Rich-protein grain, cereals, oilseeds and various by-products are the common feed ingredients for poultry and swine. In recent years, farmers worldwide are struggling with the increasing prices of raw materials which resulted in the need to maintain optimal livestock performance in a cost-effective manner. As feed usually represents about 60-70% of the cost of animal production, it is beneficial to have precise information on the nutrient content in your different feed raw materials to formulate feed for animals and achieve effective feed management.

Optimizing feed cost through precise nutrient management

It is important to understand that variables of nutrient content in feed ingredients can be observed and the prices fluctuate all the time. However, optimizing your feed formulation can take time and making the changes too often can be troublesome. Setting a regular schedule to monitor raw material quality can help reduce the costs that could rise due to prices increased.

As an illustration, when optimizing your feed formulation, you may have procured soybean meal with a protein content of 48%. However, in the next batch, the protein content drops to 45%. If there is no monitoring protocol in place and this change is not detected, it can lead to insufficient protein in your feed, preventing your animals from performing well.

Conversely, the costs of feed ingredients are subject to continuous fluctuations. In 2023, for instance, the price of soybean meal increased €66 per ton just within a month. When prices rise significantly, adjusting ingredient ratios to meet nutritional needs can save costs. With a good strategy to adjust feed formulation, the cost can be reduced between €0.1-0.2 per animal per year, which, for example, adds up to €10,000-20,000 for a farm with 100,000 pigs. Therefore, monitoring your nutrient values regularly will enable you to manage your feed cost effectively.

Developing a system to analyze feed ingredient nutrition for optimal rations

Efficient optimization of your feed formulation not only yields cost savings but also minimizes waste, thereby enhancing sustainability. Moreover, a thorough understanding of the nutritional composition of feed ingredients is vital to prevent over- or underfeeding.

Numerous methods exist for analyzing feed nutrient content, with wet chemistry analysis recognized for its precision in feed evaluation. However, in practical applications, there is a demand for methods that are fast, simple, and time efficient. A widely acceptable approach involves the application of Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Many companies and laboratories employ NIR devices for feed analysis routinely. While stationary NIR solutions are available, many advisors and farm managers would like to opt for faster, portable, and versatile solutions for measurement of feed composition. Portable NIR device offers robust and high-quality input data from raw materials and feed ingredients for ration calculation or feed formulation software and subsequent formulation adjustments.

Why FeedCares solution?

FeedCares solution comprises of AgroCares Scanner, a portable scanner with NIR sensor technology that measures reflected light of the material and translates the measurement to values with the prediction models built based on the global feed database. Therefore, dry matter, crude proteins, crude fat and other essential qualitative parameters of raw materials can be quickly determined on-site, with a less time-consuming procedure. This enables the animal nutritionist, farm advisors and farmers to routinely monitor the nutrient content of the raw materials, optimize feed formulation, and control the quality of the feed to meet the nutritional requirement of animals in a cost-effective way. Moreover, through the smartphone application, the real-time report can be reviewed.

• Cost Savings: On-site analysis saves lab expenses and transportation costs.
• Improved Feed Formulation: Accurate data crafts precise diets, enhancing animal growth and health.
• Enhanced Feed Quality: Scanner ensures uniform, high-quality feed production.
• Faster Decision-Making: Real-time analysis aids prompt feed adjustments.
• Sustainable Farming: Balanced diets minimize waste and environmental impact.

For more information or further discussion on the FeedCares solution, please send us a message via Contact Us | AgroCares

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While these terminologies differ in minor ways, their goal remains the same: to manage livestock operations effectively and precisely. PLF’s primary objective is to use process engineering principles and cutting-edge technology to monitor various elements of livestock production via “smart” sensors. These sensors monitor critical metrics such as animal feed, growth, milk and egg production, disease prevalence, and animal behavior, as well as microenvironmental elements like temperature and gas emissions within the manufacturing unit.

