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Feed manufacturers face increasing pressure to improve efficiency, reduce variability and maximize return on every ton of feed produced. While feed additives play an important role, long-term performance depends on technical expertise, data interpretation and practical support. That’s where AB Vista’s Technical Services team makes the difference.
AB Vista is a leading global supplier of feed enzymes and a top supplier of yeast and natural betaine to the animal feed industry. The Bill Barr & Company team recently visited with Caitlin Evans, PhD, technical support services manager for AB Vista North America, to learn more about her role and the value it brings to the industry.
We first asked Caitlin to describe her role. “My role focuses on helping customers improve feed quality, ingredient utilization and manufacturing efficiency through a combination of technical support, analytical tools and practical implementation strategies,” she said. “A large portion of my work involves supporting feed quality programs through near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), including instrument implementation, calibration management, data interpretation and ongoing optimization.”
One aspect that makes her role unique is the combination of feed manufacturing, analytical technology and applied nutrition. Many organizations focus on only one piece of that puzzle, providing only analytical results or basic recommendations. AB Vista takes it a step further by focusing on helping customers understand why variation exists and how they can use data to improve decision-making throughout the manufacturing process.
“A typical day may involve reviewing NIRS performance and calibration accuracy in the morning, followed by walking the production line with mill managers and operators to identify opportunities for improvement,” Caitlin shared.
“Depending on the facility, we may be evaluating ingredient variability, investigating pellet quality concerns, optimizing grinding strategies, reviewing sampling procedures or validating enzyme inclusion rates. Many visits involve connecting laboratory data back to what is happening in production. The objective is always to translate data into practical actions that improve production performance. No two visits are exactly the same, which is one of the things I enjoy most about the role.”
When asked about the biggest operational bottlenecks or inefficiencies she encountered, Caitlin noted that ingredient variability — which creates inconsistency in formulation performance — was a common challenge. Other frequent issues included poor sampling practices that limit confidence in analytical data as well as enzyme application and recovery issues that reduce a mill’s return on investment. Caitlin explained that many challenges are interconnected, and achieving better process visibility can lead to improvements across several operational areas.
One way that AB Vista is helping customers reduce inefficiencies is through the use of NIRS (near-infrared spectroscopy). NIRS enables feed manufacturers to transition from reactive decision-making to proactive process control. Instead of waiting several days for laboratory results, customers can receive nutritional and quality information within minutes, allowing them to make adjustments while ingredients or feed are still in the system.
Before implementing NIRS, many facilities relied on periodic wet chemistry testing and made assumptions about ingredient consistency. As a result, variability often went undetected until performance issues emerged in the field or after a significant amount of feed had already been produced.
“With NIRS, customers can now monitor ingredient variation in real time, verify nutrient specifications and identify problems before they develop into costly issues,” said Caitlin. “One of the greatest advantages is the increased confidence it provides. Customers gain visibility into their processes and can make operational decisions based on data, rather than assumptions.”
AB Vista has developed a comprehensive range of technical services to assist customers throughout the feed production process. The objective is not simply to supply an additive but to help customers maximize the value they receive from it. Their specialized teams, which include experts in nutrition, feed processing and analytical technologies, collaborate with customers to address challenges and enhance performance.
Our supplier partnership with AB Vista leverages our deep understanding of local customer needs alongside AB Vista’s technical expertise in animal nutrition and feed manufacturing. Customers gain access to localized support that is backed by a global network of technical resources and research capabilities. This means that day-to-day questions can be addressed quickly, and more complex challenges are handled with specialized expertise.
“Ultimately, the collaboration provides customers with practical solutions that improve feed quality and animal performance,” said Caitlin. “They have access to both responsive service and deep technical resources when needed.” If you would like to learn more about AB Vista products or technical support services, visit the AB Vista website or give the Bill Barr & Company team a call today.
