SPRING SUMMER BONUS MAGAZINE 2026

Natural Power in animal feed production Retha Gericke - Poultry Product Manager When it comes to getting themost out of livestock production on the farm, success is determined by prioritising three key factors: namely, balanced nutrition, effective health, andmanagement strategies. The De Heus Natural Power concept is a holistic farming approach aimed at boosting livestock immunity and performance while significantly reducing antibiotic reliance. It centres on optimising animal health through tailored nutrition, improved farm management, and proactive preventive healthmeasures. This article focuses on the role of Natural Power in animal feed production and nutrition on the farm. Starting at the beginning: rawmaterials Optimum animal nutrition begins with the raw materials that make up the complete feed. The raw materials that can be utilised for each species are carefully curated to ensure they meet the requirements for optimum nutrient requirements and digestibility. De Heus strives to incorporate sustainability into animal feed production to ensure that the resources the company utilise will continue to be there for the generations to follow. A part of Natural Power is using sustainable ingredients in animal feed that protect the planet, save money and keep animals healthy. Sustainable raw materials use fewer resources like land or water, lower cost by utilising leftover crop materials, by-products, and food waste rather than importing more expensive international grains. Sourcing ingredients locally also protects farmers from global supply shortages. By-products of the human food industry can also serve as high-quality animal feed ingredients. Wheat bran, rice hulls, soya hulls, DDGS (Distillers Dried Grains), corn gluten meal, brewer’s grain, bread meal, soy bean meal, citrus pulp, molasses, and whey powder are just a few examples of by- products that can be safely, nutritionally, and effectively utilised in livestock feed in a sustainable way. Quality control of all animal feed ingredients is crucial. Quality control at feed mills involves a strict, multi-step checking system to ensure raw materials are safe, nutritious, and free from contaminants. Feed mills cannot make high- quality animal food from bad ingredients, so they test everything before it ever enters a storage silo. At De Heus, every delivery of raw materials is analysed to ensure that it meets the correct quality parameters, including moisture, protein, fat and fibre levels, as well as particle size using near infra-red (NIR) scanning and sieve tests. Raw materials are thoroughly inspected to ensure that they are devoid of toxic contaminants such as poisonous plants or insects. A retention sample of each raw material is also taken and stored for recordkeeping purposes, and select samples are sent away for external testing for mycotoxin contamination and as a control to ensure in- house results remain accurate. Spring/Summer 2026 BONUS www.agribonus.co.za 6