The camel thorn tree grows naturally and requires minimal agronomic inputs, making it a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to conventional grain-based feeds. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

A study published in the Meat Science Journal found that Vachellia erioloba, commonly known as camel thorn tree serves as an efficient natural feed supplement in lamb feed, when paired with ammoniated maize stover 

The leaves of this tree which thrives in arid regions of Africa including South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, southwest Mozambique, Zambia, Eswatini and the western reaches of Zimbabwe, are found to be a protein-rich and highly digestable plant resource. Moreover, the tree grows naturally and requires minimal agronomic inputs, making it a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to conventional grain-based feeds.

The co-ingredient, maize stover, is a common agricultural by-product that lacks adequate nutrition on its own. However, when treated with ammonia and supplemented with Vachellia erioloba leaf meal, the resulting feed obtained contains significantly high levels of protein that can promote weight gain and feed efficiency in lambs. 

Research carried out on the meat obtained from lambs who had consumed this enriched feed showed an improvement in fatty acid composition. The meat was found to contain higher levels of omega-3 and omega-6 unsaturated fatty acids that are essential for human health. Moreover, a notable improvement in meat texture and taste, owing to higher water-holding capacity, was also observed. 

The study authors suggested that the Rumin8 oil IVP had the potential to reduce enteric methane emissions. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

An animal trial conducted on Rumin8 by the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) found a 95.2% reduction in enteric methane emissions, marking an important milestone for the company

The trial involved 24 cattle split into three groups and fed a total mixed ration (TMR). The effects of the Rumin8 Investigational Veterinary Product (IVP) on enteric gas emissions, animal production parameters and the rumen environment were evaluated. Upon adding Rumin8’s oil IVP to the feed, a 95.2% reduction in total methane emissions was noted, with methane yield (g/kg DMI) reducing by 93%, and methane intensity (g/kg ADG) going down by 93.4%.

The study authors suggested that the Rumin8 oil IVP, containing synthetic bromoform (or tribromomethane), had the potential to reduce enteric methane emissions. They also noted that animal source foods provide high-quality protein and essential nutrients with high bioavailability, which is key to addressing global undernutrition. Consumption of meat and milk is forecast to increase by 73% and 58% respectively by 2050, and “reducing enteric methane emissions is therefore crucial to mitigate the environmental impact of livestock systems and to achieve national and international climate goals.”

By making use of a highly scalable, consistent and cost-efficient pharmaceutical process, Rumin8's patented technology stabilises the target compound, tribromomethane, known to be the most effective anti-methanogenic compound studied to date. This marks an important milestone for the company which is currently on the pursuit for regulatory approval for its feed and water delivered methane reducing additives. Additional trials are also underway in key cattle markets gloablly. 

The partnership advances the One Health platform of animal health solutions. (Image source: Elanco)

To leverage Medgene’s innovative vaccine platform technology, Elanco Animal Health Incorporated has entered into an agreement with the company to commercialise the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) vaccine for use in dairy cattle

Efforts by the poultry industry to reduce or irradiate HPAI spread have continued to be challenging as the current outbreak enters its fourth year. The cross-species and zoonotic transmission of the disease indicates the urgent need for intervention and calls for the development of a vaccine that can slow virus spread between birds and cattle.

“As egg prices soar and milk production wanes in infected dairies, the need for new solutions to curb disease spread is evident,” says Jeff Simmons, president and CEO of Elanco Animal Health, while expressing his pleasure to partner with Medgene. “This partnership further strengthens our diverse dairy portfolio and advances our One Health platform of animal health solutions, not only benefitting our dairy customers, but helping curb disease spread for our poultry customers, and working to improve egg prices for consumers.” 

Users can also conveniently track out-of-feed events over time and compare across farms. (Image source: BinSentry)

Leading ag-tech company, BinSentry recently announced Critical Event Management (CEM) – a new software add-on to their leading feed inventory management platform

Bin slide management is critical in maintaining the health and performance of swine and poultry. This is because 80% of out-of-feed outage hours are caused by errors in bin slide management that often go undetected and untracted. These can have a direct impact on livestock health and performance. Although out-of-feed events can happen anytime, timely action is what matters. 

BinSentry provides visibility into what is happening inside these bins, with its new add-on CEM feature allowing producers and mill operators to see and manage slide management issues at any time, from anywhere. Using AI, BinSentry enhances process control, prevents waste, lowers transportation costs, protects workers, and improves animal health and performance. In addition to real-time alerts via SMS text, CEM tracks event time, duration and whether employees have responded to the event.

Users can also conveniently track out-of-feed events over time and compare across farms. This allows producers to make data-based decisions about feed management throughout their operations that help improve feed conversion ratios (FCR) by up to 10 basis points, avoids emergency food deliveries and ensures that their animals reach the market on time and in prime condition. 

“Animal feed represents about two-thirds of the total cost of food production, so obviously anything we can do to improve FCR is going to help producers,” stated BinSentry CEO, Ben Allen. “Improving feed management also helps feed mills and distributors become more efficient and profitable, lowering their costs by delivering the right feed mixes at the right time while putting fewer trucks and fuller trucks on the road.”