03

The features and benefits of broiler

starter feeds that include AlphaSoy™ 16
An insight into the world
of piglet nutrition 10 Protein-rich ingredients for
modern livestock feeding 30 Practical experiences
with milk systems 52

04
We love our animals.
Their welfare is a high priority.
That is why only the best is
good enough for them.
05
Content
ARTICLE _
Welcome to Agilia™ 04 HOW-TO GUIDE _
8 danish weaning tips for
ARTICLE _ antibiotic reduction 14
From local to global 08
INTERVIEW _
An insight into the world of
piglet nutrition 10
ARTICLE _
The features and benefits of broiler
starter feeds that include AlphaSoy™ 16
ARTICLE _
Functional nutrition to safeguard
performance of poultry and pigs 20
INTERVIEW _ INTERVIEW _
The view from Southern Europe 26 An ingenious milk system has made
a big difference in our farrowing pen! 46
ARTICLE _
Protein-rich ingredients for ARTICLE _
modern livestock feeding 30 Milk systems mean less stress for
piglets and humans 48
ARTICLE _
The effect of processing on nutrient INTERVIEW _
structure, composition, and Practical experiences with milk
digestibility of soy protein 36 systems and secondary milk 52
INTERVIEW _ ARTICLE _
AlphaSoy™ is a product we A milk system in the farrowing pen
cannot do without 44 – have you installed yours yet? 56
06
Welcome to
Agro Korn has a new name – Agilia™.
Our name change signals our transition from
being a largely Danish based feed business to
being a global player, with a vast network of
sister companies, and a well renowned parent.
We are delighted to now be a part of the AB
Agri group of businesses.
This extended network of sister companies
enables us to share an even broader set of
skills, knowledge, and expertise with you, our
customers. Let us explain a bit more about
Agilia™ and our future…
Welcome to Agilia™ – your partner
in young animal performance.
Who we are
Agilia™ is a fast growing team of passionate
individuals, who share a curiosity for enhancing
the performance of young animals. Since
being established in 2015, Agilia™ has grown
through acquisition, innovation, and strategic
partnerships to become an international
supplier of protein-rich functional ingredients
and milk products, which provide consistent
quality nutrition and targeted functionality to
support young animals. Agro Korn became a
part of the Agilia™ business in 2016 and since
then has enjoyed double-digit global growth
year-on-year for its products.
Our Milestones
2016 AB Agri acquired Agro Korn to
strengthen its activities in
functional proteins.
2017 Production of AlphaSoy™
established in Brazil.
Agilia™ launched in Brazil.
Re-launch of the AlphaSoy™ globally.
2018 Launch of Agilia™ Europe.
Introduction of AlphaSoy™ Gold.
What we do
The Agilia™ team are committed to providing
an abundant source of protein-rich functional
ingredients to the world – a goal that directly
compliments the original Agro Korn vision of
being the protein and ingredient company
of tomorrow.
Supplying enough protein to the world involves
overcoming various challenges such as those
arising from the reduced use of antibiotics and
zinc oxide. Antibiotics and zinc oxide are both
used in young animal diets to help support
and promote growth in the early stages of life.
However, links have been made between the
agricultural use of antibiotics and zinc oxide,
and antimicrobial resistance and environmental
pollution. As a result, an increasing number
of initiatives have started to restrict the use of
antibiotics and zinc oxide in many parts of
the world.
Without the support of antibiotics and zinc
oxide in the diets, young animals with under-
07
developed immune and gut-health systems do
not have the means to deal with a pathogenic
challenge. Animal performance is reduced,
as nutrients are used in the immune response
instead of for growth.
What is AlphaSoy™?
AlphaSoy™ is an enzymatic and thermo-
mechanically processed soybean meal
with elevated protein content, low levels of
anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) and a unique
healthy-fibre profile which delivers up to 16%
higher net energy to the animal. In addition to
its nutritional value, AlphaSoy™ also has some
prebiotic properties, which make AlphaSoy™ an
ideal protein source for antibiotic-free feeding
systems. The functional features of this ground-
breaking product, as well as other Agilia™
products produced in Denmark, are explained
in further detail in this magazine.
Our focus for the future
Our business is based on innovation, focusing
on applying new processing technologies ➜
08
and nutritional understanding to unlock
even-greater value from feed ingredients
and co-products. We aim to make better use
of the resources we have available so that
they deliver added nutritional and functional
benefits to the animal, supporting better health
and performance and a more sustainable
food system.
Our latest innovation, AlphaSoy™ Gold, was
officially launched at Eurotier 2018. Building
on the strength of AlphaSoy™ 530, AlphaSoy™
Gold is specifically designed to create the
optimal gut-health environment, prime the
immune system and deliver consistent, quality,
targeted nutrition to young poultry.
Agilia™ will also be focused on developing
innovative new milk supplement solutions
for piglets up to six weeks of age, enabling
producers to secure high survival rates and the
very best lifetime performance, with minimal
use of antibiotics.
How we’re different
Our Agilia™ name comes from our ability to
be agile. We are an asset-light business which
gives us the freedom to explore new ideas
and technologies without being tied to one
manufacturing system or supply base. This
enables us to select the best manufacturing
Get in touch
Agilia™ Head Office Agilia™ A/S
64 Innovation Way Skjernvej 42,
Lynch Wood, Peterborough 6920 Videbaek
PE2 6FL, UK Denmark
T + 44 (0)1733 422161 T + 45 97 17 33 00
partners, source only the highest quality raw
materials and invest in the best new processing
technologies to develop world-class feed
solutions.
Our excellent Agilia™ team manages all
aspects of the supply-chain and service to
ensure that consistency, quality, biosecurity,
and traceability are maintained to the highest
standards.
Why we do it
Although the Agro Korn name has changed
to Agilia™, the business and its people are
very much the same. We remain committed
to bringing more innovation, more value, and
more agility to animal nutrition, both today and
in the future, while having some fun along
the way.
Why?
Because we want to secure consistent,
AlphaSoy™ – the world’s
high-quality, sustainable protein sources for
the next generation and beyond. We are
best performing protein
passionate about using nutritional technology
to understand and unlock the real potential source for piglets
of raw materials, and we look forward to
sharing our knowledge and expertise with AlphaSoy™ is designed and produced to drive AlphaSoy™ 530
you. Together, we are the protein and feed
optimal health and performance in antibiotic-free
ingredient company of tomorrow – your partner This innovative product delivers better
in young animal performance. n
feeding systems. feed performance than all competing
soy protein products. It also delivers
AlphaSoy™ is soy protein that is enriched with enzymes and has the same performance as animal
undergone a gentle four-step process with heat treatment and proteins but at a much lower cost.
mechanical manufacture. Hereby the anti-nutritional matters in the
+ Winning product in numerous
soy protein are reduced and the digestibility is significantly increased.
international trials
Agilia™ Brasil Danish design and ingenuity, ensuring you a healthy business + Higher digestible energy
AB Brasil, Rua Cardeal Arcoverde 1641 AlphaSoy™ is designed specifically to provide the maximum nutritional + High protein digestibility
9o andar, CEP 05407-002 and functional value to the piglet, consistently outperforming + Minimum quantity of
São Paulo/SP, Brasil competing soy protein sources in independent trials. anti-nutritional factors
T +55 11 95069 8461
Visit us online at agiliaglobal.com to learn more and to download our test results!
AGILIA™  Skjernvej 42, DK-6920 Videbaek  +45 97 17 33 00 agiliaglobal.com
010
From local to global
The journey from being a local feed producer to being a global first mover
with a focus on alternative proteins is exciting and demanding.
A flat field on the west coast of Denmark is the
base for one of the world’s most innovative
and forward-thinking companies delivering
alternative proteins to the agriculture industry.
Agilia™, formerly known as Agro Korn, has
been in the process of transforming from a
reliable, local business to a global player with
an international profile, an ambition to improve
animal well-being through delivering innovative
feed solutions worldwide.
"We are still very proud of our Danish roots.
Danish agriculture is unique, and we look for-
ward to sharing these special and performance
enhancing techniques with other markets,"
says Heidi Bjørn, Global Marketing Manager
for Agilia™.
Innovation Wins
The Agilia™ team consists of more researchers,
nutritionists and technical specialists than
salespeople. Also, with its links to the broader
AB Agri group, the team has access to a know-
ledgeable and experienced network of peers.
"Being part of Agilia™, we now have a secure
future pipeline of products and a wealth of
We look forward to
sharing these special and
performance-enhancing
techniques with the world.
Heidi Bjørn.
expertise to go with this. With the support of
AB Agri we are stronger than ever before,"
adds Peter Haahr Hansen, Senior Sales
Manager, Agilia™.
Agilia™ is a great place to work; it is a locally
established company based in the Danish
countryside, where colleagues with hands-on
experience of the agricultural industry are the
company’s biggest asset.
"We all have the passion for our work and
agriculture. Our objective is to make a
difference for animals and farmers by providing
the best quality feed" says Heidi Bjørn.
Development with customers
As the demands of agriculture change, Agilia™
evolves with it. In addition to the name change
to Agilia™, the company is investing in the
next generation of products and services, and
establishing world-class processes around
quality, traceability and feed safety.
"Delivering the best quality and value to
customers is our focus. We could not have
developed into the business we are today
without the close relationships we have with
our global customers. Our business and our
products are created in collaboration with
farmers." says Head of Agilia™ Europe,
Dennis Jørgensen.
"In the beginning, we had more of an oppor-
tunistic approach to product development and
testing, responding to customer needs in the
short term. Now we have combined this agile
approach with a solid structure, where we
scrutinize and interrogate all of our results from
the very beginning, unlocking every possible
product improvement along the way."
"Now that we are a truly international
business, we will deliver more innovation and
product development to our global customers.
This will be balanced with the agility and
flexibility we are well known for, which has
made us the business we are today." continues
Mr. Jørgensen.
Success on five continents
Farmers all over the world look to Denmark
for innovation and new trends in agriculture.
011
As a result of sharing the superior results
achieved from feeding AlphaSoy™ in Denmark,
the product is now available to producers
and feed manufacturers in Australia, Mexico,
Brazil, Asia and throughout Europe.
We will deliver more
innovation and product
development to our
global customers. This
will be balanced with the
agility and flexibility we
are well known for which
has made us the business
we are today.
Mr. Jørgensen.
Mr. Jørgensen concludes, "We want to make
a difference with our products and share this
with the world. We will stay true to our Danish
heritage, keeping ourselves grounded with a
close connection to farmers and their animals.
We are proud that our company has grown
to be an important part of an international
group, and we look forward to many years of
successful business delivering improved animal
performance to the world." n
12 13

An insight into the world

of piglet nutrition

Providing the right nutrition to piglets is not only about formulating diets but
forging strong and lasting relationships with pig producers to understand their
business and needs better. Dr. Kayleigh Almond, Technical Manager at Primary
Diets, gives us an insight into the world of a piglet nutritionist.

