Ioannis Mavromichalis

Summer heat stress and the role of antioxidants

While we go to lengths to protect feeds from oxidation, we should also take care of heat stress-induced oxidation inside the animals.

July 22, 2019

Ioannis Mavromichalis

Summer, heat stress and oxidation are all common terms associated with animal feeds when the temperature goes up, especially in areas with high humidity.

The future of mega farms in modern society

Opinions appear to be divided concerning the role of these enterprises in an ever-changing world.

July 15, 2019

Ioannis Mavromichalis

Is there a future for mega farms in our modern society? This is a question that keeps puzzling many layers of our societies, especially those of the more developed world.

The real secret of feeding farm animals in summer

Despite all advances in animal nutrition science, the real secret is summer feeding remains largely ignored.

July 9, 2019

Ioannis Mavromichalis

We have discussed numerous times how best to feed animals during summer heat waves. In reality, we have been discussing only two aspects this problem: reformulation and additives.

Weather, ASF, trade will immediately affect global feed industry

Abnormal swings to cereals and soy prices are to be expected based on abnormal weather patterns and international trade realignment.

July 2, 2019

Ioannis Mavromichalis

Abnormal weather events, the spread of African swine fever and trade tensions will have an effect on global cereals and soy prices.

Modern dairy cows deserve modern vitamin nutrition

Nutrition is an expensive but indispensable resource in animal farming, and using the right levels of all vitamins is one of the ways to ensure productivity and prevent wastage.

July 2, 2019

Ioannis Mavromichalis

Modern dairy production practices require a more intense approach to daily nutrition for animals that are often kept indoors producing milk yields that can reach 50 liters per day.

Marketing nutrition through your own local offices

Pros and cons of opening a new market by working directly with your own people and facilities as opposed to a local distributor.

July 2, 2019

Ioannis Mavromichalis

So, you want to find out what are the cons and pros of having your own people working out of your own facilities (usually an office and a warehouse, if even that at the beginning). Here is a brief list coming out of my own experiences with similar exercises – not all of them successful, even remotely.

Piglet welfare is compromised by feed regulations

When policymakers do not take into account all aspects related to regulatory limits, it is the producers and their animals that suffer the most.

July 1, 2019

Ioannis Mavromichalis

Legislators have decided to ban feeding growth-promoting antibiotics to all pigs, and they are trying to reduce even therapeutic use in order to protect human health.

ESPN 2019: First impressions, part 2, the program

Despite the high-caliber presentations, I think it was not enough.

June 25, 2019

Ioannis Mavromichalis

The style of 2017’s European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition (ESPN) was followed to the letter in 2019, to my disappointment.

ESPN 2019: First impressions, part 1, the venue

It appears somebody reads my blogs or organizers got their act together much better this time.

June 17, 2019

Ioannis Mavromichalis

In 2017, when I participated at the European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition (ESPN) in Tarragona, Spain, I complained about several things, but this year, after having spent a great week at ESPN in Gdansk, Poland, I have nothing but praise to heap on the organizers.

Let us ban everything that causes climate change, for a change

If we are going to victimize animal production for such debatable issue, then why stop there?

June 10, 2019

Ioannis Mavromichalis

That ruminants belch and produce methane that changes the climate on a global scale is a stretch for me, but if that holds true and we are in the path of curtailing beef production, may I suggest we ban tourism as well because such activity increases carbon dioxide production.