The literature strongly points towards the fact that antibiotics can have amino acid saving properties. So it seems that animals fed without antibiotics need more amino acids in the diet for optimal growth and performance. Trials at Schothorst feed research investigated whether the AGP ban really has an effect on the amino acid requirements.

Soybean protein is a valuable resource, but it is not always used to best effect. Different processing methods produce varying quality products. Choice and assessment of soy proteins for feed applications are essential.

Re-evaluate nutritional principles in piglet feed formulation when a new major ingredient or additive is introduced. Ingredients and additives with similar roles or claims should be closely scrutinised and their inclusion be re-justified at appropriate levels. Plasma is just such an ingredient that with proper reformulation may improve feed intake and gut health in piglets without greatly increasing feed costs says Ioannis Mavromichalis Nutral.

Of the major hurdles to successful integration into the EU will be the loss of two of the staples of eastern European animal production – meat and bone meal and antibiotic growth promoters. In the last issue, Feed Mix reported on the advice available to Polish nutritionists on coping with the EU's stringent nitrogen laws. Here, some EU experts pass on their experience of surviving without AGP's and MBM.

Removal of MBM, AGP's and a reduction in nitrogen output are just a few of the challenges facing EU accession countries. There is plenty of help available to deal with this minefield of legislation, as was evident when Ajinomoto Eurolysine took western European specialists to Poland and Hungary so they could offer their wealth of experience.

How well do we understand protein nutrition? Research has led us a long way towards a full understanding of the mechanisms of digestion and absorption of proteins and amino acids, but the true value of specific intestinal transport molecules for small peptides is not as well recognised.

The European pig sector depends largely on imports for its feed base and in particular on protein imports. Self-sufficiency for proteins is only in the 30-40% range. Fefana, the European Federation of Animal Feed Additive Manufacturers, hosted a workshop in March in Brussels on the management of protein supply for European pigs up to 2010.

There is no such thing as an optimal amino acid pattern for pigs. Growth, reproduction and lactation are all states that have different requirements, as do different breeds. There are discrepancies in the recommendations from different sources that need to be resolved.