Agilia™ [ ] spoke to Dr. Kayleigh Almond [KA]
from Primary Diets about her research into piglet
nutrition.
  How long have you been a nutritionist?
What is your role in Primary Diets?
[KA]: I have worked at Primary Diets for eight
years as a piglet nutritionist. In January 2018,
I became Technical Manager and now lead
a team of five nutritionists. Before starting my
job, I completed a Ph.D. at the University of
Nottingham in conjunction with Schothorst
Feed Research in the Netherlands, which
focused on the impact of the maternal diet on
piglet mortality and development.
  What do you like best about working with
Primary Diets?
[KA]: At Primary Diets, our philosophy is ‘the
best decisions are made together,' and this
is the basis of all we do. It is essential for us
to spend as much time with our customers,
working together with them and their vets
to help them improve their profitability and
achieve their goals. We also pride ourselves
in our dedicated piglet research programme
which drives the development of our diets, so
we are always ahead of the game.
One of the best parts about working for
Primary Diets is the opportunity for cooperation
with other businesses in the broader AB Agri
group, enabling us to draw on different areas
of expertise within the pig and animal sectors.
For example, we work closely with Agilia™, our
sister company, and incorporate AlphaSoy™
into some of our diets.
  What are the biggest challenges faced by
farmers and nutritionists in today's market?
[KA]: We aim to help Primary Diets’ customers
maximise their productivity and efficiency in
a changing landscape. The biggest issue that
we currently face is the reduction in antibiotic
usage and the impending ban on the use of
high levels of zinc oxide in piglet diets by 2022.
14
Whilst the nursery phase of production
represents a relatively small contribution to
overall antibiotic usage, medicated feed and
the use of high levels of zinc oxide are often
commonplace due to a combination of factors
such as immature immune systems, a decline in
passive maternal immunity and other stressors
as piglets enter a new pathogen environment
in the nursery.
  How do Primary Diets overcome
these challenges?
[KA]: Overcoming the problem of reduced levels
of antibiotics and zinc oxide in piglet diets has
been the main focus of our research programme
for over two years. We have made good
progress in this area with the introduction of our
new range of ‘XP’ diets. We are focused on how
we can offer extra protection nutritionally to
When considering the
lifetime performance of pigs,
weaning age is often more
important than weight.
Dr. Kayleigh Almond
piglets experiencing or at risk of disease, as well
as maintaining growth potential without the use
of antibiotics or zinc oxide.
However, nutrition alone cannot cure or
prevent disease, and so producers must
minimise exposure to disease pathogens in the
first instance. A complete package including
management, biosecurity, and effective
vaccination programmes, combined with good
quality nutrition to help the animals both resist
and recover from disease is the key to reducing
antibiotic and zinc oxide usage successfully.
  What piece of advice would you give to
farmers to improve their outputs?
[KA]: Every farm should be treated individually
as they all have different health statuses,
facilities, management practices, biosecurity,
and nutrition approaches, so no simple answer
would apply to everyone. However, I would
advise producers to take advantage of industry
experts. Inviting someone onto your farm who
does not see your animals every day can
provide a fresh look at your production unit.
An expert who walks your farm and evaluates
what you are doing may be able to offer
some practical advice that you may not have
previously thought about.
I would also advise producers to think about
weaning age. Not just the average weaning
age on your farm but the spread of ages in
a batch of piglets. When considering the
15
lifetime performance of pigs, weaning age is
often more important than weight. This is of
particular importance when lowering antibiotic
and zinc oxide usage, as weaning age can
have a significant effect on gut development
and its permeability to pathogens.
Primary Diets internal data collected from over
50 university trials between 2007 and 2016
shows that later weaning can improve piglet
growth by up to 70 g per day in the nursery.
  Many people use additives in their feeds to
promote growth and support development.
Which additives do you recommend and why?
[KA]: Many additives are already commercially
available, and this number is only increasing.
A large part of the Primary Diets’ research and
development programme is to evaluate the use
of these additives to determine their benefits in
our diets.
Over the last two decades, Primary Diets
has trialled over 100 additives. More than 60
showed no effect in our diets, and 15 showed
an adverse effect on piglet growth and
development.
At Primary Diets, we believe in proper
fundamental piglet nutrition with the use of
certain, well-selected additives to improve
performance even further when necessary
and appropriate. We use a blend of additives
which includes an acid, probiotics, prebiotics
and enzymes, all of which have been proven
in our trials to improve gut health and
performance of piglets. n
–
For more information about Primary Diets, or
to find out how to improve piglet performance
on your farm, please visit primarydiets.com.
16 17

HOW-TO GUIDE

Danish pig producers are among the highest performing in Europe and have
8 DANISH WEANING TIPS been achieving consistent health and performance in piglets with low levels of
antibiotic use for many years. Our expert nutritionists share 8 key tips for feeding
FOR ANTIBIOTIC REDUCTION piglets in the early stages of growth.

1.
Aim for 20% protein
A maximum of 20% protein in the starter diets
is optimal. You can go lower, but often it will
limit productivity. More than 20% protein will
increase the risk of diarrhoea.
3.
Avoid standard soybean meal
Avoid using standard soybean meal in the
starter diet for the first 14 days as it contains
high levels of anti-nutritional factors. Use a
healthy protein source like AlphaSoy™ in the first
two weeks and only introduce soybean meal
gradually after this time.
5. 7.
Feed pure organic acids Make feed changes gradually
Danish research shows that organic acids When switching to a new feed or from liquid to
are one of the most important additives in the dry form, always do it gradually (over 3-5 days).
weaning period. Use pure organic acids at a
minimum inclusion level of 0.5% but preferably
up to 1% (10 kg per ton of feed). Organic acids
should be included in the drinking water at 0.2%
inclusion (2 litres of water).

2.
Drive feed intake
High feed intake from the start is essential
for the development of a healthy gut. To achieve
this, use only the best quality ingredients
possible. Look for protein sources that are high
in digestible protein and low in anti-nutritional
factors, and pay attention to the attractiveness
and palatablility of the feed. A high content of
milk-derived products is a must!
4.
Know your milk
There is a huge difference between the various
milk products available today. For the best
performance, choose a highly palatable milk
product and adjust the lactose content in the
feed to the age of the piglets. DanMilk™ is a
well-trusted brand and offers a wide range of
highly palatable milk products – please visit us
online at agiliaglobal.com to learn more.
6.
Start training piglets at an early stage
Piglets in this key growth stage need to learn
how to eat solids, so support this by offering
liquid feed supplements or small amounts of
dry feed while the piglets are still with the sow.
As a supplement offering high-quality milk
replacement, (DanMilk™) has a great impact on
the weight at weaning, and the overall health of
the piglets. Offering DanMilk™ in the farrowing
pen leads to a smooth transition to solid feed
and thus a start in the nursery with a lower use of
antibiotics and increases performance in general.
8.
Focus on good management practices
Management, animal hygiene and a piglet’s
environment, are just as important as the feed.
Make sure you carry out regular assessments
of all management practices and always work
towards best practice.
Want to learn more about antibiotic
reduction through quality feed?
Please visit us at agiliaglobal.com
or call us at +45 97 17 33 00.
18 19

The features and benefits of broiler

starter feeds that include AlphaSoy™
Strategies to support the gut health and early development of broiler chickens
produce long-term performance benefits for the flock.

Dr. Helen Masey O’Neill
Senior Manager – Science and Analytics
Today’s modern broiler achieves a dramatic
growth rate and is expected to increase its body
weight by nearly four times in the first seven
days post-hatch. Body weight at seven days of
age is commonly accepted as an indicator of
final body weight. Leeson and Summers (2005)
stated that every extra gram of body weight
achieved at day 7 could result in an extra 5g of
body weight at day 49.
Figure 1 shows the performance objectives
of mixed Ross 308 broilers. Daily weight gain
(DWG) as a percentage of total BW is highest
in the first days post-hatch and decreases
throughout the production cycle. So, there is

Figure 1. The performance objective of mixed Ross 308 broilers.

3000 Cumulative body weight (g) Daily gain (g) as % of body weight 30
every reason to pay close attention to early The bird gut epithelium is not fully mature until
performance. However, this initial phase of life two weeks of age. A poor transition is known

2500 25
and achieving such high growth rates comes to increase early mortality. Early feeding,
DWG as% of total BW with significant challenges. within hours of hatch, is perhaps the most
significant and vital management practice to
2000 20
Transition from yolk to feed be implemented in support of this transition
gram / bird

