Feedstuffs - March 2022
We hope you are enjoying the new Feedstuffs. With every edition, we aim to bring the latest in news, insight, nutrition and health research and...
We hope you are enjoying the new Feedstuffs. With every edition, we aim to bring the latest in news, insight, nutrition and health research and livestock production content to life — dynamically. You will find engaging video, podcasts, slideshows, animation and more. You also will have the opportunity to engage, share and download content. Feel free to share your thoughts below or to reach out directly to us. We'd love to hear what you think and ideas that you might like to share.
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Editorial
Sarah Muirhead
sarah.muirhead@farmprogress.com
Ann Hess
ann.hess@farmprogress.com
Krissa Welshans
krissa.welshans@farmprogress.com
Advertising/Marketing
Andy Vance
andy.vance@farmprogress.com
Kristin Bakker
kristin.bakker@farmprogress.com
Cindy Johnson
cindy.johnson@farmprogress.com
News Notes
From the editors of Feedstuffs
Perdue AgriBusiness investing
$59.1m to expand Chesapeake facility
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced March 25 that Perdue AgriBusiness will invest $59.1 million to expand its operation in the City of Chesapeake.
The company will modernize facilities and increase production of its high protein soybean meal, soybean oil, and hulls, positioning the company to expand its soybean crushing capability to include other high-oil content products. Virginia successfully competed with Maryland, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania for the project.
Perdue purchases 80% of Virginia’s soybeans and exports 72 million tons of soybeans per year through The Port of Virginia.
The Chesapeake facility supplies crude degummed soybean oil to Perdue’s Salisbury, Maryland oil refinery for further processing and sales to the food industry as well as supplying the biodiesel industry globally.
Read more
NGFA members have been unable to purchase grain and unable to deliver feed.
NGFA urges STB to address inadequate rail service
The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) today urged the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to address “significant rail service disruptions” negatively impacting the nation’s supply chains. In a recent letter to STB, NGFA President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Seyfert said rail customers are not being adequately served by the Union Pacific (UP), Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Norfolk Southern (NS) railroads.
Read more
Beef trade deal struck with Japan
The United States and Japan have reached an agreement to increase the beef safeguard trigger level under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement. The new three-trigger safeguard mechanism will allow U.S. exporters to meet Japan’s growing demand for high-quality beef and reduce the probability that Japan will impose higher tariffs in the future, according to a release from USDA and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office.
U.S. beef exports to Japan exceeded 320,000 metric tons in 2021 and set a new value record at $2.38 billion.
But U.S. beef was subject to a higher tariff than its competitors for 30 days, from mid-March to mid-April, after imports exceeded the safeguard volume.
As part of the terms of the Japan – U.S. Trade Agreement, both countries entered consultations after the volume-based safeguard was triggered in March 2021.
Read more
Numerous cases of HPAI emerging
South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska are all reporting additional cases of HPAI in commercial poultry flocks. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) said it has confirmed a third case and USDA listed three commercial flocks in South Dakota as having the virus. Iowa also reported March 24 that the virus was found in a commercial turkey flock of nearly 54,000 birds.
The third farm in Nebraska, a flock of 400,000 broilers, is in Butler County. The first farm in Nebraska to report a case of HPAI was a backyard flock in Merrick County that was announced on March 16, 2022.
“The locations of the Butler County farms are in close proximity to each other. This further emphasizes continued diligence of biosecurity and timely response to control this highly contagious disease,” said NDA Director Steve Wellman.
Read more
For the latest on HPAI, visit Feedstuffs.com and watch our coverage on Feedstuffs365.com
Maintaining cow weight in times of high nutritional demands
As people move through life stages, often their nutritional needs change depending on shifts in metabolism and activity levels. In a similar way, beef cattle that have just calved and are in lactation have a high nutritional demand on their bodies. On a recent Cattle Chat podcast, experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute said those animals’ overall body condition needs to be managed accordingly.
“After calving the goal is for the cows to maintain their body condition before breeding, and if they are in a poor body condition it is going to be hard to get them to gain weight during this time because of the lactation demands on them,” said veterinarian Brad White.
Veterinarian Bob Larson and nutritionist Phillip Lancaster agree that the first step is to assess the quality of the hay while looking at the overall condition of the cowherd post-calving.
Read more
COVID lockdowns impact red meat
consumption in China, Hong Kong
By U.S. Meat Export Federation
While most Asian countries are gradually easing social distancing restrictions and taking more of a "living with COVID" approach to the pandemic, there are notable exceptions in Hong Kong and some areas of China. In these situations, authorities continue to impose strict public health regulations in an effort to stop further spread of the virus.
U.S. Meat Export Federation Senior Vice President Joel Haggard, who is based in Hong Kong, says these restrictions are impacting importation, movement and consumption of U.S. red meat in the region.
Despite glimpses of easing restrictions, Haggard says strict social distancing measures will remain in place until at least April 20. Hong Kong regulations require all restaurant outlets to close by 6 p.m. and no more than two diners are allowed per table.
Read more
MARKETS: Ukrainian-Russian war continues to be key fundamental
On another front, inflation in Argentina is running at a 50% rate.
By Richard Brock, Brock Report
As if the feed industry didn’t have enough to worry about going into this year, the war in Ukraine has everyone on edge. One would think such an invasion in today’s time is the most insane thing most of us could imagine, but evidently Putin’s ego and wanting control of what used to be Russia is more important than human lives.
The economic sanctions placed on Russia by the U.S. and most of the rest of the world are hurting everyone. One obvious impact is on the trade flow of essential commodities. Russia is one of the world’s largest suppliers of crude oil, natural gas, and fertilizer, plus key industrial metals including palladium and nickel.
Last year, Ukraine furnished 13% of the world’s corn exports and Ukraine and Russia combined accounted for 28% of the world’s wheat exports. Russia and Ukraine also accounted for a combined 76% of the world’s sunflower seed oil exports, or 14% of world vegetable oil exports. Their combined 79% world export share of sunflower seed meal was 6.5% of the world’s major protein meal exports last year.
What’s interesting is that technically, soybeans and wheat have already made a technical top. Corn futures have not yet confirmed a technical top. As this was written March 21, it would appear as though an event is about to happen to end the war and if that happens, grain prices could tumble quickly. Obviously, if the war doesn’t end, corn and wheat prices are going to stay strong until it does.
Then everyone must continue facing the facts of the real world with runaway inflation, interest rates starting to ratchet higher, and a continued shortage of labor.
If the war finishes soon, then Ukraine may be able to get most of its corn crop planted. Another item of interest that we are paying attention to are reports from seed companies that the demand for seed corn continues to be very strong, particularly for the most popular varieties. Don’t expect the huge drop in corn acres as some are predicting. The government could be right on target forecasting a decline of only 1.4 million acres.
On another front, inflation in Argentina is running at a 50% rate. They increased the export tariff on soybean oil and meal by another two percentage points this week, pushing it to 33%. As a result, we may see an incremental shift of soybean oil and meal exports to Brazil, and to a lesser extent, to the U.S.
INSIDE WASHINGTON: UK deal lowers ag tariffs
Deal ensures long-term viability of U.S. steel and aluminum industries, protects American jobs and lifts retaliatory tariffs.
By Jacqui Fatka
While the administration may not be looking to establish new free trade agreements and a voice for agriculture, it continues to find ways to make incremental improvements in trading relationships.
USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced a new 232 tariff agreement with the United Kingdom. This deal ensures the long-term viability of the U.S. steel and aluminum industries, protects American jobs, and lifts retaliatory tariffs on over $500 million worth of U.S. exports to the U.K., including distilled spirits, various agriculture products and consumer goods.
