Page 22 - Think Grain Think Feed - Noc 2025 Issue

www.benisonmedia.com ARTICLE Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 12 | Issue 1 | Nov 2025 cover a broader range of more, no less – for ultimate that one in 10 UK www.benisonmedia.com

Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 12 | Issue 1 | Nov 2025

Image Source: AB Vista
nutrients, including fibre
farms still lack
efficiency, reducing feed
costs and environmental
reliable broadband
fractions, amino acids and
impact in the process.
phytic phosphorus. This
coverage
allowed nutritionists to fine-
tune rations with greater
importance of
Offline Access
precision and monitor Speed, Reliability and demonstrates the
offline functionality.
While NIR has delivered
quality more consistently Downtime is
significant gains, the modern
across sites. Next came farming landscape is creating another critical
portable and handheld factor. In high-
new pressures. Farmers,
devices which brought NIR throughput
nutritionists, and feed
directly onto the farm or operations, every
manufacturers increasingly Mohy-El-Din Sherif
feed mill floor, further expect their technology to hour counts, so
reducing reliance on external devices and software must
deliver immediate, accurate
laboratories. results with minimal need for be resilient, with updates and
The ability to generate specialist knowledge. They maintenance scheduled to
accurate data quickly has also want systems that work avoid disruption. Alongside
helped underpin precision seamlessly in remote or this, producers want greater
nutrition strategies, which isolated locations where control over their data. They
aim to supply animals with internet connections can be expect analysis results to be
exactly what they need – no unstable or absent. The fact stored securely, easily
exported into common
Smarter Farming with Evolving

NIR Technology

By Simon Flanagan, and Mohy-El-Din Sherif, AB Vista
Near Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is a This highlights a key limitation of
pivotal tool for feed millers, many traditional NIR systems, which
nutritionists, and livestock producers depend on stable connectivity to
alike. By measuring the way feed operate at their best. To remain
ingredients absorb and reflect near- relevant to today's production
infrared light, the technology can systems, NIR must continue to evolve.
predict the nutritional composition of This article explores how NIR has
raw materials and finished feeds developed, the new demands of
within minutes. It's a capability that farmers and nutritionists, and the
has transformed how diets are innovations shaping the next
formulated – reducing waste, saving generation of feed analysis.
costs and improving overall feed
Simon Flanagan How Has NIR Evolved?
efficiency, which equates to better
In the past, laboratory-based “wet
animal performance.
chemistry” analysis for feed was
Yet as farming practices evolve, so too commonly used but proved slow and
do the expectations placed on
expensive. Results could take days to
technology. Producers are realizing arrive, delaying decisions and risking
that they need faster, more reliable
productivity losses. The introduction
insights and systems that work even
of NIR instruments changed the game
when connectivity is limited – a
as it allowed producers to analyse
reasonable request when you consider
samples in-house and act on the
that in the UK, around one in 10 farms
results the same day.
still lacks consistent internet access.
Over time, calibrations expanded to
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