One of the critical criteria for successful bird period. The presence of feed in the digestive
1500 15
growth and development is the transition from tract stimulates yolk sac utilisation more than
the protein-rich yolk matrix to a more complex when the gut is filled with water alone.
1000 10
carbohydrate-rich feed material. While still
in the egg, and immediately post-hatch, the Anti-nutritional factors
500 5
BW increases
developing broiler is supported by nutrients – the hidden growth inhibitors
by 6 times
provided by the yolk. These nutrients are only There is clear evidence of the negative
0 0
01 03 05 07 09 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 available for a couple of days once the broiler impact of antinutritional factors (ANFs) on
Days Source: Aviagen, 2014 is outside the egg. broiler performance. An ANF of concern in ➜
20
starter diets is trypsin inhibitors (TIs) which are
present in most oilseeds. Soya contains TIs that
interfere with protein digestion and may also
interrupt the secretion of pancreatic enzymes
(Woyengo et al., 2017), all compromising protein
digestibility and reducing growth performance
(Clarke and Wiseman, 2007). However, TIs can
be removed from soya through heat treatment.
Since thermo-mechanical treatment is part of
the production process of AlphaSoy™, the TI
levels are comfortably below sensitivity levels
for young broilers.
The importance of digestibility
Leeson (2008) highlighted that feeding highly
digestible ingredients in the first seven days
led to a dramatically positive impact on BW
compared to conventional ingredients. This
early improvement was carried through to final
BW. Providing highly digestible nutrients has
also been shown to improve gut development
(Noy and Sklan, 1998). AlphaSoy™ is a highly
Figure 2. Significant improvements in 7-day body weight gain (BWG) are seen when AlphaSoy™
is included in the diet.
150
140
BWG (g / bird)
130
120
110
100
Hydrolysed soybean meal 7.5% AlphaSoy™ 530
denotes a significant difference (P<0.05) to HSBM treatment.
digestible processed soy, designed specifically
to meet the nutritional requirements of young
birds, encouraging early feed intake and
therefore growth.
A lack of feed at this early stage can drive the
chick to use immunoglobulins in the yolk as a
nutrient source, compromising the development
of the immune system. The presence of highly
digestible feed will prevent this, conserving
immunoglobulins.
Development of the digestive tract
The gastrointestinal tract of a newly hatched
chick is sterile, and microbial colonisation
begins almost as soon as the chick is hatched.
A healthy microflora is essential for further
development of the tract and immune system.
The growth of beneficial, and probiotic species
can be achieved by feeding probiotic additives
directly but will also be supported by feeding
ingredients with a high pre-caecal digestibility
7.5% soy protein concentrate 15% AlphaSoy™ 530
Source: Agilia, 2018
of amino acids and starch, thus preventing
dysbacteriosis.
Feeding ingredients and additives with
prebiotic and prebiotic-like components will
also support this microflora development.
Furthermore, the presence of these species
directly supports the development of the tract
itself. Once the digestive tract is developed,
processed soy can be substituted for standard
protein sources, significantly reducing the
cost of the feed before intake levels reach
a point where using processed soy is less
economically viable.
Why feed a specialised starter diet?
A well specified pre-starter diet using highly
digestible feed ingredients is likely to stimulate
gut development and increase nutrient
absorption rate, and will condition the chick
for the arrival of subsequent diets. This diet
can also be designed with characteristics that
promote early feed intake, for example, using
colourants and a palatable feed form; pelleted
and crumbled feed has also been shown to
improve gut development.
Figure 2 shows the significant improvement in
7-day BWG when diets were supplemented with
AlphaSoy™ at two different doses, compared to
standard soybean products. This improvement
References
Aviagen. (2014). Ross 308 Broiler:
Performance Objectives. [On-line] Available
from: http://en.aviagen.com/assets/Tech_
Center/Ross_Broiler/Ross-308-Broiler-PO-
2014-EN.pdf [Accessed 02.08.18]
Clarke, E. and Wiseman, J. (2007). Effects
of extrusion conditions on trypsin inhibitor
activity of full-fat soybeans and subsequent
21
can be attributed to the reduction in ANFs, and
the higher digestibility, making the protein more
available to the birds for growth.
While the first 10-day period represents a
quarter of the bird’s life, the feed consumed
during the first ten days may only account for
10% of the total production cycle feed intake
in terms of weight. This allows slightly more
freedom on the cost of the ingredients, meaning
more focus can be placed on nutritional quality.
Protein provision in the early stages of life can
boost growth, which is why the protein content
of starter diets is commonly higher than diets
provided at later stages in the production
cycle when high protein levels may cause
liver problems. Paying extra attention to the
formulation and the quality of ingredients in the
first days of life will improve health and growth.
Getting it right early delivers
long-term benefits
In summary, close attention to early nutrition,
with judicious choice of highly digestible
ingredients with functional properties supports
growth and development of the broiler chick.
AlphaSoy™ is new-generation processed soya,
providing a highly digestible protein source
for young birds with additional functionality to
support good gut health and performance. n
effects on their nutritional value for young Noy, Y. and Sklan, D. (1998). Metabolic
broilers. British Poultry Science. 48. 703-712. responses to early nutrition. The Journal of
Applied Poultry Research. 7(4). 437-451.
Leeson, S. (2008). Predictions for
commercial poultry nutrition. The Journal of Woyengo, T.A., Beltranena, E. and Zijlstra,
Applied Poultry Research. 17(2). 315-322. R.T. (2017). Effect of anti-nutritional factors
of oilseed co-products on feed intake of
Leeson, S. and Summers, J.D. (2005). Scott’s pigs and poultry. Animal Feed Science and
Nutrition of the Chicken. Publ. Univ. Books. Technology. 233. 76-86.
22
Functional nutrition to safeguard
performance of poultry and pigs
Poultry and pig producers are faced with ever-increasing commercial
pressures. Consumers and retailers are demanding high quality,
low-cost food, with minimal use of antibiotics.
Aleksandra Szopinska Ph.D.,
Research Project Manager
While producers are striving to achieve more
output with fewer inputs, finding ways to
unlock even-greater nutritional and functional
value from raw materials has never been
more important. AlphaSoy™ Gold, the unique
product manufactured through co-processing
soya and carefully selected yeast components,
is designed to provide both nutritional and
functional value in optimal proportions.
The use of antibiotics in agriculture, and especially
animal feeds, has been linked to antibiotic
resistance, which is a looming public health
concern (Landers et al., 2012). Governments
are now restricting antibiotic use in recognition
that the agricultural use of antibiotics is one
of the significant contributors to antimicrobial
resistance, considered one of the greatest threats
to human health (Marquardt and Li, 2018).
Without antibiotics in the diet, animals,
especially young broilers and piglets, are
exposed to pathogenic challenges that their
immature gastrointestinal tracts and immune
systems are unable to cope with.
Ensuring that the young animal receives as
much developmental support as possible from
the early stages of life is imperative to secure
the future performance of the flock or herd.
AlphaSoy™ Gold provides optimal nutrition and
protection for young animals.
Nutritional value delivery
The primary reason for including functional
feed materials in diets is to deliver benefits
above and beyond the nutritional value
of the ingredient. The functional benefits
of feed materials cannot be overlooked or
undervalued since feed costs represent such
a high proportion of production unit expenses.
Diet composition needs to be carefully adjusted
23
according to the growth-stage and therefore
the nutritional requirement of the animals.
How high is the digestibility?
Ensuring the diet contains the optimal
combination and balance of nutrients is
essential, but these nutrients must also be
available to the animal. Feed that is not
digested as it passes through the upper gut is
not only wasted (representing a financial loss),
but also acts as a growth medium for bacteria
in the lower gut.
Unchecked by antibiotics, this may lead to an
imbalance in the gut microbiota, or in more
severe situations, pathogenic bacteria may
colonise the gut, causing disease that reduces
performance, leading to increased animal
mortality, or costly veterinary intervention.
AlphaSoy™ Gold has an amino acid digestibility
that is higher than other sources of soya.
Ensuring that the protein source given to young
animals is highly digestible will ensure they
receive all of the nutrients they need.
Feed that the animals want to eat
Some feed materials and ingredients reduce
the palatability of feed, due to having different
smells or flavours. With AlphaSoy™ Gold,
palatability remains high which is an important
consideration, especially for piglets. Unlike with
some other sources of processed soya, feed
intake levels are not affected, and palatability
remains high when AlphaSoy™ Gold is added
to the diet.
Energy boost
In the early stages of life, animals need
sufficient energy to grow and develop to
maintain a good health status and perform
to optimal levels. However, supplying too
much energy in the diet at an early stage ➜
24 25

can cause problems for the under-developed used to make AlphaSoy™ Gold ensure that the diet needs to be highly digestible. This allows Firstly, the yeast component can provide
gastrointestinal tract. Adding oils or fats to ANFs are reduced to low levels such that they easy digestion by the endogenous digestive protection against Enteropathogens such
a starter diet may cause problems such as do not have any impact on the animal. enzymes in the upper part of the digestive tract, as Salmonella and E. coli by disrupting their
diarrhoea. AlphaSoy™ Gold contains up to 16% so that nutrients have the maximum amount ability to colonise in the gut. Young animals
more net energy compared to other sources of More than just nutrition of time to be absorbed during their passage lack complex gastrointestinal microflora and
processed soy. This additional energy delivery What if your feed material could deliver through the gut. are especially prone to colonisation of enteric
means that the animal is not only getting a more than just nutritional value? Functional pathogens. The binding of pathogenic bacteria
vital energy boost in the early stages of life, but feeding is becoming increasingly important to Any fermentable carbohydrate sources will by the yeast component in AlphaSoy™ Gold was
they are not challenged with trying to digest producers looking to optimise the performance not be of benefit to the young animal whose demonstrated in an in vitro model (Fig. 1 and 2).
energy-rich fats or oils which their gut is not yet of their herds and flocks. AlphaSoy™ Gold has gut is not yet adapted for fermentation to take
ready for. functional value as well as nutritional value, place. AlphaSoy™ Gold has the highest levels Moreover, the inhibition of the intestinal
allowing producers who include it in their diets of digestible carbohydrates, and the lowest adherence of Salmonella enterica in the
What else is in your feed? to reap double the benefits. levels of fermentable carbohydrates, which presence of AlphaSoy™ Gold was also
Awareness about anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) contribute to the development of microflora in demonstrated in an ex vivo piglet model
present in ingredients is continuously growing. Making carbohydrates less complex the gut, accelerating the ability of the animal (Figure 3). Effective bacteria binding by yeast
Logic dictates that when you are trying to In the early stages of life, the gastrointestinal to digest and perform when fed with more components may restrict bacteria adhesion
promote animal performance, ANFs should tract of young animals is not yet fully complex diets. to the gut wall and thus prevent pathogenic
be reduced as much as possible, yet some developed. Bacterial colonisation is still taking bacteria colonisation.
sources of processed soy contain levels of ANFs place, and physiological development is Extra protection during early life stages
above the sensitivity limits for a given species. ongoing. As a result, young animals are not The most significant functional value of Secondly, the yeast component can also pro-
Young animals are especially sensitive to even able to fully digest many of the components of AlphaSoy™ Gold comes from the specifically mote a healthy immune system both directly and
intermediate ANF levels due to their immature a traditional poultry or swine diet. For young chosen, yeast-derived component, which works indirectly by modulating and altering cytokine
digestive tracts. The processing procedures animals, the carbohydrate component of the in two ways. production and activating the immune system, ➜

Figure 1. The number of pathogenic Salmonella strains (out of a total of 20) which were bound by Figure 2. The number of pathogenic E. coli strains (out of a total of 20) which were bound by the
the yeast component of AlphaSoy™ Gold in vitro. yeast component of AlphaSoy™ Gold in vitro.
20 20

18 18
Number of strains that were bound by the yeast

Number of strains that were bound by the yeast

16 16

14 14

12 12
component of AlphaSoy Gold

component in AlphaSoy Gold

10 10

08 08

06 06

04 04

02 02

00 00
AS Gold yeast Product A Product B Product C Product D Product E Product F Product G Product H AS Gold yeast Product A Product B Product C Product D Product E Product F Product G Product H
component component
Source: Agilia, 2018 Source: Agilia, 2018
26

possibly due to the priming effects of yeast

based β-glucans on immune cells (Broadway
et al., 2015).

When one plus one gives four

AlphaSoy™ Gold delivers four key benefits.
When compared to other sources of processed
soy, AlphaSoy™ Gold improves weight gain,
increases feed intake and lowers feed
conversion ratio.