As part of a new Section 232 agreement reached March 22 between the U.S. and the UK regarding steel and aluminum imports from the UK, the 25% retaliatory tariff on U.S. corn has been zeroed out allowing U.S. corn farmers to renew their trading relationship with Britain.
The agreement will be effective June 1, 2022.
“This agreement will provide opportunities to expand free and fair trade and strengthen our economic and strategic relationship with one of our greatest allies. The U.S. Grains Council is very pleased with the outcome regarding this agreement because it paves the way for U.S. corn to re-enter the U.K. market once again,” says Ryan LeGrand, U.S. Grains Council president and CEO. “This agreement lifts the retaliatory tariffs on more than $500 million of U.S. products, including U.S. corn, and that is vital not only to global economic development, but also U.S. agriculture’s profitability.”
Imposed in 2018, the tariffs reversed what had previously been tremendous growth in Kentucky bourbon exports to the U.K., costing distillers, industry partners and farm families hundreds of millions of dollars, according to the Kentucky Distillers Association. Bourbon is one of Kentucky’s most historic and treasured industries. It is a $9 billion annual economic and tourism engine that sustains 22,500 good-paying jobs in the Commonwealth with a $1.23 billion payroll.
The US-UK steel announcement builds on similar deals struck by the U.S. and E.U., as well as the U.S. and Japan, and will strengthen relationships with global partners in working together to boost domestic manufacturing and counter China’s harmful practices that hurt U.S. industries and workers.
Names in the News
New hires, promotions, retirements
Mike Wright joins Commodity Blenders
Commodity Blenders LLC (CBL) welcomes Mike Wright as the company's new chief operating officer.
Wright will oversee CBL business operations and help guide the implementation of company strategy and vision.
“Mike understands the feed business and what producers need to stay profitable,” said Bruce Keener, CBL President and CEO. “He brings CBL a wealth of industry experience and expertise. We’re excited for him to join our team.”
Wright joins CBL with more than 25 years of feed industry experience. Prior to joining CBL, Wright served as director of operations & business development for D&D Ingredient Distributors Inc. in Delphos, Ohio where he was responsible for sales, marketing, quality, and helping company leadership define and implement new operational polices and guidelines for continued business growth.
Read more
Dairy Business Association, Edge announce managing director
The Dairy Business Association (DBA) and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative have hired an experienced leader in the agricultural cooperative system to serve as managing director, a new role for the advocacy organizations. Jeremy Henkels will drive the day-to-day business operations as the sister organizations enhance their focus on strategic priorities, CEO Tim Trotter said. Henkels most recently was executive vice president-shared services for Agfinity, a member-owned cooperative that provides agronomy, energy, feed, grain and retail services in Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming.
Read more
ImmuCell announces new hire
ImmuCell Corporation is pleased to introduce Courtney Carter as sales and marketing manager for the Western Region, covering Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska.
“We are excited to have Courtney on board,” said Bobbi Brockmann, ImmuCell Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “She brings a great deal of hands-on experience with calves and is a great addition to our team. Her curiosity and knowledge of the industry will be a great asset for our producers.”
Read more
Thomas Schäfer to step down as EVP & CSO
Thomas Schäfer, executive vice president & chief scientific officer, and member of the executive board will step down from these roles of Chr. Hansen Holding A/S, effective March 31, 2022. Schäfer has been with the company since November 2017.
During Schäfer’s four and a half years with the company, he brought significant scientific knowledge to the company and strengthened the way Chr. Hansen approaches science.
As of April 1, 2022, Henrik Joerck Nielsen, currently senior vice president of Animal Health, will be promoted to chief scientific officer. Henrik has a Ph.D. in biotechnology from the Technical University of Denmark and National Institute of Health in Maryland. He did his post-doctoral research fellow at the National Cancer Institute in the U.S. After being with McKinsey six years, he joined Chr. Hansen in 2014. Henrik brings a strong science and commercial experience to his new role.
Schäfer will continue as chief science advisor to CEO Mauricio Graber, as well as continue as member of the board of directors in Bacthera AG, Chr. Hansen’s Joint Venture with Lonza AG, and the BioInnovation institute as Chr. Hansen’s representative.
Read more
Natural Biologics expands monogastric sales team
Natural Biologics announces the addition of Carl Jones to the sales team as poultry business development manager. Jones will serve poultry and companion animal customers across the country, working with both nutritionists and feed companies, as well as directly with producers.
Jones spent the first 20 years of his career working as production facility manager in both the swine and poultry industries and the last ten years in various roles in animal nutrition.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from Oklahoma State University and will be based out of his home in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.
Read more
Hy-Line North America names new director of production
Hy-Line North America is proud to announce Jeremy Lies has accepted the role as director of production, effective March 14, 2022. Since 2018, Jeremy has led the Wilton, Iowa, location for Hy-Line North America, to be the largest production facility in the network. In this new role, Jeremy will travel regularly to all North America locations, offering ideas and solutions to support the distribution of Hy-Line North America’s day-old chicks.
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OPW Clean Energy Solutions names vice president, general manager
OPW, a global leader in fluid-handling solutions, recently named Mike Lucas as the new vice president and general manager for its Clean Energy Solutions (CES) business. OPW CES comprises both RegO and Acme Cryogenics, .
Read more
Watch for Names in the News announcements as they happen throughout the month on Feedstuffs.com and via your Feedstuffs Daily newsletter.
COMMENTARY: We're lying to ourselves in agriculture and technology
Is "Feed the world" and the growing population nothing more than irrelevant marketing slang?
By Craig Ganssle
I'm guilty of utilizing marketing tactics to gain traction in the marketplace without knowing the details and how true the statements really are. Early on, I was so new to agriculture, I based comments off of what I heard other "experts" saying. Turns out, they're just in it for the marketing too.
For the longest time, many large corporations and medium-sized companies, make the comment that we need to "Produce more food in the next 30 years, or by 2050, than we have in the last... several thousand...", or whatever end number they use - (it seems to change). And, it's not just the big companies, every small ag tech start-up spews the same marketing.
The fact is... this is not true.
In this video of Dr. Lowell Catlett, he explains, in great detail and numbers, why it's not true. Furthermore, after listening to this video some time ago, I began asking farmers their thoughts on this overused and often abused statement... I can't find one who agrees with it.
One grower I am particularly close with in Illinois told me, "I get up every day to make money just like everyone else. If I happen to feed the world while doing so, great, but first and foremost I work to make money.". I found most farmers to have similar feelings.
According to this United Nations data, world population growth is actually going to begin to slow down. Younger generations are waiting longer to have children, if at all. The year 2100 is a long way off, but some believe population growth will actually stop.
So what is the real problem? Why are people starving if there's enough food to feed the world?
Actually, there's many reasons. We, as a world, would probably disagree on several of them. But politics, governments, distribution, supply chain, growing conditions, power, money, and greed seem to all make the list if you ask people.
So why do people keep telling this story and making this claim?
Because... it sounds good. We wall want a feel-good story and this one sounds great. Companies need catchy marketing that makes it sound like what they're wanting to do is going to save the world. It's to make you accept, whatever it is they want you to accept, for the sake of the greater good.
But here's a novel concept... waste.
One quick way to produce more is to waste less. Why are we not focused more on waste? I'm not saying no one is, because some certainly are, but why isn't everyone? It's like Apple Computer. The technology exists to make a phone with incredible battery technology, and a 120Mp camera, with blah, blah, blah... so why don't we just skip to the front of the line and do it? Because, there needs to be a money generating machine in place. Iterations of hardware make more money, even though they make more waste.
