During the Zootechnical Forum organized by Timac Agro Polska, special attention was paid to issues related to sustainable production, animal welfare and health. As emphasized during the lecture, the aspects are closely related.
This week, the Zootechnical Forum took place in Aleksandrów Łódzki – a meeting for poultry producers and cattle breeders organized by Timac Agro Polska. This conference was an opportunity to discuss topics related to animal production and to look at new products offered by Timac Agro.
Efficient animal production does not mean low welfare
During the first panel, prof. Robert Kupczyński from the Department of Environmental Hygiene and Animal Welfare of the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences discussed issues related to animal welfare and sustainability of animal production, paying particular attention to their impact on the health, efficiency and profitability of animal production.
The speaker emphasized that the number of consumers expressing concern for the welfare of farm animals is growing, so it is worth remembering that effective and efficient animal production does not have to violate animal welfare.
Prof. Kupczyński explained that sustainable development must take into account not only environmental issues, but also social and economic ones. Consequently, it must be fair, bearable and feasible to satisfy society striving to reduce the impact of production on the environment, but also to guarantee the profitability of this production.
The speaker also discussed the welfare challenges that cattle breeders will have to face in the light of the review of EU welfare regulations.
Mycotoxins in cattle feed – what can be done?
Then there was a cattle session. During it, prof. Zygmunt Kowalski from the Department of Nutrition, Animal Biotechnology and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Krakow, talked about the threats resulting from the presence of mycotoxins in feed and their impact on production results. The expert also presented the possibilities of reducing the risk of mycotoxin infection, including preventing the development of mold on vegetating plants and the collected raw material.
In the opinion of prof. Kowalski’s biological methods of eliminating mycotoxins, including lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and non-toxic molds, deserve special attention. This group will become more and more important in the future, as the expert emphasized.
Prof. Kowalski also noted that when using feed additives to absorb toxins directly from the feed, products should be selected carefully due to the risk of binding other compounds, including vitamins, macro- and microelements.
Internal parasites in cattle – an expensive problem
Then, Martyna Frątczak, a veterinarian, PhD student at the Poznań University of Life Sciences, introduced the audience to the issue of internal parasites in cattle and described possible production losses related to their occurrence. The targets included coccidiosis, cryptosporidiosis and gastrointestinal parasites, including roundworms and flukes.
Coccidiosis and mycotoxins in poultry production
At the same time, a session on poultry was held. Its participants could expand their knowledge about coccidiosis in poultry, with particular emphasis on the factors that increase the occurrence of coccidia. This issue was discussed by Sebastian Janiszewski from Avica – zootechnical consultations. In turn, Ph.D. Marcin Hejdysz from the Department of Animal Breeding and Raw Materials Evaluation, Poznań University of Life Sciences, introduced the participants to the importance of the impact of mycotoxins on poultry production.
New products from Timac Agro
During the meeting, new products in the company’s offer for 2024 were presented. The first of them is a product belonging to the CETEIA product group – responsible for increasing immunity in animals. Ceteia Detox L will complement the company’s offer for such animal groups as cattle, pigs and poultry. Its effects on both poultry and cattle were discussed on specialist panels. According to the information presented during the meeting, this product improves liver function under the conditions of the production cycle. Thanks to the content of lipotropic factors such as betaine, methionine and choline, it relieves the liver, reduces the risk of fatty liver disease and protects hepatocytes. Its liquid form facilitates administration both in the watering line and in the feed.
The second novelty is the Protect In complex, which will be available for sale in the first half of this year – first of all in the Spadea Fix’N product. According to the manufacturer, this complex, based on plant molecules, reduces the pressure of internal parasites in adult cattle: roundworms, flukes, as well as coccidia and cryptosporidia in calves. Its administration in the form of a mineral lick allows for a long and continuous effect. During the meeting, it was emphasized that this is part of sustainable farming and limiting the use of antibiotics.
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