And when compared to animal protein sources, References

performance is maintained while feed costs are
reduced, delivering more profit to the producer. Broadway, P.R., Carroll, J.A. and Burdick Sanchez, N.C. (2015).
Live yeast and yeast cell wall supplements enhance immune
AlphaSoy™ Gold goes one step further in
function and performance in food-producing livestock: a review.
supporting the growth and development of Microorganisms. 3(3). 417-427.
the young bird or pig. Optimising performance
Landers, T.F., Cohen, B., Wittum, T.E. and Larson, E.L. (2012). A
in early growth stages ensures the maximum review of antibiotic use in food animals: perspective, policy, and
genetic potential of the animal is reached potential. Public Health Reports. 127(1). 4-22.

later in life. The functional value of the yeast

Marquardt, R.R., and Li, S. (2018). Antimicrobial resistance in
component in AlphaSoy™ Gold means it can be livestock: advances and alternatives to antibiotics. Animal

used as a cost-effective, protein-rich ingredient Frontiers. 8(2). 30-37.

in antibiotic-free feeding strategies n

More than
Figure 3. Effect of yeast products on the adherence of Salmonella in piglet intestinal mucosa
(ex vivo model).

just nutrition
100

90
Adherence to pig intenstinal epithelium %

80

70

60

50

40
Alphasoy™ Gold – the functional protein that
30 gives young poultry the best start in life!
20

10 ➜ Creates the optimal gut-health environment

00
Neg CTRL 0.05% 0.05% 0.05% 0.05% 0.05% 0.05% 0.05%
➜ Delivers consistent quality nutrition
➜ Primes the immune system
AS Gold yeast Product A Product B Product C Product D Product E Mannose
component
Asterisk indicate statistical difference to the negative control (P<0.0001) Source: Agilia, 2018
➜ Drives body weight gain

AGILIA™  Skjernvej 42, DK-6920 Videbaek  +45 97 17 33 00 agiliaglobal.com

28
The view from Southern Europe
Animal production is different all around the world due to regulatory
constraints, consumer demand, and availability of ingredients.
Interview with Luigi Mauri,
Area Sales Manager at Agilia™
Agilia™ [ ] interviewed Luigi Mauri
[LM], Area Sales Manager for Agilia™ to get a
view of the market from Southern Europe.
  Which protein sources are being used in pig
and poultry diets in Southern Europe currently?
[LM]: The primary protein sources used in
Southern Europe are the same or similar to
those used throughout Europe. Diets in Southern
Europe are typically corn or wheat-based with
vegetable-based protein sources including
soybean meal, soy protein concentrate, corn
gluten meal and in some poultry diets, sunflower
meal. Where animal-based protein sources are
used, these include fishmeal, blood plasma, and
other hydrolysed protein sources. Animal protein
is very commonly used in piglet diets due to the
higher levels of palatability and digestibility,
which is especially important for young animals.
  Are there any concerns about protein
sources in your region?
[LM]: Yes, definitely! All ingredients and
protein sources bring with them a number of
concerns including quality, safety, consistency,
availability, and price.
Concerns with vegetable-based protein sources
include the anti-nutritional factors (ANFs), and
mycotoxin levels present that may decrease feed
intake and animal performance. The balance of
amino acids in vegetable-based protein sources
is also highly variable. Plant characteristics and
production processes also affect the quality and
consistency of the final product.
Producers and feed
millers are constantly under
pressure to source the highest
quality protein, at the most
competitive price, while
ensuring continuity and
quality of supply.
Luigi Mauri.
For animal-based protein sources, the main
concerns are health, quality, variability, and
price. Animal protein is only used in feed mills
that can cope with the associated strict health
and safety standards. Animal protein is only
used in dedicated production lines where the
possibility of cross-contamination with feeds that
must not contain animal proteins is eliminated.
All protein sources are highly variable both
in terms of nutritional composition and
characteristics. One batch is unlikely to have
the same chemical composition as the next
batch due to variations in production processes,
harvesting time and conditions, storage
conditions, country of origin, and differences in
genetic strain. Fishmeal, for example, can be
extremely variable depending on the species
of fish included in the meal, and the parts of
the fish that are used. This variability makes
diet formulation difficult, with nutritionists often
having to build in safety margins to ensure
minimum nutritional requirements are met.
Furthermore, the availability of protein sources
for animal feed is always a concern. There
was a time when corn gluten meal completely
disappeared from animal diets in Southern
Europe due to a lack of availability.
29
Producers and feed millers are always under
pressure to source the highest quality protein,
at the most competitive price, while ensuring
continuity and quality of supply.
  What alternatives are available
to producers?
[LM]: Protein is an essential part of the diet for
both pigs and poultry, so a consistent, reliable,
highly digestible source of protein that can be
included in the diet at a competitive price is
highly desirable. AlphaSoy™ and AlphaSoy™
Gold from Agilia™ address all of the concerns
faced by producers, not only in the Southern
European region but all over the world.
AlphaSoy™ is the best performing protein
product commercially available since it has
been specifically designed to support optimal
animal health and performance. The unique ➜
30
way in which AlphaSoy™ is manufactured
ensures that it has a consistent composition.
Even though AlphaSoy™ is an ingredient, the
production techniques used in its manufacture
mean it is as consistent as any feed additive
on the market. The AlphaSoy™ manufacturing
process also reduces ANF levels to safe limits,
ensuring that feed intake remains high.
Agilia™ will continue their
commitment to unlocking
more functionality from
ingredients through their
extensive research and
development program.
Luigi Mauri.
Net energy levels of AlphaSoy™ are up to 16%
higher than standard soy products. In addition,
digestibility is improved by up to 3% compared
to standard soy products. So not only is there
more energy in the ingredients, the animal
can access and use more of that energy,
enhancing performance.
AlphaSoy™ has a unique balance of carbo-
hydrates, delivering the optimal fibre profile to
young animals who need support during the
development of the gastrointestinal tract. Finally,
the amino acid balance in AlphaSoy™ is optimal,
ensuring that maximum adsorption is achieved
without any amino acids being limiting.
Thanks to the extensive research into soybean
by the Agilia™ team, the prebiotic properties
of soybean oligosaccharides (SBOS) have
been discovered. SBOS have historically
been characterised as an ANF and therefore
removed. But now, Agilia™ has discovered
that an oligosaccharide from AlphaSoy™
promotes the growth of good bacteria such as
lactobacillus and bifidobacteria and lowers
the level of potentially harmful bacteria such
as E. coli and Streptococcus. In addition, the
AlphaSoy™ oligosaccharide can increase the
number of short-chain fatty acids, especially
butyrate, in the ileum.
AlphaSoy™ is so much more than a typical
ingredient because it delivers both nutritional
and functional benefits to the animal. While
supplying the nutritional benefits of a high-
quality ingredient, its consistent composition
and added functional benefits make it extremely
easy to use in the formulation. Agilia™ will
continue their commitment to unlocking more
functionality from raw materials through their
extensive research and development program,
rivaled only by those in the feed additive market.
  How has antibiotic use changed since their
ban in animal feeds when used as growth
promoters in the EU?
[LM]: Before the ban on antibiotic use, life
was easy! Including antibiotics in animal
diets was like carrying an umbrella – even if
it did not rain, you had protection from the
sun. After the ban, changes in nutrition and
management approaches were required.
Genetics companies were quick to react to the
ban, ensuring birds had immune systems strong
enough to cope with the increased pathogenic
challenge.
Gut health has emerged as the most significant
factor relating to animal performance, so
producers are focused on supporting the
development of the gastrointestinal tract from a
very early age. A healthy gut is a good indicator
of a healthy animal, and a healthy animal will
be more productive over its lifetime.
  What strategies are being used to
replace antibiotics in animal feed
formulations across the region?
[LM]: The main strategies used to replace
antibiotics in Southern Europe are related to
nutrition. Many producers are changing the
formulation of their diets to include novel protein
sources with higher levels of digestibility, such
as AlphaSoy™. There are also certain feed
additives being used in diets which support
antibiotic-free production such as phytogenics
and organic acids.
Increasingly, the functionality of ingredients
is vital to ensure that the maximum return on
investment is achieved. Using raw materials that
deliver more than nutritional benefits alone will
31
bring financial and performance advantages to
the producer. As food retailers and consumers
apply more pressure on the livestock industry
to produce feeds and to breed animals without
any antibiotics at all, new management
strategies will also be employed such as the
close management of stocking densities and
genetics. However, nutritional and managerial
strategies will play the most significant role in
antibiotic replacement.
  What are the main health concerns faced
by producers in the region? And how are those
concerns being addressed?
[LM]: The three biggest health concerns faced
by producers in the Southern European region
on a daily basis during the first phases of
animal breeding are coccidiosis, E. coli, and
Salmonella. Vaccinations and coccidiostats
are available to combat these sanitary
problems, but increasingly, producers are using
alternative nutritional strategies to overcome
these problems, driving animal health and
performance towards an antibiotic-free system.
For example, the combination of a very easily
digestible protein with prebiotic effects is one of
the nutritional strategies that can help animals
reach a balanced gut microflora, reducing the
malabsorption syndrome. Trials have shown that
the mannan oligosaccharide and beta-glucan
in AlphaSoy™ Gold have a prebiotic effect which
binds these harmful bacteria in the gut more
effectively than all other yeast-derived products
available on the market, preventing colonisation.
Thanks to the dedicated research work by
companies like Agilia™, our understanding of
animal production is improving all the time,
supporting high-quality animal production
without the use of antibiotics throughout
the world. n
32 33

Designing the perfect functional protein for Significant increases in

young animals has been the vision of Agilia™
global demand for livestock
since its formation in 2016. Head of Innovation
at Agilia™, Dr. Hagen Schulze explains the
products will require
breakthroughs that have been made. increasing amounts of feed
protein supplies, and sources
Soybean is the number one source of protein
and alternatives will need to
for the animal feed industry in the world. Often
be continually reviewed.
referred to as the ‘king of beans,' soybean
contains more protein than many other products
FAO, 2002
including pork, eggs, and milk (WWF, 2017).
As the demand for livestock products increases
due to population growth and increasing levels Protein requirement decreases with age
of wealth, so feed suppliers and livestock pro- (FAO, 2002), making protein content an
ducers have to produce more under increasingly especially important consideration in the
strict safety regulations (FAO, 2002). early stages of life.

In addition, there is rising pressure to produce It is necessary to reduce dependence on

animal protein and food products without the
use of antibiotics due to the link between agri-
cultural antibiotic use and increasing levels of
anti­microbial resistance, which is threatening
human health. Most agricultural antibiotics are
administered to young animals; hence the focus
of Agilia™ on developing a protein source de-
signed explicitly for this critical early life stage.
The importance of protein
All animals require protein for growth. However,
requirements in animal diets are affected by the
traditional sources of protein, but factors such
as supply, availability, cost and nutritional
value must be considered when looking for
alternatives (Chisoro, 2015). Agilia™ is tackling
the problem from three angles.
[ 1 ] Ingredient innovation
Novel protein sources are continually emerging
and becoming commercially available in
markets around the world. Some new sources of
protein include food industry by-products and
insect meal. Table 1 lists some of the protein

Protein-rich ingredients for species and growth stage. sources used in animal feeds. ➜

modern livestock feeding Table 1. Traditional and novel protein sources for animal feeds

TRADITIONAL PROTEIN SOURCES NOVEL PROTEIN SOURCES

Protein is an essential part of any diet formulation. The global protein challenge
Soybeans Insect meal, e.g. housefly maggot meal and silkworm pupae
of supplying more protein to an increasingly large population has yet to be solved
Other oil meal crops, e.g. oil palm, Other plant sources, e.g. hempseed cake, pigeon pea, and sweet potato foliage
and is being compounded by the removal of antibiotics from animal feed diets. sunflower, canola, and oilseed rape

