“The previous App from 2011 was in a pdf format and was not interactive. Also it was only available in an Apple format, whereas the new app is more accessible to a wider audience,” a DSM spokesperson told us.
App formats are extremely convenient in that they enable producers to get access to vitamin levels on their smartphones and tablets instead of carrying around a hard copy of the guidelines, said DSM.
“For each species, there is a section for DSM vitamin recommendations. [These are] presented in bar formats, for each vitamin, using optimum vitamin nutrition (OVN) levels. The purpose of the bars is to give a quick visual impression of the ranges. They are easy to read, footnotes are available at the touch button, concepts are explained and there is a ‘contact us’ function which directs the user to a specific region and vitamin expert,” said the spokesperson.
The company said its updated guidelines, published in January 2016, cover eight groups of farmed and companion animal species. They were developed, said DSM, to reflect the many factors influencing animals’ feed requirements, ensuring that vitamin fortification does not limit performance.