IFEEDER seeks proposals for analysis of vitamin, amino acid supply chains | Feed Strategy

The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) is seeking proposals for a project that will analyze the potential impacts of fluctuations in vitamin and amino acid availability on U.S. livestock production and pet health.

“Amid recent global supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tension, there has been growing concern among feed and pet food manufacturers about having access to a steady, reliable supply of vitamins and amino acids to reliably produce complete animal food,” said Carlos A. Gonzalez, Ph.D., IFEEDER board of trustees chair. “At IFEEDER, we are working to proactively address some of the most challenging issues facing the industry, and I can think of no issue that can have such deep repercussions for animal food production, animal health and welfare, food security, and the economy.”

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Research organizations and institutions are invited to submit proposals to evaluate critical supply thresholds and inclusion rates of vitamins and amino acids essential for livestock health and productivity. The primary objective of this research is to quantify key vitamin- and amino acid-driven performance indicators critical to each animal production sector (i.e., broilers, layers, turkeys, swine, dairy and beef cattle) that measure the impact of supply fluctuation on animal health, reproduction, feed efficiency and aggregate output of meat, dairy foods and eggs.

In addition, IFEEDER is seeking proposals for a parallel assessment, focusing on the impact that vitamin and amino acid supply fluctuations would have on pet health. Applicants are invited to submit proposals for the assessment of all livestock production sectors, pet food production or both.

“At the direction of the IFEEDER Board of Trustees and in partnership with American Feed Industry Association leadership, IFEEDER is committed to leading this strategic assessment to better equip industry stakeholders with the information they need to proactively seek solutions now and ensure their ability to serve customers in the future,” said Lara Moody, IFEEDER executive director.

The timeline for project completion is six months, with the final selection of the contractor expected mid-January 2025. The final selection of the contractor will be determined by the IFEEDER Research Committee and approved by the IFEEDER Board of Trustees, based on a competitive bidding and scoring process.

Interested parties must submit proposals to [email protected], by Friday, December 13. More information and specific proposal requirements can be found at ifeeder.org/research/request-for-proposals. IFEEDER is also actively accepting donations from companies and individuals for this important research. To donate, visit IFEEDER’s website or contact Moody at [email protected].