Legumes, e.g. peas, beans or lupins Food industry by-products, e.g. brewers' grains and maize gluten meal
Hagen Schulze Ph.D.,
Fishmeal Animal by-products, e.g. meat and bone meal and blood meal
Head of Innovation at Agilia™
34
High levels of anti-
nutritional factors mean
that further processing is
usually necessary.
When considering alternative protein sources,
many factors should be considered including
protein content, availability, price, digestibility
and the presence of anti-nutritional factors.
Replacing soybean meal with sunflower meal is
possible, but not recommended for young pigs
due to the low levels of digestibility of sunflower
meal. The anti-nutritional factors present in
canola meal limit its inclusion in piglet diets
to 5%, but it can be used in greater quantities
in grower-finisher diets without affecting
performance.
Variability is also an issue with alternative
protein sources such as DDGS. Ensuring a
consistent supply of DDGS is challenging and
the product itself is highly variable, making
diet formulation unpredictable. In addition,
alternative protein sources are likely to be
contaminated with mycotoxins, which require
additional management strategies so as not to
inhibit performance.
Some alternative protein sources can only be
grown in specific climates, ruling them out as
possibilities in certain areas. Peas and beans
of many varieties can be produced in most
climates around the world. However, high levels
of anti-nutritional factors mean that further
processing is usually necessary before inclusion
levels reach economically viable points. Lupins
have a thick, fibrous seed coat that needs to be
mechanically removed to increase the protein
level above 35% (Kay, 2014). Australia is the
largest producer of lupins, but levels of interest
are rising in Europe due to the comparable
35
nutritional profile of lupins with soya. Copra utilised before. This functional value is is extremely important in the early stages
meal is primarily grown as a low-cost ingredient especially important in support of antibiotic- of life when young animals are exposed to
in Asia, but it is low in essential amino acids free feeding strategies. pathogenic challenges.
which limits its inclusion levels.
Functional feeding Without antibiotics or other disease-preventing
Initial investigations into the use of insect A functional ingredient is one that improves compounds in the diet, their immature immune
meal appear promising with products animal performance and wellbeing more systems might not yet provide them with
containing high levels of amino acids and than can be explained solely through an adequate levels of protection, resulting in
good digestibility levels. However, further work understanding of nutrition (Polo, 2015). disease, leading to performance losses or even
is needed to commercialise insect meal on a increased mortality levels.
large-scale before it is a viable alternative. Functional feed ingredients include probiotics,
Lemna (duckweed) and algae are two further prebiotics, egg antibodies, plant extracts, Feed formulation in the future
fast-growing, protein-rich alternatives that are and yeast derivatives. For example, yeast As technological improvements are made, the
currently under investigation. derivatives deliver nutritional benefits by nutritionist must now consider a broader range
supporting the gastrointestinal tract, but of factors such as the quality of the nutrients,
As highlighted in Table 1, there are also they also support the immune system, whichs their availability to the animal, and the cost ➜
new sources of protein emerging from other
industries. The food and bio-ethanol industries
are of particular interest currently, and some of
their by-products have proven to be valuable
sources of nutrients for animals. However, the
quantity and quality of their supply are not
always consistent enough to meet the demands
of the animal feed industry.
[ 2 ] Technological developments to increase
the nutritional value of traditional ingredients
While novel ingredients are being researched
and evaluated for commercial use, there is
huge potential to exploit and improve the
digestibility of currently available protein
sources through further processing. Soybeans
remain the most important and preferred
source of high-quality vegetable protein
for animal feeds (Chisoro, 2015). Agilia™ is
applying its knowledge, experience, and
expertise to discover and unlock additional
nutritional value from soybean meal.
Moreover, in addition to increased nutritional
value, Agilia™ is also uncovering functional
value in soybean meal that has not been
36
to the producer. Feed formulation is increasingly
centred around economic factors, with less
focus on nutritional factors. Factors such as
throughput in the mill, pellet quality, size, colour,
and particle size should all be considered in
the feed formulation process, even though they
have little or no impact on the nutritional value
of the feed (PoultryHub, 2018).
Precision feeding
Precision feeding aims to feed animals as
close to their exact nutritional requirements
as possible. This involves delivering the right
amount of feed to each animal in the right
proportions and the right composition, at the
right time.
Precision nutrition is defined by Banhazi et al.
(2012) as the practice of meeting the nutrient
requirements of animals as accurately as
possible in the interest of safe, high-quality and
efficient production while ensuring the lowest
possible load on the environment. Rather than
adopting a least-cost formulation approach
based on the nutritional requirements of the
average or the highest performing animal in
the herd or flock, nutrition is provided on an
individual basis as far as possible, tailoring the
diet to the needs of each animal.
Not only will precision nutrition ensure the
nutritional requirements of the animal are met,
but it also ensures minimal loss of nutrients
via the excreta. To reduce waste outputs from
excreta, poorly digestible ingredients should be
eliminated from the feed formulation (Cho and
Bureau, 2002). The digestibility of all ingredients
should be checked, and only highly digestible
nutrients used in the diet formulation.
Balancing amino acid levels to meet
requirements ensures that the maximum
growth potential of the animal is met while not
overfeeding expensive ingredients that might
result in waste via the excreta.
Precision feeding of proteins will ensure
the optimal metabolism of energy and fatty
acids, while also decreasing the incidence
of metabolic disease, improving fertility and
promoting the absorption and conservation of
calcium which is necessary for growth.
Achieving more with soybean
Despite its popularity, soybean is highly variable
and is not very digestible, especially for young
animals. The Agilia™ team have discovered a
unique way of processing soybean to:
➜ deliver more nutritional value through a
more highly digestible product
➜ achieve a more balanced ratio of amino
acids to energy
➜ reduce the number of anti-nutritional factors
References
Banhazi, T.M., Babinszky, L., Halas, V. and
Tscharke, M. (2012). Precision livestock
farming: precision feeding technologies
and sustainable livestock production.
International Journal of Agricultural and
Biological Engineering. 5(4). 54-61.
Chisoro, P. (2015). Alternative protein
sources for poultry feeds. All About Feed.
[On-line]. Available at www.allaboutfeed.
net/New-Proteins/Articles/2015/10/
Alternative-protein-sources-for-poultry-
feeds-2700585W/. Accessed 03.08.18.
Cho, C.Y. and Bureau, D.P. (2002). A
review of diet formulation strategies and
feeding systems to reduce excretory and
37
➜ increase the functional benefits of soybean
via its support of the immune system
➜ provide biosecurity assurances to producers
Conclusion
Livestock producers strive to support the
growth of their animals from the first day of life.
Changing regulatory and consumer demands
are altering the way producers provide
that support.
Protein is an essential part of the diet, especially
for young animals. Thanks to continual
innovation in feed ingredients, diet components
are expected to deliver more than merely
nutritional benefits. Some ingredients also
provide functional benefits such as supporting
the immune system or enhancing growth rates.
AlphaSoy™ Gold is one such feed material that
has been specifically designed, researched
and developed to optimise the performance of
young pigs and chickens. n
feed wastes in aquaculture. Aquaculture WattAgNet. [On-line]. Available from:
Research. 32(s1). 349-360. https://www.wattagnet.com/articles/25212-
alternative-feed-ingredients-with-
FAO. (2002). Protein sources for the animal functional-properties. Accessed 02.08.18.
feed industry. FAO. [On-line]. www.fao.
org/docrep/007/y5019e/e5019e03.htm. PoultryHub. (2018). Feed Formulation.
Accessed 13.07.18. PoultryHub. [On-line]. Available from:
http://www.poultryhub.org/nutrition/feed-
Kay, Z. (2014). Nine protein alternatives formulation/. Accessed 03.08.18.
for pig feeds. Ingredients. WattAgNet.
[On-line]. Available from: https://www. WWF. (2017). Soy Is Everywhere. WWF. [On-
wattagnet.com/articles/19229-nine- line]. Available from: https://wwf.panda.
protein-alternatives-for-pig-feeds. org/our_work/food/agriculture/soy/facts.
Accessed 04.10.18. cfm/. Accessed 25.08.18.
Polo, J. (2015). Six alternative feed
ingredients with functional properties.
38 39

The effect of processing on nutrient

structure, composition, and digestibility
of soy protein
Soybean meal (SBM) is one of the most important sources of protein used in
animal diets all around the world. The Agilia™ team have unlocked previously
hidden nutritional and functional properties of SBM thanks to a unique
manufacturing process which delivers a consistent, high-quality, protein-rich
product with every batch produced.

