improved livability, better weight gain and higher feed efficiency with the use of its Signis stimbiotic in pig and poultry diets.

 

As Phytobiotics and AB Vista have demonstrated, a firm grasp of all relevant data provides an advantage in optimising traditional feed diets.

 

Arguably, those with the most reliable data can lead in shaping sustainable livestock production.

 

The full article is published on the May 2023 issue of LIVESTOCK & FEED Business. To read the full report, please email to inquiry@efeedlink.com to request for a complimentary copy of the magazine, indicating your name, mailing address and title of the report.