Knowledge Nook

November 1, 2026

Carolina Feed Industry Association (CFIA) 2026 annual summer meeting recap

The CFIA annual summer meeting is about bringing producers, educators, and government agencies together to enhance the feed industry in the Carolinas. The meeting was a great opportunity to glean the latest news in monogastric nutrition, university & AFIA updates, ingredient supply & market outlooks along with the chance to network with industry leaders and business professionals! Here are a few bullet points of what caught our attention:

October 12, 2026

World Dairy Expo Recap

The weather for this dairy expo was again warm but somewhat rainy. Even so, attendance seemed to be strong. The technical/supplier segment of the dairy industry is changing. Read our recap for the highlights.

August 27, 2026

Testing feed-grade Potassium carbonate (Potcarb) stability in dairy blends

Potassium carbonate (PotCarb; anhydrous potassium carbonate) is an excellent source of potassium, buffer,
and positive DCAD in dairy rations. Unfortunately, it is hygroscopic and chemically reactive and can create
manufacturing challenges anytime the weather is even the slightest bit humid.

May 20, 2026

April Trade Shows and Meetings Recap

The Barentz Poultry team had a very busy and exciting April attending multiple conferences and trade shows. Not only are these events a great place to catch up with colleagues and customers, but they also provide insight into recent findings from industry nutritionists, producers, and researchers.

May 5, 2026

Dairy Conference Recap 1st Quarter

Barentz ruminant sales and technical staff attended four dairy management and ruminant nutrition conferences this quarter. These meetings are attended annually mainly by dairy producers and their consulting suppliers and nutritionists.

December, 2025

Winter Ventilation in Poultry Houses

As the days grow shorter and the months grow colder, one key factor in maintaining a healthy poultry flock is proper ventilation. While heat stress and air movement are typically big topics during the summer, proper ventilation during the winter months also warrants discussion.

October, 2025

World Dairy Expo 2025 Technical Recap

Perhaps best known as an exposition for dairy show cows and dairy equipment, there are also many other dairy technologies that are often introduced or energized through marketing at the show. This Expo was one of the warmest on record with some days reaching 90 degrees, making this Expo a good opportunity to showcase technologies that help improve cows health and environment.

September, 2025

Urine pH and Negative DCAD: Don’t Overthink the Science

A negative DCAD ration (-DCAD) is used to prevent post-calving hypocalcemia in dairy cows both at the subclinical level (increased health risk) and at the clinical level (obvious milk fever). Simply put, the -DCAD ration works by feeding the cow disproportionate amounts of negatively charge minerals, especially chlorine, for about three weeks pre-calving.

August, 2025

Sodium Bicarbonate can mitigate against heat stress and subsequent performance losses in laying hens

As summer temperatures continue to rise, one of the biggest issues facing laying hen producers is heat stress. Heat stress causes many physiological issues that lead to economic losses, including increased oxidative stress, improper acid-base balance, and suppressed immune systems.

July, 2025

Heat & Humidity - The Challenges of Blending Dairy Minerals in the Summer

The dairy industry uses a wide array of feed ingredients that can vary substantially in their chemical stability. When slightly reactive ingredients (more acidic or basic) make physical contact with other reactive ingredients, there is always the potential for unwanted chemical reactions that mostly result in heating and activation of free moisture.

June, 2025

Yeast Products and Their Benefits in Livestock and Poultry Production

Yeasts are microorganisms that are an excellent source of bioactive compounds that have various nutritional and functional benefits to animals.

May, 2025

Nutrient changes and additives to consider during heat stress in dairy cows

One of the greatest challenges to dairy producers in North America is heat stress, whether chronic or short-term. Even in dairy production areas where there is less humidity, evening and night cooling can still be limited during the hottest part of the season.

April, 2025

Choline - An Essential Nutrient with New Perspectives

Natural choline sources occur at meaningful levels in most feed ingredients, thus choline is not considered a vitamin in the classic sense. That said, the feed industry has learned from experience that there are many feeding conditions where choline becomes inadequate for optimum animal health and performance.

March, 2025

Phosphorus - More Than A Mineral

Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for appropriate growth, development, and production. Phosphorus is the second most abundant element in the body, after calcium, and is mostly stored in bones and teeth.

February, 2025

Sodium and Potassium Buffers for Dairy

Where do they come from and how they are used?