Mai Anh Ton Nu Ph.D.,
Animal Nutritionist and
Technical Support Manager
EFFECT OF ALPHASOY™ PROCESSING ON
PROTEIN AND AMINO ACID QUALITY
Mechanical and chemical factors
affecting protein quality
The protein content of diets and its quality are
key to ensuring high levels of performance.
Protein quality is determined not just by analysis
of the raw material but also by the utilisation
capacity of the individual animal. Neither the
animal nor the raw material remains consistent,
so the quality and quantity of protein in the diet
vary widely.
Protein quality can be influenced by several
factors including the choice of raw material,
use of additives such as enzymes, probiotics,
acidifiers and yeast derivatives, the health status
of the animal, and the processing techniques
used on the raw material or finished feed.
Knowledge about the effects of processing raw
materials and feed has increased substantially
following decades of research. Processing can
reduce and inactivate anti-nutritional factors
as well as decrease microbiota levels including
pathogens. Processing can also change
feed ingredients or diets physically through
agglomeration or hydrolysation, leading to
structural changes.
One benefit of processing is that it can improve
the digestibility of certain nutrients including
starch and protein. However, specific processing
techniques or conditions may also deteriorate
the digestibility of protein, which will negatively
affect animal performance. Deteriorated protein
quality does not only result in lower protein and
amino acid digestibility, with an associated
adverse effect on gut health conditions, but it
also has an impact on the environment through
increased nitrogen excretions.
Protein can be over-processed in several ways
due to unfavourable processing conditions
which are influenced by time, temperature,
moisture and water activity, pressure, particle
size and pH (Hulshof, 2016). All these processing
factors need to be monitored closely to ensure
high protein quality in final products.
During processing, there will be physical
or chemical changes to the protein in feed
ingredients or diets. However, when over-
processing does occur, this might result in severe
structural and characteristic changes to the
protein that negatively influence its quality.
Physical changes to a protein can include the
shift from its primary structure to the secondary
or even tertiary structure. Having been
denatured by the processing conditions, the
protein may refold in a different configuration,
affecting its digestibility. Chemical changes to
proteins include the formation of iso-peptides,
protein-oxidised lipid interactions, protein-
polyphenol interactions, cross-link reactions and
the Maillard reaction (Salazar-Villanea et al.,
2017). The Maillard reaction causes a reduction
in the availability of amino acids and proteins.
Protein quality parameters
A significant concern in SBM processing
is whether processing will damage the
availability of amino acids, especially lysine.
Agilia™ uses the expertise and experience of its
production team to control the manufacturing
process of AlphaSoy™ products, making sure
that the processes used, improve the crude
protein and amino acid availability of the
ingredient. ➜
40
Heating of SBM is necessary to inactivate
trypsin inhibitors, but overheating will reduce
the digestibility and concentrations of lysine
and other amino acids (González-Vega et al.,
2011; Stein, 2012). In particular, lysine is highly
susceptible to damage by heat treatment.
There are two main parameters to detect heat
damage of protein in the final product.
Available or reactive lysine
The ε-amino group present in lysine is especially
reactive if reducing sugars are present. The
reaction of lysine with sugar during the Maillard
reaction at the first stages creates a complex
compound that renders lysine unavailable to
animals, even though the analysed value of
lysine will not change. The amount of lysine
that still possesses its reactive ε-amino group
after processing represents the amount of
undamaged lysine that remains available to the
animal, known as reactive or available lysine.
Figure 1. The effect of AlphaSoy™ processing on the lysine: crude protein (Lys: CP) ratio, the percent-
age of available lysine and the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of available lysine in piglets.
97.1
96.2
Available LYS, %
Before processing (SBM) After processing (AlphaSoy™)
41
The lysine: crude protein ratio Figure 2. AlphaSoy™ processing increases the SID of crude protein and key amino acids by an
The ratio between lysine and crude protein average of 3% in weaned pigs.
(Lys: CP) is a simple but highly accurate
measure of heat damage. When an ingredient SID, %
is heat-damaged to an extreme level (final +3% on average
98 P<0.05
stage of Maillard reaction), the concentration
of lysine is reduced, but the concentration of 96
crude protein is not (González-Vega et al., 94
2011). For SBM, a Lys: CP ratio of 6 and above 92.3
92
is generally accepted as an indicator of good
90
protein quality. 89.7
88
The AlphaSoy™ manufacturing process
86
does not impact the percentage of available
84
lysine in total lysine as well as the ratio of
lysine to crude protein (Figure 1), demonstrating 82
Arg Ileu Leu Lys Met Val Essential AA
that no damage or loss of lysine is caused
by the applied processing. In addition, the Before processing (SBM) After processing (AlphaSoy™) Source: Adapted from Ton Nu et al., 2018
measured increase in digestibility of available All the values are presented as standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of crude protein and essential amino acids.
lysine indicates an increased net benefit of the
AlphaSoy™ process to the animal.
Improvements in protein and processing (AlphaSoy™) using ileal-cannulated
amino acid digestibility weaned pigs of 10 kg bodyweight.
The most accurate way to evaluate the protein
quality of a feed ingredient or diet is through Poultry
in vivo digestibility experiments. The effect Kim et al. (2018) investigated the effect of the
of the AlphaSoy™ manufacturing process on unique AlphaSoy™ manufacturing process on the
enhancing the digestibility of protein and amino digestibility of crude protein and amino acids in
6.31
6.24 acids in SBM has been tested in both weaned SBM before and after processing in broilers.
pigs and broilers.
P<0.001 The manufacturing process of AlphaSoy™
92.6
Weaned pigs products improved the digestibility of crude
The unique AlphaSoy™ manufacturing process protein and amino acids relative to SBM.
significantly increases the digestibility of crude (See Figure 3 on next page).
89.8
protein and all key amino acids by 3% (P < 0.05,
Figure 2) in piglets, as proven in a digestibility On average, the SID of crude protein was
study conducted at the University of Alberta, 2% higher in AlphaSoy™ (after processing)
Canada in 2017 (Ton Nu et al., 2018). compared to SBM (before processing). In
SID of available LYS, % LYS: CP, % addition, the actual ileal digestibility of most
The study evaluated the digestibility of protein indispensable and dispensable amino acids
Source: Ton Nu et al., 2018 and amino acids in SBM before and after was higher in AlphaSoy™ compared to SBM. ➜
42 43

The mechanism behind the processing development of young swine and poultry animals, Figure 4. AlphaSoy™ has the highest carbohydrate-related energy value of all comparable products.
effects that improve protein and amino acid making it a first-choice product to be used in anti-
800
digestibility for all species microbial reduction feeding strategies. 94% higher energy value
746
700

It is likely that the protein structure of SBM is EFFECT OF ALPHASOY™ PROCESSING ON 672
649
600
changed during processing, allowing better CARBOHYDRATES AND ENERGY VALUE
access for endogenous digestive enzymes, 500 531
regardless of which species it is fed to. Positive changes to the

Kcal / kg
462
carbohydrate profile of SBM 400
384
In addition, the the AlphaSoy product's Traditionally, SBM is regarded as a protein 364
343
300 330
manufacturing process reduces anti-nutritional source. As such, the energy value of SBM, which 309
285 292 306

factors to safe levels, resulting in a decrease is almost as high as corn/maize, is forgotten. 200 238

in stress on the digestive tract and leading to This traditional view means that only half of
100
reduced losses of endogenous nitrogen, which is the potential value of SBM is unlocked. In the
particularly important for young and developing case of AlphaSoy™, all nutrients are considered 0
53

animals. The improved nutritional value of in the ingredient matrix, and the full potential Conv. SBM 46 AlphaSoy™ SPC 56 SPC 60 Fermented soy

AlphaSoy™ relative to SBM allows the plant- and of the raw ingredient is maximised. There are Conv. SBM 46 = Conventional soybean meal 46. SPC = Soy protein concentrate.

animal-based protein sources in the diet to be three sources of energy in any feed ingredient kcal/kg from digest. CHO kcal/kg from ferment. CHO kcal/kg from CHO Source: Danish Feed Table (SEGES, 2017)

substituted for AlphaSoy™. and diet; protein, fat, and carbohydrates.

Of these three, carbohydrates are the most Digestible carbohydrates Starch, monosaccharides (e.g., glucose) and
The increased bioavailability of nutrients and important and dominant energy source. There Digestible carbohydrates are very easy to digest disaccharides (e.g., sucrose and lactose) are
improved quality of AlphaSoy™ products are are two types of carbohydrates: digestible and and are ideal for immature digestive systems all considered to be digestible carbohydrates
specifically designed to support gut health and fermentable carbohydrates. like those in young animals or weaned piglets. (Boisen, 2005). ➜

Figure 3. AlphaSoy™ processing enhanced the SID of protein and amino acids in SBM Figure 5. The estimated net energy content of SBM, AlphaSoy™ and other soy protein
fed to broilers. in weaned piglets.

