Miracles happen, people change. But these two things have yet to materialize in the animal nutrition business in which I have been engaged in for the past 30 years, under any and all roles I have played. I write this blog having specific people in my mind, and they are not coming from just one company or even one continent, but these comments apply to all of us.

Nothing is wrong with feed additives. In fact, in the right hands, they can be used with tremendous efficiency, like proper tools for the right job. And, this is what additives are: tools for specific jobs, either to solve a problem or enhance a function.

Now that we have analyzed the major issue of trusting others to control 60 percent of your costs, we can discuss the perils of doing so yourself.

Marketing is often confused with public relations or communications, whereas others may consider marketing as the process of selling, with selling being the final act of ordering and invoicing for a product or service.

Cage free does not necessarily mean free-range layers. Hens are still kept in-house on floors with bedding material or in open aviaries (multi-storied cages with open access).

The value of lactose in piglet feeds has never been questioned as much as in the past decade when antibiotic-free diets were designed.

What are the perils of allowing others to control what your animals eat daily?

No matter the region, production system or breed, dairy cattle appear to suffer from six very common problems related to the intensive conditions under which they are raised and kept throughout their productive lives.

Most producers use the generic dietary specifications provided generously by genetic houses, but these are not the last word on the subject.

Reduced feed cost remains the major weapon pig producers have against decreasing hog prices.