A path to sustainable and competitive Norwegian protein production for aquaculture and livestock feed

The share of Norwegian ingredients in compound feeds for livestock and aquaculture use has been falling since 2005. Increasing domestic protein production is one of the main ways to reverse this decline. If 100% of imported proteins in livestock feed are substituted with Norwegian produced proteins, the Norwegian share is expected to increase from about 75% to 81%-83% for livestock feed. For aquafeed, if 100% of imported proteins from non-grain sources are substituted with Norwegian produced proteins, the Norwegian share in aquafeed is expected to increase from about 5.5% (2016 data) to 31.6%. Feed protein demand is estimated to increase from 987 000 metric tons (MT) in 2018 to 1 776 000 MT in 2050. 1 442 000 MT of proteins will be needed for aquafeed production and 334 000 for livestock feed production. These numbers assume a production goal of between 3-4 million MT of salmonid production by 2050. 14 promising protein production methods are evaluated, of which 8 are considered potentially viable based on criteria such as price competitiveness, sustainability and how technologically demanding production is. In total, the 8 viable methods are expected to contribute roughly 486 000 MT of proteins in 2050, in a moderate scenario. The 8 methods are mesopelagic fishing (150 000 MT), better/more roughage (120 000 MT), tunicate production (88 000 MT), increased grazing (45 000 MT), alkalized grains (30 000 MT), insect protein production (25 000 MT), meat and bone meal production (18 000 MT) and more protein- and oilseed production (10 000 MT). It is concluded that reaching full self-sufficiency of proteins by 2050 is only possible for ruminant feed, but not for other livestock feed or aquafeed, even in a best-case scenario. It may still be worthwhile to invest in domestic protein production to mitigate food security risks. The most important tool to support the growth of a domestic protein production industry is to increase R&D-funding. This is because the most promising production technologies are still in early stages of development, where progression is bottlenecked by a lack of knowledge rather than for example infrastructure or financial viability.submittedVersionM-ECO

Air Treatment Techniques for Abatement of Emissions from Intensive Livestock Production

Intensive livestock production is connected with a number of environmental effects, including emissions of ammonia (NH3), greenhouse gases (CH4 and N2O), odour, and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5). Possible strategies for emission reduction include feed management, adaptation of housing design, and, in case of mechanically ventilated animal houses, the application of end-of-pipe air treatment, viz acid scrubbers and bioscrubbers. Air treatment techniques can achieve very high emission reductions (up to 100% ammonia removal for acid scrubbers). Furthermore, air treatment offers the possibility to achieve removal of not just one compound but of a combined removal of a variety of pollutants (ammonia, odour and particulate matter) at the same time. The successful application of scrubbers is of increasing importance as intensive livestock operations have to comply with ever stricter regulations and emission limits. Research is needed to address topics such as reduction of costs (both investment and operational costs), improvement of process control to guarantee stable removal efficiencies, decrease of N2O production in bioscrubbers, and increase of odour removal efficienc

Програмна реалізація методу k-середніх інтелектуальної інформаційно-управляючої системи виробництва комбікорму

The issue of classifying data when managing technological processes and compound feed production was substantiated. The program complex performs functions of integrated optimization and analysis of compound feed and premix rations. The programs involve new pattern of ration which first takes into account losses caused by unbalanced feeding (reduction of productivity, reproduction, health and breeding abilities). The programs allow comprehensive optimization of rations, determination of necessary feed additives and formulation of recipes of compound feeds, premixes, PVMA (protein-vitamin-mineral additives), which are very well combined with basic feed and considered when planning the feed expenditure. The issue of optimization of feed production plan is important for all agricultural enterprises with livestock industries, but it is extremely topical for livestock-based industries producing feeds, since it allows finding additional feed production reserves by means of improving the structure of sown areas and feed expenditure. Before creating livestock complexes, it is necessary to identify the sources and amounts of feed supply. Substantiation of the feed base and computing of the plan variants should be implemented using methods of mathematical modeling and ECM. The analysis of data classification was made and the choice of the k-means method for feed components classification was substantiated. The software for the k-means algorithm implementation was developed and various algorithm patterns, depending on initial conditions, were worked out.Обоснована задача классификации данных при управлении технологическими процессами и производством комбикорма. Проведен анализ классификации данных, обоснован выбор метода k-средних для классификации компонентов комбикорма. Разработано программное обеспечение для реализации алгоритма k-средних и отработаны разные варианты поведения алгоритма в зависимости от начальных условий.Обгрунтована задача класифікації даних при керуванні технологічними процесами та виробництвом комбікорму. Проведений аналіз класифікації даних, обґрунтований вибір методу k-середніх для класифікації компонентів комбікорму. Розроблено програмне забезпечення для реалізації алгоритму k-середніх та відпрацьовані різні варіанти поведінки алгоритму в залежності від початкових умов

