The impact of trace minerals on feed and premix sustainability

On going research continues to show that several feed additives have the ability to lower CO2eq emissions based on their proven ability to primarily improve the animal’s feed efficiency. This improvement, coupled with correct ingredient selection within the diet and improved, on farm environmental and management practices can add up to a meaningful reduction in the amount of CO2eq emissions being produced.

Kevin Perryman
Global Trace Mineral Program Manager
Selko Feed Additives

Achieving mandated, animal nutrition sustainability objectives is going to require a team effort by all members of the livestock nutrition supply chain. This effort will require the collective efforts of nutritionists, feed additive companies, ingredient suppliers, feed compounders and producers working together to identify cost effective solutions that will deliver a true reduction in livestock CO2eq emissions.

Reports indicate that 27% of the total carbon footprint of a dairy farm are emissions from on-farm supply sources, including emissions from the production of feed supplied to the farm (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. A breakout of greenhouse gas emissions produced on a typical dairy farm expressed as a percentage of the total CO2eq emissions. 27% of CO2eq produced on a farm is related to on farm supply sources.

FEED ADDITIVES CAN HELP LOWER CO2EMISSIONS.
On going research continues to show that several feed additives have the ability to lower CO2eq emissions based on their proven ability to primarily improve the animal’s feed efficiency. This improvement, coupled with correct ingredient selection within the diet and improved, on farm environmental and management practices can add up to a meaningful reduction in the amount of CO2eq emissions being produced.

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENTS AS A TOOL TO VALIDATE CO2 EMISSION
To assist livestock producers with the selection of the correct combination of ingredients, additives, management practices, etc. many well-respected, global organizations (governmental, non-governmental, Universities, etc.) have united to develop a series of internationally accepted guidelines (FAO, LEAP, PEFCR, IPCC and ISO 14040/44) to regulate this process. An important tool that has emerged from this effort has been the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) template. The LCA is an accepted tool that organizes an in-depth review of a product, practice, ingredient, etc. ability to reduce the carbon emissions of livestock under a well-defined set of conditions.

HOW DOES A LCA WORK?
The LCA must be independently evaluated to ensure that the assessment procedures utilized in the preparation of the LCA comply with the guidelines highlighted above. To provide producers with the most accurate picture of those ingredients, additives, practices (models), etc. for inclusion within their operations, companies must be able to present an independently verified LCA confirming the value of their product / service to assist with the reduction of CO2eq emissions.

DEFINING YOUR FOOTPRINT
An important part of the requirement highlighted above is the growing need for premixers and feed millers to provide a LCA verified CO2eq value for each feed / premix blend they are manufacturing (expressed as Mt of CO2eq per Mt of finished product). This value can then be captured by their customers who are in turn working to evaluate the total carbon emissions of their livestock operation. Having this value in hand allows nutritionists and manufacturers to effectively evaluate the individual CO2eq impact of various ingredients / additives being added to the blend, with the objective of lowering the blend’s total CO2eq, while maintaining its nutritional requirements.

SOLVING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT CHALLENGE
Solving the carbon footprint challenge will require the combined use of multiple feed additives, alternative ingredients and practices that must be verified via an independent LCA review. Establishing a LCA value for individual additives, ingredients, practices, etc. can become a valuable input when assessing the total CO2eq footprint that exists between different formulations and manufacturing processes.

SELKO INTELLIBOND®: FIRST TRACE MINERAL WITH A VALIDATED LCA
To assist with this growing need Selko® has completed an independently reviewed LCA, which identifies the total carbon footprint of individual Selko IntelliBond® products (See Table 1). Selko IntelliBond® is the first family of improved trace mineral nutrition products to provide the livestock industry with a verified LCA for this purpose. The values presented in Table 1 are specific to the highly efficient Selko IntelliBond® manufacturing process and will be of value to feed compounders and premixer that are working to reduce their products’ carbon footprint.