92

A 2291
91 A
2% A 2%
1.5% 14% 10% 16% 9% 15%
90

Net energy, kcal/kg

B B
B
SID, %

89
2104
2191
88

2002 1998
87 1983

86

85
Crude protein Indispensible AA Dispensible AA SBM 46 AlphaSoy SPC 56 SPC 60 FS D FS S
Before processing (SBM) After processing (AlphaSoy™) Source: Adapted from Kim et al., 2018 FS D and FS S = two different fermented soy proteins from Asia. Internal Data, 2018 Source: Danish Feeding Table (SEGES, 2017)
44
Fermentable carbohydrates
In contrast, fermentable carbohydrates have a
very complex structure and cannot be digested
by digestive enzymes. To use the energy from
these carbohydrates, the animal needs help
from the microorganisms in the gut through a
process of fermentation. This is a less efficient
way of harvesting energy compared to using
digestible carbohydrates. As a result, digestible
carbohydrates have almost double the energy
value of fermentable carbohydrates (11.7 vs. 7
kJ/g, respectively, Boisen, (2005)).
The AlphaSoy™ manufacturing process is
designed to dramatically change the fibrous
structure of SBM by boosting the digestible
carbohydrate content and reducing the
fermentable carbohydrate content of SBM.
As a result of the unique processing techniques
used, AlphaSoy™ has the highest carbohydrate-
related energy value of all comparable
products (Figure 4). For example, the energy
value contributed by digestible carbohydrate in
AlphaSoy™ is almost nine times higher than in
soy protein concentrate (SPC). The total energy
value provided from the carbohydrate fraction
is nearly double the value of SPC (Figure 4).
Increased net energy values after processing
The unique carbohydrate profile of AlphaSoy™
products contributes to a unique net energy
value when compared with other unprocessed
soy protein products. The energy value of
AlphaSoy™ products is up to 16% higher than
comparable products based on the published
Danish Feeding Table (SEGES, 2017; Figure 5).
This uplift in energy is seen regardless of
animal species. A joint study in weaned piglets
conducted by leading research sites in the USA
and Denmark also showed that AlphaSoy™
products had the highest digestible and
metabolisable energy of all soy protein products.
The energy level in AlphaSoy™ products was
a significant improvement on the energy level
in conventional SBM, owing to the specific
production process (Figure 6). The same trends in
energy uplift were proved in both data pools.
The effect of the the AlphaSoy product's
manufacturing process on energy is universal,
crossing different species as shown by Kim et
al. (2018) who also picked up a 15% higher
apparent metabolisable energy (AME) in
broilers (Figure 7).
PROCESSING IS KEY TO UNLOCKING VALUE
SBM can vary hugely in its consistency and quality.
In young animal diets, feeding an un-processed
SBM can lead to reduced performance. Therefore,
the the AlphaSoy product's manufacturing process
is vital in creating a consistent, high-quality,
protein-rich ingredient. Processing improves
the ingredient structurally, compositionally and
nutritionally by:
➜ Improving the nutritional matrix value of SBM
– tailoring it to the needs of the animal
➜ Unlocking 2 - 3% more digestible protein
and amino acids in piglets and broilers
➜ Boosting the net energy value by up to 16%
in piglets and broilers
As a result of this unique profile, AlphaSoy™
delivers better feed performance in terms
of body weight gain, feed intake and feed
conversion rate than all competing soy protein
products. It also delivers the same performance
as animal proteins, but at a much lower cost.
Their nutritional value combined with their
functional properties makes AlphaSoy™ products
your first choice when designing antimicrobial
reduction feeding strategies. n H., and Kiarie, E. (2018). Standardized
Figure 6. An independent energy evaluation trial in
weaned piglets showed the uplift in energy value of
AlphaSoy™ vs. SBM, which supports the estimated
net energy value in the Danish system.
+9% +11%
4115
3937
3772
3545
Digestible Energy, Metabolisable Energy,
kcal/kg kcal/kg
SBM AlphaSoy™
Source: Navarro (2014) and
*Danish feeding table, SEGES (2017)
References
Boisen, S. (2005). A New Concept for
Practical Feed Evaluation Systems,
Research Centre Foulum.
González-Vega, J.C., Kim, B.G., Htoo, J.K.,
Lemme, A., and Stein, H.H. (2011). Amino
acid digestibility in heated soybean
meal fed to growing pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 89,
3617–3625. doi:10.2527/jas.2010-3465.
Hulshof, T., Bikker, P., van der Poel, A.F.B.
and Hendriks, W.H. (2016). Assessment
of protein quality of soybean meal
and 00-rapeseed meal toasted in the
presence of lignosulfonate by amino acid
digestibility in growing pigs and Maillard
reaction products. Journal of Animal
Science. 94(3). DOI: 10.2527/jas.2015-9700.
Kim, E., Rho, Y., Masey O’Neill, H., Schulze,
45
Figure 7. Apparent metabolizable
energy (AME) of SBM (before
processing) and AlphaSoy™ (after
processing) in broilers (kcal/kg).
3100
+14% +15%
2600
2543
a
2100
2205
b
Kcal / kg
1600
2291
2002
1100
600
100
0
* Predicted NE, AMEn
kcal/kg Before processing (SMB)
After processing (AlphaSoy™)
Source: Adapted from Kim et al. (2018)
ileal digestibility of amino acids and SEGES. (2017). FODERVÆRKTØJER [WWW
apparent metabolizable energy in Document]. SEGES Pig Prod. [On-line].
processed soybean meal (AlphaSoy™) Available from: https://svineproduktion.
fed to broiler chicks. Poster presented dk/Viden/Paa-kontoret/Oekonomi_
at Poultry Science Association 2018 ledelse/Beregningsvaerktoejer/
Annual Meeting; 2018 July 23 – 26, Fodervaerktoejer. Accessed 12.10.18.
San Antonio, Texas.
Stein, H.H. (2012). Soybean meal fed
Navarro, D. (2014). Amino acid digestibility to pigs, in The Nutritive Value of U.S.
and concentration of energy in processed Soybean Meal. Atlanta, GA.
soybean and rapeseed products fed
to pigs. Master Thesis, the University of Ton Nu, M. A., Schulze, H., and Zijlstra,
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. R.T. (2018). Processing of soybean meal
enhanced the ileal digestibility of protein
Salazar-Villanea, S., Bruininx, E.M.A.M., and amino acids in weanling pigs. Poster
Gruppen, H., Carré, P., Quinsac, A., and presented at 14th International Symposium
van der Poel, A.F.B. (2017). Effects of on Digestive Physiology of Pigs; 2018
toasting time on digestive hydrolysis of August 21 – 24, Brisbane, Australia.
soluble and insoluble 00-rapeseed meal
proteins. Journal of the American Oil
Chemists’ Society. 94(4). 619-630.
46
AlphaSoy™ is a
product we cannot
do without
Knud Thomsen, a pig farmer from
Denmark, mixes his own piglet
feed, but the starting point is
always AlphaSoy™.
"When I hold AlphaSoy™ in my hand, it smells
so good that I want to taste it myself!"
These are the words of pig producer Knud
Thomsen who has been feeding his piglets
AlphaSoy™ from Agilia™ for several years.
Mr. Thomsen has 2,400 sows, producing
around 20,000 finishers annually as well as
delivering 30-kilo pigs for slaughter-production
in Germany.
In addition to his pigs, Mr. Thomsen also man-
ages 500 acres of arable land, which supplies
cereals to the swine production unit. Together
with his wife, Mr. Thomsen has been farming
for over 30 years, mixing AlphaSoy™ with his
homegrown cereals for many of those years.
Uniform and consistent
"One of the advantages with AlphaSoy™ is
that the product is very consistent. We typically
order 8 to 10 tons at a time, and we don’t have
I would call it a very
user-friendly product.
Knud Thomsen
any problems with transition from delivery to
delivery." confirms Mr. Thomsen.
"AlphaSoy™ is important for the well-being of
our piglets, and they really like it. We see a
great appetite in our production; the piglets
have a craving for the mixed feed." he adds.
But AlphaSoy™ also works well for the people
who handle it.
"AlphaSoy™ is easy to handle, flowing in and
out of the silos without sticking. So I would call
it a very user-friendly product."
Mr. Thomsen uses around 8 tons of AlphaSoy™
each month. He often mixes his feed with
AlphaSoy™ as a starting point, and then adds
minerals and other additives.
He has three different feed mixes. His starter
mix is fed to the piglets in the farrowing pen
where they are also given DanMilk™ from
Agilia™. In addition, he has two other feed-
mixes that are used as the pigs grow.
"It is important to point out that we have a
rolling feed switch" Mr. Thomsen explains.
"Our feed-system introduces new feed-mixes
over five days, so the piglets get used to the
new feed 20% at a time. It makes our feeding
transition very smooth."
Optimise results
Ease of handling is one thing, but performance
results are quite different. Mr. Thomsen goes on
to explain his confidence in AlphaSoy™ to fulfil
performance expectations every time.
"We are among the upper 3rd of Danish
herds in terms of weight gain, and we have
the potential to aim higher. Our production is
47
I am very satisfied with
our daily gain thanks to
AlphaSoy™.
Knud Thomsen
running at maximum capacity and we wean
mostly little piglets, so we are not in a position
to raise outputs very much higher. I am very
satisfied with our daily gain of 450g."
"Our results are great, and we have low
mortality rates and sorting of piglets," Mr.
Thomsen continues. "But it’s not only about
the feed, for us it’s about animal wellbeing,
hygiene, floor conditions as well as many other
factors. We make a big effort to keep our whole
pig production unit clean and tidy, from the
stables to the feed silos."
"From our experience with AlphaSoy™, it is
definitely a product I recommend to others.
AlphaSoy™ is a consistently high-quality
product, and I would not be without it when
feeding my pigs." n
48
Christina Sejersen has been
running her farm for 21 years, and an
ingenious milk system has made a big
difference in the farrowing pen!
Christina Sejersen and her husband run 'Bjerget' farm in Viborg, Denmark,
where they keep 1.150 sows and produce 38,500 slaughter pigs each year.
"In 21 years I was not able to milk my sows
completely in the farrowing pen. I have tried
different options and never found the right
solution", says farmer Christina Sejersen.
"When I got the option to use the milk system
Pump'n'Grow, I was open for giving it a test
run. It is a cost-effective solution and I loved it
from the beginning", she says.
The piglets are at least 2 pounds heavier
Christina Sejersen has been using the milking
system and milk from Agilia™ since November
2017, and she is impressed with the results.Her
piglets get through the farrowing pen 3-4 days
faster. She only uses half of the nursing sows
compared to previously – and mortality has
dropped by 3% points.
More piglets on a yearly basis
The piglets can be supplied with milk from the
system – and simultaneously still get milk from
the sow. It’s advantageous for both the sow
and her piglets. "It has been great. The piglets
49
It is a cost-effective
solution and I loved it
from the beginning.
Christina Sejersen.
are at least 2 pounds bigger now when ready
for the nursery. Furthermore, I produce more
piglets per sow on a yearly basis".
Saving time and money
Christina concludes that even though she
spends more money on milk powder, she
spends less on expensive starter feed."It is far
easier to nurse in the farrowing pen. I am such
a big proponent that I would never consider
using any other milk system. It saves me time
and money and the piglets thrive".
Results gained through the use of the
Pump'n'Grow milk system:
+ 250-300 kg extra pig per farrowing pen
+ Increased growth of +70-100g (in nursery)
+ Reduced mortality in the farrowing pen
+ Increase in weaning weight
+ Easy weaning
+ Effective usage of the farrowing pen
+ Efficiency progress (3-4 piglets/sow/year)
50
Milk systems mean less stress
for piglets and humans
With the automatic, cost-effective Pump'n'Grow milk system, piglets thrive
because they get enough milk and they can stay with the sow for longer.
There is a lot of pressure in the farrowing
pen. Many sows deliver 18 - 20 piglets per
farrowing, and it is hard for the sow to provide
enough milk to feed them all. By installing a
milk system, the farrowing pen becomes a
much calmer environment for all involved;
the sow, the piglets and the staff.
"Farmers use the Pump'n'Grow system because
it is reliable, easy to use and does not require
a large financial investment. When the milk
system is installed, the sow can take care of
more piglets. All the piglets get enough milk to
meet their requirements for maximum growth"
explains Kristian Brokman, Area Sales
Manager for Agilia™.
It only takes a couple of
hours to install the
Pump'n'Grow system;
that is it!
Kristian Brokman.
In a busy production unit, looking after nursing
sows can take up a significant amount of time,
51
and can involve moving piglets to ensure they
receive enough milk. A milk system, such as
Pump'n'Grow, takes pressure off the nursing
sow. It also lowers the risk of infection because
the piglets do not need to be moved around.
Happy pigs, happy farmers
Installing the Pump'n'Grow system is easy and
makes use of a lot of parts already available
in the farrowing house. Many farmers choose to
mount the system themselves, but Agilia™
will gladly assist with the installation and
system set-up.
"It only takes a couple of hours to install the
Pump'n'Grow system; that is it! Once the milk is
in the system, you can watch piglets drinking
from the cups almost immediately. It is a good
experience. There is no doubt that the piglets
like the milk it and they really thrive,"
continues Mr. Brokman.
In any pig production facility, hygiene is
critical. Simple cleaning of the Pump'n'Grow
system must be carried out each day to ensure
only the cleanest, freshest milk is delivered to
the piglets. ➜

