SUCCESS STORY FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE July 2023 51 soya and those that don’t. With that in mind, Noble Foods wanted to show producers that they can still remain profitable and produce high-quality eggs and meat while feeding soya-free diets. The trial studying soya-free rations was completed on the farms of Noble Foods’ contracted producers. The results were overwhelmingly positive: No major difference was detected in the egg production of birds who received soya and those who did not, and the number of eggs produced was also much the same. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, a reduction in the carbon footprint per kilogram of egg produced was observed in the soya-free group. Through its Planet of Plenty partnership with Alltech, after the completion of the trial, Noble Foods worked with Alltech E-CO2 to analyze all of the data collected and compile it in a form that will be most useful for producers looking to implement soya-free rations in their own operations. COMPARING WHITE AND BROWN HENS Noble Foods also partnered with Alltech E-CO2 to explore the data captured through a trial that studied the differences between white and brown chickens — of which, perhaps surprisingly, there are many. White hens have longer laying cycles (meaning fewer hens are required to produce the same amount of eggs) and are more docile than brown hens, leading to improved performance and manageability — and, as a result, a lower environmental impact. While many other countries have already begun favoring white hens in egg production, the U.K. is still holding fast with its beloved brown birds. “The U.K. consumer is in a deep love affair with brown eggs, and we’ve been in that love affair for decades,” Atkinson said. The results of Noble Foods’ trial of egg production in white vs. brown birds might convince some U.K. producers to make the switch, as the carbon footprint of white birds per kilogram of egg produced was lower than that of brown birds. “At every metric, white birds are a winner,” Atkinson said. WORKING TOGETHER FOR A PLANET OF PLENTY As Atkinson noted at ONE Budapest, 95% of households in the U.K. eat eggs. With such widespread popularity, the poultry industry will likely only keep growing — making it more imperative than ever to boost the sustainability of poultry production. Noble Foods is dedicated to making sustainable operations the norm for poultry producers and, in turn, fostering a world of abundance for all. “That’s our ultimate goal: improving the health and longevity of our planet,” Atkinson said. RELATED ONE CONTENT Alltech ONE Budapest explored the strategies for remaining resilient amid the significant challenges facing our industry. It offered captivating insights from industry experts on topics of production efficiency, risk management, the power of data, and partnerships — all through the lens of sustainability. About Elizabeth Trollinger Elizabeth Trollinger is a copy editor/writer at Alltech. She received a bachelor’s degree in English and history from Centre College and a master’s degree in Southern studies from the University of Mississippi. In her free time, she enjoys writing fiction and playing with dogs.
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