AFGRI leads the way in animal feed innovation
AFGRI, the leading agricultural solutions and industrial foods company, through its involvement with the Kansas State University, has developed a rumen bypass technology. The technology is installed and supports manufacturing at the Afgritech LLP (“Afgritech”) plant in Watertown, New York. It is the only product worldwide that utilizes canola in addition to soya beans to achieve high bypass protein value in both ingredients and the result is that 5%-10% more milk can, for example, be produced by a dairy cow.
Chris Venter, CEO of AFGRI says, “This technology is widely adopted in Europe through AFGRI’s bypass protein partners, Carr’s Milling Industries and in South Africa through feed produced by AFGRI Animal Feeds. We are extremely excited about the future of this technology and the products we are able to develop with it. Most of all, it provides a viable solution to our clients.”
Bypass Protein, also known as AminoMax Pro in the USA, was not available in America until 2011 when the Watertown plant was first commissioned. The plant is a joint venture between AFGRI and Carr’s Milling. Since commissioning the production, AminoMax Pro has increased by 45% and continues to increase annually, based largely on growing demand from northeast manufacturers like Whitman’s Feed. AminoMax Pro is a registered animal feeds brand of Carr’s Milling. AminoMax Pro is a unique, vegetable protein-rich feed that blends both soybean and canola to provide highly consistent levels of lysine, methionine and other essential amino acids to the cow.
Technology within animal feeds has advanced so far that dairy producers should increase their levels of knowledge about the importance of formulating rations for improved milk components.
“AminoMax Pro is by far the most consistent product out there”, said Art Whitman, owner of Whitman’s Feed in North Bennington, whose family-owned business has been serving northeast dairymen since 1945. “Because we know the amino acid profile, and are assured it’s the same every time, we’re able to very tightly control the protein portion of the mix for our customers. That’s important as the industry moves toward reducing nitrogen excretion in the environment, and increasing milk components.”
Dairy farmers in the States have become more aware of the economic importance of fat, protein and other dairy solids since multiple component pricing was implemented in 2000. However, many producers are still hard-wired to think in pounds of milk as opposed to components. Calvin Covington, the former CEO of Southeast Milk Inc., recently called upon the U.S. dairy industry to
adopt a model that rewards dairy farmers for maximizing components.
“Our goal is to make all producers aware of the importance of milk components, and that the cheapest load of grain doesn’t always deliver the best ROI,” said Whitman. “The milk check is based on total pounds of milk fat and milk protein, not just total pounds of milk. We’re finding that nextgeneration dairy farmers are very receptive to the idea of increasing components relative to milk volume – and to innovative products like AminoMax Pro.”
Unlike expeller-extruded soybean meal, AminoMax Pro is manufactured via a highly controlled, 400 sensor checkpoint process that reduces soybean and canola particles to a very fine, uniform size. This process produces non-water-soluble particles which remain suspended and protected in the rumen for high bio-availability, while greatly reducing variability in bypass protein levels.Whitman agrees. “There’s no fudge factor built in with AminoMax Pro,” he said. “By using consistent ingredients, we’re able to tweak the butterfat and protein components of the milk more precisely for each farm.”
In conclusion, Izaak Breitenbach, MD of AFGRI’s Foods Divisions said, “We remain proud and committed to our association with Whitman’s Feed and the success of this technology goes to show the leading role AFGRI plays in agricultural solutions and support to our customers.”
Issued for: AFGRI Limited
Contact: Chris Venter, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Tel: 011-063-2007
Email: chris.venter@34.255.249.49
Website: new.afgri.antsneversleep.com
Account: Keyter Rech Investor Solutions
Contact: Vanessa Rech Lynne van der Schyff
Tel: 087-351-3814 or 083-307-5600 087-351-3815 or 082-920-4395
Date: August 2014
Note to the editor:
Carr’s Milling Industries PLC at a glance
Carr’s Milling Industries’ aims to be recognised as an international business at the forefront of innovation and technology across agriculture, food and engineering.
The Group is an international leader in the provision of essential industrial services focused on the agriculture, food and engineering sectors. The group offers a range of services including the manufacturing and supply of flour, remote handling equipment, farm machinery, feed blocks for livestock, and a UK network of rural stores, with a facility footprint spanning the UK, Europe and North America, supplying 31 countries around the world.