European animal production is heavily dependent on imports of raw materials, especially those which are rich in proteins such as soybean meal. According to Unip¹, the animal feeds sector of the fifteen European Union countries consumed almost 30 million tons of soybean meal in 2001. Thus, Europe’s self-sufficiency with regard to protein sources barely reaches 30%. Variations in worldwide stock and the rate of the dollar have an immediate impact on the rates of these raw materials and, as a consequence, on the competitiveness of the European feed Industry and animal production sector. In pig production, for example, it is estimated that feed costs represent an average of 70% of total production costs.

 

 

The use of protein-rich raw materials in feeds also raises an environmental issue. In fact, although these raw materials make it possible to meet the needs of animals with respect to essential amino acids, they also cause large-scale excesses of other non-essential amino acids which are catabolized by the animal and excreted as nitrogen in the slurry. These nitrogen-rich compounds in the slurry increase soil, water and air pollution through nitrogen by-products: nitrates, ammonium hydroxide, etc.

 

From a nutritional standpoint, it is possible to significantly limit the use of imported protein-rich raw materials such as soybean meal. These nutritional measures involve reducing their inclusion in feed formulas by using cereals, whilst maintaining the level and balance of essential amino acids through appropriate supplementation. These feeds make it possible to develop European cereals usage whilst reducing the quantities of nitrogen excreted in the environment by livestock. It can therefore be estimated that an increase of 5 points of cereal inclusions makes it possible to reduce nitrogen excretion by pig and poultry by 10%.

 

These nutritional formulas, whose implementation was initially started in intensive livestock areas subject to environmental regulations, are gradually developing under the twofold effect of the increasing availability of cereals and the availability of free amino acids on the market in ever-increasing numbers and amounts. In 2001 / 2002, amino acids (L-Lysine, L-Threonine, DL-Methionine and L-Tryptophan) represented about 17% of the protein supply of the 15 EU countries. It is also possible to estimate that 100,000 tons of L-Lysine HCl and associated amounts of L-Threonine, DL-Methionine and L-Tryptophan correspond to a saving of around 3.5 million tons of imported soybean meal and an increase in the use of European cereals in equivalent amounts.

 

 

 

The figures given in this article are taken from the proceedings of a forum organized by the FEFANA2 in 2003.   Download this document in Pdf (1 Mo): Protein Supply for European Pigs 2010 - March 18, 2003

 

¹ Union Nationale Interprofessionnelle des Plantes Riches en Protéines

² European Association of Feed Additive Manufacturers: www.fefana.org