In 2015 I was working with Land O' Lakes to put wi-fi on farms. We were kicked off more farms by the owners than we were welcomed because while dairy farmers were being penalized for over-producing and they were having to dump milk, Land O' Lakes was bringing this solution to them, but asking the farmer to pay for it. Today, Land O' Lakes is suddenly the expert in rural broadband, and desires to work with Microsoft to bring connectivity to farms because we need better technology because we need to fee the world by 2030 with more than.... and off we go with the feel-good marketing. By the way... if you check the date in that linked Microsoft and Land O' Lakes announcement, it was almost two years ago.
What progress has been made? None.
Oh I'm sure if you ask either of them all kinds of progress has been made... because they've had MEETINGS!
I spent a year on the FCC Rural Broadband Task Force, Precision Agriculture Team... I'm here to tell you neither of them were present. And if you ask dairy farmers, they know little about it.
If we want to make progress, we need to stop lying to ourselves. The marketing tactics and misinformation gains zero traction and does little more than spread false promises. Few people buy into the bullshit anymore and if you want to create value, execute and get something done that actually produces value.
As soon as a presentation kicks off with this feeding the world in the next 50 years propaganda, you just lost credibility. You're not addressing the real problems. Up next... carbon. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
Craig Ganssle is founder and CEO of Basecamp Networks, a technology firm headquartered in Alpharetta, Ga.
What are your thoughts on the use of the "feed the world" dialogue?
- It is just marketing slang
- It is important messaging that cannot be reinforced enough
- It is somewhat important but tends to be overused
COMMENTARY: Is crisis communications the new normal?
The ongoing and evolving COVID-19 pandemic has put organization and corporate leaders in a constant state of crisis management.
By Kate Huskin, AEM Senior Director of Communications
When is a crisis not considered a crisis? The ongoing and evolving COVID-19 pandemic has put organization and corporate leaders in a constant state of crisis management. Just when we think we’ve rounded a corner and things are getting “back to normal” at work, a new variant emerges and we’re almost back to square one.
For communications leaders, this has meant an ongoing and heightened state of crisis communications as they support their organizations. It’s hard to find a positive side to COVID-19 in the workplace, but if I had to pick one, it would be the recognition of the increased value communications and public relations teams have on the bottom line. In fact, a recent Benchmark Study Executive Summary by Ragan reports that communication pros have been called on to develop and distribute the message on new policies that affect internal and external stakeholders alike. Their role has become more vital as they helped keep their organizations focused and moving forward.
At the end of the day, everything is about communicating clearly and effectively to the audiences that matter most to your business. For the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and our members, our key audiences range from our customers, members, dealers, partners, to suppliers, investors, vendors, staff, future staff, and the public at large. And instead of dusting off that crisis communication planning file when a crisis strikes, which is usually a rare occurrence, communicators are now keeping that file open wide on their screens. We’re working through it almost daily as we navigate through the ongoing demands of day-by-day and week-by-week (perhaps variant-by-variant) needs to develop and send messages to these critical stakeholders.
At AEM we launched into crisis communications mode in January 2020 when we first heard about COVID. This was just three months prior to holding CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE, which ended up being the last large industry event held in the U.S. before the travel shut down, with 130,000-plus construction contractors and industry exhibitors gathering for business in Las Vegas for the March 10-14 show. Timing of the show and our diligent and steadfast crisis leadership team and communications strategy were leading factors that contributed to our ability to host the show successfully and showcase our industry.
Flash forward to now, when we’re still managing through the challenges of COVID and the ongoing need to communicate with our members, show exhibitors, vendors, sister associations, and show attendees. I’m not sure what to call it, but it isn’t quite crisis communications anymore, and it certainly isn’t “back-to-normal” communications.
And throughout these last two years, we’ve seen some priorities rise to the top that hopefully will endure if we ever get back to a “normal” time:
Nurture your ambassadors. – Effective communication happens from the inside out. Your internal team should be your highest priority when it comes to communicating. Not only do you want to express the work you’re doing to keep your employees safe, but you also want them to be aware of the messages you are sending out externally. This requires a constant feeding of information and updates. Employees at all levels are your best ambassadors for your business and they need to hear messages from company leaders frequently and clearly. If they are uncertain about something, then you can bet your customers may be uncertain too. And that’s why at AEM we’ve increased our staff meetings, gatherings (mostly virtually) and internal messaging to lessen uncertainty and improve messaging alignment.
We applaud our member companies that have stepped up in a big way to focus on internal communications during the pandemic. We’ve heard countless success stories of how corporate CEOs committed to daily and weekly all-staff meetings, ome held globally, to show support for their teams. And we know these efforts are continuing as the focus on internal communications becomes increasingly important.
Anticipate questions and align with the broader team. – I never knew learning to play chess would help me in my career as a communicator. But thinking three to four steps (or moves) ahead is a critical part of any communications strategy. It isn’t always about what the message should be (which is important), it is more often about how that message makes an impact and what questions it triggers.
At AEM, we work with a broad spectrum of audiences, from c-suite corporate leaders to construction contractors and farmers and everything in-between. What may be an important message for a corporate leader may be less important for an equipment end user who is more concerned about something else. By pulling together a messaging team from a cross-section of our departments, including exhibitions, operations, marketing, membership, communications, public relations, etc., we work collaboratively to determine the right messages that not only allay concerns, but also build confidence and momentum for our next show, event, conference, etc. We prepare FAQs, update messages on our websites, and determine who and how to deliver communications to which audiences. What may have been done in silos previously, is now being coordinated collaboratively.
Be transparent and clear. – It is ok to not have all the answers, but it isn’t ok to avoid the elephant in the room. The uncertainty of COVID has brought about an abundance of missing answers to questions. But the important thing is to be transparent, clear and direct as often as possible. No amount of corporate speak and elevated language can hide a crisis. If you don’t know, then say that. Say it in a direct and clear way and commit to finding the answer and communicating it straight away. When faced with a crisis, it is better to err on the side of too much communication than not enough.
To me, honesty and transparency are one in the same. When used effectively, they build trust and, ultimately, that trust makes it easier for all involved to navigate through a crisis or issue in a positive way.
They say a heightened state of adrenaline makes you stronger. If that is the case, then communications and PR teams around the world are flexing their muscles in preparation for the next challenge.
Meet Belstra Milling: 2021 Premix Facility of the Year
The plant produces an annual tonnage of 80,000 tons with two shifts.
By Sarah Muirhead
The Belstra Milling Co. Inc., a family- and employee-owned company based in DeMotte, Ind., has long produced high-quality, complete nutritional feeds, and most recently vitamin and mineral premixes.
The company, which serves large-scale dairies and sow farms as well as hobby farmers and pet owners, is the 2021 American Feed Industry Association / Feedstuffs Premix Feed Facility of the Year.
Belstra Milling entered the premix business in 2016 with the construction of a premix facility to the north of its main feed manufacturing plant. Traditionally serving the hog sector, when large commercial dairies moved into the area in 2000, the company made a strategic move to serve that market in a big way as well. The plant currently produces an annual tonnage of 80,000 tons with two shifts and 12 employees.
Since its initial investment, Belstra has added on a warehouse, essentially doubling the size of the overall building square footage. When the facility first opened, it was built with limited storage capabilities. The addition of the new warehouse, attached to the existing facility, helps with efficiency as we are now able to store ingredients for daily production in the same building rather than shuttle them back and forth across the property from other warehouses, said Plant Manager Drew Mellon.
Another advantage of the warehouse addition is the ability to purchase more ingredients at a time, getting a better price and allowing for the passing these savings on to customers. The company is able to purchase more ingredients if there is a price rise coming, saving their customers money, said Mellon.
The addition of the warehouse has been a huge improvement to the facility efficiency and purchasing capabilities for our business, said Larisa Bontrager, Regulatory Compliance Manager for Belstra.
