Roula Nehme
Formulation Unit Head
UTRIX S.A.L.
Feed formulation has traditionally aimed to meet nutritional requirements at the lowest cost. While least-cost formulation remains important, increasing raw material variability, mycotoxin risk, and performance pressure have added complexity. As a result, risk management has become central, with high-quality concentrates ensuring nutritional consistency and reliable performance.
One of the primary challenges in modern feed manufacturing is the variability of feed ingredients. Differences in nutrient concentration, digestibility, physical structure, and contamination levels are increasingly observed due to fluctuations in origin, harvesting conditions, processing methods, and storage conditions. Small deviations in ingredient quality or just a percentage point difference in protein content can easily translate into reduced animal performance, compromised health, or inconsistent production results.
Accurate data on nutritional value and quality
The foundation for optimising animal diets is accuracy and knowing the quality and the nutritional value of the raw materials used in the basal diet. A proven method to test raw materials and complete feed called Near-infrared Spectroscopy (NIR), able to determine the nutritional components (e.g. fat, protein and moisture) of the sample in a quick and simple manner. This data on the expected variation between batches of ingredients could be incorporated into formulation matrices. This allows timely, data-driven formulation adjustments and helps limit the impact of ingredient variability on final feed quality.
Besides the proven NIR technology, accurate data on mycotoxin presence is key in feed formulation, enabling early identification and mitigation of contamination risks. This is particularly critical in regions where mycotoxin pressure is high, such as the Middle East and Africa. A comprehensive meta-analysis of mycotoxin contaminants in animal feed consumed in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region (Jalilzadeh-Amin et al., 2023) showed high incidence of mycotoxin contamination in animal feed in the MENA region, with fumonisins found in the highest concentration. This study also addressed that climate change, economic situation, agricultural and processing methods, the nature of the animal feed, and improper use of food waste in animal feed are among the most critical factors that are effective in the occurrence of mycotoxin contamination in animal feed in MENA.
Concentrates to improve predictability
UTRIX S.A.L. (hereafter called ‘UTRIX’) is a leading manufacturer of concentrates, mineral premixes, nutritional solutions and one of the first GMP+ certified companies in the Middle East. With its core customers base located in the MENA region, UTRIX understands the specific and technical challenges that come with availability and variability of feed materials. Many key raw materials have to be imported, which can sometimes lead to extended shipping times and prolonged storage. This increases the risk of mycotoxin formation and nutrient degradation. This is why NIR and mycotoxin analysis are a crucial part of the company’s integrated analytical and formulation services and hence risk focused formulation approach. With these data-driven, analytical services, the company aims to enhance formulation accuracy, reduce nutritional uncertainty, and support consistent animal performance under fluctuating ingredient conditions.
To further optimise animal diets for costs, nutritional value and performance, concentrates are added to the formulation. High-quality concentrates ensure that animals receive the essential nutrients they need for optimal health, growth, and productivity in a controlled and standardised form. This allows nutritionists to reduce reliance on variable raw materials and to stabilise diet composition across production batches. In other words, by integrating high-quality concentrates into feed programmes, manufacturers can improve predictability of animal performance while maintaining control over formulation economics. In parallel, UTRIX develops both tailor-made concentrate solutions and standardised formulas aligned with specific breed requirements and production objectives. This approach provides flexibility in formulation strategy while maintaining nutritional precision, consistency, and performance reliability across different production scenarios.
Quality is key when using concentrates
The quality of a concentrate is largely defined by what is in it. For the raw materials used in the concentrates, UTRIX relies on certified suppliers operating under recognised quality assurance schemes such as GMP+, ensuring traceability, safety, and consistency. This sourcing strategy reduces the risk of contamination, adulteration, and unexpected variability, contributing to stable feed performance and regulatory compliance. The selection of enzymes and functional feed additives further differentiates high-quality concentrates. UTRIX integrates enzymes with proven efficacy and stability under processing conditions, alongside scientifically validated functional solutions such as mycotoxin mitigation agents, gut health modulators, and performance enhancers. These additives are developed through UTRIX’s in-house R&D activities and are supported by UTRIX’s dedicated line of specialty feed additives, designed to address specific nutritional, gut health, and performance challenges with a high level of precision.
Concentrate quality is not only defined by its formulation, but also by how it is manufactured and integrated into the final feed. UTRIX concentrates are developed with precise and controlled dosing and produced under automated manufacturing conditions to ensure uniform distribution of nutrients, enzymes, and additives with the basal ingredients in the finished feed. This precision minimises nutrient segregation, supports consistent intake at the animal level, and reduces performance variability linked to uneven nutrient supply. Particle size distribution of raw materials is another critical factor influencing concentrate performance. UTRIX accounts for physical characteristics such as particle size during both raw material selection and formulation design. Consistent particle size enhances mixing efficiency, limits segregation during handling, and supports feed flowability, pellet quality, and nutrient digestibility.
Last but not least, carefully selected antioxidants, anticaking, and flowability agents among others, are incorporated to preserve feed quality and ensure consistent processing performance. Together, these measures support physical feed stability, reduce production losses, and contribute to uniform nutrient intake, reinforcing the reliability and performance standards of UTRIX high-quality concentrates.
Formulation success: From least-cost to least-risk
Given the wide variation in the quality of feedstuffs, it is vital to determine the exact composition of your ingredients to formulate a cost-effective diet that brings the best out in your animals. This requires data-driven solutions to know the nutritional value and quality of the base ingredients used (such as maize, wheat and soy). Concentrates are key to optimise diets and should be evaluated not only on cost per tonne, but on their ability to reduce nutritional risk and stabilise production outcomes. From a technical standpoint, investing in concentrate quality supports improved predictability, reduced formulation sensitivity, and enhanced confidence in feed programmes across different production conditions. This approach supports a transition from least-cost to least-risk formulation, leading to better balancing economic optimisation with performance assurance.