Dr Ioannis Mavromichalis
Dr. Mavromichalis is a widely known authority on pig nutrition with experience exceeding 20 years now, having studied, lived, and worked both in the USA and Europe. Nevertheless, he is consulting widely on all aspects of monogastric animal nutrition (pigs, poultry, rabbits), having extensive field experience on all three species.
Dr. Mavromichalis is a prolific author, having over 500 publications under his own name, including books, papers, articles, bulletins, newsletters, marketing brochures, manuals, presentations, advertisements, blogs, and websites. He also offers a ghostwriting service for the animal nutrition industry (www.the-white-pen.com)
Dr. Mavromichalis has worked as a field nutritionist, director of nutrition, and director of R&D for major international companies, and is now consulting throughout the world for small producers and big corporate clients alike, offering from everyday practical advice to new product designs to strategic development services.
Latest Blogs (1-10 of 21)
Citric acid is a well-known feed and food preservative.
Twenty years ago, broilers were marketed at eight weeks of age. Feeding them was done using three diets: starter, grower, finisher. Today, broilers are marketed at six weeks of age (at similar weight as those marketed at eight weeks of age mostly due to genetic advancements).
There is no doubt poultry benefit the most from enzymes, and this is clearly the case for enzymes against the non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) fraction in cereals. The majority of commercially NSP enzymes fall in the categories of xylanases and beta-glucanases.
The value of valine as a limiting amino acid in young animals has been well addressed. This has been repeatedly demonstrated in the case of piglets. Similar research is certainly sparse when it comes to broilers.
There are several research reports regarding feeding whole wheat to broilers, and indeed this concept is being practiced in Europe, albeit in isolated cases and with variable results.
Wheat is a major staple in most poultry diets in Europe. But, wheat is also a contributor to gut viscosity, something that is known to predispose birds to necrotic enteritis.
I have just finished reviewing a trace-mineral premix formula for an integrator who is buying his premixes from a nutrition supplier. The integrator only specifies the nutrient levels and the supplier provides the different salts mixed up in appropriate proportions along with a carrier. This is quite normal in most cases I have reviewed.
I have just finished reading a comprehensive review on practical control measures against Salmonella in animal feed. This review, by Jones (2011, Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 20:102-113), clearly indicates that thermal treatment (usually pelleting) alone is not enough to eliminate Salmonella.
One of the quickest remedies to high summer temperatures is the addition of salts into the feed and water of affected birds. The most commonly used salts include ammonium sulfate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium chloride, and sodium chloride.
I understand there is considerable interest in adding high levels of fish oil to diets for laying hens as a means of (a) enhancing health status, and (b) producing eggs rich in omega-3 fatty acids. As much as 3% is recommended in some cases, especially when using deodorised fish oil, that comes with a price premium!