The core values at Belstra can be seen on signs around the facility. Those are integrity, quality and service. “We strive to adhere to these goals on a daily basis by producing quality, cost effective and safe products that are used in feeding animals as part of the food chain,” said Tim Belstra, Board Chairman of Belstra Milling.
The premix team at Belstra Milling in DeMotte, Ind.
We made a commitment to build a plant that is driven by the current and expected growth, and it has exceeded our expectations, Tim Belstra said. He added that customers are Belstra Milling’s number one priority.
“Our premix plant is completely customer focused, stocking over 300 different ingredients and making hundreds of different formulas. We always bring in new ingredients as nutritionists change formulas. Additionally, no matter the situation, we will always make sure our customers never run out of feed. We have and will continue to push ourselves to each and every day to produce quality feed while living up to our stated values, said Bontrager.
The Belstra Milling values: Integrity, quality and service.
While customers served and animals fed are top priorities, so are employees at Belstra. The premix facility is climate controlled to allow for improved product flow but also staff comfort year-round.
Tim Belstra noted that while it required an upfront investment, the climate control system helps with product movement, but an added bonus is that of employee comfort.
A lot of the products we use react with heat and humidity, so the climate control helps with that, said Bontrager.
Family history, values
Albert “Bud” Belstra founded the Belstra Milling in 1954 after having purchased the small Pillsbury feed business from his employer. Belstra Milling quickly became the primary source for custom livestock and poultry feed in the area.
With feed production growing, Bud Belstra expanded the company in 1960 through the purchase of the Bauman Feed Mill and its Purina Chow brands. Furthering his vision and having recognized the need for higher quality and superior custom feeds, the Belstra Milling feed mill was built in 1967 and began producing the flagship brand “Action Feeds” soon thereafter.
Bud Belstra’s sons, Tim and Max Belstra, joined the family business in 1971 and 1973, respectively.
Bud Belstra instilled the importance of integrity, quality and service while working closely with his sons for nearly 15 years. These values, and a lot of hard work allowed Tim and Max to purchase the company in 1987.
Tim and Max Belstra continued the vision of their father and led Belstra Milling through further growth and success throughout the 1980s and beyond. Holding true to Belstra’s values and finding team members that aligned with those, led them to hire Malcolm DeKryger in 1991.
DeKryger’s contributions have included the addition of the gilt multiplier farms and greater processing capabilities, both which led Belstra Milling to triple its feed production.
While it required an upfront investment, the climate control system helps with product movement, but an added bonus is that of employee comfort. A lot of the products in the plant react with heat and humidity, so a climate control system helps with that and adds to staff comfort.
Tim Belstra became the sole owner and President of Belstra Milling after the loss of his brother Max in 2000 and father Bud in 2008. DeKryger became President of Belstra Milling in 2013. Tim Belstra continues his role in the company as Board Chairman.
In 2014, Heinold Feeds in nearby Kouts, Ind., was purchased, adding another component of specialty feeds along with dairy, beef and small animal formulas to Belstra Milling’s feed lineup. In 2018, Belstra Milling added the sixth and largest sow farm, Interstate Family Farms (IFF). Most recently in 2020, Belstra Milling entered into an agreement to purchase NatureServe feeds, a poultry feed brand that is unique in that the feeds contain essential oils.
The company’s transportation division, BMC Transport, delivers feed in bulk to the Midwest region of the U.S. and has a transportation network of options to fit the bulk feed needs of customers to ensure a timely feed arrival. In addition to its fleet, Belstra contacts with a trucking service and offers customer pickup.
The BMC Belstra Group Farms division provides farm care and genetic support to pig farms located in Newton, Jasper and Pulaski counties in Indiana and Kankakee County in Illinois.
PODCASTS: Feedstuffs in Focus and Feedstuffs Precision Pork
High pathogenic avian influenza: What's the same, what's different? ... PLUS summer profitability strategies for hog operations
Animal disease challenges are simply a part of life in livestock production, but some disease challenges are more problematic than others. One major problem facing the poultry industry this spring is highly-pathogenic avian influenza, a viral disease currently popping up in flocks and in wild birds across the country.
How well-prepared is the poultry industry for this challenge, what is the current state of affairs, and what can the swine industry learn from how chicken and turkey producers handle this latest outbreak?
Those questions were main topics of discussion at the Midwest Poultry Convention. We sat down with veterinarian Mark Bienhoff, leader of the pathogen control team at Kemin, to discuss high pathogenci avian influenza, and how this outbreak is similar or different from the major outbreak of 2015.
With the warm weather approaching, the time is now to start thinking about those summer profitability strategies.
Joining us on this Feedstuffs Precision Pork podcast are two experts on the topic from Cargill Animal Nutrition. We talk with Mark Hulsebus and Matthew Ritter about feeding strategy, outlook, optimum weights and more.
FACILITIES: Biosecurity – New challenges for the feed industry
There are four areas crucial to the success of a biosecurity plan: identification of hazards, assessment of risk, communication among all involved parties, and verification that the plan is based in sound practice and is actually working.
By Adam Fahrenholz, Charles Stark and Wilmer Pacheco
Biosecurity has always been a concern for animal agriculture, probably even before it was known by that particular term. The emphasis on biosecurity has taken on a new meaning as the feed industry emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic while also keeping an eye on emergent and recurring animal diseases. In the past, biosecurity was focused on animal impacts, but as the animal feed industry moves forward human diseases must also be added to biosecurity plans. The design of workspaces, decontamination of the interior of vehicles, and air movement within control rooms and offices are now being reconsidered along with other longstanding practices.
We have always strived to do those things considered important and necessary to prevent animal disease from impacting the animals under our care and management. This is of course both an economic decision as well as our responsibility as animal caretakers and the very basis of the meat, milk, and egg food chain. However, the importance of biosecurity at feed mills has become exceedingly important in recent years. Some of this is due to the emergence of particular human (COVID-19) and animal diseases (most recently porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv), African swine fever (ASF), and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)), and some is because of the technology available and the management strategies we’ve learned to implement.
In January 2019, AFIA released its “Guidance for Developing Biosecurity Practices for Feed and Ingredient Manufacturing.” As is the case with a number of AFIA’s guidance resources, this document can be freely downloaded on AFIA’s web site. The guidance was put together with input from various sources, including both feed and ingredient companies as well as groups such as NGFA, NPPC, and NRA. In addition to this document, trade organizations, universities, and government agencies release updates based on emerging risks such as COVID-19, ASF, and HPAI. Another good resource is the K-State Feed Safety Resources website in the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry. Using these resources as a base, let’s discuss some of the strategies you can implement in your facilities to address biosecurity.
First off, it is important to understand that the feed mill’s biosecurity policy should address any factors that could contribute to a disease transfer among employees and visitors and/or due to feed consumption. This includes control of incoming raw materials, process evaluations, and maintaining a clean facility. However, it is also important to keep in mind that in many cases the feed mill can be an activity hub, either within your company or among your customers. So, in addition to protecting the finished product from contamination, feed mills should conduct a hazard assessment of their facility, feed ingredient transporters, finished feed trucks, and suppliers. For example, are there locations in the feed mill that are open to the public or common areas for truck drivers and employees? These areas may be potential transfer sites for disease. Consider such questions as: Are plans in place to restrict movement of personnel and/or equipment that have potentially come in contact with animal diseases? On the farm is it common to verify a visitor’s most recent contact with animals. How about at your facility?
There are four areas crucial to the success of a biosecurity plan: identification of hazards, assessment of risk, communication among all involved parties, and verification that the plan is based in sound practice and is actually working. In the feed mill we need to consider pre-manufacturing, manufacturing, and post-manufacturing steps, as well as the transport in between.
