Clare Gaukroger has joined Cargill’s pig team as research coordinator for the UK. Based in North Yorkshire, she will be establishing trials and managing data collection, analysis and interpretation for a wide range of projects on the company’s two UK reference farms.
These pig units are equipped with trial facilities and are designed to reflect commercial UK farms. One site focuses on weaner pig performance and the other, a more recently introduced site, will look at challenges and solutions in commercial grower finisher systems.
After gaining a first-class honors degree in animal science from Newcastle University, Clare spent a year as a swine technical specialist for Anpario before returning to Newcastle University to undertake a PhD in gut microbiota development in piglets and its relationship on performance.
Winner of the President’s Prize at the British Society of Animal Science conference in 2016, she was a speaker on piglet gut health at EuroTier in Germany in the same year and was also awarded a travel grant to present at the International Symposium on digestive physiology of pigs in Australia in 2018.
“The pig industry is facing some real challenges, particularly with the impending ban on the therapeutic use of zinc oxide in diets and the drive to reduce antibiotic usage,” says Dr Gaukroger. “We also have to keep pace with genetic advances and strive to achieve the animal’s potential by optimizing nutritional programs and management techniques.”
The projects underway at the Cargill UK reference farms focus on the interaction of nutrition, management and environment.
“We will exchange results from our work with Cargill’s global research teams, but it is particularly important that our findings here in the UK are used in tailoring new product and service developments to meet the needs of the UK industry,” she added. “This will help our customers to improve productivity in a sustainable and cost-effective way.”
Amlan International, a producer of mineral-based feed additives, recently appointed eight sales, marketing and technical employees to its staff in China.
They include Michael Hua, regional technical service manager [pictured], and King Zhu, technical service manager.
As team lead, Hua wll support and coach the sales team and channel partners to successfully build and expand the local technical service experience. Zhu joins Hua’s technical service team and brings years of experience in swine production.
“China is the world’s largest producer of pork and the top three in poultry production, and operations continue to grow in the country. We’re committed to bringing the resources and expertise needed to help producers rise to the challenge to meet growing demand and evolving customer preferences,” said Fred Kao, Amlan’s vice president of global sales.
Amlan has also invested in expanding the capabilities of its three logistics centers, located strategically within China to meet the increased demand.
Its China subsidiary, Amlan Trading (Shenzhen) Company, Ltd., was established in 2013 and since added logistic warehouses in Tianjin, northeast China; Shenzhen in the southeast; and Chongqing in the southwest. The supply hubs allow it to quickly adjust to shifting product demands within the country, said Amlan.
“The size of China’s consumer base and its rising middle class are contributing to an increased demand in animal protein in that market. The strategic new hires and investment in our infrastructure in China help support our mission of providing excellence in technical and customer service to keep pace with the growth of the business and evolving regulations,” said Harold Zhou, director of operations for China, Amlan International.
In addition to Hua and Zhu, Amlan also recently added the following to the China team:
- Teng Yingyun, area sales manager. He has 15 years of experience at another leading animal health company.
- Chen Yazhou, sales manager. He brings 10-plus years of sales experience to Amlan to support poultry and swine customers.
- Luo Qiong, sales manager. He spent years at a top animal health company working as a technical representative where he managed key customer relationships.
- Sissi Fang, senior marketing specialist. Fang was a member of a top animal health company for seven years, where she built experience in marketing communications.
- Coy Xiao, HR and paralegal manager. Xiao brings years of leading human resource efforts for various companies.
- Jane Yang, finance manager. Using her extensive financial background, she will work to further support Amlan’s business expansion in China.
Adriana Casillas, CEO of Spanish biotech company Tebrio, is to take on the role of the presidency of the International Insect Platform for Food and Feed (IPIFF), a position she will hold for the next three years.
Casillas' company specializes in the farming and mass processing of the insect, Tenebrio Molitor. She was elected after an unanimous vote at the organization's General Assembly.
The IPIFF platform, which currently has 76 members and a presence in 23 countries, is a non-profit organization that represents the concerns of the insect production sector to European policy makers, stakeholders and citizens.
One of its main objectives is to promote legislative and regulatory actions in relation to the insect industry sector to enable the extensive use of insect products in animal feed, human food and plant nutrition, and other sectors.
Vetsina has utilized the UK government’s Kickstart Scheme to partially fund the appointment of a new laboratory scientist, Brandon Shek, to help its team in developing innovative animal health diagnostics for veterinary use.
The company, founded by Roslin Technologies and Destina Genomics, is looking to enable early diagnosis of illness and infection in companion animals and livestock using RNA diagnostics, including microRNA diagnostics, so that veterinarians can enhance the health and wellbeing of companion animals and livestock.
