NZ Dairy Summer 2020

| 25 nz dairy FEEDSAFENZ » The NZ Feed Manufacturers Association W hen looking to lower their emissions dairy farmers might do well to consider how complementary feed could assist them in their goals, says New Zealand Feed Manufacturers Association (NZFMA) executive director Michael Brooks. “There are studies that have been done overseas that show by using complementary feed dairy farm- ers can experience a range of benefits including lower methane emissions,” he says. According to Michael, benefits of using com- plementary feed as part of a dairy farming system include enhanced productivity (meaning farming fewer cows potentially for the same production resulting in lower methane emissions), healthier animals and the myriad of spin off effects this brings and better product. He says that NZFMA is looking to help fund a study examining the effects of complementary feed on methane emissions on New Zealand dairy farms to provide local data. It’s just one way the industry is forging ahead and keeping up with trends and developments. The end of 2020 marks the date it will become mandatory for all NZFMA members to comply with quality assurance programme FeedSafeNZ, which guarantees the quality of animal feed made in New Zealand. Michael says that the programme has had strong industry support with members backing the move to make it compulsory after it was first introduced in 2015. FeedSafeNZ tests the ingredients and processes used by feed manufacturers including an on-site audit of ingredients, plant, storage and operations. A working party meets annually to determine areas for improvement in an ongoing drive for continual development. For example a potential area of risk was identified around non-grain additives in feed so from this year FeedSafeNZ also tests that any additives are what they claim to be. Members must also have a risk profile of non- grain ingredients to demonstrate what testing has been done. FeedSafeNZ recommends members use non-grain ingredients sourced from FAMI-QS certified facilities. Michael says an important aspect of FeedSafeNZ is annual audits carried out annually by independ- ent assessor AsureQuality, a company that provides food safety and bio-security services worldwide. This gives credibility to the scheme and helps add an additional layer of assurance to both members and their customers, he says. Only FeedSafeNZ accredited manufacturers may use the FeedSafeNZ logo on their packaging. The FeedSafeNZ mark assures farmers and animal own- ers that the feed they buy is manufactured to the highest possible standard. Michael says the NZFMA is now focused on promoting FeedSafeNZ so people know the benefits of purchasing their feed from accredited companies, which include significant industry players such as PGG Wrightson Seeds, FeedSafeNZ a guarantee of quality Karen Phelps Tegel Foods and Inghams Enterprises. “With traceability becoming increasing impor- tant to consumers who want to know where their food has come from and what is in it, FeedSafeNZ puts our members on the front foot of this growing trend.” The NZFMA represents the interests of almost all the animal feed manufacturing companies in New Zealand. Members are a mix of manufacturers and blenders of compound feeds and blended feeds. The majority of feed is produced for the intensive livestock industries (poultry and pig), and a growing amount is also produced for the dairy and equine industries. A small amount of feed is also produced for animals such as dogs, emus, rabbits and fish. NZFMA members produced around 1,092,000 tonnes of feed in 2019. Michael says that as well as working to establish industry standards for the production of compound feed the NZFMA represents its members through liaison with government. Industry training is another big focus to continue the ongoing drive to lift the performance and pro- fessionalism of the industry. “With traceability becoming increasing important to consumers who want to know where their food has come from and what is in it, FeedSafeNZ puts our members on the front foot of this growing trend.” The NZFMA represents the interests of almost all the animal feed manufacturing companies in New Zealand. Members are a mix of manufacturers and blenders of compound feeds and blended feeds.