July 17, 2024

 

US Soybean Export Council's events in Indonesia focus on shaping future of feed, animal nutrition

 

The US Soybean Export Council's (USSEC) Southeast Asia team hosted over 200 participants at two technical events in Bali, Indonesia, on May 27-31.

 

The Raw Material & Food Biosecurity Workshop (May 27–28) and the 30th regional Feed Technology & Animal Nutrition Conference (May 29–31) brought together leading experts and technical professionals to discuss the latest challenges and advancements in the animal feed industry.

 

The events in Bali highlighted key topics relevant to the livestock and poultry feed industry, including modern animal nutrition technologies, precision nutrition through artificial intelligence, advancements in feed manufacturing and systems, biosecurity measures, disease management, and sustainable farming practices.

 

Updates on industry threats, such as African swine fever, were presented, alongside strategies for regional recovery. These discussions underscored the need for industry-wide standards and the importance of continued collaboration to shape the future of feed and animal nutrition globally.

 

Along with regional feed industry updates, attendees learned about the added value of soy products in animal feed and the advantages of US soy including its consistency, sustainability, reliability, quality, and nutrient content – specifically its higher levels of digestible amino acids and metabolised energy. These qualities lead to better livestock performance, lower diet costs, and superior value for soybean meal users, USSEC said. 

 

Discussions also highlighted the economic benefits of using US soy for optimised feed formulations, including lower carbon footprint for production of US soybean meal compared to soybean meal from other origins.

 

Timothy Loh, regional director for Southeast Asia and Oceania at USSEC, said, "These events enable USSEC to unite key stakeholders in the soybean value chain, fostering and expanding global collaboration. I am confident that together, we can build a resilient, sustainable, and thriving US soy industry, ensuring access to high-quality protein and contributing to global food security."

 

USSEC organised the third edition of the Raw Material and Feed Biosecurity Seminar in Bali, Indonesia, on May 27-28, to address challenges concerning African swine fever's (ASF) impact on the swine industry.

 

The event brought together industry leaders and stakeholders, including swine

association and government representatives, farm managers and owners, researchers, nutritionists, and veterinarians, to explore strategies to enhance biosecurity across the feed supply chain, focusing on contamination control and robust safety protocols.

 

A key focus of the seminar was on how digital data management technologies can safeguard biosecurity in swine production, optimising efficiency and boosting profitability. The adoption of key technologies such as cloud-based data management tools, mobile applications, animal biosensors, RFID tags, and AI-driven data analysis was discussed to enhance decision-making, improve sustainability, and increase operational efficiency in swine production.

 

Discussion with swine association representatives from Southeast Asia highlighted that improved management practices and biosecurity measures can help farms recover from ASF. Cooperation between the government and the private sector, along with the anticipated arrival of an effective ASF vaccine, will be key to restoring the swine industry's strength and ensuring its future resilience.

 

Speakers included Dr. Douglas Gladue from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Agricultural Research Service and Dr. Nguyen Van Diep, chief executive officer of AVAC Viet Nam who covered the latest research partnerships on ASF vaccines in the US and Vietnam.

 

Dr. Arden Evangelista, farm owner and veterinary consultant, discussed biosecurity in swine production, while Dr. Edna Zenaida V. Villacorte, president of the Philippines College of Vet Public Health, shared insights into feed safety and the swine repopulation programme, which draws lessons from a successful model applied in the Philippines.

 

The Feed Technology & Animal Nutrition Conference held on May 29–31 was guided by the theme of “Recent Innovations and Pioneering Technologies for Sustainable Animal Nutrition”. The conference featured distinguished industry experts from academia, research institutes, professional organisations, industry stakeholders, and government institutions.

 

Subject matter experts delved into the future of digitalisation and automation in feed manufacturing and precision nutrition to enhance animals' genetic

potential without compromising feed safety and sustainability.

 

The industry's strengths and opportunities were also discussed to support a more robust, profitable, safe, and sustainable feed and animal protein production.

 

A key highlight was the discussion on the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, and its potential in enhancing animal and feed production delivered by Ben Allen, CEO of BinSentry. AI can enhance farm operations by automating feed supply chains using advanced sensing technologies and streamlined processes. These technologies promise higher efficiency, reduced costs, and the ability to make data-driven decisions, ultimately leading to improved farm operations and profitability.

 

Other distinguished speakers included Tim Bardole, Iowa soybean farmer and director at the United Soybean Board, who provided an update on sustainable and environmentally-friendly farming practices of US soy farmers.

 

Dr. Peter Chrystal, senior poultry nutrition specialist at Aviagen, and Dr. Usama Aftab, technical director at AB Vista Singapore, discussed the feasibility of reduced protein diets for poultry, emphasising the need to balance essential and non-essential amino acids.

 

Dr. Robert Swick, consultant at Northern Soy Marketing, elaborated on the importance of branched-chain amino acids, noting that their proper balance can significantly improve poultry growth and health outcomes.

 

Dr. Jean Noblet, animal nutrition consultant, explained how net energy (NE) provides a more accurate measure of energy available to the animal, enhancing growth performance and feed efficiency. Building on these points, Matthew Clark, managing director at FeedGuys Resources Pte Ltd, highlighted that accurate nutrient analysis of ingredients can lead to better feed efficiency, reduced costs, and improved animal performance.

 

Thes events underscore USSEC's dedication to elevating global industry standards and fostering innovation within the feed and animal protein production sectors, the organisation said.

 

By highlighting advancements in animal nutrition and feed processing and fostering collaborative strategies, USSEC aims to address the importance of managing feed costs with higher value and quality feed ingredients, thus enhancing sustainability.

 

- USSEC