Think Grain Think Feed July 2019

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Monthly Magazine for Feed Technology
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Volume 5 | Issue 09
July-2019

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Monthly Magazine for Feed Technology
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
Marketing &
Designing
Ashwani Verma
Dr. Dinesh T. Bhosale
Former Chairman, CLFMA of India
Mr. Amit Sachdev
Indian Representative, US Grain Council
Dr. P.E. Vijay Anand
US Soybean Export Council
Dr. Suhas Amrutkar
Subject Matter Specialist, Animal Nutrition,
MAFSU, Parbhani
Dr. SN Mohanty
Former Principal Scientist, CIFA
Dr. Meeta Punjabi Mehta
Agricultural Economist
Dr. Swamy Haladi
Feed Additive Expert
Dr. R Gnana Sekar
Lead Consultant, GS Dairy Farm Consulting
Dr. Suraj Amrutkar
Assistant Professor, Dept. of ILFC,
SKUAST-J, Jammu
www.benisonmedia.com
Managing Editor
Dr. T.K. Walli
Former Head,
Dairy Cattle Nutrition, NDRI
EDITORIAL
Use of GM crops has become a debatable issue
since long in some countries including India.
While in US, there is no segregation offood and
feed items on the basis of whether it is from
genetically modified seeds or normal seeds, here in India, the decision
to ban the use of GM seeds has finally been taken, which is causing
disappointment among farmers. Under the new law, anyone
possessing or sowing banned seeds of genetically modified crops can
be fined INR 1 lakh and sent to jail for 5 years. But recently, Shetkari
Sanghathana – a farmer's organization has announced that it would
hold a Satyagrah by planting genetically modified cotton and brinjal.
In fact, the Sangathana's activists have said that they are willing to risk
jail for planting the crop, which they say, promise them better yields
and remunerative prices. However, only a few days back Maharashtra
govt hasbegun a crackdown on farmers who under the banner of the
Shetkari sanghatana are sowing banned genetically modified cotton
and bringalseeds, as part of the protest in Akoladistrict.
It may be worthwhile to mention here that in a collaborative
research project with Monsanto, a trial on BT Cotton seed cake was
conducted on crossbred milch cattle at NDRI, Karnal. The BT protein
was identified from the cake sample, but no trace of such a protein was
found in the milk of the animals fed BT Cotton seed cake. Obviously,
the protein got digested in the GI tract and was not absorbed as
protein as such to go into the circulation. The results confirmed that
feeding of BT Cotton seed had no adverse effect on the animals fed the
cake. Since the milk produced by such animals was free from any
external agent/ protein, which could cause damage to the human
consumingsuch milk, therefore, in the light of results obtained at a
national Institute, govt may reconsider its decision and lift the ban on
the cultivation of BT Cotton, so that farmers get higher yields and earn
higher profits.
Crop diversification: Haryana takes the initiative
The depleting ground water table in the country, especially in
paddy growing areas, is posing a big challenge, rather a threat to the
crop production in the country. Under the scheme, “Jal hi jiwan”,
Haryana govt. has launched a crop diversification scheme, which
appears to be the beginning of the sustained campaign to check
excessive exploitation of underground water. A beginning has been
made by 11 thousand Haryana farmers, who have now opted for crop
diversification and have pledged not to plant paddy on 7,443
hactares of land in eight blocks of seven districts in the state. Instead,
they are switching over to less water intensive crops, such as maize and
oil seeds. Indirectly, this shift is going to prove good for feed industry
as, the availability of feed ingredients shall also grow up.
TK Walli
Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 5 | Issue 09 | July 2019
Circulation & Subscription Head
Ramesh Kumar
Controversy on the use of
GM crops in India continues
unabated
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INDUSTRY NEWS
06
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Prachi Arora |
Monthly Magazine for Feed & Feed Technology
Vollume 1 | Issue 10 | August 2015
Think Grain Think Feed is a monthly magazine published by BENISON Media at its office in Karnal. Editorial
policy is independent. Views expressed by authors are not necessarily those held by the editors. The
data/information provided in the magazine is sourced through various sources and the publisher considers its
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SURVEY
R&D
ARTICLE
05
22-23 August
2019
07-09 Feb
2020
UPCOMING
EVENTS
FeedTechExpo 2020Animal Feed Technology
Grape pomace may fight
challenge of the disease faced
by farmed fish
Management of Poultry Feed and
Water Hygiene
Improved performance through improved
water quality
08
12
Fall Army Worm has spread to more States
in India-Agriculture Minister
18
20
22
Cattle Feed Mycotoxin Survey by Cargill16
International Agri Co-operatives Announce
Dairy Animal Feed Joint Venture In China
USDA: Estimates for corn,
soybean and wheat
IGC predicts reduced world corn
and soy crop for 2019-20
China finds armyworm in major
corn-growing province
22
PELETING TIPS
12 Principles of mash
conditioning
VICTAM and VIV join forces to fuel
growth in the Asian market
China's soybean production push
weakens as subsidies dry up
27
28

R&D
05
A team of researchers from the Federal
University of Santa Maria and the State
University of Santa Catarina in Brazil
explored the use of marc (GPF) flour in
diets of grass carp raised in the face of
a disease. The researchers published
details of their work in the magazine,
aquaculture.
"The purpose of this study was to
evaluate whether supplementation with
GPF is able to reduce or prevent the
impairment of cellular energy
homeostasis in experimentally infected
herbaceous carp with P. aeruginosa,"the
researchers said.
The researchers found that the addition
of 300 mg of pomace flour / kg of feed
could alleviate the activities of creatine
kinase (CK), adenylate kinase (AK),
pyruvate kinase (PK) and lactate
dehydrogenase (LDH) compared to
other infected fish but results were not
the same as those of the uninfected
control group.
However, the GPF supplement has
prevented alterations in the oxidative
damage resulting from the disease, the
researchers said.
"The use of 300 mg of GPF / kg of feed
has exerted protective effects on
branched energy metabolism linked to
the metabolism of ATP reducing the
impairment of cellular energy
homeostasis; its effects can be
mediated by prevention of the
oxidation of the SH group," they added.
Aquaculture and disease
Aquaculture production is a rapidly
expanding industry with an average
growth rate of 5.8% from 2000 to 2016,
the researchers said. By 2016 it has
generated about 80 million tons of
food fish.
However, dependence on intensive farming practices to
meet demand has triggered outbreaks of several
pathogenic organisms including Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, they said. The Gram-negative bacterium is a
common pathogen found both in sweet and marine
aquaculture, and in relation to the "Red skin
disease,"which affects several species including Nile
tilapia, Mozambique tilapia, silver catfish and herbivorous
carp.
The disease is characterized by dark skin, ascites, gill rot,
petechial haemorrhage and exophthalmia, they said. "The
gills are the organ most affected by the P. aeruginosa
infection, which has been observed to cause severe
destruction of primary and secondary lamellae, edema,
hyperplasia, telangiectasia and desquamation," they
added.
In fish, the phosphorylated transfer system plays a role in
coupling the production and consumption of adenosine
triphosphate (ATP), the researchers said. The process is
fundamental to the "Bioenergetics and homeostasis" of
organisms.
"The enzymes creatine kinase (CK), adenylate kinase (AK)
and pyruvate kinase (PK) have been linked to the efficient
transfer of high-energy phosphoryl and signal
communication in the cell to maintain energy
balance,"they said.
However, P. aeruginosa infection is thought to hinder
cellular energy homeostasis by downregulating the
activity of enzymes involved in the phosphoryl transfer
network in the gills of infected fish, they said. That
interaction adds to the "Pathophysiology of the disease."
"The alteration of CK, AK and PK activities causes a rapid
decrease in global ATP concentrations during P.
aeruginosa infection, which contributes directly to the
pathogenesis of fish disease and mortality," they said. "In
this sense, the search for treatments that reduce or
prevent alterations of the phosphoryl transfer network
could be considered an appropriate approach to avoid
this situation and the consequent mortality of the fish."
Why use pomace flour in aquaculture diets?
Use of vegetables or "natural"Additives such as essential
oils have been a more recent approach to the prevention
or limitation of bioenergetic dysfunctions related to a
Grape pomace may fight
challenge of the disease faced
by farmed fish
M. Baldissera, C. Souza, S. Descovi, C. Verdi, C. Zeppenfeld, A. da Silva, R. Santos, B. Baldisserotto

