Feed innovation positioned as key to sustainable livestock health

Reducing antibiotic reliance through feed innovation

Mr Manchester pointed to industry projections showing global antibiotic use in livestock could rise by 30% by 2040 if current practices continue. He stressed the urgency of adopting non-antibiotic interventions that strengthen gut health and reduce pathogen load.

“Nutrition sits at the intersection of animal health, human health, and environmental sustainability,” he said, urging producers to rethink feed formulation as a proactive disease management strategy.

Managing mycotoxin risks in Southeast Asia

The keynote also highlighted mycotoxins as a persistent challenge in hot and humid markets. Regional data shows positivity rates above 70–90% in feed ingredients such as corn, rice bran, and soybean meal.

These contaminants contribute to production losses of 5–20% and economic impacts of 10–15% in poultry systems. Mr Manchester outlined advanced mitigation strategies, including humic acid applications and enzymatic detoxification, as essential tools for safeguarding productivity and food safety.

Aligning profitability with sustainability

Ecolex’s session emphasized that smarter feed formulation can deliver practical One Health benefits. Key topics included:

• ✅ Strengthening gut health and immunity to reduce disease pressure
• ✅ Supporting more responsible antimicrobial use across production cycles
• ✅ Improving animal performance while lowering environmental footprint

Drawing on international field experience, Manchester showed how producers and nutritionists can align profitability with sustainability through targeted interventions. He closed by reminding stakeholders that “yesterday’s tools cannot solve tomorrow’s problems,” calling for collaboration across the animal protein value chain.

Ecolex builds on its global commitment

Founded in 2005, Ecolex Animal Nutrition has built expertise in molecular engineering and bioscience. From its facility near Port Klang, Malaysia, the company supplies specialty rumen bypass and inert fats to more than 35 countries. Its commitment to One Health reflects a broader mission: enhancing productivity while minimizing environmental impact.