Jolien van Soest – Global Solution Manager – Mineral Nutrition Producers are under pressure to deliver more chicks, better chick quality, and more predictable broiler performance. Optimizing performance of broiler breeders and ensuring a good life-start of their broiler offspring is a multi-factorial issue, involving genetics, management and nutrition. One of the solutions lies in optimal trace mineral nutrition, where selenium has been shown to play an important role. In two

Modern layer genetics offer extraordinary potential. Yet across commercial operations worldwide, a consistent reality remains: actual performance often falls short of genetic capability. Where does this performance gap begin? Applied research and field experience from H&N International GmbH indicate that the gap frequently originates during one of the most biologically sensitive phases of the hen’s life — the transition from rearing to laying. The Critical Window: Light Stimu

One Health integrates human, animal, and ecosystem health to prevent diseases at their source. This integrated approach fosters collaboration across multiple sectors, disciplines and communities to optimize health outcomes, like diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and food safety, through evidence-based policies and practices. For Ecolex Animal Nutrition, this holistic approach not only fuels feed additive innovations for better gut health, immunity, and productivity—but

Quality control is essential for feed manufacturers striving to ensure ingredients and finished products meet expectations and deliver consistent performance. Good specification design, continuous feedback, and effective formulation software all play critical roles in minimizing risks—from poor performance and animal harm to reputational damage and lost profitability. In this article, Ian Mealey, Product Marketing for Formulation at Datacor Inc, discusses how modern formulati

In modern egg production, success is often judged at peak lay or later in the cycle. Yet mounting evidence from applied research shows that the most decisive period for lifetime performance occurs much earlier — during the transition from rearing to laying. The onset of egg production represents one of the most biologically demanding and economically sensitive phases in a hen’s life. Within a short timeframe, the bird must complete structural growth while activating a highly

Understanding the Importance of Pellet Cooler Design The design of a pellet cooler plays a crucial role in the overall efficiency of the manufacturing process. An effective cooler not only preserves the quality of the pellets but also contributes significantly to operational costs. By focusing on the cooler's design and operation, manufacturers can unlock substantial savings. The Financial Drain of Inefficient Airflow Cooling is essentially a process of air-based heat exchang

By Yiannis Christodoulou/ Progressus Investing in employee training and development is more than a workplace benefit; it’s a strategic decision that shapes your organization and its future. Employee development initiatives should not be entirely separated from other company activities; rather, they should be an integrated part of a company's overall strategy and culture. This approach ensures that development is relevant, continuous, and aligned with business goals, making it

Floor eggs are a common challenge in broiler breeder operations, but they come with significant risks. As Michael Longley, Managing Consultant at Food Chain Enterprises, explains, floor eggs carry a much higher risk of contamination compared to nest eggs. This contamination can drastically reduce hatchability and the overall quality of chicks, impacting farm productivity and profitability. Why Floor Eggs Matter If the proportion of floor eggs exceeds 2-3% throughout a flock’s

Cheap Machines Are Expensive Mistakes: Why Smart Feed Mills Invest for the Long Game Every ton of aqua feed your mill produces depends on one thing — your machinery. It’s the heartbeat of your operation. While saving on equipment costs might seem attractive in the short term, the real price often shows up later — in downtime, wasted material, and inconsistent product quality. In today’s competitive aquaculture industry, efficient feed production isn’t optional — it’s survival

Investing in practical, expert-led training for your Aqua Feed Mill operators isn’t just a good thing to do — it’s about building a competitive edge . When operators understand the “why”  behind the “how,”  they become proactive problem-solvers and innovation drivers. Take extrusion, for example — the critical phase where raw materials are transformed into water-stable, digestible pellets . It’s a high-pressure, high-temperature process that demands technical finesse: MOISTUR

Progressus AgriSchools, a leader in agribusiness training and consultation, successfully concluded its intensive four-day Swine Production and Management AgriSchool (SPM 2025) . Held from October 14th to 17th at the Four Points by Sheraton Sukhumvit 15 in Bangkok, the specialized course gathered swine professionals from across Asia, including Malaysia, India, and Thailand, to address the most critical factors influencing profitability and herd health in the modern swine indus

The feed industry today faces critical challenges when operating without advanced automation and integrated control systems, including: Manual monitoring of production parameters and output quality, prone to delays and errors Difficulty in optimizing equipment settings without real-time insights Labor-intensive data collection, analysis, and record generation Production inconsistencies, unplanned downtime, and equipment failures Elevated energy consumption and unnecessary ope

Understanding the Drying Process in Aqua Feed Mills Drying is the largest and most energy-consuming process in the aquafeed mill, according to Progressus facilitator Joe Kearns. Pellets typically enter the dryer at approximately 22% moisture. The targeted moisture content for dry aqua feed pellets in Asia is usually between 8-12%. Therefore, the dryer must effectively remove about 10-15% moisture from the pellets. Achieving the industry standard of drying within ±0.5% of the

This is the time of the year that the majority of businesses are investing significant amount of time and effort towards planning their next year’s success. Business plans, marketing plans, activity plans, sales plans and business spending budgets are all amongst the activities. As you and your company go about formulating your strategy and budget, ensure that the learning and development component is not missed out of the plan. Investing in employee training is a critical st

Optimizing raw materials in shrimp feed formulations is key to improving feed quality and cost-efficiency. One important factor that impacts feed quality and ingredient choices is the sinking ability of the feed. Shrimp require sinking feeds to consume food from the bottom without wasting feed or impacting water quality. Two common feed manufacturing methods to produce sinking feeds are extrusion and pelleting, each with distinct impacts on formulation flexibility and ingredi

The swine industry in Asia and Southeast Asia is evolving rapidly. Pork remains a key source of protein and plays a vital role in the...

Energy savings in feed milling go beyond simply reducing kilowatt-hours; the key is optimizing throughput capacity to achieve the lowest...

In shrimp farming, feed efficiency is critical—not only for healthy shrimp growth but also for controlling feed costs and environmental...

Moisture plays a crucial role in the feed extrusion process, influencing the quality, durability, and nutrient retention of the final...

Water is the single most consumed nutrient on swine farms, often overlooked in biosecurity plans despite pigs drinking nearly twice as...