The demand for Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR) technology has surged in recent years due to its ability to deliver precise, real-time analysis. Producers value its reliability over traditional wet chemistry, with fewer stages where things can go wrong. It is also a simpler process, displaying results so quickly that the user can analyse many samples of the same product at no extra cost.
NIR Services Manager
AB Vista
NIR Software Application Manager
AB Vista
Feed costs typically make up the largest portion of the animal production budget – accounting for up to 70% of costs – and so producers are always on the lookout for ways to bring these expenses down. It’s no wonder then, that we see growing interest in precision nutrition strategies; an approach designed to get the most out of feed for maximum productivity and minimal cost.
Historically, manual feed analysis was notably time-consuming. It could be challenging to diagnose a problem on-farm and quickly and accurately calculate how a ration should be adjusted.
However, the introduction of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR) changed the game with the ability to analyse feed and raw material samples within minutes and provide the actionable data needed to fine-tune formulations on the spot. NIR technology has certainly advanced over the years and its continued development is expected to help producers work smarter and faster, for more efficient animal production.
NIR EXPLAINED
NIR is an analytical method that provides real-time data and monitoring of a variety of raw materials and feed, including values for total dietary fibre and non-starch polysaccharide (NSPs) alongside ingredient analysis. It works by measuring how feed ingredients absorb and reflect near-infrared light, allowing for an accurate prediction of their chemical composition.
This means producers can adjust feed formulations with confidence, ensuring production animals receive the exact nutrients needed for optimal growth and performance – all while keeping costs in check. Optimising feed formulations helps to reduce waste and lowers the carbon footprint of feed production, for added sustainability gains.
One of the biggest advantages of today’s NIR technology is speed and ease of use. Unlike traditional methods, NIR can analyse a sample in minutes with minimal processing. This makes it an invaluable tool for feed millers, nutritionists, and livestock producers looking for quick and reliable data on raw material or feed quality and composition to inform formulation choices.
Another key factor that has driven NIR’s adoption across the feed industry is its versatility. It can be used to analyse and detect variations in a wide range of ingredients, providing consistent results across different locations and production systems. As a result, producers gain a more accurate understanding of ingredient/feed composition and quality, allowing them to make better purchasing and formulation decisions to enhance the efficiency of the entire process.
WORKING HAND-IN-HAND (HELD)
The demand for NIR technology has surged in recent years due to its ability to deliver precise, real-time analysis. Producers value its reliability over traditional wet chemistry, with fewer stages where things can go wrong. It is also a simpler process, displaying results so quickly that the user can analyse many samples of the same product at no extra cost.
Moreover, advancements in miniaturisation and connectivity have further enhanced NIR’s capabilities and opened it up to a wider use base as it does not require specialised skills. For example, handheld and portable NIR devices now allow for on-site analysis, reducing the reliance on external laboratories and allowing producers to take control of their feed management strategies into their own hands.
Benchtop spectrometers are now a very mature technology and recent connectivity improvements have enabled bigger networks of instruments to be supported more effectively. The potential for NIR sensors to be integrated into mobile devices is also on the horizon, which could enable a huge number of consumer applications, such as medication authenticity testing or fruit ripeness measurements.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
As NIR technology continues to evolve, the focus is shifting to delivering even deeper, more actionable insights. Like many sectors, AI and machine learning are expected to play a key role in driving these advances, to help producers automate processes, optimise decisions and streamline workflows.
It means NIR will become an even smarter tool for decision-making, utilising in-depth data to help producers identify and navigate trends, challenges or opportunities in feed quality and efficiency on a regional and global level.
AB Vista has actively adapted its NIR services to meet the evolving needs of producers, expanding its calibrations – which incorporate more than 400,000 global reference samples and over four million spectra (plus reference values) – to cover a broader range of feed components. The company focuses on parameters that are both high priority for producers and traditionally costly or time-consuming to analyse, to provide access to more detailed nutritional insights without the delays associated with traditional testing methods. From this, precision nutrition decisions can be made.
The company has built upon its strong foundation in feed quality control, developing calibrations for core nutrients while also advancing testing for more technical components such as phytic phosphorus, NSPs, and amino acids. Today, its NIR service can analyse more than 100 nutrients in certain products, providing highly targeted formulation support backed by tailored feed-enhancing solutions. Looking ahead, AB Vista continues to invest in the future of NIR, with a focus on leveraging AI and data analytics to innovate and deliver even greater value to producers.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The ability to interpret vast amounts of feed data will continue to be crucial in identifying trends, uncovering opportunities for efficiency, and providing actionable insights on both a local and global scale. As competition in animal production intensifies, solutions that drive cost-effective and efficient nutrition will become even more essential, ensuring producers remain competitive while optimising performance and profitability.
About Simon Flanagan
With a Master of Science in Chemistry from the University of Birmingham, Simon Flanagan is currently based in Abingdon-On-Thames in England. Working within the NIR team for 18 years, he first became interested in the field due to the similarities it shared to his Analytical Chemistry studies at university. Simon is responsible for the delivery and support of the company’s NIR software and web services.About Rocio Garcia
Rocio Garcia has a Master of Chemistry from the University of Sevilla, as well as a Master of Engineering and Supply Chain Management, Food Technology and Processing, from University of Córdoba. She currently lives in Malaga, Spain. Starting as an applications specialist in 2009, she currently holds the title of NIR Application Manager at AB Vista, working to develop models for all the nutrients that AB Vista offers its customers.
