June 14, 2023

 

How precision animal nutrition influence inclusion rates in Chinese feed formulations

 

In 2021, the use of wheat in China surged but lysine consumption did not decrease, which means the inclusion rates of lysine in feed formulation were somewhat maintained.

 

Last year, the use of wheat shrank prominently, whereas those of other substitute ingredients increased. However, the consumption of lysine did not increase in tandem as the practice of precision animal nutrition (PAN) is taking root in the feed industry.

 

As for threonine, its presence in wheat is 10% higher. In 2021, when the use of wheat surged, the consumption of threonine decreased in tandem by over 20%. In 2022, as the use of wheat dropped prominently — while those of other energy ingredients expanded significantly — the consumption of threonine almost doubled, an indication of PAN's impact on its inclusion rates.

 

Low-soybean meal feed formulation is now common in large-scale farms and with feed producers in China, thanks to the practice of PAN. For instance, the average inclusion rate of soybean meal in Muyuan's pig feeds is 8.4%, dropping as low as 6.6% in some cases.

 

For Wen's Group, its inclusion rate of soybean meal in broiler feeds is below 5%, only one-third of the industry's average. Meanwhile, New Hope Liuhe cut its soybean meal inclusion rates in poultry and pig feeds to 3-5%, whereas Haid Group's soybean meal inclusion rate in growing pig feed is 7.7% less than the national average level.

 

Moving further, feed producer Yitun is currently producing 'zero soybean meal' pig feed for its farms and some customers. Other producers, including Dabeinong, Hefeng, Yangxiang and Teqi Lishi, have cut their soybean meal inclusion rates by 1-5%.

  

Low-protein feed formulation requires the support of the amino acid industry. In addition to methionine, lysine, tryptophan and threonine that are traditionally used, there are lesser-known products like valine and isoleucine.

 

In 2022, Muyuan began to explore the use of phenylalanine and plans to explore the use of histidine and leucine as it aims to further reduce the inclusion rates of soybean meal.

 

Certain enzymes, namely, phytase, non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) and proteases, have been widely used leading to far improved utilization of substitute ingredients.

 

Going forward, with the gradual establishment of practicing PAN in feed production, the use of amino acids and other products will increase steadily.
 

- Shi Tao, eFeedLink