06
Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 5 | Issue 09 | July 2019R&D
compromised phosphotransfer
network, the researchers said.
Grape pomace is a bio-residue from
wine production, they said. It has
"Powerful immunomodulatory
effects"On the immune function of
herbaceous carp infected with P.
aeruginosa, which appears to be related
to resveratrol (RSV).
"In this regard, Bottari et al. (2015)
revealed that RSV was able to avoid the
inhibition of CK and AK brain activity
during toxoplasmosis, abolishing the
energy imbalance between ATP
production and; use of ATP," the
researchers said.
"Our hypothesis is that the use of GPF
can reduce or prevent the impairment
of the cellular energy homeostasis
caused by the P. aeruginosa infection,"
they added.
Feed test details
During the food and disease challenge
process, 120 young people received
one of three diets, the researchers said.
The fish were acclimatized for 10 days,
received the feed for 60 days and then
half of the fish was injected with a
strain of P. aeruginosa.
The diets included a control diet and
that diet with two levels of additive GPF
at 150 mg or 300 mg / kg, they said.
The GFP used was commercially
available and the chemical composition
of the GPF was checked.
"The animals were divided into six
groups (AF, n = 6 per group, in triplicate)
as follows: groups A and D received the
basal diet (without GPF
supplementation), groups B and E
received a diet containing 150 mg of GPF
/ kg of feed, while groups C and F
received a diet containing 300 mg of GPF
/ kg of feed," tThe researchers said.
"After 60 days, the groups from D to F
were experimentally infected."
Fifteen days after infection, a selection of
fish was collected and their branched
tissue was collected and checked
"Measurements of parameters related to
oxidative stress," they said. The
homogenates for "Measurements of the phosphoryl transfer
network," they were also analyzed to verify AK, PK and
cytosolic activity and mitochondrial CK.
Lipid peroxidation, non-protein thiols (NPSH) and proteins
(PSH) were measured together with the activity of CK, AK
and PK. The branched levels of reactive oxygen species
(ROS) and peroxidation of proteins and lipids were
established and an MTT assay was completed.
Results
The researchers discovered an interaction between the
infection and the use of the GPF supplement on the
cytosolic gill activity and mitochondrial CK. CK activity
decreased in infected fish compared to uninfected fish,
while infected fish in integrated 300 mg feed saw better
activity.
"The infection caused by P. aeruginosa PA01 causes a
branched bioenergetic dysfunction in the herbivorous carp,
as observed in the gills of the experimentally infected silver
catfish from this bacterium," they said. "The most important
finding revealed in the present study is that the food
supplement with 300 mg of GPF / kg of feed improves the
activity of enzymes belonging to the phosphotransfer
network, which can contribute to an efficient intracellular
energy communication between the synthesis and
consumption of cellular ATP."
"Furthermore, this improvement effect on the
phosphotransfer network appears to be linked to the
protective effects against oxidative damage," they added.
The infected fish that received the 300 mg supplement also
improved the responses for the branching activity of AK and
PK compared to infected fish, but the level of activity was
not as high as the fish in the control group, they said.
researchers. LDH branchial was higher in infected fish than
in fish in the fish control group or infected fish on the
300mg diet.
The TBARS and ROS gill levels had increased in infected fish,
but both uninfected fish and those with the 300 mg diet
avoided the increase, they said. The infection has also
increased the oxidation levels of branched lipids (LOOH)
for fish, while the 300 mg supplement has reduced the
increase.
The carbonylation levels of branchial proteins have
increased in infected fish, they said. Addition, "Integration
with 300mg of GPF / kg of feed (group F) avoided the
increase in protein carbonylation levels in experimentally
infected fish with P. aeruginosa and the levels were similar
to the control group (group A).”
They said that NPSH and PSH levels decreased for
infected fish compared to fish in the control group.
However, the addition of 300 mg of GPF allowed the fish
to avoid falling.
Source: aquaculture

08
ARTICLE Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 5 | Issue 09 | July 2019
In today's scenario of intensive poultry
farming, the birdsare exposed to
various stressors during its production
cycle to reap the genetic potential of
the bird to the maximum extent possible. Under
thesesituations bird's gut health can be compromised to a
larger extent if not taken care of. Healthy gut comprises of
a diverse and well-balanced microbiota, good gut wall
integrity (as shown in Fig. 1) and immunity which all
heavily influence the digestive efficacy of the gut and the
subsequent bird's overall production efficiency. The
various factors that can influence the gut health are
hygiene of feed, water, environmentand hatchery, vertical
transmission, disease carriers and vectors etc. Of these,
the factors that are well within the control of poultry
producers are hygiene of feed and water.
I. Feed Hygiene Management:
Feed, as usual, stays to be the highest contributor for
poultry production costs to the tune of 70-75%. With sky
rocketing prices of Maize, this number should be
somewhere around 80% in the current situation. A well-
defined strategic approach needs to be designed and
followed with respect to quality control of feed.
a. Raw material quality control:
Stringent quality control measures should be in place with
respect to acceptance of raw materials received at the
feed mill. With South-West monsoon striking in, the raw
material moisture is ought to go up either due to the high
Management of Poultry
Feed and Water Hygiene
Dr. Swamy Haladi & Dr. Sabiha Kadari-Trouw Nutrition India
Fig 1: Integrity of gut:
Source: Internal
ImageSource:WATTAgNet

09
moisture possibility at harvest or during
transit of the raw materials. The raw
material moisture seen nowadays is in
the tune of 14-18%. High moisture
content can pose problems of fungal
contamination and further production
of mycotoxins in grains and bacterial
and fungal contamination in protein
sources. Quicker and reliable analytical
technologies/methods need to be
followed for having a detailed nutrient
and toxin profile of the raw material in
receipt.
b. Raw material storage:
A good raw material can turn out to be
a not so good one, if not stored
effectively. Optimal storage is very
much critical, more so true, when the
raw material moisture is on the higher
end. Sufficient care should be taken with
respect to apt ventilation in the storage
area, use of wooden pallets, spacing
between the bags and the bags from the
wall, stacking of bags etc.
If the raw materials are not stored
properly, specifically the grains with
high moisture, it may lead to fungal
growth with eventual production of
mycotoxins (aflatoxins and ochratoxins
– storage mycotoxins). The inventory of
Fig 2: Benefits of synergistic organic acids blend over single organic acid
Source: Internal
raw materials with high fat content like rice polish, full fat
soya, corn gluten meal should not be more than 15 days,
owing to the rancidity of fat. The oil tanks/cans/containers
once opened should be added with an effective
antioxidant to prevent oxidation, during storage.
In addition, with respect to storage of raw materials in silo,
if sufficient steps not taken, silo can turn as a bane rather
than a boon – spoiling the quality of huge lot of raw
materials that are stored within it. There should be
sufficient airflow maintained within the silos, to prevent
excessive heat buildup with associated fungal sporulation
and growth.
c. Feed mill management:
Routine feed mill audits have to be carried out as an
approach to improve feed mill efficiency. All the
machinery of feed mill should be flushed with a good
acidifier as a part of feed mill hygiene program, to take
care of any fungal/bacterial contamination that would
have occurred in the machinery.
d. Usage of feed additive concepts:
Organic acid concepts when used in a proper way are
proven to work effectively in management of feed
hygiene. Various concepts have been used for prevention
of mold, bacteria etc. in feed. Certain organic acid
combinations work to improve the gut health of poultry
that might have been affected due to poor feed hygiene –
due to its poor management at farm/feed mill. The type of
organic acids, the form in which it is included, their pKa,
stability etc. play a crucial role in determining the efficacy
of organic acid concept. It is always judicious to use a
blend of organic acids than a single organic acid, to have
synergistic and broad-spectrumaction, as shown in Fig. 2.
e. Feed storage and logistics:
Measures similar to that adopted for raw material storage
need to be followed for storage of feed at feed mill as
well. Similarly, it is always better if the feed is transferred
to farms in clean trucks and with transit time of not more
than 2 to 3 days, to avoid probable microbial exposure

