Get inspired

A simple Google search on “beta-glucan products animal nutrition” brings up over two million results in less than a second. But are all beta-glucans the same?

Water is easily overlooked until it is absent. In other words, it is often the forgotten ingredient and not the prioritized parameter to consider when production problems arise. Reduction in water intake can be the first indication of health problems. Therefore, water availability and quality are extremely important for animal health and productivity.  

In this series of six episodes, Dr. Swamy Haladi, Global Technical Commercial Manager for Selko will touch upon various aspects related to mycotoxin risk management.

Pet parents want the best food for their pets. They expect the highest quality ingredients to be used in pet food products. At Selko we understand that pet food producers look for high quality products but want a trusted partner as well. For over 20 years pet food companies put their trust in our expertise to blend science, ingredients, and nutrition into exceptional formulas that help produce high quality pet foods.

Reports indicate that 27% of the total carbon footprint of a dairy farm are emissions from on-farm supply sources, including emissions from the production of feed supplied to the farm. So how can Trace Minerals help achieve these goals?

The health of a pig farm significantly impacts animal performance and financial outcomes. A robust microbiota and strong gut are crucial for gut health and productivity, particularly in antibiotic-restricted systems. Prioritizing animal welfare also involves curbing antimicrobial resistance to maintain responsible antibiotic usage.

Several stressors, such as heat stress and gastrointestinal dysbiosis, can be major threats to the poultry industry, as they impact gut health and increase disease susceptibility, affecting bottom line results. With the reduction in the use of antibiotics there is an even bigger need for solutions that support animal health and welfare.

The three factors that impact grain quality management: supply chain, contamination, and storage management. Significant amounts of losses occur across the grain supply chain. We paint the picture of how important it is to manage grain quality and exercising best practices for grain storage. Grain spoilage in the form of moulds, mycotoxins, bacteria or pests can occur in the field and throughout the feed chain. Identifying factors that influence grain contamination is of key importance. How do negative storage conditions impact the quality of your grains? Long storage times can provide the perfect conditions for microorganisms and mycotoxins to develop.

Like vitamins, trace minerals are essential to the diets of farmed fish and shrimps and act as a limiting nutrient. Aquatic animals can take in small amounts of waterborne mineral ions, but not enough to fulfil their trace mineral needs. They require trace mineral supplementation from aquafeed for optimal health and productivity. In commercial aquafeeds, the importance and impact of trace mineral source and levels is often neglected and overlooked.

Ensuring healthy feed intake relies on optimal nutritional quality and safe delivery. Water quality is equally vital, being a major part of consumption and influencing egg composition, thermoregulation, and additive transport for layers.

Essential for pig health and performance, trace minerals require careful selection. Many available sources are excreted due to solubility, but hydroxy trace minerals offer concentrated, bioavailable options at a lower cost.

Poultry products are environmentally efficient with low carbon footprint, yet feed costs comprise a significant portion of production expenses, and diets contribute to emissions. Selko addresses these challenges with solutions for resilient, efficient, and sustainable poultry production.

Safeguarding the integrity of feed ingredients and finished feed while managing the economics of production can feel like a balancing act. When feed ingredients are sourced from faraway countries or even continents, it's often a matter of accepting the materials upon arrival – whether the quality is ideal or not – and hastening to prevent further loss of nutrients. It’s vital to perform stringent quality checks upon arrival and control quality along the production process in order to produce a safe, stable and high-quality end-product.

For swine producers who manage their own feed or use liquid feeding systems, maintaining low microbial levels and high nutritional value is crucial. This is particularly vital when incorporating liquid by-products from the food industry, prone to yeast-induced degradation. Harmful microbes like molds and Salmonella can hinder animal performance and mycotoxin-producing molds can harm the gut and immunity. Implementing strategies for feed hygiene, safe water, and quality is essential to mitigate these risks.