Alltech Academy holds training program for livestock and poultry breeders

By David Ebert

Alltech Biotechnology (Pvt) Ltd., one of the top 10 animal health and nutrition companies in the world, held a training program on 6 October at the Taj Samudra Colombo for poultry and livestock experts under the theme ‘Bursting the Inorganic Trace Element Myth’.

The program was part of the company’s educational awareness programs held in the region, which aims to educate the sector on the benefits of organic mineral nutrition for livestock and poultry.

Speaking at the session Alltech South Asia General Manager Dr. Aman Sayed explained the issues being faced in the sector due to the continued use of inorganic mineral supplements which lead to increased heavy metal contamination.

He revealed the results of a global test which was carried out by the company earlier this year that evaluated the levels of harmful trace metals prevalent in most animal feed used today: “Subsequent to a worldwide sample testing program of all available animal feed in use currently the results were astounding. We found that almost 19% of all feed samples tested worldwide contained traces of cadmium and arsenic which as you know are harmful to both animals as well as humans.”

“This is a very disturbing precedent which Alltech has taken steps to avoid with extensive testing carried out on all the raw materials that we use.”

Dr. Sayed added that the use of such mineral supplements can lead to counterproductive results in terms of animal growth, nutritional retention, immunodeficiency as well as kidney and liver damage in the animals.

Sayed urged livestock and poultry breeders to constantly research the new breakthroughs that are currently in use internationally and consider alternatives that are less harmful to both the animals as well as the end consumer.

The event concluded with Alltech Asia-Pacific Technical Manager Art Frio introducing the company’s Bioplex range of chelated organic trace minerals which provides the necessary mineral nutrition in a form as close to nature as possible.

Elaborating on the product’s characteristics and its advantages over regular nutritional feeds in use, Frio stated: “The Bioplex range consists of organic zinc, copper, manganese, iron and cobalt, which are supported by more than 21 years of research, hence the Bioplex Trace Minerals are better able to meet the higher nutrient needs of modern livestock for rapid growth, maximum reproductive performance and animal health minus the harmful effects of heavy metal contamination.”

The company plans to hold similar training programs through the Alltech Academy, targeting the agriculture and aquaculture sectors as well in the near future.

Pix by Sameera Wijesinghe