Mobile Forage Analysis System for the Equine Sector

Eurofins Agro Testing and trinamiX GmbH, a sensor technology subsidiary of BASF SE, have introduced a mobile feed analysis solution designed to provide rapid, on-site nutritional profiling of forage for horses, addressing the need for precise dietary formulation in equine management. The system targets applications in sport, breeding, leisure and rehabilitation where forage quality directly impacts health and performance.

On-Site Nutritional Analysis for Equine Feed
Forage variability due to plant species, harvest timing, soil conditions and storage practices presents significant challenges for equine nutrition planning. Traditional laboratory analysis can delay dietary adjustments, whereas immediate understanding of nutritional composition supports balanced ration formulation, digestive health and metabolic disorder prevention. The new solution combines near-infrared spectroscopy with handheld measurement to deliver rapid nutrient profiles, creating data necessary for real-time decision making on feed composition.

The technology utilizes the handheld trinamiX PAL Two spectrometer to assess key nutritional parameters of forage types such as fresh grass, hay and haylage directly at stables or pastures. The system quantifies parameters including acid detergent fibre (ADF), lignin (ADL), crude ash, fat, fibre, protein, dry matter and neutral detergent fibre (NDF), along with organic matter digestibility (OMD), sugar and fructan content for hay and pH for haylage. Energy values are currently calibrated for Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, with additional regions to be incorporated.

Technical Mechanism and Application
Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy measures absorption of light across specific wavelengths correlated with molecular bonds in feed components. This mechanism, paired with robust chemometric models trained on thousands of European forage samples, translates spectral data into quantitative nutritional metrics within seconds. The handheld spectrometer communicates with an intuitive application that interprets data for equine-specific nutritional contexts, enabling immediate dietary adjustment.

This approach represents an extension of previous collaborations between Eurofins and trinamiX in ruminant nutrition, adapting mobile NIR spectroscopy to the equine segment. The solution’s portability and speed distinguish it from traditional laboratory testing while preserving analytical depth and accuracy through validated spectral libraries.

Deployment and Industry Impact
Initial deployment covers regions including the Benelux countries, DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), the Nordics, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Poland, with plans for further geographic expansion. The solution is aimed at stable owners, feed producers, nutritionists and veterinary professionals, offering data that can influence ration formulation, feeding strategies and nutritional interventions.

By enabling immediate, on-site forage analysis, the system contributes to data-driven management practices within the equine nutrition ecosystem and integrates technical measurement into daily feed decisions. Its application supports broader trends in precision agriculture and animal health analytics, offering a field-ready tool for real-time nutritional insight.

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