ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE February 2026 49 Tools such as near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR), real-time nutrient profiling, and digital monitoring systems enable faster and more accurate evaluation of feed quality. By ensuring precise nutrient delivery and early detection of antinutritional factors, rapid feed analysis helps improve growth rates, strengthen immune function, and reduce health risks across livestock species. Feed quality is never constant, and this variability can negatively affect livestock health and performance. Inconsistent raw materials can disrupt growth, compromise gut integrity and immune function, and increase vulnerability to pathogens, worsening feed conversion ratios (FCR). Poor feed efficiency also raises costs and nitrogen emissions, reducing farm resilience. To overcome the challenges of feed variability, rapid feed analysis has become an essential tool for the livestock industry. It is the foundation of precision nutrition, enabling producers to improve animal health and performance while meeting sustainability goals. THE IMPORTANCE OF PRECISION NUTRITION The goal of feed formulation is to meet animal needs without overfeeding. Achieving this balance supports performance, profitability, and environmental responsibility. However, nutritional requirements are not fixed — they vary by species, breed, age, sex, housing conditions, and production objectives. For example, broiler diets may prioritize live weight or breast meat yield depending on market demands. Precision nutrition allows producers to customize diets for these changing conditions, ensuring animals receive exactly what they need for optimal health and growth. BETTER HEALTH THROUGH BALANCED DIETS Animals require amino acids in just the right quantities and ratios to each other. Excess protein can feed harmful bacteria in the gut, causing microbiome imbalances and compromising overall gut health. At the same time, it increases the metabolic burden of detoxifying surplus nitrogen, leading to higher water consumption and increased nitrogen emissions. Low crude protein (LCP) diets, supported by targeted amino acid supplementation, are a proven way to maintain growth performance, reduce nitrogen emissions, and support animal welfare. Lower nitrogen levels in excreta lead to lower ammonia levels, resulting in healthier litter and improved air quality. This translates into practical welfare benefits, from fewer respiratory issues to reduced instances of footpad dermatitis in broilers. THE IMPACT OF RAPID FEED ANALYSIS IN RESHAPING ANIMAL HEALTH Dr. Markus Wiltafsky-Martin Director of Service Commercialization Evonik Animal Nutrition
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