Програмна реалізація методу k-середніх інтелектуальної інформаційно-управляючої системи виробництва комбікорму

The issue of classifying data when managing technological processes and compound feed production was substantiated. The program complex performs functions of integrated optimization and analysis of compound feed and premix rations. The programs involve new pattern of ration which first takes into account losses caused by unbalanced feeding (reduction of productivity, reproduction, health and breeding abilities). The programs allow comprehensive optimization of rations, determination of necessary feed additives and formulation of recipes of compound feeds, premixes, PVMA (protein-vitamin-mineral additives), which are very well combined with basic feed and considered when planning the feed expenditure. The issue of optimization of feed production plan is important for all agricultural enterprises with livestock industries, but it is extremely topical for livestock-based industries producing feeds, since it allows finding additional feed production reserves by means of improving the structure of sown areas and feed expenditure. Before creating livestock complexes, it is necessary to identify the sources and amounts of feed supply. Substantiation of the feed base and computing of the plan variants should be implemented using methods of mathematical modeling and ECM. The analysis of data classification was made and the choice of the k-means method for feed components classification was substantiated. The software for the k-means algorithm implementation was developed and various algorithm patterns, depending on initial conditions, were worked out.Обоснована задача классификации данных при управлении технологическими процессами и производством комбикорма. Проведен анализ классификации данных, обоснован выбор метода k-средних для классификации компонентов комбикорма. Разработано программное обеспечение для реализации алгоритма k-средних и отработаны разные варианты поведения алгоритма в зависимости от начальных условий.Обгрунтована задача класифікації даних при керуванні технологічними процесами та виробництвом комбікорму. Проведений аналіз класифікації даних, обґрунтований вибір методу k-середніх для класифікації компонентів комбікорму. Розроблено програмне забезпечення для реалізації алгоритму k-середніх та відпрацьовані різні варіанти поведінки алгоритму в залежності від початкових умов

