Feed Bites
 

Feed Bites Archive

More than the Mercury was Hot at AAFCO this Summer
August 15, 2024
More than the Mercury was Hot at AAFCO this Summer

Last week, a total of 430 in-person and virtual attendees from 43 states and six countries participated in the Association of American Feed Control Officials’ (AAFCO) annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Two AFIA staff members, Leah Wilkinson and myself, were on hand to engage in discussions on some of the hottest topics of the day —as hot as the 104-degree temperature.  

By Louise Calderwood
How Feed Vehicles Impact Disease Transmission: Findings from Recent Research
July 30, 2024
How Feed Vehicles Impact Disease Transmission: Findings from Recent Research

Considering the ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks and the looming threat of an African swine fever (ASF) outbreak, biosecurity should be on everyone’s mind. Jason Galvis, Ph.D., a research scholar, and Gustavo Machado, Ph.D., an associate professor at North Carolina State University (NCSU), recently published a study about the role of vehicle movement in swine disease dissemination. I spoke with Machado to discuss their findings and, more importantly, if the feed industry contributes to disease transmission and what we can do to prevent it. 

By Taylor Lekin
AFIA Continues to Encourage Science-based EPA Review of Formaldehyde
July 9, 2024
AFIA Continues to Encourage Science-based EPA Review of Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde has recently been a hot topic for the American Feed Industry Association, as the Environmental Protection Agency is looking to ban all industrial uses of this chemical. As we have written about before on this blog, formaldehyde plays a critical role in controlling pathogens in animal feed, and we have been working tirelessly to ensure the EPA’s process is both transparent and rooted in science, given its future implications for other reviews of chemical products.  

By Gary Huddleston
Safe Feed/Safe Food Program Continues to Show Value
April 2, 2024
Continued Value of Safe Feed/ Safe Food Program Continues to Show Value

The American Feed Industry Association continues to focus on the promotion of safe practices in the production and handling of livestock feed and pet food. The Safe Feed/Safe Food (SF/SF) certification program is aimed at ensuring the safety of animal food products. The program emphasizes best practices, regulations and standards to minimize the risk of contamination and ensures the safety and quality of animal feed. CPC Commodities’ Ivan Pedigo, Megan Jones and Michelle Estes recently shared their experiences on the continued value that the SF/SF certification has for their company.  

By AFIA Editor
Preparing for the Next Animal Disease Outbreak – Feed Mill Hygiene and Decontamination
March 25, 2024
Preparing for the Next Animal Disease Outbreak – Feed Mill Hygiene and Decontamination

Since the outbreak of the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) in 2013, the feed and livestock industries have worked to gain a better understanding of pathogen transmission through feed and the supply chain. Multiple studies have documented the distribution of viral pathogens in mills after contamination, the stability of viruses in feed and ingredient matrices, and virus reduction using chemical mitigants or extended holding times.

By Guest
Feed 101: We Never Stop Learning
February 14, 2024
Feed 101: We Never Stop Learning

This week, the American Feed Industry Association had another successful Feed 101 learning session at the U.S. Department of Agriculture with the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) staff.   

By Mallory Gaines
Unveiling the Mechanics of Aquaculture Feeds: A Glimpse into What It Takes to Feed a Microscopic Animal
January 16, 2024
Unveiling the Mechanics of Aquaculture Feeds: A Glimpse into What It Takes to Feed a Microscopic Animal

Have you ever thought about what your shrimp eat during their lifetimes? We had not either, until a recent member visit with an aquatic feed manufacturer piqued our interest. Feeding microscopic animals is no small feat, but as aquaculture has gained traction in recent years as an important component of our global food system providing people with another source of protein, it is a challenge that our member companies are tackling daily.  

By Guest
There's Nothing "Mid" About Wheat Midds
July 21, 2023
There's Nothing "Mid" About Wheat Midds

Science is always evolving, and the science of equine nutrition is no exception. Thanks to research and developments in equine nutrition, we know that many byproducts contain nutrient levels or attributes that make them better feed ingredients for horses than the initial grain or primary end-product of the processing. The list of byproducts that provide advantages in horse diets is long – and some you may even be surprised to see on the list – but an important one is wheat middlings (or midds).

By Lacie Dotterweich
Dogs and Vegan Diets: Can It Work?
June 7, 2023
Dogs and Vegan Diets: Can It Work?

A few years ago, I was out for a walk with my dog Sherman on a late summer day along a quiet road and came across a friend repairing the fortress-like fence around her vegetable garden. “Woodchuck after the greens again?” I asked. “NO!” she replied, clearly agitated, “The darn dog ate my carrots, it’s the second planting I have lost this year.” Dogs are willing vegetable eaters? It turns out that many dogs will snitch vegetables and berries right out of gardens and can thrive on vegetarian or even vegan diets. This got me to questioning: what are the advantages of vegan diets for dogs and what considerations need to be made in diet formulation?

By Louise Calderwood
Mountaire Farms Views Safe Feed/Safe Food as 'Gold Standard'
March 20, 2023
Mountaire Farms Views Safe Feed/Safe Food as 'Gold Standard'

What is now the fourth largest chicken processing company in the United States, started as a small feed company in 1914 in Little Rock, Ark. Mountaire Farms, family owned and operated, attributes their many years of success to their commitment to customers with quality products and exceptional service. Key to this commitment is their Safe Feed/Safe Food (SF/SF) certified status.

By Guest

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