10
ARTICLE Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 5 | Issue 09 | July 2019
and harsh external environmental
conditions, respectively.
f. Feed management at farm:
Fresh feed should always be provided
to birds. Similarly, the feeder should be
cleaned on a daily basis to prevent
microbial growth. The feeder height
should be optimal to prevent
contamination of feed with fecal matter.
Additionally, feed spillage, needs to be
equally avoided with proper feed
management practices, which can serve
as an invite to the pests and rodents
further threatening feed hygiene.
II. Management of Water:
An equally important factor that
contributes to maintaining the hygiene
of poultry is Water. Poultry producers
do not spend much money (as
compared to feed) on the water quality
that is been offered to poultry. It has
been neglected by many. Nevertheless,
it is the most critical inputs of poultry
production, without which the bird's
feed intake, feed digestion, absorption
or any of the metabolic activities would
not be taking place inside the bird's
body. The various factors to be
considered in the management of water
hygiene are as detailed below,
a. Quality control of water:
Water has been to be regularly checked
once in three months, and when there
is a change in season, in an
authenticated laboratory for pH,
hardness, microbiology, TDS, ORP and
specific inorganic matter. With the onset of monsoon –
the rain, will invariably increase the ground water table
content, but it also washes along with it various unwanted
sediments/residues of inorganic matter, sewage waste etc.
Therefore, in the rainy season, extra care should be taken
with respect to enhancing the water quality.
b. Management of pipelines & waterers:
The pipelines need to be flushed adequately between the
flocks with a good acidifier to take care of any biofilm that
has been developed during the process of flock grow out.
Biofilm is conglomeration of bacterial growth, that
effectively reduce both the quality and quantity of water
that is been offered to birds, as shown in Fig. 3. If not
adequately treated, biofilms can produce a dangerous
threat with respect to water hygiene, causing microbial
contamination of water, which is supposedly been, treated
to take care of the microbes (but does not happen so
because of the biofilms).
The waterers and canisters should be regularly cleaned
and adequate height need to be maintained for waterers,
to avoid any external contamination. Fresh water should
always be provided to birds. Additionally, the water tanks
need to be regularly cleaned as well in weekly or biweekly
intervals. They should be covered properly, to avoid any
rain water contamination.
c. Inclusion of water additives:
Acidification of water to a pH of 5.5 is necessary, if good
water quality is to be guaranteed. Sanitizers will not work
efficiently or may not work at all if the water pH is above
6.0. The chlorine based sanitizers will be effective only if
the pH of water is acidic as shown in Table 1 below.
Good quality water cum gut acting organic acids need to
be added in water, to promote hygiene of water as well
gut. The additives/concepts thus included, should be the
ones that are capable of providing a stable water quality
throughout the day.
a. Role of laboratory:
An in-house laboratory is best option for analysis of feed
ingredients and water. Otherwise, a third party animal
nutrition laboratory that is capable of providing apt and
prompt assay results needs to be identified. The right
quantity of sample needs to be drawn for physical and
chemical analysis. Adequate sampling of ingredients is
crucial for mycotoxin analysis, wherein 90% of the errors in
toxin assay arise from improper sampling. The sample
drawn should be representative of the lot and should be
carried out using a proper sampling instrument, and
should be collected and sent in a sealable container or
zip-lock plastic pouches. For water samples, the water
Fig. 3: Biofilms clogging the pipeline
Source: Internal

11
needs to be collected in sterile
vials/bottles and should be packed
sufficiently (in dry ice if distance is
longer), so as to reach the laboratory
within 24 hours, if a microbiological
analysis is intended. The quality control
laboratory should be very quick
enough in providing reliable assay
results.
Of late, there are various innovative
technologies that can be used at the
farm level (bringing the lab to the
sample rather than other way round),
for providing a real-time, rapid and
accurate analysis of nutrient profile of
feed ingredients and water quality. The
poultry producer need to be prudent
enough to adopt these technologies for
enabling a quicker decision process.
To conclude, the management of feed
and water hygiene is very critical in controlling the overall
poultry performance. With changing mindset of human
consumer, who is now looking for a safe produce
(meat/egg), in his plate, and to enable the farm to fork
concept, a safe poultry production need to be ensured.
This can be possible by adopting the various holistic steps
detailed above for maintaining the hygiene of feed and
water. The challenges would vary from farm to farm, and
hence the solutions need to be customized as per the
prevailing conditions.
For further assistance, you may contact at customercareindia@trouwnutrition.com
pH % Hypochlorous acid (rapidly effective) % Hypochlorous (slow activity)
4
5
6
7
7.5
8
9
100
99
96
75
48
22
7
0
1
4
25
52
78
93
Table 1: Correlation between water pH and chlorine
The Fall Army Worm (FAW), a pest
found to attack maize and other crops,
had spread to 14 States in the country
till May this year as against eight States
affected in 2018-19, agriculture minister
Narendra Singh Tomar recently
informed the Parliament.
But, the area affected is still less than
last year, he said.
The new States where the FAW
infestation is wreaking havoc are those
from the North-eastern region. While
two major States which the infestation
had a major impact on last year —
Karnataka and Telangana — have so far
remained free of the pest, the attack
seems to be rampant in Nagaland,
Manipur and Mizoram, Tomar said in a
reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
Last year, the worm, which
predominantly attacks the maize crop
and sorghum and ragi to some extent,
affected an area of 2,11,300 hectares in
Karnataka and 24,288 hectares in Telangana. In
comparison, it has so far destroyed 4,553 ha in
Nagaland, 4,342 ha in Manipur and 1,877 ha in
Mizoram.
According to the minister, a high-power committee has
been formed with the agriculture secretary and
department of agriculture research and extension
secretary as heads to review the status and recommend
appropriate strategies.
Similarly, sub-committees have been constituted in the
States of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh,
Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar and
Rajasthan.
The Indian Council of Agriculture Research has prepared
a detailed Package of Practices (POP) against the pest in
the Maize crop. Among other things, it contains
mechanical, cultural, biological and chemical measures
to control FAW.
The POP has been circulated to all the States for
implementation. Timely advisories are being issued
regularly to State agricultural departments to adopt
preventive measures, Tomar said.
Source: businessline
Fall Army Worm has spread to
more States in India-Agriculture
Minister
INDUSTRYNEWS