52
Happy piglets mean heavier piglets
Mr. Brokman has first-hand experience of
seeing how quickly piglets learn to drink from
the Pump'n'Grow cups on many farms where he
helped with the system installation.
"I have seen groups of four or five piglets
standing around the drinking cup in the first
24 hours of their life. Even the smallest piglets
like drinking the milk. The piglets know exactly
when the milk is flowing through the pipes!"
After the piglets have drunk the milk they
require from the cups, they typically go back
to the piglet cave, and the farrowing pen
becomes calm.
Piglets are typically 1 kg heavier at weaning
when a milk system is used in the farrowing pen
compared to piglets without access to a milk
system. If piglets weigh 1 kg more at weaning,
they will typically be 3-4 kg heavier when
leaving the nursery.
The pigs are
Pump'n'Grow your piglets
The Pump'n'Grow system from Agilia™ has undoubtedly
getting the
been commercially available since 2017 and
thousands of piglets have already enjoyed
the additional milk delivered to them in the
farrowing pen. Agilia™ has further developed
the Pump'n'Grow system and now offers the
best start with
fully-automatic system, Pump'n'Grow Fresh.
Pump'n'Grow Fresh has already been installed DanMilk™
on many production facilities across Denmark
Jonas Würtz Midtgård, Go-gris.
with great results.
"Existing Pump'n'Grow systems can be
upgraded to Pump'n'Grow Fresh for a
reasonable additional investment." highlights
Mr. Brokman. n
Feedback from Pump'n'Grow users:
+ The additional milk makes piglets
stronger, allowing for reduced use of
zinc and antibiotics
+ Sows can take care of an extra 1-2
piglets when the Pump'n'Grow milk
system is in use
+ Sows wean an additional 2-4 piglets
per year
DanMilk™ Supreme
+ Weaning weight of piglets is increased
by 0.8 – 1.0 kg
+ Mortality is reduced by 2 – 6
percentage points As close to the sows own milk as possible!
+ Feed costs are significantly lower DanMilk™ Supreme is an excellent quality milk replacer that
from weaning to slaughter gives young piglets a good start and healthy growth!
Fantastic taste and odour
Contact us today on +45 97 17 33 00 Great solubility and easy handling
to talk about installing or upgrading a
Produced in Denmark
Pump'n'Grow system in your farrowing pen.
Perfect match for the Pump'n'Grow milk system
AGILIA™  Skjernvej 42, DK-6920 Videbaek  +45 97 17 33 00 agiliaglobal.com
54
Practical experiences with milk systems
and secondary milk
Farrowing is a critical time for every pig unit. Both the sows and the new-born
piglets are carefully managed to meet their genetic potential for performance
through numerous sources of stress and challenge.
Interview with Tarik Falkenburg,
Swinefeed.com
Agilia™ [ ] spoke to Tarik Falkenburg [TF] from
Swinefeed.com to find out how using a milk
system to deliver secondary milk to new-born
piglets can improve livability and early weight
gain, benefiting the long-term performance of
the whole herd.
Secondary milk is
especially necessary
when the sow doesn’t
have enough milk.
Tarik Falkenburg.
  What are milk replacers and why are they
necessary during farrowing?
[TF]: A milk replacer is a secondary milk
offered to new-born piglets to ensure they get
enough nutrients in the first days of their life.
Secondary milk is especially necessary when
the sow doesn’t have enough milk to support
all her piglets, or when she is sick and cannot
produce milk of a high enough quality for her
55
litter. Secondary milk is formulated to meet the
nutritional requirements of the new-born piglet,
encouraging intake and promoting survivability.
  Why is it advisable to offer milk replacer
products to young piglets, even when the sow
is supplying her own milk?
[TF]: Increased demand for animal protein has
led to dramatic improvements in pig genetics.
This means an increasing number of piglets
being born per sow per farrowing, and yet the
milk yield of the sow may not increase to meet
this new level of demand. The sow may not be
able to produce enough milk immediately after
farrowing to supply her whole litter. Secondary
milk can bridge this shortfall in milk supply,
ensuring piglets have access to a plentiful
supply of milk. In addition, when secondary
milk is offered from birth, there is a noticeable
improvement in the intake of piglet creep feed.
This means that the transition from milk to solid
feed at weaning is much smoother.
  In your experience, what is the best way to
deliver secondary milk to new-born piglets?
[TF]: I have been working with milk replacers for
piglets for more than six years now and have ➜
56
Pump'n'Grow is the
best milk delivery system
I have used.
Tarik Falkenburg.
seen many ways to deliver secondary milk.
However, in my experience, using cups is the
best method. Hygiene is always an important
consideration with any new-born animal, but
especially so with milk cups which must be
cleaned regularly.
Manually mixing milk with warm water and
filling troughs is very labour intensive, requiring
regular checks and lengthy cleaning processes.
In my experience, the best milk intakes are
achieved with cups on an automated system.
The Pump’n’Grow system delivers fresh milk
to the farrowing pen in under two hours via
shallow drinking cups that are easily accessible
for the piglets. And when this system is used
in combination with DanMilk™ Supreme, there
are enormous hygiene advantages. DanMilk™
Supreme is the only milk replacer product
I have worked with that can be mixed with
cold water, meaning that there is less milk
in circulation around the system. The piglets
therefore only receive the freshest and cleanest
milk in the cup.
  What makes Pump'n'Grow different from
other milk delivery systems?
[TF]: Pump'n'Grow is the best milk delivery
system I have used. The cups are smaller,
which makes them more accessible for the
piglets to use and for staff to clean, and
the pipes are thinner which ensures the milk
in the cups is as fresh as it can be. Both of
these factors result in higher intakes. But most
importantly, the system is very easy to install
57
and work with. Pump'n'Grow is very cost
effective, requiring a lower level of financial
investment compared to other systems available
on the market, but with a high impact on the
growth of the piglets. In addition, the system
can be used for providing drinking water and
essential oils after the secondary milk supply is
removed, both of which contribute to improved
intestinal health.
  How is a Pump'n'Grow system installed?
Are there any specific pen requirements that
need to be met?
[TF]: The Pump'n'Grow system can be used
in any farrowing unit that has electricity, and
hot and cold water. The drinking cups should
be installed 7 cm from the ground, fixed in a
horizontal position onto a panel in the farrowing
crate. It would help if you considered the
position of the drinking cup before you attach it
into place, checking that it gives good access for
the piglets. In my experience, the best position is
nearly always at the front of the pen, close to the
head of the sow, over a slatted section of floor.
The drinking cups should be installed 7 cm from the ground.
  How often do I need to clean the system?
And how do I clean it?
[TF]: Like many other systems, Pump'n'Grow What sets the Pump'n'Grow system apart The Pump'n'Grow system ensures there is
has a standard cleaning schedule of twice from other systems is the support and training always adequate milk supply in each farrowing
per week. Hygiene is a crucial topic in any offered by Agilia™. Full training is given during pen, within two hours of the start of farrowing.
farrowing crate, and the same high standards the installation of each Pump'n'Grow system, Secondly, less time is spent cleaning out
should be applied to the milk delivery system. with additional video guides available at deep troughs since the shallow cups in the
agiliaglobal.com. Farmers and farm managers Pump'n'Grow system are quicker to clean.
I recommend cleaning the system twice weekly are given ongoing training and support to This means that staff can devote more time to
with Per Aqua and an alkaline cleaner. Firstly, ensure their system is used successfully. animal husbandry and management, making
rinse out the old milk from the system with sure that the animals thrive. Concerning
water. Then put the cleaner in the mixer at   What are the benefits of using the performance results, mortality is lower, and
a ratio of 100 litres of water to 2 litres of Per Pump'n'Grow system? What results have you piglets are heavier due to increased growth
Aqua. Pump the cleaning fluid through the seen in your pig units? rates with the Pump'n'Grow system. The
system, followed by fresh water and then [TF]: The Pump'n'Grow system brings with it smoother transition from milk to creep feed
flushing through with a new mixture of milk many benefits. Firstly, regarding labour, less during weaning contributes to higher long-term
before allowing piglets access to the cups. time is spent transferring piglets between sows. performance of the whole herd. n
58
A milk system in the farrowing pen
– have you installed yours yet?
Milk systems can deliver up to 30% more kilograms of piglet per farrowing pen
per year. This means efficiency improvements between 70 – 100 g in weight gain
per day. Are you enjoying the benefits a milk system can bring?
For some farmers, having a milk system in the
farrowing pen is an obvious choice whereas for
others it seems like a significant, unnecessary
investment. It is easy to tell which category
you belong to by looking at the size of your
piglets at weaning. The bigger your piglets are,
the more likely there is a milk system in your
farrowing pen.
Today, sows are producing more and more live
born piglets as a result of genetic improvements
and advances in herd management. However,
the piglets tend to be smaller at weaning
because the sow is not able to provide enough
milk to the increased number of piglets. The net
result is the same kilograms of piglet per sow.
"If we use a milk system, this can be changed"
explains Bjarne Brixen, Area Sales Manager at
Agilia™.
In 2017, Agilia™ launched the Pump'n'Grow
milk system alongside its already well-known
DanMilk™ and AlphaSoy™ brands.
The number of teats per sow has not increased
with the increasing size of the litter. This means
59
that the farmer either needs to have more
nursing sows or use a milk system to deliver the
additional milk requirement.
"Nursing sows can, at a later stage, face
reproduction problems and typically won’t
reach their full genetic potential in the next
lactation" adds Mr. Brixen.
Advantages of milk systems
Many farmers are now using milk systems as
their benefits are clear. Producers typically
achieve an additional 250 – 300 kg of pig
per farrowing pen per year when using a
milk system. A realistic and achievable goal
to set before installing a milk system is 1.000 kg
more pig per year over the entire unit, which
would make a significant impact on your
bottom line.
"Denmark are champions in delivering live
born piglets, but there is still room for further
improvement in what we are achieving from our
farrowing pens," says Mr. Brixen.
"It is in my experience that, with a milk system in
place, you raise the performance in your litter ➜
60 061

With a milk system, you
can reduce the time it takes
to produce a 30 kg piglet
by 8 days.
Kristian Juul Volshøj.
by 0.1 kg per sow per farrowing due to a general
lift in sow performance and reproduction."
"Also, you will experience an improvement in
daily weight gain of between 70 – 100 g per
piglet", adds Kristian Juul Volshøj, Technical
Sales Manager for Agilia™.
"When this is calculated in terms of days, you
can reduce the time it takes to produce a
30 kg piglet by 8 days. With a milk system, it
will take an average of 74 days to reach the
target weight compared to 82 days without
a milk system."
Another advantage is that the sow can wean
1-2 piglets more per farrowing without the use
of a nursing sow, which reduces the movement
of piglets and therefore eliminates cross-
contamination risks.
Customers have reported that compound feed
consumption is doubled when piglets are started
on a milk system," explains Mr. Juul Volshøj.
Choose the right milk
To get the most out of the milk system, it is
essential to choose the right milk product. Sow
milk contains the same content of protein as fat.
"Piglets are naturally developed to drink milk at
birth, so it is vital that the milk powder is based
on milk and not vegetable products such as soy
protein or wheat." Mr. Brixen.
A good tip is to choose a milk system with the
least waste possible. When there is too much
milk waste in the pipes, the new milk is not fresh.
The choice is yours
Is a milk system right for your business?
If you have an average piglet weaning weight
under 7 kg, a milk system is a good choice.
If your average piglet weaning weight is over
7 kg, it might be cheaper for you to use
compound feed. You could also increase the
number of sows and get better usage of your
farrowing pens.

"Our experience shows that piglets who drink "If the bottleneck is your farrowing pen, a milk
Pump'n'Grow helps reduce
more milk, eat more compound feed at weaning. system is definitely for you," concludes Mr. Brixen n
the number of nursing sows!
Looking for a highly effective milk system and fresh milk in
all farrowing pens? Pump'n'Grow is your answer.
Results with milk systems can include:
+ Reduced mortality + A reduced number of nursing sows
An extra 250-300 kg of pig
➜ Lower mortality in the
➜ Efficiency improvement of
➜
per farrowing pen farrowing pen 3 – 4 piglets per sow
+ Easy weaning + Fresh milk for all piglets
+ More weaned pigs per weaning + Less moving of piglets
Increased daily weight gain
➜ More natural weaning and
➜
of 70 – 100 g per piglet transition to compound feed + Higher weight at weaning + Increased health
To read more please visit:
Increase in weaning weight
➜ Better farrowing pen usage
➜ pumpngrow.dk
Call us today on +45 97 17 33 00 to learn more.

AGILIA™  Skjernvej 42, DK-6920 Videbaek  +45 97 17 33 00 agiliaglobal.com

062

AGILIA™ HEAD OFFICE

64 Innovation Way
Lynch Wood
Peterborough
PE2 6FL
UK
T + 44 (0)1733 422161

AGILIA™ A/S
Skjernvej 42
DK-6920 Videbaek
Denmark
T + 45 97 17 33 00

AGILIA™ BRASIL
AB Brasil
Rua Cardeal Arcoverde 1641
9o andar
CEP 05407-002
São Paulo/SP
Brasil
T +55 11 95069 8461

ASIA (VIA ISN)

Vietnam +84 1234 11 44 55
Malaysia +60 12 5188 530
Thailand +66 94 9496615
Philippines +63 917 120 3788
Korea +82 2 2688 1418 agiliaglobal.com