Complete nutritional analysis for agriculture, aquaculture and pet food markets


With over 30 years’ experience in the agri and aquaculture sectors, Sciantec offers a complete analytical service for feedingstuffs, ingredients, raw materials, compound feed, meals, premixes, and forages. Our expertise in animal feed safety and nutrition, combined with modern testing facilities and broad analytical capacity, enables our ISO 17025 accredited laboratory to deliver specialist services for all associated sectors, including feed mills, pet foods, research and development, and commodities traders. Sciantec is UKAS and GMP+ accredited to satisfy quality management and assurance schemes for full legislative requirements, and is qualified to carry out UFAS, FEMAS and FEDIAF-based analysis. We also develop specific bespoke studies and projects depending on customer requirements.

Evaluate the nutritional value of forage for optimal performance


The quality of forage has a considerable impact on nutrient and dry matter consumption in livestock, which in turn improves productivity. Analysing its nutritional value is beneficial as it allows the nutrient content to be accounted for in planning herd nutrition. It also enables crop nutrition and fertiliser programmes to be tailored to provide the highest quality forage available for animal welfare and productivity.

Sciantec offers standard and bespoke services for specific customer needs, including nutrition, vitamin, minerals, mycotoxin, and microbiology analysis. We use NIR (or ‘wet’) chemistry, where infrared light is used to analyse feed materials for nutritional content.

Animal feeds & premixes

Animal feed is often identified as the highest cost of animal husbandry. Feed analysis ensures that the required nutrients for efficient livestock productivity are balanced and assesses the need for nutrient supplements. Sciantec offers nutritional, microbiological, undesirables and Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR) analysis, helping feed manufacturers to meet FEMAS and UFAS regulations. Analysis for premixes including vitamins, minerals and feed additives for inclusion in animal diets for quality and compliance is also available. We offer the full scope of feed analysis regardless of species in both agri and aquaculture sectors.

Raw materials & ingredients

The movement and storage of raw materials and ingredients bound for feed, food and drink worldwide is one of the biggest marketplaces in the world. Commodities such as cereals, grains, oils, fats, minerals, trace elements, vitamins, animal by-products, and chemical products are all subject to quality checking, either when moving between countries, or when treated or stored. Sciantec offers a comprehensive quality checking testing service, complying with GMP+, UFAS and FEMAS quality assurance schemes, offering microbiology, nutritional, and contaminants analysis. For example, we test by-products for animal feeds for breweries and distilleries to help them meet FEMAS requirements.

Pet food

Manufacturers are increasingly focussed on producing pet foods to the highest standards of hygiene, safety, and nutritional quality due to the ever-evolving demands and high expectations of pet owners. Sciantec offers nutritional and microbiological testing on finished products and raw materials appropriate for quality control, product development and FEDIAF guidelines. Our services include nutritional, shelf life, microbiological testing, undesirables, and quality indicators analysis, providing reassurance of safe and high-quality pet food to businesses and pet owners alike.

Forage

Forage analysis helps farmers and manufacturers understand the nutritional value and mineral content of forages to enable rationing for optimum performance. By testing forage with either NIR (‘wet’) or wet chemistry on a regular basis, including grass and maize silage, livestock nutrition plans can be managed efficiently and reliably to improve animal welfare and productivity. Sciantec offers standard and bespoke services for specific customer needs, including nutrition, vitamin, minerals, mycotoxin, and microbiology analysis.

Proficiency testing schemes

Accurate nutritional information of crops and pulses is necessary for traders, who rely on reliable results to price their products based on desired nutritional content. Regular participation in proficiency testing (PT) schemes gives evidence of a laboratory’s competence, and demonstrates a commitment to constant improvement, quality assurance, and maintenance of its services. Sciantec operates several PT schemes on behalf of third-party customers to help them deliver accurate, reliable results with precisely calibrated instrumentation. We also provide consultancy and training on PT scheme operation.

Specialist projects

Sciantec uses its expertise in animal welfare and feed to develop innovative bespoke studies for customers. From one-off analytical studies to ongoing large-scale projects, Sciantec works closely with customers to undertake specialist research and develop methodology for specific requirements. We conduct projects for large and small companies, as well as on behalf of, or in partnership with universities, government agencies and contract research institutions. Contact us for a one-to-one consultation to discuss your requirements.