Biotechnology has the potential to increase yields in agriculture, produce high-quality feed and save resources in the manufacturing of feed ingredients. Determining which process is the most sustainable can be done by the eco-efficiency analysis. Christoph Guenther and Peter Saling explain this analytical tool by comparing biotechnologically produced vitamin b2 with the chemically produced version of this vitamin.

Ammonia emission is one of the critical environmental gases that French farmers have to reduce. In an experiment under French conditions the use of benzoic acid was tested to see if it could reduce ammonia emission in pigs.

To pig producers everywhere, piglet production is the cornerstone on which the whole pork industry stands. Without the production of as many healthy piglets as possible, without detriment to sow health, pig production would be economically much less viable. The University of Potsdam in Germany has conducted some groundbreaking work in reproductive nutrition, giving us a better understanding of the true role of beta-carotene in fertility.

The main aim of using chelated trace elements as opposed to their inorganic forms is not always to increase performance, but rather to maintain high levels of performance whilst conforming to ever tightening regulations to protect the environment. This means using lower levels of these metallic elements in a more available form. However, in some cases, productivity does also improve.

What is to be done when the interests of pig health and production clash with the environment lobby? In terms of minerals and trace elements, this has become something of a political hot potato. One Germany company has worked out a complete concept and developed products to back it up.

A variety of organic forms of chromium are available worldwide. As with all minerals, the various forms would be expected to have different bioavailability. This would logically affect efficacy and therefore purchasing decisions.

Supplementing diets with minerals can become something of a lottery, as sources differ in their bioavailability to animals. As environmentalists begin to turn their attention to trace mineral pollution, our attention must also be focused on the most efficient usage. Using chelated sources appears to give more predictable utilisation to the animal and thus reduces excretion of excess.