It said such tests will also help veterinarians to detect physiological changes earlier, such as confirmation of pregnancy and cattle puberty, thus improving the productivity of livestock.
“Brandon has an honors degree in Biotechnology from the University of Edinburgh and undertook a year-long master’s research project in clinical veterinary sciences but was waiting for his first opportunity to apply his knowledge in a commercial setting,” said Simon Wheeler, Vetsina CEO. “As we approach our company’s first birthday in July, the Kickstart Scheme funding provided a valuable opportunity both to strengthen our team and give an outstanding candidate a gateway into the industry.”
Evonik has appointed Dr Devan Paulus Compart to its North American animal nutrition team as ruminant business development manager.
The company outlined how Dr Compart will work with farmers, nutritionists, feed producers and distributors on the concepts and use of feed additives in dairy and beef cattle diets. In particular, she will work directly with Evonik’s US-based distribution partner, RP Nutrients, to support further market penetration of Mepron and other products specific to the rumen animal markets.
Dr Compart obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of California Davis in animal science, with a focus on ruminant nutrition. Her master’s and PhD were obtained from the University of Minnesota in ruminant nutrition. While attending the University of Minnesota, she was an active member of the statewide beef extension team, said the feed additive producer.
She previously worked at Land O’Lakes Inc. as a ruminant feed additive researcher and technical service lead where she focused on the use of feed additives in ruminant diets. Within the additive market, her experience encompasses work with prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, phytogenics and other technologies.
Papillon Agricultural Company has hired Jorge Matos as Central Plains regional sales manager to provide support to dairy and cattle nutritionists and producers in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas and Colorado.
“Jorge brings a wealth of knowledge, strong relationships and industry experience,” says David Briggs, president of Papillon Agricultural Company. “Jorge has been dynamically serving the Central Plains nutritionists, feed mills and dairy farmers for six years. He understands the unique needs of the region, and we’re thrilled he’s joined us.”
Matos will support nutritionists and producers in his region by helping them learn about the benefits of prioritizing rumen health and gastrointestinal function to improve feed efficiency, which can impact a producer’s overall financial health.
With 30 years of experience in the western US at Alta Genetics and Virtus Nutrition, Matos' career is notable for the win-win conditions he creates, said the firm. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Fresno Pacific University, is fluent in both Spanish and Portuguese, and an active member of the Texas Animal Nutrition Council.
US feed business, the Wenger Group, has made some key management structure changes.
“We believe these changes will benefit our customers by improving our speed and quality of execution and are key to accelerating our growth. The Board of Directors have been evaluating what succession planning actions should be taken to prepare for the eventual retirement of its president and chief executive officer, Phil Rohrbaugh.
“Based on that review and assessment, a plan has been developed, which we believe will serve the company and our customers well in planning for this future transition yet allow us to continue our focus around our current strategic plan, as Phil has been leading many transformative changes.”
The Wenger Group, Inc. is a US based family-owned agricultural products and services organization, which includes Wenger Feeds, LLC, Nutrify, LLC, Dutchland Farms, LLC, Risser Grain, LLC, and Hoober Feeds. With over 450 team members and 10 feed milling locations in two states, the company is a regional provider of poultry, swine, and dairy feeds, performance ingredient solutions, conventional and specialty eggs, grain, fertilizer, and allied services in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Phil Rohrbaugh [pictured] will continue to lead the organization as CEO for the next several years, but the company said his focus will shift more toward ensuring the long-term sustainability of the company and less on day-to-day operations. Accordingly, his focus will be around the execution of our strategy, driving and developing revenue opportunities and growth, acquisitions and business development, and continuing to strengthen our corporate governance.
With that shift in focus, effective from October 1, 2021, Wenger said Tim Appleby will take on the new position of senior VP and chief business officer, reporting to the CEO. "In this position, all of our shared service functions that support our operations as well as transportation will report to Tim."
Secondly, Brad Wagner is being promoted into the position of senior VP and chief operating officer, reporting to the CEO. In this position, he will provide oversight to all mill operations, manufacturing support services, supply chain and customer service and logistic areas.
Thirdly, Dave Glock will become senior VP and chief procurement officer. He will continue to lead and manage the procurement area and partner with Wagner closely around operations, and will also work directly with and report to the CEO around the execution of the company’s expansionary strategies, announced the company.
Finally, as a result of the company’s strong focus on animal nutrition research and innovation as well as quality, Dr Raj Kasula, senior VP and chief nutrition officer, will continue to report to the CEO.
