New Anti-Resistance Approach: DDC Powers the Successful Hosting of the 2019 Hebei Province Feed Industry Summit

In the first half of 2019, China's feed industry was witnessing numerous changes. How can we embrace these new developments and achieve sustainable growth? From March 22 to 24, the "2019 Hebei Province Feed Industry Development Summit," hosted by the Hebei Provincial Feed Industry Association and themed "Major Transformation, Embracing Change, Driving Transformation," was held at the Guoyuan Langyi Hotel in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province.

Yang Zhenhai, Director of the National Animal Husbandry Station and Secretary-General of the China Feed Industry Association, Guo Baifu, Director of the Social Organization Administration Bureau of Hebei Provincial Department of Civil Affairs, and Gu Chuanxue, Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau of Hebei Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, along with other leaders, attended the meeting. Nearly 800 people attended the summit, including leaders from feed offices across cities in Hebei Province, representatives from local enterprises, and media representatives.

The summit closely focused on the four most pressing issues today—“antibiotic restrictions, environmental regulations under intense pressure, African swine fever, and changes in raw material sourcing”—and invited Professor Chen Daiwen, Vice President of Sichuan Agricultural University. Dr. Cai Huiyi, Director of the National Engineering Research Center for Bio-feed Development, Researcher Zhang Hongfu, Deputy Director of the National Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Professor Zhai Guangyun, Secretary of the Party Committee at the College of Animal Science and Technology of Hebei Agricultural University, along with other seasoned industry experts, Delve into industry policy orientations, trends in industrial transformation, and new theories, technologies, and methodologies driving innovation in science and technology products.

At the summit, Dr. Renjie Wang, DDC Technical Manager, was invited to deliver a keynote presentation titled "Progress in the Application of Feed Acidifiers in the Livestock and Poultry Industry." He began by outlining the global timeline for phasing out antibiotics, highlighting the lessons learned from Europe’s antibiotic ban, before delving into the latest research advancements and evaluation methods related to feed acidifiers.

At the Feed Innovation Technology Forum on Anti-Antibiotic Feed, held on the afternoon of March 23, Dr. Lu Jirong, Deputy General Manager of DDC, delivered a speech as a guest speaker, sharing DDC's latest research findings and expertise in feed intake regulation. Dr. Lü highlighted DDC's core competitiveness in both hardware and software, emphasizing its professional positioning, dedicated investment, and focused research efforts. When discussing the "replacing antibiotics" and "antibiotic-free" approaches, she and the guests unanimously agreed that reducing and eventually eliminating antibiotic use in the industry is not only essential for food safety, ecological sustainability, and social responsibility but also entirely achievable from an operational standpoint—despite being a complex, system-wide endeavor. Specifically, focusing on the feed stage alone: 1) Low-protein diets combined with amino acid balance and a net-energy system are critical components; 2) Pre-digesting raw materials is a key strategy; 3) Incorporating higher levels of functional vitamins and amino acids can serve as a valuable technique; 4) Preventing diseases through dietary intake is paramount—this can be achieved by thoroughly heat-treating feed to eliminate harmful pathogens like Salmonella; 5) The strategic and synergistic use of carefully selected additives—such as acidifiers, plant-based essential oils, enzyme preparations, and prebiotics—in effective combinations—is absolutely necessary. She emphasized that true antibiotic replacement and reduction ultimately require stronger guidance, support, and even oversight across all stages of the industry, alongside enhanced awareness of food safety among stakeholders. Moreover, she stressed the importance of seamless collaboration among academic institutions, feed industry professionals, and government agencies to collectively drive advancements in farming practices, including improvements in rearing philosophies, farm environments, breeding techniques, and overall efficiency. Only then can China’s livestock sector truly embrace sustainable, eco-friendly, and health-conscious development.

In 2019, as supply-side reforms continued to deepen, Environmental pressures, shifting raw materials, the ban on antibiotic use in feed, and emerging challenges like African swine fever continue to create new situations—resulting in ongoing changes to the feed industry. The industry's layout and development trends will undergo significant changes. DDC will closely monitor industry advancements, continuously driving technological innovation in the field of animal feed regulation, and working hand-in-hand with industry partners to embrace these new shifts, adapt to the evolving landscape, and jointly create a "win-win" future.