ISSUE FOCUS 20 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE May 2023 “Moisture management plays a key role in improving sustainability in animal feed production. Proper management of moisture content in animal feed improves production efficiencies, increases feed safety, and helps to improve feed quality. Good moisture management can help to reduce the environmental impact of animal feed production by reducing energy consumption and reducing wastage.” Rising costs, climate change, political instability, supply chain issues, food security, and environmental policies: our agri-food industry is facing enormous challenges. According to estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), by 2050 we will need to produce 60 per cent more food to feed our growing population which is expected to reach 9.3 billion. Doing that with a farming-as-usual approach isn’t going to cut it. We have no choice but to find ways to work smarter and more sustainably. Moisture management plays a key role in improving sustainability in animal feed production. Proper management of moisture content in animal feed improves production efficiencies, increases feed safety, and helps to improve feed quality. Good moisture management can help to reduce the environmental impact of animal feed production by reducing energy consumption and reducing wastage. The increase in the world population and the demand for livestock products have resulted in an increase in intensive livestock production. This, in turn, has led to an increased demand for safe raw feed materials. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of food safety and security. However, due to climate change, the animal feed production system may face a higher frequency of fungal contamination. This can be as a result of unusual rainfall patterns, droughts, and shifts in temperature and humidity. Zoonotic bacterial pathogens such as Enterobacteriaceae also threaten food safety and security. ECONOMIC LOSSES DUE TO POOR FEED SAFETY Enterobacteriaceae and mould-infested animal feed has a detrimental effect on animal health and performance, causes significant economic losses, and has adverse effects on human health. Enterobacteriaceae, such as Salmonella, may disturb the bird’s gut health, leading to poor growth and diarrhoea. As the pathogen remains in the intestinal tract, it is continuously being shed into the environment and continuously re-contaminating the environment. MOISTURE MANAGEMENT: The secret to improving sustainability in feed production Janus Fouche SmartMoisture Product Manager Devenish
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