12
ARTICLE
Improved performance
through improved water
quality
The gradual removal of all antibiotic
growth promoters from animal feed has
focused attention on other strategies
for ensuring efficient production and
bird health. Inorder to reach this
objective, producers have combined
improved systems to reduce
microbialcontamination in feed with
changes in diet structure and
composition to optimize the
gutmicroflora.The interest in the use of
organic acids (OAs) in poultry is based
on their potential to provide
amechanism for sanitization of the feed
or water and also the possibility of
modifying the gutmicroflora. Single
acids and acid blends have been used
in poultry diets to improve
feedefficiency and also to reduce
Salmonella contamination in feed and
this approach has beenextended to
treatment of drinking water. Using OA in water is an
efficient way to treat or prevent enteritis with a lot of
flexibility in dosage and timing of application. Acid
applications in the drinking water generally have their
antimicrobial activity by decreased pH to prevent
bacterial growth with a “mouthwash effect”. Selection of
a single acid or an acid blend, however,requires an
understanding of the mode of action of the product in
order to target a particularproduction situation.
Organic Acids and its importance:
Organic acid is defined as a carbon containing molecule
with at least one carboxyl group with the general
structure (RCOOH). Many compounds are therefore
organic acids, however only a small number is of
interest for their biocide and growth promotion
properties. Organic acids are one of the most feasible
candidates for nontherapeutic antibiotic replacement in
poultry production. Like antibiotics, organic acids have a
specific antimicrobial activity; that is particularly
effective against acid-intolerant species such as C.
perfringens, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Listeria.
Dr. Koushik De-NOVUS Animal Nutrition
ImageSource:MWIAnimalHealth

13
organic acids is to provide specific biocide activity
against bacteria, yeast and molds. The response of
certain OA controlling bacterial growth is pH
dependent (chart 2). Therefore, certain OA are good
candidates for control of bacterial growth in the
stomach, but not good candidates for control of
bacterial growth in the small intestine Mineral acids like
sulfuric acid or phosphoric acids do not have the
biocide properties of OA, apart from their pH effect
(chart 2).
The degree of antimicrobial effect
varies from one acid to another and is
dependent on the concentration and
pH.
Difference between organic acids
and inorganic acids:
As already stated organic acids are
characterized by the presence of a
carboxylic acid group (COOH).
Inorganic acids such as hydrochloric
acid (HCl) do not contain this functional
group. Inorganic acids are good at
reducing pH, but unlike organic acids
are not particularly good antimicrobials.
Organic acids used in animal
nutrition:
The main organic acids used in animal
nutrition are formic, propionic, butyric,
lactic, acetic, fumaric, citric, sorbic,
benzoic, and HMTBa. They are used “as
is” as acids or as salts of ammonium,
calcium or sodium, potassium. The
mineral acids like phosphoric acid and
sulfuric acid can also be used to create
blends. All these acids have specific
individual properties. Their association
in blends makes sense to take
advantage of additive or potential
synergistic effects. (chart1) main role of
Chart 1: Main organic acids used in animal nutrition, their state – Liquid or
Powder –, Molecular Weight and pKa. (Novus)
Acid State Formula MW pKa
Formic L H COOH 46 3.75
Acetic L CH3 COOH 60 4.76
Propionic L CH3 CH2 COOH 74 4.88
Butyric L CH3 Ch2 CH2 COOH 88 4.82
Lactic L CH3 CH(OH) COOH 90 3.83
Sorbic P CH3 CH:CH CH:CH COOH 112 4.76
Fumaric P COOH CH:CH COOH 116 3.02
Malic P COOH CH2 CH(OH)COOH 134 3.40
Tartaric P COOH CH(OH) CH(OH) COOH 150 2.93
HMTBa L CH3S CH3 CH2 CH(OH) COOH 150 3.53
Citric P COOH CH2 C(OH)(COOH) CH2 COOH 192 3.13
Chart 2: Certain organic acids are strong bactericides at low pH. A pH of 4
controls the bacterial growth. At this same pHthe presence of lactic or formic
acid demonstrates a bactericide effect. (MRP, 2000)
Antimicrobial mechanisms of Organic Acid:
Only a few OA have antibacterial properties and to very
different degree. It is likely related to their non-
dissociated form [R-COOH]. This chemical form is
lipophilic and can enter the bacteria membrane more
easily than the dissociated form. Once inside the cell, it
can express its toxicity to the cell for all organic acids,
the lower the pH, the more there will be active non-
dissociated forms, the stronger the effect.

ARTICLE
14
pKa value does not always predict
OA biocide properties:
The pKa is a chemical measurement, it
is the pH at which 50% of an acid is
dissociated and non-dissociated in
solution. It is not a predictor of biocide
properties: formic (pKa: 3.7) and lactic
(pKa: 3.8) have similar pKa and formic
has stronger antibacterial effects. Lactic
acid has a lower pKa than sorbic acid
(pKa 4.7) but is less antibacterial.
However, an OA with a low pKa will be
much more biocide at low pH than at
higher pH, as more of it will be non-
dissociated. This is particularly the case
for formic acid. A biocide OA with a
higher pKa, like sorbic acid, is more
likely to be active at higher pH. The
same can be said for propionic acid
(pKa 4.88). In conclusion, pKa is not
good at predicting the biocide effect of
an OA but predicting the pH range of
effectiveness of OA with biocide
properties.
Importance of Formic acid in organic
acid blend:
Formic acidisa strong bactericide at low
pH conditions (pKa 3.75, chart 1). This
effect is likelythe strongest among all
OA . Formic acid is also a strong acid in
terms of impact on pH and Acid
Binding Capacity (ABC), the closest to
mineral acid. Its low molecular weight
(46) means it brings more H+ than any
other organic acid on a weight basis. It
is utilized in most OA blends. Formic is
very volatile, pungent and corrosive,
making its usage difficult. This
pungency / aggressiveness is often reduced by buffering
with ammonia, to the detriment of its efficiency.
Importance of Propionic acid in organic acid blend:
Propionic is the strongest antimold OA with also
bactericide properties. This acid can be used alone in raw
materials of feed as an effective antimold. In blends
Propionic is often complemented in this usage with some
formic acid for a good coverage of mold and bacteria.
Importance of HMTB acid inorganic acid blend:
HMTB acid is the only known OA with biocide properties
including sulfur (Chart 1). It is mainly used in the feed
industry as a methionine source. The bactericide
properties of HMTBa are similar to those of formic acid
and a strong synergy between the two acids exist. In
enteritis, where gut cells are exposed to a high rate of
toxins and free radicals, an additional methionine source
as a methyl donor for the gut is also of interest for being a
precursor of spermine and spermidine (gut cell growth
promoter) and of glutathione and taurine (major in vivo
detoxifiers and antioxidants).
Sometimes the common question arrive that Why don't
organic acids damage desirable organisms like
lactobacillus spp. Organisms as lactobacillus spp., have
evolved to thrive in acidic environments. The normal pH of
the upper (proximal) GI tract typically ranges between 2
and 4, so organic acid will preferentially eradicate
undesired pathogens over lactobacillus spp.
Correct Use of Organic acids:
In order to achieve the maximum efficacy, it is necessary
to reach a pH in the drinking water of 3.0 to 3.5. But at the
same time, it has to be kept in mind that the water should
be drinkable to the bird. Alternatively, the pH can also be
adjusted between 4.5-5.0 also. The amount of organic acid
it takes to reach that level depends on your water
hardness but typically ranges from 0.04% to 0.1%.
Different natural contaminants in water, particularly
carbonates, will buffer the acidification of organic acid
blend. Consequently, it is best to measure the hardness of
the water and adjust the addition rate accordingly.
With all organic acids, the lower the pH the greater the
amount of acid that is present in its undissociated form. It
is the undissociated form that can enter the cell wall of the
target pathogens. HMTBA is one of the key acids and it
has a pKa of approximately 3.5 (pKA is the pH at which
half of the acid is in its undissociated form and half is
dissociated).
Duration of Treatment:
For best results, nutritional organic acid can be used from
placement all the way through grow out. Alternately,
organic acid may be used for the first 14 days following
the antibacterial effect of organic acids is by
Modification of bacteria’s internal pH,
Inhibition of bacteria’s fundamental metabolic functions,
Accumulation of toxic anions in the bacteria and
Distruption of bacteria’s cellular membrane.

