Our Trials

At ABN we pride ourselves on our committed level of trial work undertaken each year from, exploring alternative raw materials, to reducing emissions and increasing welfare and performance in all animals we feed.

With volatile energy costs and raw material markets, productivity becomes even more important. Every ounce of performance you can get out of the bird or pig is essentially money saved.  

“We are constantly evaluating our product range to increase sustainability, whilst also looking at potential alternative raw materials to see how they fit into a productive feeding programme,” says Brian Kenyon, our Senior Nutrition Manager.  

As our industry faces increasing pressure from processors, retailers and consumers to meet ambitious Net Zero goals, we are all needing to understand the environmental impact of our part in the supply chain.

In periods of uncertainty, the importance of high-performance increases across every part of the supply chain. Partnerships with your supply chain are more important than ever in helping you to increase your productivity.

Forest Poultry

Forest Poultry, operates a six-shed site housing 320,000 birds. Led by Area Manager Tom Kendall and Harry Shepard, the team works closely with ABN and has a partnership spanning over a decade. ABN provides tailored support through regular meetings, feed quality assessments, and trial work.

ABN’s commercial trials are key to improving broiler feed strategies, adapting to changing genetics and industry practices. Trials are designed to provide accurate, actionable insights by comparing performance across sheds or entire farms over multiple cycles.

Lincs Pork

At ABN, we’re proud to share our 20-year partnership with Lincolnshire Pork Co., a 1,500-sow operation in North Lincolnshire.

Sam Ward, their director, highlights how their business supplies pigs into the retail chain and their farm shop, with a focus on tailored nutrition to support each stage of production. Through regular meetings with their team, we ensure they receive cost-effective diets that meet the specific needs of their pigs.

We’ve also worked closely with Lincolnshire Pork Co. on trial projects at their redeveloped breeding farms. These trials help us refine feeding strategies to improve health, growth, and sustainability, while meeting the demands of changing legislation.

Our goal is to deliver the best nutritional solutions, combining our national expertise with local knowledge, to support businesses like theirs in thriving within the British pig industry.

Alex

Independent pig producer, Alex runs a 280-sow indoor herd in North Yorkshire, producing 500 pigs every three weeks using JSR TN70 genetics and a tempo sire line. The pigs are reared to 90-92 kg deadweight with a backfat of 10.5-11 mm. Partnering with ABN and AB Neo for over five years, Alex transitioned to zinc-free diets while maintaining optimal pig performance.

ABN Account Manager Emily Graham, along with the AB Neo and ABN nutrition teams, provides tailored solutions to support pig health and performance. This collaboration combines advanced nutritional strategies with a holistic approach, addressing management, health, and biosecurity to ensure continuity of performance in zinc-free systems.

Years of research and ongoing data analysis enable ABN to deliver innovative, effective feed solutions that meet evolving industry standards.

Bean Trials

ABN is conducting trials as part of an Innovate UK project to explore using beans as a sustainable alternative to soya in poultry diets. The trials, including a commercial layers study in partnership with Chippendales, have shown birds meeting performance targets. Initial broiler feeding trials have also provided valuable data.