American Feed Industry Association President and CEO Constance Cullman says the livestock feed and pet food industries are dealing with inflation and supply chain challenges, but are working hard to try to keep those feed prices in line and maintain good quality.
She says the U.S. doesn’t get a lot of feed products from the Ukraine region, but feed producers are impacted by the war because that’s where their inputs come from, such as fertilizer. AFIA is seeing challenges in the supply chain that existed before the war, including shutdowns in China due to COVID-19. She says 70 percent of essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids come from China.
Cullman says the quality of feed amidst global challenges has not swayed. In order to make sure quality remains high, the industry is buying ahead and storing items to make sure the full nutritional palate is available to the feed consumer.
Their members are also increasing biosecurity due to African Swine Fever and avian influenza. While ASF has yet to infiltrate the United States, feed producers are doubling down on biosecurity and research. AFIA is working with Kansas State on finding the best practices to mitigate ASF. It is unlikely that ASF will be brought into the U.S. via feedstuffs, but it could be how it spreads within the U.S., Cullman says.
Biosecurity is as simple as washing trucks and having drivers stay in their vehicles at the feed mill. Other methods include having employees shower in and shower out.
Cullman says one concern if ASF gets to the U.S. is a disrupted feed market. The industry is looking for a regionalized approach so that uninfected regions of the U.S. can still export feed if there is an outbreak. The industry is also looking to D.C. to expedite the vaccine approval process for ASF.
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