Market Review of the Welsh Organic Arable Sector, 2007

The supply situation for Welsh organic arable production Organic production in Wales has been developing steadily in the last five years, with particular emphasis on organic cattle and sheep production. This was despite over-supply conditions in some sectors, notably dairy, following the very rapid growth in 1999/2000. The area of organic arable production has tracked this increase albeit at a lower level. It is also a more complex situation than might be thought because of the different ways in which a cereal crop or mixture might be harvested. This sector is one of the least surveyed in the UK with the exception of the annual Scottish Organic Market Link Producer Survey carried out by SAC with SEERAD funding. Between the end of 2002 and end of 2005, the number of holdings increased by 12% to 688, and the certified land area increased by 29% to 71 thousand hectares, of which more than 90% is grassland. Growth in Wales has exceeded other parts of the UK, reaching 5% of agricultural land by end 2005. More rapid growth is projected for 2006 and possibly 2007. The arable area reported to Defra shows an increase over the period 2003 to 2005 (reported as end of January 2004 to end of January 2006) from 1958 ha to 2358 ha. This represents a 20% increase over the period at a time when organic grassland of all types increased by 34%. The UK position for the supply and demand of organic cereals is giving considerable cause for concern at the present particularly in the area of organic livestock feed. This has been brought about by marked increases in organic milk, pork, egg and poultry sales along with continuing expansion of the red meat sectors. This has led to a considerable imbalance that is likely to get worse over the coming years, something that will be amplified by changes in the standards with respect to non organic feed allowances. It is estimated that the UK is around 60% self sufficient in home produced feed grain – the shortfall is made up of imports from around the world and a number of factors are threatening the security of supply from many of the exporting countries. The calculations involved are subject to a number of crude assumptions and there is universal agreement that there is an urgent need for information and regularly updated statistics. Actual output of Welsh arable producers is extremely difficult to quantify precisely because it is not monitored with the regularity and at the level of detail of other sectors. Two sets of figures are available but they are difficult to compare because one relates to areas planted while the other is concerned with outputs. A producer survey was undertaken using a detailed telephone questionnaire. This was not a simple exercise as it proved difficult to obtain information from certification bodies. This meant that it was difficult to identify advance those producers that were growing arable crops. 209 producers out of a total of 502 livestock producers were contacted, responses received from 102 (a response rate of just under 50%) and 40 of these were arable producers. This cohort represented 913 ha of arable production or 29.5% of the total organic arable area in Wales. 39% of the arable crops grown by respondents were planted as mixtures (usually a cereal/protein mix), a notable difference from earlier surveys. Of the pure stands wheat comprised the largest area followed by barley, oats, triticale and beans in descending order. 50% of the crops surveyed were harvested as whole crop and 47% as grain with a total yield of 1,458 tonnes. In the year under survey the highest proportion of a single crop harvested as whole crop was wheat while oats constituted the largest harvested grain crop, results that were somewhat at odds with other work but are almost certainly a result of what was a hot, dry season with low silage yields. Only 455t of grain was actually marketed with barley accounting for the highest proportion and wheat the lowest. Yields as reported by the farmers contacted tended to be on the low side with respect to standard figures in the Organic Farm Management Handbook although oats were slightly better. Triticale was particularly poor at around 50% of standard yields. The same cohort of respondents reported reduced areas for the 2007 season, an overall reduction of 21% on 2006 figures, and an anticipated reduction in grain to be marketed (16%). Producers reported that poor producer prices are a disincentive to growing grain for the market, a somewhat surprising conclusion given the recent strong movements in organic cereal prices. Transport costs are a significant factor as the crop has to be moved out of Wales to grain merchants and/or feed mills. Extrapolation of the above figures is recognised as a risky and imperfect process but it does raise a number of questions of concern not least the existence of a decline when overall conversion and livestock numbers are increasing This was followed by a trade survey that contacted both the grain trade and compound feed producers. The responses were not all encompassing but covered 75% of the active traders in numerical terms. The responses indicated that very small quantities of grain are supplied into Wales for processing – most grain traded moved to other producers within Wales. The vast majority of feed is imported in the form of compound feed and on the basis of the responses received totalled some 13,600 tonnes for the 2006 season. Allowing for non responses it is estimated that the actual figure was around 16,000 tonnes – 11,000 t for ruminants and 5,000 t as poultry rations. Feed compounders are working on the basis of demand increasing by around 20% year on year, partly as a result of changes to the standards. It is estimated that the demand for poultry feed will increase to 9,000 t in 2009 while ruminant feed is predicted to increase to 19,000 t in 2009, a total of 28,000t. It is suggested that the cereal and protein crop requirements will be in the order of 50% of the total i.e. 14,000 t each. There is a very low level of protein production in Wales and this demand will almost certainly be fulfilled through the use of imported sources of soya. A SWOT analysis was undertaken that concluded that there are more weaknesses than strengths but that there are a number of opportunities for increases arable production not least the strengthening of prices across the board. The area of most concern and seen as a serious threat is the reported 21% decrease in plantings for the current season. Recommendations Despite the generally positive outlook from a demand perspective, there is a need to address some of the factors that might discourage producers from converting, including disruption to the Organic Farming Scheme, price levels that do not always reflect the costs of production, access to markets and a distinct lack of support for the sector. To address this, there is a need for: • better statistical data on current and future production levels and market shares and a wider appreciation of the need for improved levels of self sufficiency; • greater publicity should be given to events and trends in the wider organic cereal market to ensure that Welsh organic livestock producers have all the facts when planning for the future; • a series of events, articles and other media coverage and special attention should be given to these issues in the Organic Market Wales e-bulletin; • enhanced payments through the OFS through a mechanism that replaces the previous AAPS rate; • the new Farming Connect service to focus on the potential for home grown feed when working with organic livestock producers; • an increasing focus on education in order to signpost opportunities for young people; • an evaluation of the potential for the establishment of an organic feed compounding operation in Wales – this could reduce costs and also provide market opportunities for arable producers; • improved production systems, supported by effective research and development and knowledge transfer; • parallel improvements in variety and mixture choices – this may involve new introductions, a re-evaluation of varieties deemed to have been out-classed and the development of landraces; • a clear identification of suitable areas for organic arable production along with guidance on what crops to grow in the particular soil types and prevailing climate • improved integration of effort between organic sector businesses and the agencies that support the development of the Welsh horticultural and organic sectors; • improved linkages with the dairy, arable and red meat sectors to benefit from complementarity relationships between the sectors at production, market development and promotional levels