The Importance of Data Modeling in Precision Livestock Farming

Sensor technology has advanced significantly, allowing for the recording of precise physiological, behavioral, and productivity information for specific animals. These data are essential in supporting smart and sustainable production, ensuring optimized livestock management techniques. Despite these advances in data collecting, one ongoing challenge remains: properly combining data modelling with big data. Data collection alone will not be enough to fully realize the potential of precision livestock farming. True value is found in the proper integration of data modelling, which can transform raw data into actionable insights. Without adequate data modelling, the implementation of technology in cattle farming may be constrained, preventing its full potential from being realized. Despite these obstacles, data-driven animal husbandry has significant potential benefits. Farmers may improve animal well-being by utilizing the power of data and AI-driven insights. Furthermore, reducing resource use and environmental effect can help to promote more sustainable farming practices.

The importance of data and effective feed management

As feed represents significant costs in livestock farming, the impact of the rising cost of feed ingredients and raw material can be felt worldwide. Therefore, effective feeding management is required for every farm, due to the constantly changing of the nutrient content and availability of feed ingredients. With the help of advanced sensor technology, data collection and modelling, feed analysis has become a common practice. Specifically with feeding management, precise information on the qualitative parameters of the raw materials and feed ingredients can be obtained through collecting spectrum data and translating them into true values with prediction model. This method allows farmers, animal nutritionists, and feed formulators to make informed decisions. For instance, precise feed formulation can be calculated based on data on protein contents in different raw materials purchased from different origins.

FeedCares Solution for Precise Feed Analysis on the Spot

FeedCares solutions are integral components that contribute to the realization of data-driven animal farming concepts. AgroCares offers an extensive portfolio of integrated digital solutions and services aimed to provide farmers with nutritional expertise and enhanced animal diets, resulting in maximum animal performance.

The smartphone application linked to a handheld sensor and global feed database is the foundation of the FeedCares solution. This effective combination provides producers with quick and easy access to feed raw materials and silage results. The services provided include the ability to see and export test results from scanned feed samples, which can then be used to compute the optimum outcomes for various farm scenarios and optimize diet formulation for ruminant, poultry, and swine.

Producers who use FeedCares get important nutritional insights, which directly translates into improved animal performance. This way producers may confidently make informed decisions that lead to increased growth rates, superior feed conversion, and overall improved health and well-being for their animals if they understand their livestock’s individual nutritional needs.

As we look to the future, data-driven livestock farming holds the promise of revolutionizing the industry. With continued research, technological advancements, and collaboration between stakeholders, the sustainable and efficient path forward for livestock farming can be shaped. It is an animal farm transformation journey where data-driven insights, precision livestock farming, and innovative solutions like FeedCares pave the way for a more prosperous, responsible, and resilient future for farmers and their livestock.

If would you like to learn about our FeedCares Solution, please contact us at info@agrocares.com

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Leaf tissue testing is a crucial process for evaluating the concentration of essential elements within plant tissue. Essential nutrients, categorised as micronutrients and macronutrients, play key roles in sustaining the plant’s life cycle. Micronutrients, required in smaller amounts and macronutrients needed in larger amounts are essential for achieving optimal plant growth. In current agricultural landscape, where reducing production costs, preserving natural resources, and preventing any unfavourable environmental effects, improved fertilizer management is imperative, effective fertilizer management becomes a cornerstone. To achieve this, understanding of crop nutrient requirements is required as well as the application of soil testing to forecast fertilizer needs. Soil tests provide valuable information about the overall nutrient content of the soil. However, it cannot tell us how much of each nutrient is actually available to the growing plant. Leaf tissue analysis fills this gap by providing direct measurements of nutrient concentrations in the plant tissues.

Leaf tissue analysis, a specialized form of plant analysis, focuses on evaluating the nutrient content and physiological condition of leaves. Leaves, as the primary photosynthetic organs of plants, are directly responsible for absorbing nutrients from the soil and converting them into energy for growth and development. Assessing the nutrient levels in leaves allows for a direct assessment of a plant’s nutritional status.

