W2B-024 Bulimia - Nutrition-1.txt
Animal nutritionist's role

THE ROLE of an animal nutritionist is varied and, therefore, difficult to define, writes Dr David Bruce (pictured right), senior nutritionist, Devenish.

We often find ourselves as the key link between the suppliers of agricultural products and the famer as the end user - quite often in the firing line!

An animal nutritionist has to be capable of giving advice on a multitude of different areas. He must be multi-skilled in order to carry out his role correctly.

Agriculture is continually changing, new research work is being carried out, new products are being developed, legislation is changing, farming techniques are changing.

It is extremely important that the nutritionist is aware of all changes and keeps abreast of them if he is to give meaningful, relevant and up-to-date advice.

Nutritional input is necessary in numerous areas of animal production, right from the purchase, use and control of raw materials in animal and mineral feedstuffs, to the feeding of these products on-farm.

There can often exist a huge variability in the quality of raw materials used in the manufacture of animal feedstuffs and in the quality of forages conserved on the farm. This has been clearly demonstrated during this present winter with poorer quality silage.

The requirement for different feed formulations, feeding and management guidelines are, therefore, necessary. The nutritionist plays a key role in designing diets to suit different situations, taking into account the varied genetic potentials of animals, the different environmental and management conditions on individual farms, in order to enable farmers to produce his end product as cost-effectively as possible.

The nutritionist can often find himself working closely with the farmer's veterinary surgeon, helping in the control, prevention and cure of nutritionally related problems which can occur on farms.

Management practices have changed considerably over the years; farming in general has become much more intensive. In my opinion, farmers are now required to be much more efficient; farming must be treated like any other business - those who want to survive need to have a good knowledge of the business they run.

Intensification brings its own problems. Animals are continually being bred for increased production and more and more is demanded from them. If the management and nutritional inputs are now correct, these animals will not be able to cope with the stress they are put under.

The consumer is demanding more from the marketplace and this means that the farmer is increasingly having to produce exactly what the consumer and market requires.

Farmers are an important link in the production chain and it is extremely important, with the help of the animal nutritionist, they do everything they can to satisfy these demands.

The establishment of various farm quality assurance schemes are certainly a step in the right direction. With a high proportion of our farm produce being exported, it is important that we maintain our high standard of hygiene, health and production in order to maintain and increase our market share.

Ever increasing legislation on the control and use of medicines and other products puts increasing pressure on the farmer as well as the nutritionist.

Antibiotics, performance enhancers are necessary for efficient production and are commonly used, but require proper use and control. Observing correct withdrawal periods and the correct use of these products is extremely important.

Unfortunately, the agricultural industry in recent years has been the subject of various foods scares, salmonella, BSE, clenbuterol, etc. It is of paramount importance that our agricultural produce is seen to be of high quality, wholesome, disease-free, residue-free, in order to maintain customer confidence and safeguard our livelihoods.

In recent years, the welfare and environment aspects of farming have become more of a talking point.
