Industry could be hit by short supplies of vitamin supplements

Livestock producers already facing up to the problem of poorer than expected forage quality could also be hit by short supplies of two key vitamin supplements used in animal feeds.

The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) said that the livestock feed industry is facing a lack of supply of vitamins A and E due to separate incidents which had resulted in the closure of two of the main manufacturing plants.

A fire earlier in the year in a German plant that produces a key precursor to production of the two vitamins has been exacerbated by the recent closure of a Chinese facility on environmental grounds.

“There are reports that supplies are becoming very tight and the industry worldwide will have to

0 Vitamin E is important to avoid livestock fertility issues manage a significant shortfall of two critical ingredients for several months,” said George Perrott, the head of the Agricultural Industries Confederation’s feed sector. “It would appear that normal volumes may not be produced until March or April 2018.”

Vitamin A is required for normal growth, and plays an important role in vision, bone growth and embryonic development.

Vitamin E is important to avoid fertility issues, muscle dystrophy, anaemia and brain malformations.

Both vitamins improve resilience against pathogens, reducing the need for antibiotics.

Perrott said the European trade body for animal feed had warned that stocks were not sufficient to offset the deficit, adding that all efforts would be aimed at maintaining levels for young and gestating animals.