New research farm drives innovation in animal nutrition
A new research farm facility has been established in France to help improve the efficiency and productivity of livestock producers.
Launched on the 22nd July 2015 by Phileo Lesaffre Animal Care and situated in Toulouse, The Farm will act as a centre for scientific innovation, information gathering and knowledge sharing in the field of livestock nutrition.
“With the global population set to rise to nine billion by 2050” states Eric Auclair, Phileo’s Director of Research and Development, “the quality of livestock nutrition is paramount to help meet the growing demand for meat that this level of population growth will entail.
“Our objective, and that of The Farm, is to help all farmers produce better meat in a more cost effective, productive and sustainable manner."
To fulfill this goal, The Farm is home to on-site scientific research, focused on combating the impact of mycotoxins in animal feed, improving feed digestibility, enhancing animal health and the study of intestinal flora.
A dedicated research and development department consisting of engineers, nutritionists and veterinarians are also on site to drive forward new innovations in livestock feed.
“The Farm provides a single location where we can gather together the animals, scientific tools and personnel, as well as analytical and laboratory equipment, needed to carry out detailed nutrition studies and develop new ideas,” explained doctor of animal nutrition and Director of The Farm, Jean-Philippe Marden.
“We will also be carrying out academic research in partnership with internationally renowned scientists from across the globe; including those from Europe, the United States, Brazil and China.”
Alongside developments in animal nutrition, Phileo hopes that the research undertaken at The Farm will help deliver solutions to animal welfare issues.
“Whilst we are looking to find new ways to improve animal efficiency and performance through nutrition” continued Dr Marden, “we want to ensure that these gains are not achieved at the expense of the environment or an animal’s welfare.
“If we can help farmers improve an animal’s performance whilst simultaneously ensuring good standards of welfare, this will result in significant benefits for livestock producers. After all, a healthy and happy animal is a productive animal.”
As such, Phileo has a network of animal health professionals who are on hand to advise on a range of animal welfare issues, from housing conditions to heat stress and welfare parameters.