15
placement and then again for the final
7 to 10 days prior to harvest. Use of
organic acid early in a bird's
development helps to establish a
preferred microbiota. Use of organic
acid later in life serves to control
harmful pathogens that may harm bird
health and performance.
There is no withdrawal time
associated with the use of organic acid.
Unlike many drugs and antibiotics, the
organic acids are readily utilized in the
animal's GI tract and actually serve as a
source of nutrients.
Precautions to be taken care when
handling this product:
! As with all acids, it is important to
handle carefully and avoid eye or
skin contact. Organic acid has a
low pH (~2.5 for a 1% solution).
! It is strongly recommended that
the drinking water lines be cleaned
and rinsed prior to initiating
organic acid use. Organic acid
itself is not intended to clean off
the biofilm layer that routinely builds up on the inside
of water delivery lines. A biofilm is occurring when
organic matter is introduced in water. Bacteria
multiply using this organic matter as a source of
energy and rapidly create a film that will block pipes
and nipples. At a low dose (like 0.2, 0.3 g/L), OA do
bring organic matter without any antibacterial effect if
pH is not low enough. When this occurs, it is
recommend increasing the dose to get a pH around 4
or less. (Increasing the dose will also increase the
effect in the animal.) Using an OA in a water system
that has not been previously cleaned can also kill
existing accretion that suddenly come out and block
the water system. Regular cleaning of the pipes is
recommended
! Organic acid should be stored with other feed
ingredients in the original container and at room
temperature. Avoid freezing or temperatures in excess
of 50°C (122°F). As with most acids, avoid contact
with strong bases and oxidizers.
! While mild carbon steel will corrode in the presence
of many organic acids, stainless steel did not show
any detrimental corrosion. Plastics used in water
systems are also acceptable materials for use with
organic acid.
For further queries, please contact at reena.rani@novusint.com.

SURVEY Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 5 | Issue 09 | July 2019
16
Cattle Feed Mycotoxin Survey
Nidhi, Shiva Kumar, Kaushik S. and Clement. S, Provimi Animal Nutrition India
Extreme risk 50-100% of samples above risk threshold
Severe risk 40-50% of samples above risk threshold
Very high risk 30-40% of samples above risk threshold
High risk 20-30% of samples above risk threshold
Moderate risk 10-20% of samples above risk threshold
Low risk 00-10% of samples above risk threshold
PERIOD : January-December 2018
ANALYSIS NUMBER: 213 446
Provimi Animal Nutrition has collected
samples worldwide from January -
December’18 and conducted 2,13,446
analysis for various mycotoxins
simultaneously. Pertinent information
was captured in “Cargill’s World Mycotoxin Survey”.
As per the survey, India featured in Severe Risk Zone,
where 40 - 50% if samples were found above risk level
of Aflatoxin, DON, Fumonisin, T2 & ZEN.
India featured in Severe Risk Zone for January - December’18

17
44% Ingredients are
highly contaminated
with aflatoxin and
above risk level for
cattle
Sample Number
(Feed Ingredients & Finished Feed)
Time Period
1336
May’17 - February’19
(22 Months)
Ingredients
State Covered
13
FDA has recommended 20ppb aflatoxin level as acceptable limits in cattle feed
Ingredients
No. of
Samples
Corn
Corn Gluten Meal (CGM)
Soya Bean Meal (SBM)
Rice Polish
De Oiled Rice Bran (DORB)
Ground Nut Cake (GNC)
Mustard De Oiled Cake (MDOC)
Dried Distillers Grains Solubles (DDGS)
Others (Bajra, Sesame Cake, Rice Gluten,
Chuni, Forage etc.
262
114
160
101
65
60
119
105
113
CGM & DDGS are highly infested with
aflatoxin as 92% & 88% respectively.
No of Ingredients : 1099
100
80
60
40
20
0
47
53
92
8
95
5
88
12
99
1
30
70
Corn CGM SBM DDGS MDOC Rice Polish
Below risk level Above risk level

SURVEY
18
Aflatoxin contamination is highest in
North region, 64% feed samples
were above risk level of aflatoxin.
It is estimated that about 3%-6% of
AFB1 in feed is present as AFM1 in
milk from within a few hours after the
ingestion of contaminated meal up to
two days after suspension of feeding
the diet.
East: Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal
North: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh
South: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, & Telangana
West: Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh
No of Feed Samples : 237
International Agri Co-operatives
Announce Dairy Animal Feed
Joint Venture In China
US based Land O'Lakes and Netherlands'
Agrifirm have over 20 years of market
experience in China.
Two agri co-ops are starting a dairy
animal feed joint venture in China to
leverage existing market knowledge,
insights, technologies and research
capability.
The new business – Agrilakes – will
initially be based in Agrifirm's existing
manufacturing plant in Tianjin, with plans
to build a new dairy premix and specialty
plant on the adjacent property.
The venture has already been approved
by the boards of directors of both co-
operatives and is currently pending
regulatory approvals. The two co-ops
hope to address the demand for
enhanced animal nutrition and
productivity.
“With this new investment in China
alongside Agrifirm, we are continuing
Land O'Lakes' successful international
commercial growth strategy focused on
partnering with locally-successful companies and working
together to drive market expansion,” said Jerry Kaminski,
executive vice president and chief operating officer of Land
O'Lakes. “Thanks to Agrifirm's established infrastructure and
reputation in China, paired with Land O'Lakes' strong
research and technology expertise, we are confident this
new joint venture is well-positioned to help grow both
companies.”
Dick Hordijk, chief executive of Agrifirm, added: “Agrifirm is
proud to bring more than 100 years of experience in the
feed and dairy business, and deep experience in China, to
this new joint venture. We look forward to leveraging the
knowledge, experience and products of both Agrifirm and
Land O'Lakes to strengthen our China market presence and
help China's dairy farmers on the road to success.”
Land O'Lakes is already using its subsidiary businesses
Purina Animal Nutrition and WinField® United crop
protection to help improve dairy productivity in China. Both
companies are already operating in China through
subsidiary businesses. Land O'Lakes runs a training facility in
China, the Dairy Farming Institute, in partnership with
Nestlé. Agrifirm subsidiary Nuscience has been in China
under the brand LVSAI for 20 years.
Source: thenews.coop
INDUSTRYNEWS
Above risk level
100
80
60
40
20
0
58
42
64
36
82
18
58
42
East North South West
Below risk level

