Consortium Accomplishments to Date

• Completed initial analysis on soy products and distiller grains with solubles sample groups.
• Received first FeedAC NIR instrument (Bruker Optics) at Sapienza Analytica, LLC.
• Appointed a NIR ad-hoc committee that selected Sapienza Analytica, LLC (SALLC) to house the NIR instruments garnered by FeedAC and store all reference samples. A two-year memorandum of understanding has been signed between FeedAC and SALLC.
• Established six standing committees, which are currently being chaired (or co-chaired) by board members. These committees have been established to help promote and facilitate the goals of FeedAC by actively involving its members.
• Enlisted the services of the Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS). FASS strengthens the common interests and collective good of Member Societies through a unified voice that supports animal agriculture, animal products, and food systems globally via effective, efficient, and economical administrative and programmatic services. FASS specializes in providing a wide array of management services to small- and medium-sized, not-for-profit organizations.
• Selected the first ever Board of Directors and submitted the necessary paperwork to the Consortium lawyer for incorporation as a 501c (6) non-profit entity renamed the Feed Analysis Consortium, Inc. (FeedAC). The term “ruminant” was removed from the incorporated name as this change recognizes the need for a North American Feed Information System that serves all animal industries. This change also brings together all of the interests and expertise that exists in feed analysis and measurements of nutrient bioavailability. While a departure from the more limited scope and mission of RFAC, this change is expected to enhance, rather than dilute, the original goals of the Consortium.
• Created the “Strategy of Analysis of Samples” document, which outlines the sample analysis timeline for the 6 selected feedstuffs.
• Purchased and received the Sepor 48” Rotary Sample Splitter. This machine allows the Consortium to split each 50 pound sample into 24 homogenous sub-samples for analysis by the selected feed testing laboratories and academic institutions.
• Resolved issues pertaining to agreements on business management, consideration of collaborators as sub-contractors or service providers, and membership agreements when an agreement between the Consortium and the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA) at UNH was signed.
• Developed an annual membership agreement that is compatible with the needs and desires of Consortium members. Specifically, the agreement gives Consortium members the right to access all data and reports as compiled and produced by the Consortium.
• Established directories of various companies, cooperatives and field nutritionists that are associated with the animal feed industry. This directory will continue to be updated.
• Established “Nutrient Expert Groups” consisting of professionals from academia and industry to help make decisions on specific areas of expertise. Nutrient Expert Groups created thus far include:
  
  

  Carbohydrates	NIR
  Data Mining/Management	Nutritional Modeling – Rumen
  In Situ & In Vitro Techniques	Nutritional Modeling – Intestinal
  Lipids & Fatty Acids	Physical Characteristics
  Metabolism	Proteins & Amino Acids
  Minerals	Vitamins
  Moisture

• Established and defined the scope of feed analysis work for six feeds (corn grain, soybean meal, distillers dried grains, blood meal, whole cottonseed, and commercial alfalfa hay). It was decided to create “Commodity Expert Groups” to help identify and acquire approximately 100 samples of each of the feedstuffs, analyze the feeds for a limited number of analytes, select a minimum of 10 samples of each that reflects natural diversity, and do an intensive analysis of those (chemical, in vitro, in situ, and NIRS spectra).
• Contracted AgModels, Inc., to develop the Consortium website, which was built to serve as the primary communications tool for those involved in the Consortium. Current features include different levels of access based on membership status. Basic information regarding the project is available to the general public, while a login is required to access the members & collaborators sections. A public forum, file sharing capability, access to newsletters, and calendar information is also available to these members.
• Established the Consortium as an Industrial Consortium at the University of New Hampshire.
• Identified 17 Founding Sponsors who saw the need for such an initiative and who were willing to give their time and resources to help get the Ruminant Feed Analysis Consortium started.