Livestock

The new FeedMixer App makes feed mixing easier by calculating whether the feed mixtures farmers use contain the right balance of key nutrients, by age, type of chickens, and available ingredients. (Image source: World Poultry Foundation)

In an attempt to make optimal poultry nutrition easier, while also helping farmers save money and improve profits, a free mobile app called the FeedMixer App was designed by poultry nutrition experts at the Poultry Science Department at the University of Georgia in the US

Rising commercial feed costs as well as limited grain supply is urging poultry farmers in Sub Saharan Africa and most regions around the world to self-mix their chicken feed. However, a majority of farmers lack adequate knowledge, causing them to fail at achieveing the right balance of grains, oils and other available ingredients needed to ensure optimal nutrition for different types of birds at different stages.

The new FeedMixer App, a relaunch of an older version of the app, makes feed mixing easier by calculating whether the feed mixtures farmers use contain the right balance of key nutrients, by age, type of chickens, and available ingredients.

Sean Chen, assistant professor/extension specialist at the Department of Poultry Science at the University of Georgia highlighted how farmers are often unaware of the fact that the nutrient needs of chicken may vary depending on the stage of life they are currently in, which is why broilers and layers for example, would need to be fed differently. Selecting the appropriate feed components would therefore be essential for optimising bird health and productivity, while at the same time minimising resource wastage. 

"We feed various types of feed mixes to different breeds of birds because different breeds have distinct characteristics and purposes," said Chen. "For instance, broiler chickens are primarily raised for meat production. These chickens grow rapidly and require a diet supporting muscle development and efficient feed conversion into meat. Broiler chickens need feeds rich in proteins, carbohydrates, and fats to ensure optimal growth and flavourful meat production. On the other hand, laying hens are specifically bred to produce a consistent supply of eggs. They require a different set of nutrients to support their reproductive system and the formation of solid eggshells. Their diet should include adequate proteins, vitamins, minerals, and calcium to support strong eggshell and egg production."

Maureen Stickel, director of the International Programme Development at the World Poultry Foundation also underscored how the app would help guide farmers who might have trouble accessing traditional feed ingredients such as soy or corn due to cost or local availability.

Users simply click on the type of chickens they are feeding, and select the ingredients they have available to them, such as maize, cassava, oil, bran, soybean meal, fish meal, and salt, in the proportions they intend to blend. The app will indicate whether their chosen feed mix delivers adequate energy, protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals to efficiently nourish the birds without wastage. Users can input the cost of the ingredients they use, to calculate whether their feed mix is cost effective, and they can save their own feed mix formulas in the app for future reference.

To make it convenient for users, the app is currently available in a number of languages including English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. It also offers useful content and resources such as preloaded feed mix examples for different types of birds, and diet guidelines for each breed and age of bird.

The report considers current global food systems and their associated problems, focusing on dairy as a sector willing and able to change. (Image source: Regen Dairy Project)

The Regen Dairy Project launched its 'Let’s Get Serious About Making Dairy Regenerative' report at the recently held 2024 Regenerative Agriculture Summit Europe

With little research done on regenerative dairy to date or a clear vision on the transition required by all those in the supply chain and at scale, the Regen Dairy Project is defining a clear roadmap towards a positive food system for people, animals and the planet. The report considers current global food systems and their associated problems, focusing on dairy as a sector willing and able to change.

Having taken a farmer-centric approach to understanding regenerative dairy, the report outlines recommendations for transition and suggested actions for all those involved - including often overlooked stakeholders such as banks and lenders, media and wider society.

“We believe regenerative dairying can play a significant role in tackling important environmental challenges, as well as combating critical issues facing humanity, like human health, environmental degradation, animal welfare, and water use," said CEO of FAI Farms, Øistein Thorsen. "And all while producing the nutritious food needed to feed a growing global population and helping farmers stay profitable.”

He also concluded by saying that rather than telling farmers what to do, the report focused more about achieving change in a food system, which is often considered complex since it requires input and action from everyone. "We are all responsible for educating ourselves on what regenerative agriculture is and the benefits it provides, and for many this could include a shift in mindset. We are excited to see what can be achieved,” Thorsen said.

