21 October 2020 - After looking at how the young animal nutrition market fared during the pandemic, today (Part 2) we discuss young animal nutrition becoming its own standalone field of animal nutrition research as well as what can be expected in this market as we get nearer to 2021.
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Erik Visser
Elke van Gelderen
Geoff Stephens
Stefan Alius
Ad van Wesel |
Today’s interviewees are Erik Visser (CEO, Hamlet Protein), Elke van Gelderen (Global Category Leader for Neopigg Solutions, Cargill Animal Nutrition), Geoff Stephens (Senior Global Beef Manager, Trouw Nutrition), Stefan Alius (Product Manager Poultry, Agrifirm EMEA) and Ad van Wesel (Nutrition Innovation Director, ForFarmers). [Feedinfo] More attention paid to starter feeds, precision and individual feeding, and the advent of new specialty ingredients have contributed to redefining young animal nutrition, making it a standalone field of animal nutrition research. Would you agree? [Erik Visser, Hamlet Protein] We believe that young animal nutrition is the key to increase productivity throughout the life cycle; and that a good start makes all the difference. Our company focuses purely on young animal nutrition and as such, we continuously invest in research and trials. As we are active globally, we see an increasing interest in young animal nutrition in general. Supplementation of high quality specialty ingredients and precision feeding during starter diets can increase intestinal activity and development, improve digestion and absorption of nutrients, increase muscle development, and promote earlier development of immunity. Continued research is necessary to determine all benefits of these products related to young animal nutrition. [Elke van Gelderen, Cargill Animal Nutrition] The availability of ingredients and management practices has changed and become highly specialized. In addition there is an increased need for young animal nutrition that can support better health, linked to policies for responsible use of antibiotics. We are seeing a greater demand for specialists who can help our customers make sense of the latest advancements. Of course, while the focus on young animal nutrition is warranted, we believe it takes an integrated approach over the life of the animal, one that focuses on performance and overall health. |
[Geoff Stephens, Trouw Nutrition] The more we learn about epigenetics, early life nutrition and targeted feeding, it becomes even more apparent that providing animals with the best life start leads to many longer-term benefits. Investing in the young animal and pre-birth periods has a profound and long-lasting effect on their health and ability to grow to their fullest potential. This in turn enables farmers to achieve the highest financial result possible, promotes sustainable farming and helps us feed our growing population.
[Stefan Alius, Agrifirm EMEA] We definitely agree. The key to success is the earlier you start, the more you can prepare the young animal to perform better: slaughter weight, more eggs, more milk, etc. With more than 40 years of experience in young animal nutrition we developed a proven strategy to do this the best way.
[Ad van Wesel, ForFarmers] Indeed, for calf rearing there is more attention for more intensive feeding scheme’s /metabolic programming. Less calves are raised, means replacement has to go down so longevity is more important. The number of piglets per sow per year is still increasing year over year and sow farmers are very focused on rearing these extra piglets efficiently and to be healthy. At the same time there is a strong focus on R&D and on-farm application with respect to young animal feed for piglets. Also in the broiler sector the focus is on innovation and thus also on young animal feed to improve the later life feed efficiency, which is positive for feed cost and for sustainability like phosphorus and nitrogen efficiency.
[Feedinfo] What does the young animal nutrition sector need to bear in mind for 2021?
[Ad van Wesel, ForFarmers] We have to feed the future, calves are the future generation; longevity and productivity is more important than ever. Trends such as sustainability and animal health and welfare will certainly develop further and ask for a continuous further development of nutritional concepts that start in early life.
[Erik Visser, Hamlet Protein] The world will be focusing on its ability to deal with a new pandemic, while managing possible new waves of Covid-19. We will continue to see demands on nutritionists to manage the push for lower feed cost whilst efficiently producing healthy animals and balance between feed quality and animal productivity. ASF and COVID-19 are further accelerating the consolidation in the feed industry. Larger integrated companies will pay more attention to young animal nutrition, as they will employ a larger and more professional nutritionist team.
The swine industry is a commoditized market so a key metric to consider in the young animal nutrition sector is profitability. The challenge is to accurately measure profitability to make sound business decisions. We see a large difference in pork prices between some of the key producing countries. Where US is facing a depressed price level, China sees record prices. Elevated price levels support the inclusion of high quality products in the early life stages. Pressure on feeding costs increases as market prices for pork meat decrease. The great challenge for poultry producers in 2021 will be, even more, to find the balance between cost and quality. Young animal nutrition will continue to be important, ensuring production is efficient enough to meet the changes in demand for local markets and export markets.
[Elke van Gelderen, Cargill Animal Nutrition] As we look toward next year, we have to be prepared for local market opportunities and challenges on profitability due to COVID-19, especially in the swine sector as ASF’s impact is further complicated by the global pandemic. In the calf sector, we expect farmers will increasingly recognize that early life nutrition and management (even prepartum) have long-term effects on performance. We expect that there will be more focus on the early microbiome and immune system development for broilers.
[Geoff Stephens, Trouw Nutrition] Consumers want more clarity on where their produce and proteins comes from (farm-to-fork, and this is not just finishing operations) and how their animals are fed & looked after. Reduction in antibiotic usage, attention to welfare, clear communication around sustainability (actions and objectives). We must find ways to add value via nutrition that also delivers on a cost/kg basis.
[Stefan Alius, Agrifirm EMEA] Challenges are always there, no matter which crisis is passing. Genetics are adapting, the way of farming is changing towards more digital farming as well. In the beginning there was only the digital monitoring of ventilation, climate, etc. But if we look now to the farmer of the future, they are also logging the view in the stable every minute of the day. These cameras give a realistic idea of the animals’ behaviour and make it possible to act faster in their management and to predict earlier if a disease is on the rise. With that permanent development in mind, you should be up to the changes in nutrition as well.
