Airline feed cuts feed efficiency to 2.0

The feed, called Airline 2.0, is made with raw materials that contain low, but highly absorbable phosphate and nitrogen, which reduces phosphate levels in the manure by 60% and of nitrogen by 30%.

The company uses a Wenger Universal Pellet Cooker for expanding the raw materials and adds extra fats and oils after cooking. This way the energy level of the feeds is increased and feed efficiency on pig farms can improve to 2.0.

Twice as much
Under Dutch laws with the lowering of mineral content of the manure twice as much manure can be spread on the fields without additional costs. Normally excess manure has to be removed from the farm against considerable costs.

The use of special raw materials makes the feed more expensive than regular feeds. For starter feed the additional costs are €5/100 kg and for fatteners the feed is €9/100 kg more expensive.

The feed cooperative with Airline 2.0 claims improvement of daily gain with 50 grammes compared to standard feeds. The lower feed efficiency and higher daily gain level out the higher price of the feed.

Total yield (gain over feed) remains the same. Net-gain can be found in the lower phosphate and nitrogen excretion, which – under Dutch condition – lowers manure disposal costs.

Extensions
The company has already been using the Wenger UPC for manufacturing pig feeds. The existing line of Airline feeds is now extended to 2.0 by using vacuum coating to have more oils and fats incorporated in the feed.

With vacuum coating fats and oils can be 'sucked' into the pores of the (expanded) pellets without negatively affecting pellet quality. With regular pellets a (too) high fat content is detrimental to pellet quality.

Related websites:
• Cehave Landbouwbelang

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