Given that the plant’s nutrient content varies regularly, appropriate tissue testing is the only certain method that can determine the nutritional requirements of a plant and identify if it is suffering from a nutrient deficiency. The analysis of leaves provides vital information necessary to ensure that the crop has all the nutrients it needs to produce the anticipated yields.

Why test plant tissue?

One of the reasons is to monitor the nutrients within the plants during the growing season. This technique is a good management strategy as it helps determine when the best moment is for application is to achieve greater uptake efficiency by the plant, the other reason is to diagnose a suspected nutritional deficiency or toxicity, as toxicities of micronutrients are equally important and can be as yield limiting as deficiencies. It is best to perform this analysis as soon as possible after the symptoms are evident. Once a deficiency manifests itself, the optimum yield may have already been lost. Therefore, routine leaf tissue sampling and analysis at the right time in the season can help to avoid crop losses. With toxicities, information obtained on the current stressed crop can only be used to make management decisions that may benefit subsequent crops. For example, diagnosis of copper toxicity can only be treated by liming the field for the next crop.

How to assess it?

Traditional leaf tissue analysis often involves tedious laboratory procedures, requiring samples to be sent for analysis, often incurring delays and additional costs. To address these limitations, near-infrared (NIR) technology has emerged as a promising alternative. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an emerging technique for analysing soil and plant nutrients, where leaf testing is based on the principle that the absorption and reflection of near-infrared light by plant tissues vary depending on their chemical composition, including nutrient levels. This spectroscopy technique, provides rapid, non-destructive, cost-effective, and less labour-intensive analysis of plant nutrients in real time. Using NIRS in combination with accurately built database allows farmers and advisors to directly measure crop nutritional status and apply this information for fertilizer management. Moreover, leaf analysis based on NIRS enables the detection of hidden deficiencies and prevents any excess application of fertilizers. This enables farmers and advisors to be proactive in nutrient management by keeping crop nutrient demand and soil nutrient supply in sync, thereby achieving optimal yields and higher profits, while reducing unnecessary input costs and environmental footprint of agriculture enterprises.

Consequently, plant tissue analysis in combination with soil test information is the recommended approach for diagnosing nutrient deficiencies AgroCares is currently working on the LeafCares solution and will make it available later this year. If you would like to learn more about LeafCares and be the first to test it in the field, please send us a message to info@agrocares.com. 

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Identifying a gap in accessing soil testing services and the associated high costs, OCP Kenya, launched the OCP School Lab (OSL) project in 2017. The primary goal was to offer farmers a range of agricultural services, including interactive training sessions on best agricultural practices and soil testing through the OCP mobile School and Lab. The project aimed to alleviate the financial burden of soil testing for smallholder farmers, increase awareness of the benefits of improved soil health, and enhance productivity.

Melvin Adhiambo, Business Analyst at OCP Africa, highlighted the strategic partnership’s effectiveness in reaching farmers. “Working in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture at County Government levels, OCP Kenya can access even the most remote areas by utilizing farmer groups and cooperatives. This enables us to serve multiple farmers simultaneously,” she said.

To make soil testing easily accessible, modern technologies are employed. AgroCares Technology a Lab-in-a-Box Solution based on sensor technology and modern ICT architecture is used. This solution provides mobility and serves as an optimal tool for farmer capacity development, brand visibility, and market penetration. The mobile labs conduct on-farm soil testing and issue management recommendations based on inherent soil fertility indicators. This approach ensures that farmers receive training on good agronomic practices and gain awareness of the importance of soil testing and use of inputs. By 2018, OCP Kenya had equipped two mobile school labs with the Lab-in-a-Box Solution.

Derrick Chirchir, Lab Technologist at OCP Africa, emphasized the value of the AgroCares online portal in customizing fertilizers to crop and soil needs. “The portal provides data on soil conditions across the country, aiding in the formulation of the right fertilizers for Kenyan soils. With the technology used, we can retrieve data dating back to the inception of our operations, providing valuable insights for informed decision-making up to the present day,” he said.

