INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES | Sponsored
Adisseo’s raw material analysis & formulation technology helps solve rising nutrition variability issues
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Variation in nutritional values within the same feed ingredient is a well-known issue and can be a significant problem for feed companies. Even a change geographical origin, and therefore potentially of variety, climate, harvesting or storage method, will result in significant variations, compounded by potential weather phenomena. There are multiple issues caused by increasing raw material variability, says Florian Bastit, global technical manager for PNE (Precise Nutrient Evaluation) at Adisseo. The main ones concern money wasted in formulation (overfeeding) and in the field (counter-performance due to underfeeding, excess anti-nutritional factors, dysbiosis, unbalanced feeding, etc.). High variability will also potentially increase reformulation frequency, he warns. Adaptability and responsiveness are the keys to successfully overcoming these variations, and in this Perspectives article, Mr Bastit and his colleague Angélique AN BA Cayzac, global technical manager for feed ST I T formulation, discuss the technologies Adisseo has
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developed to help its customers address these issues. [Feedinfo] These days, NIR (near infra-red) analysis tools are widely used in feed mills for raw material analysis and to provide information to build consistent rations. NIR offers advantages over the previous reliance on wet chemistry, but are feed mills using NIR to its maximum capability, or could more be achieved? [Florian Bastit] NIRS predictions have many advantages, and the technology is complementary to a control plan based on wet chemistry. The use of NIRS is a classic investment/benefit/risk rationale for companies. Are they equipped with a NIRS instrument? Do
they have trained staff with sufficient time to devote to NIR results analysis? What type of nutrients do they need in formulation; proximal only or digestible amino acids? Adisseo strives to provide a unique service that is sufficiently extensive and flexible to meet most needs that a nutritionist, formulator, quality controller or buyer may encounter in terms of qualification of raw materials received in the plant. This service has the capacity to process thousands of samples every week, with a wide range of parameters. These parameters come from in house calibrations based on wet chemistry as well as — and this is the uniqueness of Adisseo — in vivo digestibility assays for energy and amino acids. Unfortunately, some companies are limited by a lack of time and personnel dedicated to NIR results analysis. Logistics and infrastructure need to be put in place around the machine, for proper and regular sampling, and for identification and storage of raw materials as they arrive at the plant. Nevertheless, as a formulator and nutritionist, I am convinced that the return on investment far outweighs the constraints associated with deploying a functional NIRS on a large scale. [Feedinfo] How does the variability within raw materials and the use of NIR tie in with feed mills’ ration formulation software? Do they combine seamlessly to produce cost-effective rations which achieve their aim? [Florian Bastit] It’s all about managing the safety margin during the feed formulation process. As a formulator, you absolutely want to create a feed that meets the animal’s needs within the framework of a production objective clearly defined upstream, and
THE ADVANTAGE OF OUR SYSTEM IS THAT IT WILL ADAPT TO OUR CUSTOMERS’ NEEDS, FROM THE SIMPLEST (FOR PROXIMAL-BASED FORMULATION) TO THE MOST ADVANCED (FORMULATION BASED ON IN VIVO DIGESTIBILITY).
FLORIAN BASTIT 12 | AUTUMN 2023
www.feedinfo.com