Bela Szalmas and Daan van der Heijden have been appointed as area sales managers. (Image source: Hamlet Protein)

Global supplier of soy protein specialties for young animal nutrition, Hamlet Protein works on strengthening its commercial team by introducing new hires to quicken the growth in worldwide focus markets 

With Bela Szalmas and Daan van der Heijden being appointed as area sales managers, the company has confirmed its commitment to maintain and strengthen its leadership in solutions for early life nutrition in the Europe Middle East Africa region. Daan van der Heijden grew up on a poultry farm in the Netherlands and gained international experience in various multinational companies. Bela Szalmas on the other hand, is from Hungary and comes with more than 20 years of experience in agribusiness, agronomy and sales. 

Hamlet Protein produces soy-based protein ingredients for young piglet, poultry, and cattle feed at two production plants in Denmark and the US, serving customers around the world through a network of own sales offices and distributors. 

“Young animal nutrition is key in driving performance throughout the lifecycle of the animal and Hamlet Protein’s products have a proven track record in making a difference. I am happy to be joining a talented team of experienced professionals,” said van der Heijden. 

“Research shows that the inclusion of high-quality ingredients in starter and pre-starter feeds results in improved gut health, better digestion and absorption of feed components and a stronger immune system," commented Hamlet Protein CEO Erik Visser. "That is why we say that a good start makes all the difference and that is why we are excited starting the new year with these strong hires.”

PUPIL AI vision technology, SmartBase software and HMI touchscreen control all add intelligence to the VC-i. (Image source: Marel)

Primary poultry processing receives a revolutionary upgrade with Marel introducing the world's first intelligent vent cutter—VC-i

The vent cutter's job in the primary poultry process is to drill out the cloaca without damaging the intestines and hang it over the back of the carcass. Being the first operation performed inside the product, vent cutting needs to be done with surgical precision and hygiene. This is because mistakes cannot be corrected by the remaining operations in the evisceration line.

The Marel VC-i vent cutter sets a new benchmark in accuracy by meticulously drilling out the cloaca without touching the intestines, thereby preventing any soiling or contamination. Designed to optimise hygiene, efficiency and automation, the VC-i eliminates manual adjustments and ensures precise, contamination-free vent cutting. This precision is driven by PUPIL (Precision Unified Processing with Intelligent Learning) AI vision technology, which provides real-time insight into the machine’s performance, ensuring that cloacas are extracted and positioned correctly.

Promoting automation

Advanced features including the HMI touchscreen allows users to set the VC-i on-the-fly with a few taps. Pre-defined recipes are controlling the automatic machine settings to achieve optimal parameters, such as drill depth and product positioning, for the incoming flock. Thanks to these digital machine settings, manual adjustments based on guesswork are a thing of the past. PUPIL visually monitors performance, eliminating human error and ensuring consistent, high-quality results irrespective of significant variations in bird weights and sizes.

Automated adjustments along with PUPIL AI monitoring maintain high performance across all shifts and flocks, even with wide weight ranges. Internal SmartBase software contributes to VC-i’s consistency by monitoring the machine’s health in real time. It offers early warning alerts on performance at both machine level and unit level, enabling proactive adjustments and maintenance.

Prioritising hygiene

When it comes to VC-i design, soiling or contamination is strictly unacceptable. The open structure of the 20 newly developed, robust carousel units not only reduces wear and tear, but also residue buildup and contamination risk, while offering enhanced cleanability. After each operation, the individual drill units are thoroughly cleaned by their own spray washers. The VC-i’s vacuum system also adds to hygiene by removing initial feces from the intestines, preventing soiling of the clean process and contamination in downstream processes. Moreover, to save water, empty shackles are identified by the smart product detection system and switched off. 

In Mbeya, Tanzania, a dairy farmer stands with his bull, a superior crossbreed identified through genomic and historic performance data gathered by scientists from ILRI and partners. (Image source: ILRI/K Dhanj))

According to a recent study published in Nature Genetics, modern breeding technologies and innovations are being tested to improve meat, milk and egg production in Africa

The study highlights the power of collaborative thinking in harnessing advances in genomic technology, digital tools and information and communications technology to establish a foundation for sustainable livestock improvement programmes in Africa.

Through strategic investment and collaboration, African livestock systems can harness tools such as genomic technologies and breeding programmes to drive genetic gains. Supported by the African Animal Breeding Network (AABNet)—a platform of genetics experts, animal breeders, and professionals providing training, advice, and support—these efforts could lead to more resilient, efficient, and sustainable livestock production, strengthening food security and rural livelihoods across the continent, researchers say.

A study titled 'The African Animal Breeding Network as a pathway towards genetic improvement of livestock' was conducted by a team of international researchers led by the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH) which explores the potential for genetic gains in African livestock and how AABNet could contribute to transforming livestock production systems. The network enables and facilitates a system of genetic evaluation across multiple African countries, collecting, storing, and sharing livestock data to support the development of higher-quality, more productive animals. It also plays a key role in professional development, educational partnerships, training events, and entrepreneurship, promoting strategic collaborations to accelerate progress. In addition, AABNet connects animal breeders across Africa, enabling them to share information, evaluation systems, and tools to improve productivity and genetic advancements.

"If we design breeding programmes with climate adaptation and mitigation in mind, farmers get access to hardier, more productive livestock—and we build livestock systems that work for both people and the planet," said lead author of the study and director general for the International Livestock Research Institute, professor Appolinaire Djikeng. 

These advancements can enhance not only productivity but also climate resilience and sustainability.

The idea is that instead of selling the eggs raw, processing them in the form of powder and liquid will fetch higher prices both locally and internationally. (Image source: State House Uganda)

In an attempt to strengthen Uganda’s economy, improve nutrition and food security, president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has said that the government will establish a processing factory to add value to eggs

The idea is that instead of selling the eggs raw, processing them in the form of powder and liquid will fetch higher prices both locally and internationally. The president remarked that eggs could be processed into products such as baby foods and nutritional foods to feed the country’s sick and elderly and export. 

During the president’s assessment tour of the PDM and wealth creation programmes in the Kigezi sub region, he said that while eggs that are boiled, scrambled, or mixed with chapati, commonly known as Rolex, cannot be exported, they can attract international markets if properly processed and packed. 

Speaking to the residents, the President reminded the Kigezi people that the only medicine to poverty is intensive agriculture by not only using their small portions of land but going for products with high returns under the 4 acre model and the recommended seven activities. These include one acre for coffee, another acre for fruits (mangoes, oranges, and pineapples), another one for food crops for the family (cassava, bananas, Irish potatoes, or millet), and the last one for pasture for around 8 dairy cattle. On top of this, one can add on poultry for eggs in the backyard, piggery and fish farming.

Akampurira Evas, a poultry farmer and beneficiary of the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Bubare trading centre expressed gratitude for the PDM programme, which she said has changed her life. “This PDM has really worked for me because I’m selling chicken, eggs, and chicken manure, and I’m now able to pay school fees for my children, some of whom had sat home,” said Akampurira who received US$273 in September 2023. “Those who got money for the PDM and know what to do must now be rich,” she informed the president.