20
MARKET PROJECTION
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) in its annual Acreage report on
June 28 estimated 2019 corn planted
area at 91,700,000 acres, up 2.9% from
2018, down 1.2% from the March
Prospective Plantings forecast and well
above trade expectations that averaged
about 87 million acres.
Corn futures tumbled after the release
of the USDA report, which surprised
traders expecting a much lower planted
area estimate due to planting delays
and prevented plant acres because of
excessive spring moisture.
Soybean planted area was estimated at
80,040,000 acres, down 10% from 2018, down 5% from
March intentions and the lowest since 2013 if realized.
Soybean futures moved modestly higher after the report,
with the USDA estimate well below the trade average of
about 84.5 million acres but gains limited by sharply lower
corn futures.
All wheat area planted for harvest in 2019 was estimated
at 45,609,000 acres, down 4.6% from 2018, down 0.3%
from March intentions and the lowest in records back to
1919.
Winter wheat planted area was estimated at 31,778,000
acres, up 1% from the latest estimate but down 2% from
2018 (including hard red winter at 22.7 million and soft
red winter at 5.54 million), durum at 1,401,000 acres, down
32%, and other spring wheat at 12,430,000 acres, down
USDA: Estimates for corn,
soybean and wheat
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2009 2010 2011 2021 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019*
Source: USDA *Intentions
Table 1: U.S Corn planted area
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2009 2010 2011 2021 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019*
Source: USDA *Intentions
Table 2: U.S. soybean planted area
In million acres

21
6% (including hard red spring at 12
million).
The USDA estimates were below the
average of trade expectations for all
wheat, durum and other spring wheat
but were above the trade's winter
wheat average estimate. Wheat futures
traded sharply lower after the report
with spillover pressure from corn.
The USDA, in its June 28 Grain Stocks
report, estimated old crop all wheat
stocks on June 1 at 1.072 billion bus,
down 2.5% from June 1, 2018, including
207 million bushels on farms, up 58%,
and 865 million bushels off farms, down
11%. Durum stocks were 55.2 million
bushels, up 58%. June 1 wheat stocks
comprise the 2019 carryover.
Corn stocks in all positions on June 1
were estimated at 5.202 billion bushels,
down 1.9% from a year earlier,
including 2.950 billion bushels on
farms, up 7%, and 2.253 billion bushels
off farms, down 12%.
June 1 soybean stocks were estimated
at 1.790 billion bushels, up 47% from
last year, with on-farm stocks at 730
million bushels, up 94%, and off-farm
stocks at 1.060 million bushels, up 26%.
The USDA. corn, soybean and wheat
stocks estimates all were below the
average of trade expectations.
Source: USDA and Sosland Publishing
Table 3: U.S. wheat planted area
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2009 2010 2011 2021 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019*
*IntentionsSource: USDA
Winter Other Spring Durum
In million acres

22
IGC predicts reduced world corn
and soy crop for 2019-20
The International Grains Council (IGC)
cut its forecast on June 27 for world
corn and soybean crops in the
2019/2020 season after heavy rains
disrupted plantings in the United
States.
The inter-governmental body said in a
monthly update it had cut its global
corn crop forecast by 23 million
tonnes to 1.095 billion tonnes "largely
owing to a difficult start to the
growing season for US maize (corn)."
The IGC forecast a US corn crop of
333.5 million tonnes, down from a
previous forecast of 362.4 million and
the prior season's 366.3 million.
An improved outlook for 2019/20 corn
crops in the European Union (67.0
million from 64.4 million) and Ukraine
(32.6 million from 31.0 million) helped
to limit the extent of the decline in
global production.
Global stocks of corn at the end of the 2019/20 season
were forecast to fall to 271 million tonnes, down from
319 million tonnes a year earlier.
The council said it had also cut its forecast for global
soybean production in 2019/20 to 349 million tonnes
from a previous projection of 358 million also driven by
a downgrade for the US "where crop weather has been
very challenging."
"Inventories (of soybeans) are predicted to tighten,
mainly on a contraction in the major exporters, albeit
remaining above average," the IGC said, putting global
soybean consumption in the 2019/20 season at 358
million tonnes.
The IGC nudged up its forecast for 2019/20 world wheat
production by 3 million tonnes to 769 million tonnes
reflecting upward revisions for India, the EU and Ukraine.
Global stocks of wheat at the end of the 2019/20 season
were forecast to rise to 275 million tonnes, up from 263
million tonnes a year earlier.
Source: moneycontrol
INDUSTRY NEWS
China has found the fall armyworm in
the major corn-producing province of
Shandong in the north, although it has
not yet damaged any crops there, the
government-backed Beijing News
reported on Monday.
That marks the 19th province the
destructive pest has spread to since it
was first detected in the southwestern
province of Yunnan in early January,
stoking fears over grain output in the
world's No.2 economy.
Beijing News cited Wang Zhenying, a
researcher at the Institute of Plant
Protection at the Chinese Academy of
Agricultural Sciences, a government
think-tank, as the source of its
information.
Wang has also said previously that the
pest is likely to spread in July to the
nation's northeastern cornbelt. That
area includes China's top two corn-growing provinces of
Heilongjiang and Jilin.
Fall armyworm feasts in large numbers on the leaves and
stems of many plant species, and can infest and damage
hundreds of hectares of corn overnight.
Beijing has recommended 25 pesticides for emergency
use and allocated at least 500 million yuan ($73.07 million)
for fall armyworm prevention and control.
But not all farmers have been moving swiftly to fight the
pest. “I only heard of this worm from a pesticide seller
before I harvested my wheat. Then I totally forgot about
it," said a corn and wheat farmer with more than 300 mu
(20 hectares) of land in Hebei province, another major
corn producer located in the north of China. He declined
to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Farmers in the north usually plant corn after they harvest
wheat around June.
China had about 130 million hectares of arable land as of
the end of 2017 and grows corn on about 42 million
hectares.
Source: agriculture
China finds armyworm in major
corn-growing province

24
PELLETING TIPS
Conditioning is common to modify the
physical properties of mash before it is
delivered to the pellet die chamber.
Most commonly, conditioning involves
the addition of steam to the mash;
however, conditioning may also involve
the addition of liquids such as water,
molasses, pellet binders or, in some
cases, indirect heat (jacket heat). All of
these things are done for the primary
purpose of improving pellet quality
and/or pellet mill throughput. The
article will cover the conditioning
process i.e. any addition to the mash
after it leaves the mixer, but before it
reaches the pellet die chamber.
Pellet quality and conditioning
In general terms, pellet quality refers to
the ability of feed pellets to withstand
mechanical handling without excessive
breakage and fines generation. The
commercial feed industry often assigns
a much higher value to pellet quality
(low fines) than do integrators who
Principles of mash
conditioning
manufacture feeds for their own use.
Factors influencing the pellet quality according to
Reimer (1992) are formulation (40%), fineness of grind
(20%), steam conditioning (20%), die selection (15%)
and cooling/drying (5%).
It is important to note that by combining the influences
of formulation and grind, 60% of the potential pellet
quality is determined before the mash even reaches the
pellet mill. If true, it is obvious that quality problems
can't always be solved by modifying the conditioning
process or using a thicker die.
When dealing only with the pelleting system, it is
apparent that conditioning is the most important factor
that influences pellet quality. If done correctly, proper
conditioning allows the use of the thinnest possible die
and, therefore, the greatest potential throughput.
Though conditioning is far more important than die or
roll selection, it is a process that is often overlooked,
and certainly not well understood by many feed
manufacturers.
Conditioning defined
Conditioning may include steam and/or water addition,
expanding, compacting, pre-pelleting, ripening and so
on. Whatever the type of conditioning employed, it
KEITH C. BEHNKE& ANGIE GILPIN