In pre-manufacturing, our biggest concern is going to be incoming raw materials. The easiest, and best, way to limit risk at this step is supplier verification. This includes knowing how ingredients are sourced, processed, and transported. Different ingredients may carry different levels of risk, and this needs to be understood not only when developing a plan, but when determining what is required of any individual supplier.
You will need to have some idea of your suppliers’ biosecurity practices. Is there a plan in place? Is it effectively practiced? Have you verified this through visits, periodic testing, or by receiving third-party certifications? It is understandable? If thinking about these things gives you pause, as you don’t want to create a tense relationship with your suppliers, remember that you are the one answering for the feed going to the animals.
In pre-manufacturing, our biggest concern is going to be incoming raw materials. The easiest, and best, way to limit risk at this step is supplier verification. This includes knowing how ingredients are sourced, processed, and transported.
In addition to verifying supplier information, steps need to be taken when ingredients arrive on site. If loads are expected to be sealed, procedures need to be in place to remove seals and verify they are correct. It is important to verify that the transport vessel won’t be a potential source of contamination from road grime, leaking fluids, etc.
Also, consider whether you are able to limit access to receiving pits when not in use; e.g., they are behind locked doors and/or have locking covers. And we cannot forget about proper sample collection procedures, which should already be in place according to your QA plan.
For the primary processing areas, most biosecurity concerns can be addressed by conforming to CGMPs and having adequate housekeeping practices in place. This includes having documented storage and inventory procedures, having a pest control plan in place, and maintaining a clean facility, both indoors and outdoors. Strategically placing and monitoring foot baths at entrances may be a strategy to reduce the risk of disease transfer by drivers and employees.
Biosecurity at the feed mill is everyone’s responsibility, starting with the commitment of management to provide the necessary resources to minimize the transfer of human and animal diseases.
For all areas (pre-, post-, and during manufacturing) consider staffing and facility layout in regards to limiting potential access to the site. Finally, what is your disposal program for any contaminated ingredients/feeds and disposable coveralls and boots?
Post-facility factors are some of the most difficult to address, as these may or may not be under the feed mill’s control (condition of farms, traffic between farms, wind, etc.). First and foremost, delivery drivers should know the disease status of any delivery locations; plan deliveries and subsequent activities accordingly.
In reality, any time we can limit a driver from putting boots on the ground at the farm, the lower the risk.
However, if drivers must get out of the truck, disposable boots and coveralls may be required. Keep in mind that such boots/covers may create a slip hazard. Drivers should receive training on how to safely use the equipment and dispose of their boots and coveralls prior to leaving the site.
Biosecurity at the feed mill is everyone’s responsibility, starting with the commitment of management to provide the necessary resources to minimize the transfer of human and animal diseases.
Employee training and awareness is critical for any biosecurity program, especially because in many instances the risks are associated with unseen pathogens that affect human and animal health. Lastly, realize that the risks change and evolve over time, and the biosecurity plan should be routinely evaluated and updated as necessary.
NUTRITION & HEALTH: Avoiding late finishing mortality
Finishing death loss has always been costly.
By Brad Leuwerke, Swine Vet Center
Even though PRRS and PED have dominated the health of many US swine herds over the last 12-months, it is important to remember, as we move into summertime, in finishing herds, there are other causes of mortality that can cause financial loses. Finishing death loss has always been costly.
Today with record feed price and historically elevated pig prices, that loss is compounded. Depending on your operation the cost of an increase of 1% finishing mortality could be $1.50 - $2.00 per pig and may be even higher if those deads occur late in the finishing phase.
Some of the most common causes of summertime death loss in finishing pigs, include bacterial pathogens, Ileitis, Erysipelas and A. suis along with non-infectious syndromes like hemorrhagic bowel. Producers should be prepared to prevent these costly causes of finishing mortality.
Ileitis and Erysipelas
Although Ileitis and Erysipelas are completely unrelated pathogens, both are notorious for causing sudden outbreaks in late finishing. Seasonally, both tend to show more activity during the summer heat. Luckily, effective vaccines are available to prevent both diseases. Almost all herds are positive for these bacterial pathogens and it’s important that vaccines are administered well before those bacteria move through the population, causing disease. While each herd is different, diagnostic surveillance has taught us that vaccinating growing pigs before they reach 10-12-weeks of age is important.
Swine producers have both oral and injectable vaccines available. Oral vaccines offer a convenient administration must be run during an antibiotic-free period whereas injectable vaccines don’t require an antibiotic free period but carry the added stress of administering an injectable vaccine.
A. suis (and APP)
Another disease that can cause measurable finishing mortality is Actinobacillus suis (A. suis). Common to many herds, this bacterial disease often causes sudden mortality in seemingly healthy, normal pigs. A. suis tends not to have a seasonal pattern and can cause dramatic mortality even without a viral (PRRS or Influenza) co-infection. Finishing herds with A. suis deads benefit from the use of autogenous A. suis vaccines, where the herd bacterial strain is isolated, developed into a vaccine and given to the pig, often prior to weaning with a second dose of vaccine commonly given while in the nursery.
As a sidenote, within the last several months, outbreaks of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) have been reported across much of central Iowa. Most herds are naïve to APP, so when this bacterial pathogen is introduced, the effects can be overwhelming, with high mortality in hours to days following onset of disease. Access to effective vaccines for APP is limited for swine producers. Likely APP is moved through poor biosecurity practices related to trucking, rendering and site entry. Producers in high-risk areas with reported APP need to evaluate their site biosecurity practices to be able to prevent entry of this disease.
Hemorrhagic Bowel Syndrome (HBS)
Hemorrhagic bowel is diagnosed year-round with the highest associated morality in the summertime, due we think to intermittent eating patterns, causing overgrowth of Clostridium bacteria in the intestinal tract of affected pigs.
Typical hemorrhagic bowel pigs are late finishing age and have a history of gorge-eating (environment, crowding, feed outage, health) that leads to the hemorrhagic/mortality event. Preventing outbreaks is often multifactorial and may include:
Barn environment: We know summertime heat creates a barn environment that encourages pigs to lie around during heat of the day only to eat large meals during the cooler evening hours. Although on the hottest times of year we may not feel were successfully removing heat, anything that we can do to encourage more pigs to even out eating patterns throughout the day the more success we’ll have limiting HBS deads. Challenge barn setpoints in finishing, which during hottest summer days can allow additional hours during the morning where finishing pigs are encouraged to eat. The use of sprinklers and stir-fans are also important for reducing the time groups of pigs are off-feed in finishing.
Feed outages and feed quality: Much like the effect of intermittent eating due to summertime heat, out of feed events lead to gorging events and subsequent HBS outbreaks in finishing pigs. Is your barn equipped to prevent out of feed events (sensors, feed motors, feed bin maintenance) and are you able to keep feed in bins (accurate feed orders)? Just as important, poor feed quality, as a result of mycotoxins, grind or pellet quality encourage intermittent eating resulting in an increase in HBS.
Health and Genetics: The health of pigs can also play a role in the number of HBS deads. This is most apparent when pigs are recovering from a disease challenge and “get back onto” feed, leading to HBS. Some genetic lines tend to be high intake meal-eaters, which may increase risk of HBS to occur. Although these factors are harder to control, we may try to supplement pigs as they progress and recover from a disease challenge to aide in hydration (acidification or chlorination) which may smooth the transition back into normal eating patterns.
The swine industry is gearing-up for an unprecedented summer with high feed costs and high pig prices. Swine producers can’t afford to let finishing mortality take away profit. Summertime heat will soon be upon us. If diseases including Ileitis, Erysipelas or A. suis are diagnosed causes of mortality in your finishing herd, work with your veterinarian to review vaccination timing and administration. It’s also important to remember that summertime also brings with it an increased frequency of HBS mortality. Review ventilation settings, including misters and stir fans. Make sure your feeding system is also set-up to reduce out of feed events, which will reduce HBS deads.
