Dairy diary: October’s business update

Kemin launches 2 product ranges

Kemin launched 2 new product ranges to complete its Ruminant Essentialities portfolio. The launch took place at the recent seminar held in Athens, Greece 14 – 16 October 2019. “We are reaching and perfecting the next level in ruminant nutrition through extensive services, solution offerings and technical expertise,” said Stefaan Van Dyck, president, Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – EMENA (Europe, Middle East, North Africa). The new products include:

• Kessent, a product range from the new Kemin-developed-and-produced rumen-protected Methionine, a necessary amino acid in ruminant diets, which works with Lysine—also a Kemin ingredient—for the precision feeding.

• CholiGem, a Choline nutrition product developed and produced by Kemin, and which rounds out the Ruminant Essentialities portfolio.

Stefaan van Dyck, president, Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – EMENA at the launch of Kessent. Photo: Zana van Dijk

Novus Announces CEO Succession Plan

Novus International, Inc., announced that François Fraudeau plans to retire as president and chief executive officer after 28 successful years with the company. Novus’s Board of Directors has decided to hire a former Novus executive, Dan Meagher, to be the next president and CEO, effective April 1st, 2020. To ensure a smooth transition, Dan will join the company on October 14, 2019, as executive vice president and general manager prior to assuming the role of president and CEO in April. Dan Meagher previously held the position of president and chief executive officer with Agrivida, Inc. During his career in Animal Nutrition, Dan Meagher held various successful positions with Purina Mills, MBA Poultry, Moark, Novus, and lately, Agrivida.

Omsco celebrates 25-year milestone

Omsco, the UK’s largest farmer-owned and run organic dairy co-operative, marked 25 years at their annual conference in mid-October. The celebration welcomed members and key business partners from across the globe, reflecting on the past quarter of a century and looking ahead to future market opportunities. “We started with just five farmers selling liquid milk to three large customers in 1994. Twenty-five years on we have 250 members, producing over 50% of the country’s organic milk supply and are exporting added-value organic dairy products and specialist ingredients globally,” explained Nicholas Saphir, Omsco’s chairman.

Twenty-five years on we have 250 members, producing over 50% of the country’s organic milk supply and are exporting added-value organic dairy products and specialist ingredients globally,” said Nicholas Saphir, Omsco’s chairman.

Connecterra expands commercial team

With the appointment of Julie Larson as US regional dales director, agtech company Connecterra has expanded its commercial team in North America. In her new role, Julie will focus on sales and further roll-out of IDA, the flagship product of Connecterra, in the US market. She will work directly with farmers and enterprises to introduce them to the innovative technology IDA to make agriculture more efficient and sustainable.

Cargill launches Feeding Intelligence platform

Cargill has introduced Feeding Intelligence, a new platform aimed at helping livestock farmers navigate the changing food production landscape while raising awareness of their role.“Today’s farmers face countless challenges, from keeping up with a rapidly changing industry to navigating the demands of consumers around the way animals are raised,” said David Webster, president of Cargill’s Animal Nutrition & Health business.
Feeding Intelligence provides resources for farmers on the latest intelligent animal production practices aimed at helping them improve their operations across all species.

New solutions and tools help dairy and livestock farmers run more efficient and sustainable operations with a shared goal of responsible, nutritious food. Photo: Cargill

Alltech and Alimetrics collaborate on in vitro tool

An innovative laboratory fermentation method for assessing the ruminal breakdown of dietary protein ingredients has been created by Alltech and Alimetrics Research. The novel technique was developed to evaluate feed protein sources and involves measuring the proportion of certain amino acids that is converted to specific end products over 24 hours. Scientists from Alltech and Alimetrics collaborated on the study which compares the rumen degradability and effects on rumen fermentation of three protein sources: whey protein, soybean meal and yeast-derived microbial protein. “When it comes to comparing protein sources, we believe this tool is particularly useful when some known and commonly used benchmark products, such as soybean meal, are included in a study,” said Dr Juha Apajalahti, managing director at Alimetrics.
“In terms of research methodology, this provides us with a robust model for screening products, both for fermentation effects and the ability to bypass protein through the rumen,” said Matthew Smith, vice president at Alltech.

DSM – implementation of its methane inhibitor Bovaer

Royal DSM announced that it is taking the next step towards implementation of its methane inhibitor Bovaer in the Netherlands through a trial at the Dairy Campus in Leeuwarden that aims to gather all information necessary for accreditation of Bovaer by the Carbon Footprint Monitor / Climate Module of the Kringloopwijzer (the Annual Nutrient Cycling Assessment). The trial with Bovaer has been designed together with a consortium from across the Dutch Dairy Chain, comprising of DSM, Wageningen University & Research, FrieslandCampina, Agrifirm, De Heus & ForFarmers. The trial will deliver methane reduction results for different ratios of Grass silage and Maize Silage diets typical for Dutch circumstances and different dosages of Bovaer. The trial will run from November 2019 till February 2020 and is supervised by a team of Cattle Nutrition experts from Wageningen University & Research (André Bannink, Sanne van Gastelen and Jan Dijkstra). The knowledge gained in this study will be applicable across Europe.