25
should be optimized to give the best
pellet quality at a reasonable rate,
without significant destruction of
available nutrients or feed additives.
Steam: Introduction
Steam is a commonly-used input in
many feed manufacturing operations.
In large or small facilities, steam
generation can represent a significant
part of manufacturing costs and, if left
uncontrolled, can have serious
implications for the bottom line.
Steam pressure
As heat is applied to the water in a
closed system (i.e., a boiler) the water
temperature rises. As the temperature
rises above 100°C, the “vaporpressure”
of the water is increased beyond
atmospheric pressure. This pressure is
uniformly distributed over all of the
surfaces of the closed vessel. If the
water level is maintained at say 80% of
the vessel capacity, the “head” space
will be filled with steam at the same
temperature as the water. By referring
to Table 1, the relationship of pressure
and temperature can be determined.
In processing, pressure is typically
measured in gauge rather than
absolute pressure.
It is obvious that as heat is added to the system, the
pressure rises directly with the temperature. It is also
interesting to look at the relationship between pressure
and specific volume. At 0 kPa (0 psi) gauge pressure, 0.5
kg of steam occupies 0.84 m3, but at 552 kPag (80 psi),
that same 0.5 kg of steam occupies only 0.15 m3. It is
this relationship that is useful in determining pipe and
valve sizes, as well as insulation costs for a given
installation.
Though the thermodynamic properties of saturated
steam at a given temperature and pressure are well
documented, the debate still continues as to what
pressure results in the best pellet quality and mill
performance for a given feed type. Various studies
showed that the control valve, piping size and system
design are sufficient to give good control, actual steam
pressure is of little consequence.
Steam quality
The importance of steam quality is that it is an
indication that enough heat has been lost from the
system to condense 10% of the steam vapor back to a
liquid phase. This heat loss represents not only a
significant loss in energy costs, but can result in
pelleting problems if the balance between mash
moisture and the conditioning temperature is wrong.
Steam quality can have a significant impact on pelleting,
particularly if it varies, it is worth considering in any
discussion of conditioning. As an example, 0.5 kg of
steam at 100°C has 1.2 X 106 J of total heat, while 0.5 kg
of water at 100°C has only 1.9 X 105 J of total heat— or
84% less heat than the steam. If one attempts to
condition to a particular temperature, say 82°C,
themash can become far too wet to pellet if poorquality
steam is used.
It should be the objective of every pelleting operator to
use the driest steam possible. If additional moisture is
needed, as is often the case, it can be added much
more economically as water either in the mixer or in the
conditioner. Table 1 is included to understand the
thermodynamic relationship of heat, pressure and
volume.
Pressure, psi 0 20 80
Pressure, kPa 0 138 552
Temperature, °C 100 126 162
Specific volume, m3 /kg 1.67 0.75 0.29
Sensible heat, hf 418.9 529.3 684.3
Latent heat, hfg 2,257.5 2,185.4 2,076.0
Total heat, hg 2,676.5 2,714.7 2,760.3
Table 1: Properties of saturated steam
The above properties were sourced from ASME, 1967.

Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 5 | Issue 09 | July 2019PELLETING TIPS
26
Conditioning options
Atmospheric conditioners
The typical conditioner commonly
associated with a pelleting system is
referred to as an “atmospheric
conditioner.” These conditioners
operate under atmospheric pressure
and are typically exposed to ambient
conditions. As a rule, the atmospheric
conditioner is basically a single cylinder
with an agitator shaft. The function of
the conditioner is to provide for the
intimate contact and mixing of steam
with the pellet mash. An understanding
of how steam and pellet mash interact
is critical to the understanding and
management of a pelleting system.
Water addition during conditioning
It is well recognized that water is a
critical component in the bonding that
takes place during pellet formation. In
typical pelleting, the only water added
is in the form of steam. In areas where
local corn is the predominant grain,
excess moisture may be experienced as
new crop grain begins to arrive.
However, as the crop year proceeds,
drier grain is received as stored grain
enters the market.
Depending upon formulation, optimum
conditioned mash moisture is in the
range of 16.0 to 17.5%, with 4 to 5%
coming from conditioning. As a rule,
we can expect to add 1% moisture to
the pellet mash for each 12.5°C
increase in mash temperature from
steam. If the mash is cool, say 10°C,
and we target 85°C as our mash
temperature, we will be adding about
6% moisture. If the mash is already at
11- 12%, the final mash moisture will
be at or above the upper level of the
range of optimum moisture.
Conversely, if the mash temperature is
at 35°C and we target 85°C, we'll only
be adding about 4% moisture. If the
initial mash moisture is 11-12%, the
final mash moisture will be at or below
the lower level of the optimum for
pellet quality and throughput. Both of
these situations (or even more extreme)
can arise depending on the season of
the year and ingredient moisture content.
There are times when we simply can't reach target
temperatures before the upper moisture level is met.
Other times, when the grain is dry and warm, we simply
can't get enough steam into the mash without
exceeding target temperatures. Late in the crop year it
is often advantageous to add 1 to 2% water during
conditioning to improve pellet quality and production
rate. Studies at Kansas State University have shown that
moisture addition at the mixer can be highly accurate
and can result in substantial improvement in pellet
quality (Greer and Fairchild, 1999).
Double- or triple-pass conditioner
In an effort to extend and control dwell time, double- or
triple-pass conditioners are sometimes used. Basically,
this can be accomplished by stacking two or three
“standard” conditioners above the pellet mill. Variable
speed drives, multiple steam injecting points and steam
jacketing are options in various designs.
A distinct advantage of a double- or triple-pass
conditioner over a single, large-volume conditioner is
that some semblance of “first-in-first-out” order can be
maintained. It is also a relatively economical choice
compared with more exotic conditioning; however, a
good deal of head room above the pellet mill is
required, making installation something of a problem.
As an alternative to “stacked” conditioners, either “twin-
shell” or horizontal double-pass designs can be used. In
either case, retention time is extended. However, the
head room needed above the pellet mill is no greater
than that needed for a single-pass conditioner.
Jacketed conditioners
Many attempts have been made to use jacketed
conditioners, conveyors or holding vessels with varying
success. The basis for this concept is that, with jacket
steam, heat can be introduced without adding excessive
moisture. This is certainly a good idea, but is difficult to
implement practically. The typical reason for failure is
that the heat is transferred to the mash only at the
surface of the barrel. Most often, the surface-to-volume
ratio is so low that little heat is actually transferred into
the mash—particularly in large-volume conditioners.
Pressure conditioning
This concept involves the use of conditioning chambers
operating at elevated pressures. By increasing the
pressure in the vessel, conditioning temperatures well in
excess of 100°C can be attained. The reasoning behind
the concept follows the law of thermodynamics and,
simply put, forces the moisture and heat into mash
particles more quickly and thoroughly than is possible