Reference
Assessing Economic Opportunity of Improving Mortality Rate in Wean-to-Finish Swine Production. Iowa Pork Industry Center & Ag Decision Maker https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/livestock/html/b1-78.html.
NUTRITION & HEALTH: Case studies of re-emerging bacterial diseases in cage-free and organic flocks
Regional or emerging diseases are becoming more prevalent.
By Yuko Sato, DVM, MS, DACPV
With almost 30% of US layer production in cage-free1, there are regional or emerging diseases that are starting to be more prevalent in these production systems.
Of concern is the increasing numbers of bacterial diseases such as fowl cholera (Pasteurella multocida), infectious coryza (Avibacterium paragallinarum), and spotty liver disease (SLD) (Campylobacter hepaticus).
According to the 2021 Association of Veterinarians in Egg Production (AVEP) survey, fowl cholera ranked as #8 and infectious coryza ranked #7 out of the top 10 diseases in the cage-free layer industry, with special notice to SLD as an emerging disease (US Animal Health Association national meeting, 2021). Scenarios presented to the lab in the recent year will be discussed as a case study format at the live meeting.
Fowl cholera: Caused by gram negative bacteria, Pasteurella multocida, fowl cholera is an acute bacterial disease that results in sepsis and high mortality in all types of poultry. Mortalities range up to 20%, although even higher rates are reported with secondary infections. Lesions and clinical pictures can mimic Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), with peritonitis and acute mortality. Survivors maintain within a flock of chickens as chronic and persistent shedders, resulting in nagging mortality and egg production drops in subsequent flocks2. This is especially a problem in multi-age flocks, where all-in-all-out practices cannot be done.
Control with vaccination in the face of the outbreak with live vaccination by wing web has met with success in some organic flocks. Antibiotic therapy in conventional flocks has also been successful in the short term but chronic mortality and suppression of production returns after treatment subsides. Increasing the frequency of vaccination is being used preventatively in flocks with a history of outbreaks.
Infectious coryza: Caused by gram negative bacteria, Avibacterium paragallinarum, coryza is another acute bacterial disease that causes severe drops in water and feed consumption, followed by drops in egg production. The disease is highly contagious and once a flock is infected on a multi-age layer site, it is hard to remove unless vaccination and depopulation methods are used. Clinical signs of upper respiratory infection usually are exacerbated by co-infections with other agents such as infectious bronchitis, ILT, colibacillosis - however coryza alone has been reported to cause up to 28% mortality in layer flocks3.
Diagnosis is mainly through bacterial culture, which could be challenging. Vaccination is usually a multiple dose regimen during the pullet phase using commercial vaccines and reported success with autogenous vaccines. Molecular methods using qPCR has been used for diagnosis, although recently there are several reports of positive coryza PCR with the absence of clinical signs.
Spotty Liver Disease (SLD): Flocks with this condition experience a five to 20% drop in egg production over a three to four-week period and have 0.5 to 5% mortality. Missouri and Arkansas have most of the cases although breaks have been seen in other high density cage-free, outdoor access areas. This is also a major problem in pastured flocks in Australia where the cause was determined to be due to Campylobacter hepaticus. A major vaccine company is producing an autogenous vaccine that is showing great promise in effectively reducing this problem.
References
1 USDA NASS Chickens and Eggs Survey, Accessed February 9th, 2022. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Chickens_and_Eggs/index.php.
2 Blackall, P.J. and C.L. Hofacre. “Fowl cholera.” Pp831-889. Swayne, D.E., M. Boulianne, C.M. Logue, L.R. McDougald, V. Nair, D.L. Suarez, S. de Wit, T. Grimes, D. Johnson, M. Kromm, T.Y. Prajitno, I. Rubinoff, G. Zavala. In: Diseases of Poultry, 14th edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2020.
3 Bland, M.P., A.A. Bickford, B.R. Charlton, G.C. Cooper, F. Sommer and G. Cutler. 2002. Case Report: A severe infectious coryza infection in a multi‐age layer complex in central California. In: 51st Western Poultry Disease Conference/XXVII Convencion Anual ANECA, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Yuko Sato, DVM, MS, DACPV, is with Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
NUTRITION & HEALTH: Potential of phycogenics, new metabolites from seaweeds
Novel combinations of natural extracts, from plants and seaweeds, offer alternative to growth promoters.
By Dr. Stéphanie Ladirat, R&D Director, NUQO Feed Additives
The market of plant extracts or so-called phytogenics emerged in the late 80’s and experienced a boom during the last decade, with the demand from consumers for more sustainable ingredients. It corresponds as well to the end of ‘black box’ solutions and the development of more transparent, advanced and innovative technologies.
Rise of phytogenics in animal nutrition in the last decade
With the ban of antibiotics used as growth promoters (AGP) in several regions worldwide, nutritionists have tried to use additives based on plant extracts to improve performance of broilers to the same level as AGP. If the initial intention was to use plants extracts for their antimicrobial activity, research has shown their broader range of effects on gut functions, such as:
• Modulation of microbiota composition and activity : Certain plant extracts can limit the growth or virulence of certain pathogens while have limited effect on ‘good’ bacteria.
• Stimulation of digestive functions : Several plant extracts increase the activity of endogenous digestive enzymes and influence uptake and transepithelial transport, and improve nutrients digestion and absorption
• Modulation of immune response : Specific molecules contribute to lower gut inflammation while other molecules modulate cytokines production from macrophages or down/up regulate the expression genes coding for cytokine production to keep inflammation under control, or support development of acquired immunity.
• Improvement of gut integrity : Some molecules or natural ingredients stimulate mucous production and epithelial cell proliferation and therefore contribute to the maturation and integrity of the gut structure.
The group of phytogenics covers a wide group of molecules ‘inspired’ from Nature. All these molecules come from a “plant”, but may come from different parts of the plant (leafy part, bark, seeds, roots, etc.). They may be extracted using different methods ranging from simple milling and mixing to more elaborated water distillation (essential oils), alcohol extraction (tinctures) or chemically synthesized (nature-like compounds). These ingredients have different properties, different effects on animals, and also different purity or stability, especially for the volatile compounds.
Phycogenics, a novel source of natural ingredients
Phytogenics are of great importance in animal nutrition, and marine macroalgae can be considered as supplements to positively influence animal performance and health parameters. Seaweeds represent a large and heterogeneous group, including brown algae (Phaeophyceae), red algae (Rhodophyceae) and green algae (Chlorophyceae).
While algae are frequently studied as a source of nutrients, seaweeds possess several bioactive molecules, so called ‘phycogenics’ (from Greek Phycos = Algae), that are studied for their prebiotic, anti-microbial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Few examples of molecules exclusively found in marine algae are sulfated polysaccharides, phlorotannins and laminarins.
Research has shown the effects of several compounds and metabolites, and their specific impact of physiology. Here is a short list of molecules or groups of molecules from seaweeds, that have been specifically studied:
• Natural polyphenols such as phlorotannin, tocopherol, bromophenol (antioxidant activity)
• Sulfated polysaccharides or fucoidans (Immune enhancer)
• Natural pigment (to improve egg/meat color)
• Specific complex polysaccharides (Prebiotic affect)
Phycogenics are not meant to replace phytogenics, but they represent a fantastic opportunity to new metabolites with potential benefits on health of humans and animals.
Phycogenics add value on top of phytogenics
A recent trial was performed at the university of Berlin (Germany), to compare the effects of 2 commercial products based on phytogenics (P1 & P2), with a micro-encapsulation of phytogenics + phycogenics (NQ). The effects were measured on performance of the birds and apparent ileal digestibility of feed at 21 days of age. Researchers observed that the combined product not only improved digestibility of nutrients (crude fat, crude protein and starch) but also increased digestibility of minerals (crude ash, calcium and phosphorus) as compared to the negative control (Figure 1).