Development and performance evaluation of a livestock feed chopper/pulverizer

Crop residues are bulky and low in nutrients. Their size reduction is imperative in order to compound them with other feed ingredients to achieve balanced feedstock for livestock. A chopping and pulverizing machine was designed and constructed to chop and pulverized feed materials. It comprises of chopping hopper, pulverizing hopper, metering device, chopping/ pulverizing chamber, screen and the processed feed outlet. The performance of the machine was evaluated on the basis of throughput capacity, pulverizing efficiency, scatter losses as dependent variables while moisture content was the independent variable. There were two level of speeds (1500 rpm and 2100 rpm) and five levels of moisture content (13 %, 16 %, 19 %, 21 %, 24 %, and 27 % dry basis). The throughput capacity, pulverizing efficiency had highest values of 222 kg/h and of 92.5 % respectively at moisture content level of 13 % (db) and 2100 rpm speed. However, the least scatter losses obtained was 2.5 % at moisture content level of 27 % (db) and 1500 rpm speed. As the moisture content increased, throughput capacity, pulverizing efficiency and scatter losses decreases at both speeds. The developed machine could enhance the use of crop residues in feeding livestock which could ultimately reduce the cost of livestock feed production

100% Organic Livestock Feeds – preparing for 2005

A project entitled “100% Organic Livestock Feeds – Preparing for 2005” looking at the implications for organic farmers of the removal of the current derogation to use a percentage of non-organic livestock feeds. 1) Researching the required volume of feed stuff, in particular protein crops, and potential for feed production within Wales. 2) Researching the suitability of alternative protein sources, and evaluating livestock systems regarding the potential for a reduction in energy and protein levels. 3) Proposing strategies for the development and stimulation of the industry

The effect of feeding urea and stilbestrol on ration digestibility and on calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen retention in lambs

Considerable information may be derived through the use of digestion and balance studies in determining the utilization of feed nutrients by livestock. Micro-organisms found in the gastro-intestinal tract of ruminants do a large part of the digestion, which results in the production of various nutrients that are necessary for the proper growth of the body. As an example, urea nitrogen may be broken down by these bacteria to be used to produce some of the essential amino acids for body growth. For a number of years, organic forms of nitrogen have been substituted for a part of the protein requirements for ruminants, Comercial urea, which contains nitrogen equivalent to 262 percent crude protein, is the common form of organic nitrogen fed to livestock. Many experiments have been conducted to study the feeding value and use of urea as a protein substitute. Recently, considerable work has been devoted to study the value of stilbestrol for fattening farm livestock. Stilbestrol is a synthetic chemical compound with estrogenic properties which has been shown to have some effect on rate of gain, feed efficiency and carcass quality with some classes of livestock. There is very little information regarding the metabolic action of this compound and its effect on urea utilization. This investigation was conducted to determine the effect that stilbestrol had when added to the rations of chewed grass hay plus either corn and cottonseed meal or corn and urea. Digestion and balance studies were made to determine the percentage of digestibility of feed nutrients and to determine the amount of calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen that was retained by the lambs fed various rations

