Besides the traditional presentation of an effective feed range, Smart Farm by EFKO presented the new capabilities of its laboratory at the international agricultural expo Agros-2024, and the company's oil and raw material division shared the latest research on an innovative feed supplement for poultry.

Possibility of express feeds testing by "wet lab" method

"Smart Farm has enhanced its lab accreditation for express testing milk and feed, including wet lab (called otherwise "wet chemistry") method." The laboratory located at the Biruch Innovation Center can handle applications from all over Russia. The approximate time necessary for testing is 3 to 7 days. All existing calibrations for testing were made in-house by Biruch chemical engineers.

Wet chemical analysis is one of the most difficult and time-consuming methods, although it is highly informative. It is particularly useful for determining the levels of moisture, dry matter, crude protein and fat, protein undigested in the rumen, and a variety of other indications. "Smart Farm" conducts over 130 types of feed and milk tests in terms of more than 45 parameters.

Marina Gerasimova,
Director at Biruch Innovation Center

"Being 100 percent proficient in the analysis equipment situation provides highly accurate feed analysis results. The quality of laboratory reports by our Dairy Livestock Competence Center and compliance with GOST are confirmed by the accreditation body AAC Analitika. Furthermore, certification has enabled the laboratory to be incorporated into the AMTS digital system, where all data are posted simultaneously to allow for quick ration modification."

Know-how in searching for alternatives to antibiotics in poultry production

Another important piece of news relates to the poultry sector. Research by EFKO's oil and raw materials division has the potential of total rejecting antibiotics in chicken production with a novel feed additive. Sergey Kudinov, a process engineer, shared peculiarities of the development at the Agros-2024 expo.

The feed supplement includes several essential fatty acids, in particular capric, caprylic, lauric, and linoleic – EFKO's process engineers extract them from vegetable oils and then make calcium salts of these acids. The latter, in turn, assist in preventing the growth of most pathogenic and opportunistic infections, including coccal, streptococcus, staphylococcus, salmonella, E. coli, and coccidia etc.

When calcium salts enter the stomach mixed with feed, they interact with hydrochloric acid. This activates fatty acids, and they activate their bactericidal properties. Following this, fatty acids are taken into the bloodstream as usual fat and do not accumulate in the body, instead being metabolized into energy. This supplement completely protects the poultry from intestinal infections accounting for 99% of all diseases.

During joint research by EFKO and the Research Institute of Feed Industry, Agricultural University named after V. Gorin, state vet labs, and private farms the use of calcium salts in poultry diets has consistently demonstrated its benefits. Moreover, if necessary, calcium salts can be used together with antibiotics without reducing their effectiveness.

The introduction of such a product to the market will aid in rejecting antibiotics and coccidiostats for poultry, as well as target reducing feed conversion, cost optimization for farmers, and the production of ecologically friendly products free of antibiotics. Now the testing is over, the research is at the stage of patenting and an application has been submitted for registration to Rosselkhoznadzor.