The other two solutions improved digestibility of some nutrients and minerals but to a lower extend than NQ. Performance results at 21 days are well in line with the observed effects on digestibility (Figure 2). The NQ treatment had the strongest effects on nutrient and mineral digestibility, and had the highest improvement in performance at 21 days, with better gain (+2,2%) and improved FCR (-0,6%) as compared to the control.
All in all, the treatment NQ with phycogenics showed an improvement of feed digestibility that resulted in an improved performance, compared to classic products based on phytogenics.
Figure 1: The effects of 4 treatments on apparent ileal digestibility of nutrients & minerals, and performance in broilers of 21 days of age. * p<0.05
Additional results from a trial performed at Southern Poultry (USA), confirmed the interest of micro-encapsulation of phycogenics with phytogenics. In this trial, 3 groups of birds were fed with 3 treatments: a negative control, a second treatment with antibiotics (BMD) and a third group with a combination of phytogenics and phycogenics. In parallel, all animals were placed on a re-used litter to create a mild N.E. challenge.
Figure 2: The effects of 3 treatments on performance of broilers at 14 and 42 days of age during a mild NE challenge.
Performance results at 14 days and then 42 days were well in line with previous experimentations and showed that the micro-encapsulation of phytogenics and phycogenics could provide similar or better performance compared to other treatments.
Micro-encapsulated phytogenics and phycogenics as a new standard
Since the market of plant extracts emerged 30 years ago, there is now enough evidence and knowledge to understand the effects of these products, as well as the parameters that guarantee the optimal efficacy and best impact on gut health.
Nutritionists can now expect solutions based on transparent formulation, that includes well-known but also innovative molecules, from land or marine plants, protected by advanced technology for stable and consistent effect.
Phytogenics are still somehow new in certain markets, besides ‘simple blends’ of phytogenics have sometimes showed heterogeneous results, with sometimes a lack of transparency regarding formulation.
This is where specific production technology can lead to new standards with high stability and thus consistent efficacy. It is also critical to work with transparent solutions, to fully understand the effects and the benefits of these technologies.
This novel generation of natural additives represents an opportunity for formulators and nutritionists to further invest in sustainable technologies, to better address challenges related to gut health and create more value for their customers.
NUTRITION & HEALTH: Meta-analysis of calf starter physical form studies
Processing of calf starter diets requires further investigation according to the guidelines for measuring and reporting calf and heifer experimental data.
By Al Kertz, PhD, DIPL ACAN
Around 2016, I was contacted by an Iranian post-doctorate, Dr. Morteza Ghaffari, in Canada regarding looking at studies using forage for young calves. He was open to critique and questions in this area, and utilized them in shepherding a meta-analysis (Imani et al., 2017). Later, I met him while doing some presentations in Iran in 2017. He is a research associate in the Institute of Animal Science at the University of Bonn in Germany.
In 2018, Morteza made a presentation on colostrum at the European Association of Animal Production (EAAP) annual program during which I asked a question at the end. We continued our discussion at the ensuing break. It was after that discussion that a veterinary professor, Georgios E. Valergakis, from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece introduced himself to me and boldly confronted and implored me to “not stop publishing my articles” on calves and heifers! That became the catalyst for publishing my book Dairy Calf and Heifer Feeding and Management—Some Key Concepts and Practices. Outskirts Press, July 31, 2019. Morteza and I have maintained contact, most recently in person at the International Symposium on Ruminant Physiology held in September 2019 in Leipzig, Germany. Last Fall, Morteza suggested that we collaborate on a calf paper. That led to this meta-analysis (Ghaffari and Kertz 2021). I was astonished how rapidly and expertly Morteza surveyed the published literature in this area and assimilated key data from pertinent studies.
As many readers will know, I have a preference for, and recommend, using a well-textured calf starter. But of course, not everyone does that. The calf research arena is full of variation. I once enumerated over 20 major variables (and stopped there!) involved in feeding and managing calves. This makes it difficult to compare across calf studies for some common parameters.
There are only a few research places in the US which have similar protocols across calf studies: Provimi Nurture Research Center, University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center at Waseca, and Jud Heinrich’s group at Pennsylvania State University are the three major ones I follow. That is one reason I have often highlighted their studies in my Feedstuffs articles—many of which are featured in my book. And historically too few calves or heifers have been utilized per treatment to pick up meaningful statistically significant differences (Kertz and Chester-Jones 2004). And then too many studies do not report enough of the protocol, measurements, or data (Kertz 2017). Thus, it was with some trepidation that I approached this meta-analysis project.
The initial task was to categorize studies by the physical nature of starters and whether fed with or without forage. A total of 37 full-text articles including 60 trials were used for the Bayesian meta-analysis.
Twenty-six studies used a textured starter, but 6 of those studies had less than 45% texture—which I consider to be a minimum texture. Only 28 studies measured the geometric mean of textured starters.
The 6 different categories of starter studies were: ground starter fed with or without hay (11 studies), textured starter fed with or without hay (6 studies), textured versus ground starters (7 studies), textured versus pelleted starters (8 studies), pelleted versus ground starters (5 studies), and textured with hay versus ground with hay (6 studies).
Look at all these sources of variation, and with not many studies within categories of starters to have meaningful probabilities of picking up statistically significant differences. Average number of calves per treatment within categories were only 10 to 15 with a few exceptions.
Yet, the number of calves needed per treatment, based on Figure 1 in Kertz and Chester-Jones (2004) should be 20 or more dependent on variation within treatments. Much of this variation can be seen in the two figures showing average daily gain and starter feed intake from this meta-analysis.
The Bottom Line
The Conclusions and Applications from the Ghaffari and Kertz (2021) paper fit well here: Results of this meta-analysis showed that greater starter intake occurred when hay was supplemented to the finely ground starter (125 g/d) or when calves received textured starters compared with pelleted diets (107 g/d). Because variation is great in calf studies, there was not sufficient evidence for a recommended starter physical form for improving the growth rates of dairy calves. Processing of calf starter diets requires further investigation according to the guidelines for measuring and reporting calf and heifer experimental data.
References
Ghaffari, M, and A, F, Kertz. 2021. Review: Effects of different forms of calf starters on feed intake and growth rate: A systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis of studies from 1938 to 2020. Appl. Anim. Sci. 37:273–293.
Imani, M., M. Mirzaei, B. Baghbanzadeh-Nobari, and M. H. Ghaffari. 2017. Effects of forage provision to dairy calves on growth performance and rumen fermentation: A meta-analysis and meta-regression. J. Dairy Sci. 100:1136–1150.
Kertz, A. F. and H. Chester-Jones. 2004. Guidelines for measuring and reporting calf and heifer experimental data. J. Dairy Sci. 87:3577-3580.
Kertz, A. F. 2017. Letter to the Editor: A call for more complete reporting and evaluation of experimental methods, physical form of starters, and results in calf research. J. Dairy Sci. 100:851-852.
RESEARCH: Phosphate nutrition of plants through symbiosis with fungi
Root symbiosis appears regulated through nutrient status of plants
Phosphorus is one of the most important nutrients for plants. Among other functions, it is needed to create substances for the plant’s immune system, for the healthy development of seeds and for root growth. A team of researchers led by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong have now demonstrated how a root symbiosis with fungi is driven at the molecular level by the plant’s phosphate status.
Land plants absorb phosphate better when they collaborate with certain soil fungi. Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), a symbiosis with such fungi, is used by more than 80 percent of plants. The fungi penetrate the root cortex cells and form hyphal networks in the soil. These take up phosphate from the soil and transport it directly into the root, where it is released into the root cells via tree-shaped fungal structures called arbuscules.
