Quality Ingredients – A Consistent Source of Highly Digestible Nutrients
May 6, 2014
Co-written by Dr. Dave Albin and Dr. Nabil Said. Ingredients for food and feed products perform many functions, but above all, they must serve as sources of essential…
Author: Nabil Said
ExPress the Genetic Potential of your Animals
April 29, 2014
There is a certain maximum achievable biological response that is specific to each individual living organism. This response is controlled by the genetic composition of the individual, as…
Author: Dave Albin
Antibiotic-Free Chicken Production – the Chick-Fil-A Effect on Broiler Production
April 15, 2014
The fast food chain Chick-Fil-A announced that it would only serve chicken raised without the use of antibiotics within 5 years. Chick-Fil-A is the latest food company to…
Author: Dave Albin
The Role of Anti-Nutritional Factors in Seeds & Legumes
April 1, 2014
Legumes and pulses are consumed as an important part of diets for humans and animals. They are important source of protein, amino acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids and minerals…
Author: Nabil Said
Jatropha – Oil for Biofuels and Meal for Livestock Feed: Risk Management in the Right Places
March 18, 2014
Demand for diesel fuel continues to grow. As such, this is reflected by higher prices. This effect is exacerbated in places with notable populations, a strong dependence…
Author: Dave Albin
Extrusion Improves Cassava-Based Products
February 18, 2014
Cassava is a major root crop, grown mainly in the developing world. Cassava is mostly a source of starch, and has very little protein (1.4% of raw cassava). …
Author: Dave Albin
Nutrition is Not All What Soybeans Provide
February 11, 2014
We are all familiar with the nutritional contribution of properly processed soy protein and oil to both animals and humans. Soybeans contribute a lion’s share of the amino…
Author: Nabil Said
Mycotoxin Contamination is Widespread in Feed Ingredients and Complete Feeds in Asia
February 4, 2014
It has been discussed in a previous blog here that high-shear dry extrusion is effective at reducing mycotoxin concentrations in grain. In particular, research on cottonseeds has exhibited…
Author: Dave Albin
Extrusion Effects on Fiber: Challenges and Opportunities
January 28, 2014
Extrusion cooking is a highly-versatile, globally-accepted method for processing and improving food and feed production. The effects of extrusion on improving starch digestibility, decreasing antinutritional factors (which inhibit…
Author: Dave Albin
Global Trends & Feeding the World
January 21, 2014
It is the time of the year where everybody is adjusting from the busy holiday season and preparing for the new year ahead. You cannot help but to…
Author: Nabil Said
Trans Fat, Where It (Mainly) Comes From and Why You May Want to Avoid It
January 14, 2014
Trans fat has been in the news lately. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has indicated that they may remove trans fat from its GRAS list. Ingredients included on…
Author: Dave Albin
Non-GMO Oilseeds: Another Dynamic Niche Market for Natural Processors
January 7, 2014
As consumers are concerned about the sources of their food, an increasing interest by food companies, oilseed processors, and farm growers for non-genetically grown soybeans has occurred. USDA’s…
Author: Craig Briney
Waste Not Want Not
December 31, 2013
Frequently, we read articles and press releases titled or use the proverb; “Waste Not Want Not”. Some of those articles deal with the global issue of food waste in…
Author: Nabil Said
Perhaps More Important Than Ever to Make Quality Food Products
December 17, 2013
The New York Times recently ran an article explaining how crop improvement and breeding programs have not focused on nutrient content or quality. This particular article focused on…
Author: Dave Albin
Alternative Ingredients to Fish Meal in Aquatic Feed
December 10, 2013
Fish meal has been used as a main ingredient in aquatic diets, poultry and swine feed. High quality fish meal can supply a good part of the protein,…
Author: Nabil Said
Why Extrusion Process Development is Important
November 12, 2013
Extruders are used for food and feed production – from oilseed processing, dry pet food production, and by-product/value-added processing. Extrusion is highly versatile and recognized globally. Insta-Pro International has…
Author: Dave Albin
High Shear Extrusion of Soybeans and Ruminant Nutrition
October 29, 2013
It is a known fact that the amino acids requirement by dairy, beef and other ruminant animals come from both microbial protein produced during rumen fermentation and the…
Author: Nabil Said
Farmed Fish Are What They Eat…Sort of
October 22, 2013
Eating fish is becoming more popular, at least in part due to the health benefits derived from its consumption. In particular, a growing body of evidence suggests that…
Author: Dave Albin