For the past month, I have been collecting, tabulating and reporting on WATT Global Media’s 2017 Nutrition & Feed Survey. The first run of the article will be available in early April, but for the sake of this blog, I will tease one of the most interesting tidbits respondents revealed: Of the 400+ global survey participants, 35 percent report concern over how — and if — they will be able to overcome production losses after removing antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) from their animal feed formulations.
We found that this is a concern in mature and emerging markets, across all species. You know this. We know this. We ask ourselves every day, what can we do to help nutritionists and feed manufacturers prepare for post-AGP production? On a broad scale, we try to meet the demand for information with articles and news in our magazines and on WATTAgNet.com; however, we’ll really be tackling this issue head on by connecting attendees with the folks who can offer solutions — or at least address questions in real-time — at the 2017 FIAAP Animal Nutrition Conference.
The one-day event, held in Cologne, Germany, on June 14, will be co-located with FVG Select, organized by VICTAM. The following will highlight several of the 11 presentations that directly relate to how companies can use animal feed additives to maintain animal health and productivity without AGPs.
Learning from experience
For more than a decade, AGPs have been banned in Europe; however, the ban spurred a paradoxical effect with reports of increased therapeutic antibiotic usage. As consumer and regulatory pressure have fostered the rise of “no antibiotics ever” in some markets, some fear what may come.
To offer a European perspective, FEFAC’s vice chairman of the animal nutrition committee Peter Radewahn will discuss how livestock producers can reduce the need for antibiotics through animal nutrition.
Meanwhile, in the United States, the animal agriculture industry is also making strides toward removing antibiotics from production.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s Veterinary Feed Directive, which bans the use of antibiotics for growth promotion in animal feed, has created economic, welfare and animal health challenges. Purina Animal Nutrition’s Dr. Dari Brown will explore new alternative feeding strategies and related research for reducing and eliminating antibiotic use in feed during her presentation.
Deep dive into phytogenics
Feed additive suppliers forecast the phytogenic feed additive market to hit $2 billion in annual turnover by 2030; however, according to several market surveys, there is a gap between the potential of this category of additive and practical experience among nutritionists. To bridge this gap, FIAAP's “Antibiotic Replacement Strategy” track seeks to educate the audience on the topic.
Michael Noonan, global product manager – phytogenics, BIOMIN Holding GmbH, will look at the regional trends shaping global phytogenic feed additives usage and the potential barriers to adoption during his presentation. To explore the ways phytogenics support livestock gut health, Dr. Jan Dirk van der Klis, director of products and innovation with Delacon, will explore the different modes of action and look at these effects in poultry and swine feeding applications.
For those who are seeking more information about using botanicals as part of your company's feed additive AGP replacement strategy, a panel has been assembled to address audience questions. The featured panelists include Dr. Phillip Smith, a senior nutritionist with Tyson Foods; Dr. Jan Dirk van der Klis, Delacon’s director of products and innovation; Dr. Michael Noonan, BIOMIN’s global product manager – phytogenics; and, Tilman Wilke, product developer with Dr. Eckel Animal Nutrition GmbH & Co. KG.
There are many more excellent presentations that I have not covered in this post. View the full FIAAP speaker agenda and bios or to register for the 2017 FIAAP Animal Nutrition Conference.
The 8th annual FIAAP Animal Nutrition Conference will take place June 14, 2017, in Cologne, Germany, co-located with five additional conferences as part of FVG Select 2017 – The Network Event and Expo. Visit FVG Select for a full event agenda.
