We can analyse all commercially-available, self-produced feed and the plants that are used for feeding animals, as well as grain and arable crops. Our range of services covers the following analytical studies: ingredients, metabolic energy content, feed additives, minerals, trace elements, heavy metals, microbiological parameters (e.g. salmonella), microscopic studies and technological characteristics (e.g. falling number of cereal flour). In addition, formal tests, such as checks on labelling, are performed.

For a detailed overview of our range of services, please refer to our catalogue of analysis.

You can submit your samples at the following locations or send them by post to:

• AGES Vienna, Spargelfeldstraße 191, A-1220 Vienna, phone: +43 5 0555–0  (general samples for all analyses accepted, Mon–Fri: 7am–4.30pm)
• AGES Linz, Wieningerstraße 8, A-4020 Linz, phone: +43 5 0555 – 41111 ext.  (for samples that are to be analysed only for elements and/or microbiological parameters, Mon–Thu: 7.30am–3.30pm, Friday: 7.30am–3pm)

Please enclose the order letter with the sample shipment. We also ask you to take particular care that the shipping container is firmly closed and also airtight as far as it is possible (If feasible, DO NOT USE glass containers). For a representative homogeneous sample, the amount of reference material should not be less than 1/2kg - 1Kg (500g - 1000g). Should the cold chain (e.g. with moist samples) not be interrupted, please indicate this CLEARLY on the packaging.

Duration of analysis depends on the particular query, the number of samples and number of parameters to be analysed. In general 95% of our analyses are completed within 14 days. It should be noted that microbiological tests (bacterial count etc.) are performed with cultural methods (cell growth on suitable culture media) that need to be incubated for some time and therefore take at least a week to complete. When testing for the presence of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs, an analysis period of at least two weeks is to be expected. For particularly urgent analysis (imminent danger), please contact our staff immediately (phone: +43 50 555 - 33216).

The costs of a feed analysis depend on the desired parameters as well as the respective degree of analysis required and range from € 20 to € 450 per analysis. For detailed information on the costs regarding the parameters of your choice, please contact the Institute of Animal Nutrition and Feed.

Currently, it is not yet possible to retrieve test results online. However, interim reports or preliminary information can be provided electronically (via e-mail) on request.

The ‘Weende analysis’ is the standard method for determining the standard feed ingredients. The simple Weende analysis includes the determination of crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, crude fibre and moisture content. The extended Weende analysis additionally includes an analysis of starch and sugar.

The ingredients identified by the simple Weende analysis are among the obligatory prescribed labelling components of complete and complementary feed (with the exception of mineral complementary feed) for serving to food-producing animals, but also for cats, dogs and for animals in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 767/2009.

Among the undesirable substances in animal feed are heavy metals (such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury), mycotoxins (such as deoxynivalenol or aflatoxins), plant-specific toxins (such as gossypol and theobromine), nitrite, cyanide, organic chlorine compounds as well as dioxins and dioxin-like compounds (PCBs).

Undesirable substances are substances or products with the exception of pathogens that are present in and/or on a specific animal feed product and pose a potential risk for human health, animal health or the environment or could adversely affect livestock production.

Heavy metals may be present in all feed and food. The amount is dependent on the natural composition and on the manufacturing as well as environmental conditions of the respective feed and food production. Some heavy metals have properties essential for nutrition, while others, such as lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic have no nutritional relevance and are classified as being toxic or very toxic.
Due to the toxicity of some heavy metals, Directive 2002/32/EC (feed) and Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 set maximum levels for certain contaminants. This applies to the following elements and element species:

• arsenic (total arsenic) and inorganic arsenic
• lead
• cadmium
• mercury
• tin

As a National Reference Laboratory for heavy metals in food (non-animal origin) and feed, we fulfil the following tasks in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004:

• collaboration with the EU reference laboratory in Geel (Belgium)
• mandatory participation in the comparative testing rounds of the EU Reference Laboratory (EU-RL)
• support of the national competent authorities
• coordination of the activities of the competent official laboratories
• implementation and organisation of round robin tests and comparative tests
• implementation and organisation of workshops for the responsible official laboratories

What are animal feed additives and what are they used for?

Feed additives are substances, microorganisms or preparations other than feed material, which are intentionally added to feed or water. They fall into the following categories according to function:

• Technological additives: preservatives, stabilisers, antioxidants, binders, ...
• Sensory additives: flavouring compounds, colourants
• Nutritional additives: vitamins, pro-vitamins, amino acids and their salts, trace elements, urea and its derivatives
• Zootechnical additives: gut flora stabilisers, digestibility enhancers and substances which favourably affect the environment
• Coccidiostats and histomonostats

A feed additive may only be authorised if it fulfils the following criteria (Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, Article 5). The feed additive shall not

• have an adverse effect on animal health, human health or the environment;
• be presented in a manner which may mislead the user;
• harm the consumer by impairing the distinctive features of animal products or mislead the consumer with regard to the distinctive features of animal products.

In addition, the additive must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• favourably affect the characteristics of feed;
• favourably affect the characteristics of animal products;
• favourably affect the colour of ornamental fish and birds;
• satisfy the nutritional needs of animals;
• favourably affect the environmental consequences of animal production;
• favourably affect animal production, performance or welfare, particularly by affecting the gastro-intestinal flora or digestibility of feeding stuffs, or
• have a coccidiostatic or histomonostatic effect.

Authorisation process for a feed additive:

Pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 (on additives for use in animal nutrition), a feed additive must be authorised in a Community procedure before it may be placed on the market and fed to animals. A feed additive is only authorised if it demonstrably has no adverse effect on animal health, human health or the environment and if it fulfils a certain purpose or function.

The applicant submits an application to the European Commission and the application is then forwarded to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The EFSA  issues an opinion within six months, on the basis of which the Animal Nutrition section of the Standing Committee (SCoPAFF) will authorise or reject the application.

Tasks and activities of the NRL concerning feed additives - applications for authorisation:

The Commission Regulation (EC) No 378/2005 regulates the duties and tasks of the Community Reference Laboratory concerning applications for authorisation of feed additives.

In the application for authorisation, the applicant must include, among other things, the description of a suitable method of analysis of the active substance in the feed additives, premixtures and original product, which will be subjected to a scientific evaluation by a reporting laboratory. The National Reference Laboratories are required to participate in preparing the evaluation report on the method, to assess the suitability of the method for use in official testing and to submit their opinion to the European Reference Laboratory (EURL) in Geel. Other tasks include reporting to and cooperation with the EURL and the NRLs of other EU-member states, as well as testing, developing and validating methods of analysis.

In Austria, the Institute for Animal Nutrition and Feedstuffs at the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) in Vienna has been designated to fulfil these tasks.

Due to the outbreak of the BSE crisis in 2000, the feeding of animal meal to all farmed animals, with the exception of fishmeal to non-ruminants, was prohibited (Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 and Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 ). In the course of feed control, adherence to this regulation is monitored by using light microscopy to analyse feed samples for the presence of fish and/or terrestrial animal particles.

In June 2013, a partial relaxation of the ban on feeding of processed animal proteins (PAPs) entered into force (Regulation (EC) No. 56/2013). Since then, PAPs from non-ruminants may be fed to fish. In order to determine whether feed samples are contaminated with ruminant PAPs, they are tested for the presence of ruminant DNA through comprehensive molecular-biological analysis.

The aim of the NRL is to establish a project environment ‘Animal Proteins’ within a communication network. By supporting the development of new analytical methods we will be able to make progress with the expected legislative changes concerning the further readmission of animal meals.