Review of obstacles to meeting the Defra Action Plan targets for organic cereals

The Defra ‘Action Plan to Develop Organic Food and Farming in England’ identifies cereals as the organic commodity farthest from meeting demand from UK production. The project quantified the extent and nature of this deficit and collected information on constraints from research projects and reviews, from advisers & farmers and from cereal buyers & end users. The obstacles to increased organic cereal production were identified and suggestions made on what Defra and the industry could do to help overcome them. The study focused on England but, as the main buyers of cereals operate across the UK, the supply and demand modelling was of necessity done on that basis. As identified by the Defra Organic Action Plan and by the Scotland and Wales plans, there is a lack of collated and reliable data on organic and in-conversion crop areas across the UK. Our calculations are based on best estimates, where possible confirmed from more than one source. There is a very limited scope for an increase in total grain production from existing organic farms due to rotational limitations. It is clear from consultations with grain buyers that their overwhelming requirement is for wheat for breadmaking and animal feed. Triticale and barley will continue to be difficult to sell to the feed compounders. There may be some scope for changing the balance of cereal species grown on existing organic farms. However, this is likely to be limited by constraints of location and soil type as the majority of the organic land in England, and in the UK, is on soils unsuited to wheat production. It may be more productive to seek direct sale to other farmers for these grains. The fragmented nature of supply with many farms selling small quantities of grain makes sourcing supply of consistent quality difficult for the large purchasers. Co-operation, with regional cleaning and storage facilities, has been suggested by many as a way to more effectively compete with imports. Work in this area has been started by Organic Grain LINK with Defra support under the ERDP. Our consultations show that the dominant constraints to further conversion to organic methods are concerns about marketing and profitability. These concerns are not specific to cereals which have remained relatively profitable, but are more related to falling prices for other products such as potatoes, and some vegetables. These potentially high gross-margin crops are the key to farm profitability in stockless arable systems where they balance the high levels of set-aside employed. With slowing retail growth and still more land coming through conversion, this situation is unlikely to improve in the short term. Although technical constraints are not dominant in decisions of conversion, they are limiting yield and quality of organic cereals and hence also the saleability and value of the grain. A better understanding of N availability should come from Defra project OF0316 but further work on agronomy and grain quality is necessary. We recommend action in four areas, in line with priorities 2, 4 and 5 in the Defra Action Plan: 1. The most critical constraint on the development of the UK organic cereal supply is economic viability, particularly in the context of a 2-3 year lag between starting conversion and marketing organic produce. It is recommended that the new support system (under ELS) should be devised to deliver long-term environmental benefits (through ongoing payments) while minimising short-term market distortions (through conversion support). A higher level of annual payment than the modified OFS is needed, as £30/ha is unlikely to provide sufficient incentive for further substantial conversion of arable farms. 2. The availability of good data on supply and demand, by species, is needed. This would give buyers and sellers more confidence and help farmers plan rotations to better meet market demand. This shortcoming was identified in the Defra Organic Action Plan and action is underway. 3. Co-operation between organic cereal producers should be encouraged to allow better cleaning & storage, and bulking to create larger quantities for sale. The Organic Grain Link initiative is helping publicise the availability of support from ERDP for marketing and facilities and could be a model for wider application. 4. Whilst not the primary constraint to increase in cereal production, technical issues are limiting the yield and quality of grain, farm profitability, adding cost to the supply chain, and making produce less competitive with imports. Direct issues include improving breadmaking quality and a better understanding of the interactions of seed rate, sowing date and row width. There are also issues affecting organic livestock production that will impact on demand for cereals. These include the ending of the derogations on feeding synthetic amino acids, non-organic feed inclusion and pullet rearing. These will all add substantially to livestock production costs and are likely to require further research to find innovative technical and management solutions to maintain and expand these sectors and their associated demands for cereals. Defra funding may be necessary to make immediate progress on these issues in view of the current stop on new projects by the HGCA. Future changes in supply and demand for organic cereals will be influenced by a range of complex and interacting factors which make precise predictions of the likely impacts of these actions impossible. However, together they should help maintain current organic cereal production and create the best environment for the industry to respond to future market needs