Plants regulate the establishment of symbiosis
“Interestingly, the plant can regulate the establishment of the symbiosis according to its physiological condition. The symbiosis is promoted at low plant phosphate status and is inhibited when the plant has sufficient phosphate, for example as a result of fertilizer use,” says Caroline Gutjahr, Professor for Plant Genetics at TUM. "This likely happens in order to conserve organic carbon, which the plant supplies to the fungus."
Although this phenomenon was first observed around 50 years ago, the molecular mechanism for inhibiting the arbuscular mycorrhiza at high phosphate status was unknown.
A protein called PHR is a key transcription factor in the process. Transcription factors are proteins that control the copying of DNA into mRNA, thus ensuring that finally the required quantity of a protein is formed. PHR activates genes that enable the plant to respond to a phosphate deficiency.
Experiments with rice – one of the most important agricultural crops
“We wanted to find out how the formation of arbuscular mycorrhiza is regulated depending on phosphate availability. Our hypothesis was that PHR might be responsible,” says Gutjahr. In addition to lab results with rice and the model legume Lotus japonicus, the researchers also conducted an experiment in soil from rice fields. They were able to show that PHR is needed to promote AM symbiosis when soil phosphate is low to ensure normal grain yields.
A key result of the study is that PHR not only regulates classical phosphate deficiency genes, but also an entire group of genes required for the establishment and function of AM. These include, for example, biosynthesis genes for the hormone strigolactone. This hormone is produced by the plant and released into the soil where it activates and attracts the fungus.
Potential for sustainable agriculture
AM symbiosis has enormous potential for application in sustainable agriculture by reducing the need for artificial fertilizers. “Our insights could be used to modify the phosphate sensitivity of plants through selective breeding or gene editing,” says Gutjahr.
The improved uptake of phosphate is not the only benefit of AM. It also promotes the absorption of other nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and sulphate and improves plant resistance to various stressors such as drought.
“By tuning PHR, for example, we could reduce the phosphate sensitivity of plants and promote the symbiosis at higher concentrations of phosphate in the soil and thus use its other benefits for agricultural production,” says the professor of plant genetics.
Reference
Debatosh Das, Michael Paries, Karen Hobecker, Michael Gigl, Corinna Dawid, Hon-Ming Lam, Jianhua Zhang, Moxian Chen & Caroline Gutjahr (2022): PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE transcription factors enable arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis. Nature Communications 13 :477. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-27976-8.
Equipment market outlook: Is long-term growth sustainable?
What impact might labor shortages, shipping disruptions and the Russia-Ukraine war have on the sector?
While the global economy remains firmly on track to expand in 2022, a number of challenges are poised to serve as obstacles for the agriculture and construction equipment industries in the weeks and months ahead.
According to the latest business intelligence data from AEM, the global economy expanded by a robust 5.1 percent in 2021. And while projected growth of about 3.9 percent is expected for 2022, slower growth seems like a foregone conclusion. Short-term factors like the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing supply chain issues and persistent labor shortages, as well as long term factors like deglobalization and inflation, have emerged to dampen enthusiasm a bit on the heels of what has been a strong economic resurgence worldwide.
“The last recession we experienced ended the longest period of economic expansion in the United States, and that recession lasted from February 2020 to April 2020,” said AEM Director of Market Intelligence Benjamin Duyck. “Two months, in traditional economic terms, can’t even be accurately described as a recession. However, this economic disruption has impacted us all greatly, and we are still dealing with the aftereffects today – labor shortages, supply chain problems and higher interest rates.”
Continued growth on horizon
The question of when the next economic recession will hit is one that’s easily asked, but not so easily answered. Recent volatility in the stock market has done little to quell concerns. However, the stock market is still up 20 percent when compared to a year ago, and 30 percent from two years ago (just prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic).
“Can we accurately predict the next recession?” asked Duyck. “No, and it’s a common joke that economists predicted 15 of the last 10 recessions. In other words, they are frequently wrong and pessimistic. Though, it will be interesting to see what happens, especially with high inflation.”
AEM has surveyed its members quarterly for nearly two years regarding how quickly they expect to recover to pre-COVID-19 levels. For some time, the responses had been generally quite positive, according to Duyck.
“But the data for this last quarter is moving again in the other direction, largely due to the headwinds we’re facing with inflation, workforce issues and supply chain disruptions,” he said.
Watch our video interview with Benjamin Duyck, Director of Market Intelligence with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.
Mitigating factors
When it comes to ag equipment, the impact of inflation can’t be understated. There has been an 11.7 percent year-over-year increase in the prices of farm machinery. On the construction side, inflation is a little lower, but it has been rising gradually, with a 9.7 percent increase in the last quarter.
Talent acquisition is also a significant – and troublesome – factor for ag and construction equipment manufacturers. According to the results of AEM’s most recent quarterly member survey, hiring on the manufacturing floor remains a major issue – 84 percent of all respondents have experienced issues in this particular area, while 90 percent of all ag members surveyed have dealt with this particular issue.
Respondents offered a wide range of potential strategies and tactics for addressing hiring challenges – internships, educational partnerships, higher wages, bonuses, marketing and recruitment efforts, flexible hours, and outsourcing, are among the most common – but it’s clear workforce will remain a prevalent issue for equipment manufacturers for the foreseeable future.
What’s also just as clear are the factors that have led to the supply chain problems currently plaguing ag and construction equipment manufacturers, according to Duyck.
“COVID-19, followed by growing numbers of employees leaving the workforce, have led to both shutdowns and scarcity of products,” he added.
As a result, and in response, the supply chain has intended to initially adjust production lower, expecting lower demand. In addition, shipping companies cut schedules, expecting a drop in demand for shipments. And while demand in some aspects of the economy dropped, the decrease was not evenly spread over all industries and all workers.
AEM member perspective
According to AEM’s most recent quarterly survey of its members, more than 95 percent of ag and construction equipment manufacturers that responded said they are experiencing supply chain issues. However, it appears either demand is beginning to normalize, or supply chain signaling is improving, because 44 percent of respondents noted the issues are beginning to turn around.
“For the vast majority of these people, issues are both domestic and global,” said Duyck. “The issues are also widespread, but consensus opinion among members is that the issues lie particularly with prices, shipping and quantities of raw materials and, subsequently, inputs and components. In addition, the issues do not necessarily lie at the endpoint or receiving shipping, but rather at the supplier source – and especially international shipping.”
However, despite all the challenges impacting the ag and construction equipment industries, growth is still expected (albeit at a slower rate than in recent months).
Equipment market outlooks
For the construction equipment market:
• Construction industry value is expected to grow 4.5 percent this year, largely driven by residential.
• AEM member perceptions show strong demand (83 percent see year-over-year growth ahead), and it’s reasonable to expect growth of 6-10 percent over the next 12 months on the heels of 6-10 percent stronger growth than was expected in 2021.
• Infrastructure spending is set to gain significant momentum in the coming years.
• Uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic, high material costs and monetary policy all remain concerns.
For the ag equipment market:
• Farm income has increased regardless of government support declines and production cost increases.
• Member expectations remain strong (81 percent see year-over-year growth ahead, and 91 percent expect growth to continue).
• Inventories are too long after being depleted in 2021.
“Ultimately, the imbalance between supply and demand and COVID-19 restrictions eliminated all the inventory and the grease that allows the global supply clock to operate,” said Duyck. “
Another metaphor that maybe hits closer to our industries is this: We’re running a machine that’s low on oil, and almost out of it. The machine will continue to run, and maybe even run for a while – until it doesn’t.”