OCP Kenya has successfully reached approximately 500,000 farmers across 20 counties, with 20,000 benefiting from the soil testing service. These counties include Nakuru, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Bungoma, Kisii, Homabay, Migori, Busia, Kakamega, Narok, Machaklos, Meru, Embu, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, and Nyandarua. The impact is evident in the adoption of good agronomic practices, especially in soil health and input use, with an adoption rate exceeding 85%, as per a Dalberg study conducted in 2022. The program has also improved household yields and income, as reported through follow-up sessions with agriculture extension staff at the county levels.

The OSL project’s impact is continually tracked through partnerships with other projects within the organization. A recent collaboration with Kenya Crops and Dairy Market Systems, under the “Feed the Future” project, has enabled the reach of 100,000 farmers in the western part of the country for the year 2023, benefiting over 30,000 farmers through soil testing.

Drawing on a rich tradition of scientific research, OCP Kenya is committed to conducting research trials, including soil testing, to collect valuable data on distinct soil types and crop nutrient needs. These efforts are geared to enhance fertilizer customization efforts and advance agricultural knowledge.

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The quality of ruminant feed is directly linked with milk production, animal health, as well as farm performance. As feed costs represent a significant number of the total production costs, it is crucial to ensure feed nutritional values and quality throughout the whole year.
Therefore, the intake of superior quality TMR and silages can help to reduce costs and increase profitability due to the lower amount of feed supplements needed. The most common dairy cattle feed is TMR and silages.

What is TMR?

A TMR or Total Mixed Ration is a method of feeding cows that mixes different ingredients into a single feed formulation with specific nutrient values. TMR usually consist of silages, grains, concentrated feed, vitamins, minerals as well as feed additives. With this feeding method, cows can be fed with a fixed amount of silages and concentrates with balanced nutrient content. TMR is formulated based on several factors including the average milk production and the stages of the cows, for example, heifer and lactation cows have different nutritional requirements.

What is silage?

Silage is a type of chopped fodder that is made of green foliage crops (e.g., maize, sorghum, barley, etc.) or pasture grass. In any case, the entire plant is used for making silage. It is a method used to preserve the pasture in the long-term involving fermentation under anaerobic conditions. This process is known as ensiling. Proper handling and care of the silage is especially important to keep the feed fresh and safe for animal consumption. Silage made under poor conditions could lead to low dry matter, low digestibility (energy) and crude protein, elevated levels of ammonia and high acidity.

Solutions that help to ensure quality feed

Ensuring the optimal nutritional intake for your livestock, particularly in the context of TMR, requires a comprehensive understanding of the nutritional values in your feed. Given the varying nutrient compositions in TMR due to its diverse ingredients, it is essential to perform feed analysis and have accurate data on the nutritional content of grains and ensiled forages incorporated into the TMR.

Moreover, regularly monitoring the nutritional profile of your feed by analysing your feed serves as an important factor in achieving optimal milk production. This approach empowers farmers to create well-balanced feed formulations based on precise information, enabling them to make informed decisions about the supplementation needs of their livestock. For instance, underestimating the dry matter content of TMR can result in overfeeding or underfeeding, adversely impacting the overall health and productivity of the cows. Additionally, variations in nutrient values may arise depending on the seasons, the process of ensiling, as well as the process of mixing. Therefore, precision is critical for formulating a well-balanced ration, which results in promoting performance in cattle. However, feed analysis can be costly and time-consuming. Having a tool on-hand that can simplified the analysis with comparable accuracy is an advantage for the farmers and farm advisors.

With the FeedCares Scanner Solution (based on non-destructive Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy (NIRS) technology) qualitative parameters of feed materials and forage can be quickly determined on-site, without sending the feed sample to the laboratory. This enables the farmers and farm advisors to monitor, optimize, and control the quality of the feed to meet the nutritional requirements of animals. Furthermore, this tool can be used as a monitoring tool to know the optimal stage in which the crop/ grass needs to be cut for silage.

If you want to learn more about the FeedCares Scanner Solution, please send us a message via info@agrocares.com or contact form.

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