INDUSTRYNEWS
27
International trade show organisers
behind VIV and VICTAM are combining
their events planned for Bangkok,
Thailand, in the early 2020.
This new partnership unites
arrangements relating to the Animal
Feed and Grain Industries Show VICTAM
Asia in March 2020 and the VIV Health
& Nutrition Asia Trade Fair and Forum
originally planned to take place in
Bangkok in January 2020.
Both events will now be co-located at
Bangkok's BITEC exhibition grounds on
24-26 March 2020 as VICTAM Asia and
Animal Health & Nutrition, by VICTAM
and VIV.
Strong brands combined in a single
event
“Presenting the shows as parallel
platforms at the same time within the
same venue is a great way to bring
together two strong brands for the Asia
market, in an integrated format so that
the visitor experiences them as a single
event,” says Sebas van den Ende, General
Manager of VICTAM International b.v. “It
is certainly a much more convenient
concept for the industry than the
original plan of staging them separately
in Bangkok, only months apart.”
VICTAM and VIV join forces to fuel
growth in the Asian market
“The discussions leading up to the partnership agreement
have shown clearly that both organisations share a firm
belief in the growth prospects offered by the Asian
market,” comments Heiko M. Stutzinger, Director VIV
worldwide and Managing Director VNU Exhibitions Asia-
Pacific. “Our own activities in Asia have gained
significantly in importance over the past few years and we
view the partnership for the March 2020 Bangkok event
as a major next step in better serving the region.”
VICTAM and VIV join forces to fuel growth in the
Asian market
“It is a better deal for everyone,” Mr. van den Ende
remarks. “All under one roof you will find the latest
information and systems for processing feed and grain,
the application of the processed materials to animal
nutrition and the connections to animal health.”
“VICTAM is formally constituted in The Netherlands with
the status of a not-for-profit Foundation to do good for
the animal feed industry. The agreement to put VICTAM
Asia 2020 together with VIV Health & Nutrition Asia fits
that objective because we believe the industry will be
happy about it. Almost 20 years ago there was an
occasion in Europe when VICTAM and VIV events had to
be combined at the last minute due to an animal disease
crisis. The market at the time reacted well to that
combination with no negative comments. I think we will
see a similarly positive industry response to
amalgamating our Bangkok shows in 2020.”
VICTAM Asia and Animal Health & Nutrition, by VICTAM
and VIV, will be marketed jointly by VICTAM's and VIV's
sales teams. Pre-registration to attend will be available
shortly through a newly created website.
at atmospheric pressure.
The challenge of getting the mash into
and out of a pressurized vessel is
obvious. The exit problem is solved by
making the die chamber and rollers
part of the pressurized area. The inlet
uses a spring-loaded pressure plate,
forced open by the feed, to contain the
pressure.
Conclusions
The conditioning process is, without
doubt, the most important component
of any feed pelleting system, at least as
far as pellet quality is concerned. It is
also, perhaps, the least understood
component by pellet mill operators, many plant
managers and even equipment suppliers. It was the
purpose of the article to provide insight into some of
the lessunderstood aspects of conditioning and to point
out some of the strong points and weak points of each
option available.
There is no single conditioning option that is best for all
applications and situations. In most cases, replacement
is not an option; therefore, steps taken to optimize a
given installation will result in the best pellet quality at
the best production rate possible. It must be
remembered, however, that all factors involved in pellet
quality are inter-related and must ultimately be
addressed if the process is to be successful.
Source: Kansas State University, WattAgNet

28
INDUSTRY NEWS
China's goal to increase soybean
production to offset plunging imports
from the U.S. is not going according to
plan.
Beijing wants to increase soybean
production 20% by 2020 over 2018
levels, as tariffs on American soybeans
caused U.S. imports to fall 70%. But
government subsidies aimed at
encouraging growers to switch to
soybeans have dried up, leaving
farmers dismayed at what they see as
broken promises.
"I don't trust the government because
its support programs frequently
change," said a farmer in his 30s in
China's soybean capital of Heilongjiang
Province, where 40% of the nation's
soybeans are grown.
The grower had allotted 10% of his
land to soybeans on the promise by the
local government in February of a 150
yuan ($21.80) subsidy for every 667 sq.
meters of land converted to soybeans.
But the agriculture ministry suddenly
nixed the subsidy in March, throwing
the farmer's finances into disarray as he
had already purchased seed and
fertilizer for his new crop.
Soybeans are crucial to feeding the
country. They are processed into bean
curd, cooking oil and other food
products, and the pomace is an
important livestock feed.
The government was hopeful that a
new seed -- developed under a $4.6
million grant -- would increase yields.
According to its creator, the Research
Institute of Soybean, the new variety
doubles yields.
"The new seed will allow China to
weather the trade war," said Cao Jujin,
head of the institute, in reference to
overcoming the dearth of American
soybeans.
China is the world's biggest consumer
China's soybean production push
weakens as subsidies dry up
of soybeans at 100 million tons per year, but relies on
imports for 90% of this figure.
Brazil is the country's largest soybean supplier followed
by the U.S. But Beijing slapped a 25% tariff on American
beans in July 2018, causing imports from the U.S. to
tumble 70% in the January-April period from a year
earlier.
Although China increased purchases from Brazil, total
soybean imports decreased 8% in 2018 from the
previous year to 88 million tons.
To make up for the shortfall, Beijing announced plans to
expand soybean farmland about 10% by 2020, which
would bring soybean production to 19 million tons --
an increase of 20% from 2018.
"Even if imports of soybeans from the U.S. decrease, we
can stabilize domestic production," said Han Jun, vice
minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,
in early June.
But government miscues and simple economics have
cooled farmers' response to any new plan. Soybean
yield is only about 30% that of corn, meaning that only
large-scale farms can earn profits.
"I have no intention of cultivating soybeans whatever
the government says, because I can earn more from
corn," said a 57-year-old Heilongjiang farmer.
According to sources, fiscal concerns at the national
level forced the ministry to cancel some subsidies. The
2019 budget includes 45.2 billion yuan for the
agricultural, forestry and fisheries sector, down 24%
from 2018.
To make matters worse, no one knows how much
money has been earmarked this year for soybean
subsidies. Zhang Jinjie, analyst at research company
Sublime China Information Group, said the amount may
be little changed from 2018. But there would have to be
some kind of an increase if the government wants to
reach the 19-million ton target, an industry official said.
Soybean production in China has lagged due to lack of
mechanized farming and failure to increase farm size.
The average yield of soybeans on the same area of land
in China is about 40% that of the U.S., according to the
Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
This makes Chinese soybeans about 10% more
expensive than imports, an increase that is reflected in
the costs of soybean products.
Source: Nikkei

Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 5 | Issue 09 | July 2019CALENDAR OF EVENTS
30
2019-2020
To list any industry event related to Grain & Feed industry please write us
at info@thinkgrainthinkfeed.co.in
OCTOBER
Dairy Industry Expo
Date: 11-13 October 2019
Venue: ACEC, Pune
Email: dairyindustryexpo@gmail.com
Web: www.dairyindustryexpo.com
Global Outlook for Aquaculture Leadership
(GOAL)
Date: 21-24 October 2019
Venue: Leela Palace, Chennai
Email: sally.krueger@aquaculturealliance.org
Web: www.aquaculturealliance.org
FEBRUARY 2020
Feed Tech Expo
Date: 7-8 February 2020
Venue: GADVASU, Ludhiana, India
Email: feedtechexpo@gmail.com
Web: www.feedtechexpo.com
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5 edition
07-08-09 February 2020
GADVASU, Ludhiana, India
INDIA’S ONLY FEED
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For Participation
M: +91 86074 63377, 86074 63131 | e: feedtechexpo@gmail.com
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AUGUST
CLFMA AGM & National Symposium
Date: 22-23 August 2019
Venue: Le Meridien, Windsor Place, Janpath, New
Delhi, India
Email: admin@clfma.org
Web: www.clfma.org
SEPTEMBER
2019 Liquid Feed Symposium
Date: 10-12 September 2019
Venue: Omaha Marriott Downtown
Omaha, Nebraska
Email: pdavis@afia.org
Web: www.afia.org/events/2019-symposium
PFI – Annual General Body Meeting (AGM)
Venue: Hotel Le Meridien, Coimbatore, India
Email: poultryfederation@gmail.com
Globoil India
Venue: Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre
Hotel, India
Email: events@teflas.com
Web: www.globoilindia.com

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