UKRI aims to build knowledge and capability to better detect and disrupt the emergence and spread of infectious diseases, accelerating the development of new vaccines and therapeutics. (Image source: UKRI-Getty Images)

Over the years, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has proceeded to become one of humanity's biggest threats, urging farming researchers to join the global fight against this creeping pandemic

Eight new networks comprising a combination of different research specialisms will support diverse teams of AMR researchers to develop approaches aimed at tackling AMR across various sectors and disciplines. Approximately US6.3mn will be shared from the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), awarded as part of its tackling infections strategic theme. Drawing on a dedicated budget of around US$9.2mn, the programme will continue next year with a new opportunity for ambitious new transdisciplinary research programmes.

The networks include:

- The AMAST (AMR in Agrifood Systems Transdisciplinary) Network: Led by Matthew Gilmour of the Quadram Institute, this network will coordinate the agri-food trans-disciplinary community engaged in AMR activities covering crop, livestock and aquaculture sectors, while also interactions with industry, trade associations, policy makers, and academia involved in food production.

- The Climate Change Impacts on AMR Using a Planetary Health Framework (CLIMAR) Network: Led by William Gaze from the University of Exeter, this network aims to find transdisciplinary solutions to reduce AMR infections while promoting innovations for alternative treatments.

- The ARREST-AMR (Accurate, Rapid, Robust and Economical One Health DiagnoSTics for antimicrobial resistance) Network: Led by Mark Bradley from the Queen Mary University of London, this network will focus on diagnostic tools in a One Health context. 

- The Fungal One Health and Antimicrobial Resistance Network: Led by Darius Armstrong-James from Imperial College London, this network will cover healthcare, agricultural and pharmaceutical industries as well as key government departments and end users in these settings.

- The Futures AMR Network (FAN): Led by Linda Oyama from the Queen's University Belfast, FAN will support early career researchers across a range of disciplines to become future leaders in AMR and tackle it in agri-food health, environment and medicine using approaches in the arts and artificial intelligence, behavioral economics, clinical engineering and discovery.

- IMPACT AMR: a Transdisciplinary Network: Led by Clare Chandler from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, this network will address key policy questions around AMR mitigation strategies, by working with policymakers and stakeholders to prioritise effective interventions that reduce the AMR burden in a feasible, socially acceptable, and economically beneficial manner.

- The People AMR Network: Led by Sarah Tonkin-Crine from the University of Oxford, this network will explore ways to help people make decisions about antibiotic use, develop new strategies and tools, and to study these to ensure they target the right people, the right behaviours, and the right settings to have maximum and timely impact at the lowest possible cost.

- The Transdisciplinary Antimicrobial Resistance Genomics (TARGet) Network: Led by Willem van Schaik from the University of Birmingham, this network will utilise recent genomic advances to better understand AMR, thereby covering the needs of academia, business, NHS, social care settings and veterinary medicine.

According to head of strategy, Advanced Manufacturing and Clean Growth at UKRI, Dr. Colin Miles, AMR is a large, complex problem with 10 million people expected to lose their lives to it each year by 2050. 

“Rather than taking single-discipline approaches, we need researchers from across disciplines to come together and look at all aspects of the problem – from human behaviour and how we grow crops and rear animals for consumption to how we manage the environment or use technology, clinical management strategies and challenging established cultural norms,” said Dr. Miles. 

The course offers a convenient way for industry professionals to enhance their knowledge and skills at their own pace. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

In order to ensure quality and safety, the GMP+ Academy is launching an e-learning module that teach attendees the basics of correct sampling techniques

Effective sampling guides decision-making throughout production, thus ensuring that the feed is of high quality and safe for both humans and animals. The module is specifically designed for production companies in the feed industry. The course offers a convenient way for industry professionals to enhance their knowledge and skills at their own pace.

The course will guide attendees through the A-Z of sampling, addressing questions regarding the meaning of sampling; why and how to take samples; the type of sampling equipments needed; as well as techniques to correctly label, seal and store samples. The total duration of the course is 45 minutes and costs US$54.26.

To access the course, visit the GMP+ Academy platform: www.gmpplusacademy.org