June 9, 2016

 

Trouw Nutrition adds reactive lysine parameter to NIR spectroscopy module

 

Using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, this new parameter will enable farmers, feed manufacturers and others to rapidly assess the quality and levels of the reactive lysine content in their raw materials. They can then use this information to optimise nutrition and improve profitability. 

Reactive lysine as quality parameter

 

Lysine is an important amino acid that helps pigs and poultry achieve optimal growth. In order to be able to establish good predictability in terms of growth, it is essential to know the lysine levels available to the animal.

 

Because these levels are affected by processing of raw materials, it has been difficult so far to determine the exact level of lysine available to the animal. As reactive lysine is a perfect measure of available lysine, Trouw Nutrition has added this new quality parameter to its near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy module.

 

Forming part of the NutriOpt precision-feeding system, NIR enables producers to predict the quality of reactive lysine in raw materials. NutriOpt NIR provides a full, easy-to-understand nutritional report within minutes. It also offers several calibration lines for reactive lysine, as it is available for soymeal, rapeseed meal, sunflower meal, palm kernel meal, fishmeal, and meat and bone meal.

Keeping quality and costs under control

 

"This information can be used for both quality control as well as costs optimisation purposes," Richard Maatman, global marketing director of Trouw Nutrition, said.

 

"For example, raw materials in the feed plant with different reactive lysine levels can be managed more efficiently and stored separately, based on quality, enabling more precise feeding. And the objective data the tool provides makes it possible to renegotiate the purchase price of raw materials, keeping costs under control."