Poultry business update: What did you miss this October?

Kipster recognised and awarded for animal welfare commitment 

Boehringer Ingelheim announced that the USDA has granted a permit allowing for the importation of its TUR-3 (Newcastle disease, avian paramyxovirosis type 3 and turkey rhinotracheitis, killed virus) vaccine. TUR-3, a killed vaccine currently licensed for use throughout Europe, will be available for primary vaccination of US turkey and chicken flocks against avian metapneumovirus subtype B.

Alveo Technologies begins shipping test for avian influenza to EU

Alveo Technologies has announced the launch of its first animal health diagnostic product, the Alveo Sense Avian Influenza Test. The Alveo Sense Avian Influenza Panel provides fast, precise results in the field with geotagged results and cloud-based analytics immediately accessible in the cloud. The product is launching in partnership with Netherlands-based Royal GD. The first shipments are now reaching early-access customers across the EU with further expansion planned throughout the EMEA region.

Olmix Immuno’Science forum for immunity and gut health

In October, Olmix organised the Immuno’Science forum to highlight the importance of immunity and gut health in securing animal health and performance. In the poultry session, various presentations covered a range of subjects, including research that focuses on areas investigating host-pathogen interactions during enteric challenges, in particular coccidiosis and clostridial diseases in chicken and turkey, and the use of Olmix’s Algimun, which the company says reduces the inflammatory response, lowers mortality, decreases the FCR and reduces Necrotic Enteritis intestinal lesion scores.

CVMP positive opinion for Vaxxon ND Clone from Vaxxinova

Vaxxinova has announced that the Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products has adopted a positive opinion, recommending the approval of Vaxxon ND Clone in the EU. This is a vaccine for active immunisation of broilers, future layers and breeders to reduce mortality and clinical signs of disease caused by infection with Newcastle disease virus. The final approval by the European Commission is expected before the end of the year. Vaxxon ND Clone is the first EU licensed poultry vaccine for Vaxxinova in the European market.

Lesaffre acquires majority stake in Biorigin

Lesaffre has acquired a 70% stake in Biorigin, a business unit of Zilor, a multinational company producing yeast derivative products, to enhance the supply of yeast derivatives for savory ingredients. The cooperation will improve production processes, logistics and services to the benefit of a global customer base. The deal includes Biorigin’s production unit in Quatá/São Paulo.

Munters acquires Hotraco and strengthens its position in Europe

Munters has signed an agreement to acquire Hotraco (NL), a developer of control systems and sensors for the agricultural sector, strengthening Munters FoodTech portfolio. It marks another step in the strategy to create a digital ecosystem built around data capture platforms and software that supports a more efficient and sustainable food production.

Nutreco opens first cell feed production facility

Delegates from the cell-cultured protein industry met for the official opening of the world’s first dedicated food-grade powder production facility for cell feed at Nutreco in the Netherlands. CEO David Blakemore stated that a big challenge is how to feed the protein cells cost-efficiently, sustainably and at very large scale.  He states the company can create cell culture media with a lower cost and enable the industry to scale up and bring to the masses.  

DSM-Firmenich partners with CPF and Bounty Fresh Group in the Philippines

DSM-Firmenich has announced a partnership with Bounty Fresh Group Philippines, a leading fully integrated poultry producer and food retailer, and with Charoen Pokphand Foods Philippines Corporation. The organisations have come together to sign an MoU to implement DSM-Firmenich’s Sustell life cycle assessment platform to measure and improve the environmental footprint of animal proteins. 

De Heus opens another production site in Indonesia

Since its entry into Indonesia in 2018, De Heus has been driving growth to become one of the country’s largest animal feed producers. The company has now announced the acquisition and launch of its fifth production facility in Purwodadi, Central Java. The factory has expanded its production capacity to 15,000 tonnes per month.

Cargill to unveil new micronutrition and health solutions brand portfolio

Under its new Micronutrition and Health Solutions brand portfolio, Cargill Animal Nutrition will showcase a range of micronutrition solutions and services under its new Micronutrition and Health Solutions brand portfolio in Hall 19/20, B52 at EuroTier. For poultry, the company will highlight Reveal Layer uses non-invasive, near-infrared (NIR) technology to monitor the body condition of poultry. This technology provides producers and nutritionists with immediate access to body composition assessments of their hens, enabling real-time dietary decisions. 

Alltech releases latest sustainability report

Alltech has released its annual Sustainability Report, which demonstrates the actions the company is taking to align its business with its purpose of ‘Working Together for a Planet of Plenty’, reducing its environmental impact and advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The company’s 2023 highlights include a reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 19.8%, the completion of 19 energy efficiency projects, the completion of 74 core product life-cycle analyses across its top 7 specialty ingredients and 17 production facilities, as well as being awarded 3 EcoVadis sustainability medals in 2023, and accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition for the third year in a row. 

Berg+Schmidt Animal Nutrition to showcase functional feed ingredients at EuroTier

At the EuroTier 2024 (Hall 19/20, A50), taking place in Hannover, Germany, from 12-15 November, Berg+Schmidt Animal Nutrition will unveil various feed solutions for dairy cows. Included in the solutions are BergaFat NGF, a rumen-protected fat, the new LipoAktiv Lys 40, which uses readily bioavailable L-lysine as an encapsulated nutrient, and LipoVital WS, which is made up of water-soluble short-chain and medium-chain fatty acid monoglycerides.

CB Group and Devenish Nutrition invest in poultry research facilityJamaica’s CB Group and Devenish Nutrition have partnered to commission the first commercial partnership research and development facility for growing broiler chickens in a tropical climate in the Americas. The facility is based at The Nest, CB Group’s eco-industrial park in Jamaica, also home to its CB Chicken Air Chill Processing Plant. The House has 48 pens and allows for up to 6 different dietary treatments to be evaluated during each trial. The facility will be utilised to scientifically test variables such as feed formulations, housing conditions, and breeds to determine the best combination for the region.MSD Animal Health calls for greater integration of precision livestock technologies

MSD Animal Health UK has called on the UK government and food supply chain industry to support and promote the use of new technologies to enhance animal health and welfare, to improve production efficiencies, and to safeguard the sustainability and economic viability of livestock farming businesses in the UK. As part of a campaign, the company has published a 23-page technical white paper, ‘Time for Tech: The Time is Now’ to illustrate how these technologies can benefit farmers, the supply chain and end consumers.

Royal Agrifirm Group appoints new CEO 

On 1 December, Piet Hilarides will join Royal Agrifirm Group as its new CEO. He will succeed Dick Hordijk who will resign on 1 January 2025 after 8 years of service in this position. Hilarides is a seasoned professional with more than 20 years of national and international experience in cooperative and non-cooperative environments in the agro and food industries.  

Novus welcomes new team members

With experience in gut health, hatchability, and eggshell quality, veterinarian Chavalit Piriyabenjawat is supporting monogastric production throughout Asia having joined Novus as the regional technical services manager for the region. The company also welcomes Marta Concas as the Southeast Europe sales manager. She and her colleagues are working with poultry and swine customers in Italy, Israel, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Israel to solve their production challenges. Concas brings an extensive range of knowledge and experience to her role. Growing up in a family of farmers and having earned a degree in veterinary medicine, Rodrigo Bernardi is bringing his experience to his role as the new regional business manager for Brazil. He said he works to understand a customer’s needs and find solutions that fit their unique circumstances.