Madrid becomes the epicentre of animal nutrition with the XL FEDNA Specialisation Course
The congress, celebrating its 40th edition on 5 and 6 November 2025, will bring together world experts to debate artificial intelligence, new energy evaluation systems and fibre composition.
Madrid, 2 Oct. 2025 – The Spanish Foundation for the Development of Animal Nutrition (FEDNA) will hold its landmark XL Specialisation Course on 5 and 6 November at the Auditorium of the Fundación Pablo VI in Madrid. This 40th edition is firmly established as the benchmark event for the animal feed sector in Spain, presenting an ambitious programme focused on innovation, sustainability and the latest scientific advances.
The congress will open on Wednesday 5 November with a session on the impact of artificial intelligence in animal feeding and production, presented by Alex Bach of the University of Lleida. This will be followed by an analysis of nutritional specifications for laying hens in a comparative study between industry survey data and the FEDNA Standards.
One of the central themes of this edition will be the debate on feed energy evaluation systems. Distinguished international speakers including Jaap Van Milgen (INRAe, France), Hans Stein (University of Illinois, USA), Reza Abdollahi (Massey University, New Zealand) and Gonzalo Ferreira (Virginia Tech, USA) will address the latest advances and future challenges in swine, poultry and ruminants.
The first day will also focus on swine production technology with an in-depth analysis of the Chinese experience, featuring the participation of Hu Bing from Muyuan Foods Co., Ltd, one of the global giants in the sector.
The second day, Thursday 6 November, will be marked by the presentation of the New FEDNA Tables 2025, which this year will focus on the fibre fraction of feedstuffs. Experts of the calibre of Sonja De Vries (Wageningen University, Netherlands) and Gonzalo González Mateos (UPM, Spain), together with the aforementioned Ferreira, will break down the chemical composition and nutritional value of fibre across different species.
The programme is completed with high-level round tables, such as the one dedicated to “Challenges in swine nutrition”, and specific sessions on new feed manufacturing technologies, coccidiosis control in poultry and the latest findings in mineral nutrition, including the importance of electrolytes and magnesium in ruminants.
As is tradition, the course will also serve as a platform for the next generation with the presentation of entries for the XXXIV FEDNA Prize for young researchers. The event will conclude on the afternoon of 6 November with the presentation of this award and the official closing ceremony.
DETAILED PROGRAMME – FEDNA 2025 COURSE
Madrid, 5 and 6 November 2025
Auditorium Fundación Pablo VI
Calle Juan XXIII, 3
Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid
Wednesday, 5 November
08:30 h Registration and documentation
Session 1. Moderator: Mario García – 3F Feed and Food, S.L. (Spain)
09:00 h Applications of artificial intelligence in animal feeding and production.
Alex Bach – University of Lleida (Spain).
09:45 h Analysis of nutritional specifications of feeds for laying hens: Comparative study of data from the survey conducted in Spain and the FEDNA Standards (2018).
Gerardo Santomá (FEDNA) and Pedro Pérez de Ayala – Trouw Nutrition (Spain).
10:30 h Coffee break
Session 2. Moderator: Davis Solá Oriol – Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain).
Feed and raw material energy evaluation systems in animal nutrition: latest advances.
– Swine
11:15 h. Jaap Van Milgen – INRAe (France). What comes after DE, ME and NE?
12:00 h. Hans Stein – University of Illinois (USA).
– Poultry
12:40 h. Energy evaluation and utilisation in poultry: importance, challenges and opportunities. Reza Abdollahi – Massey University (New Zealand).
– Ruminants
13.20 h. Energy evaluation of rations and feedstuffs: Fundamentals and new developments.
Gonzalo Ferreira – Virginia Tech (USA).
14:00 h Cocktail lunch.
15:40 h XXXIV FEDNA PRIZE for young researchers. Presentation of entries.
– Moderator: Manuel Fondevila – University of Zaragoza (Spain).
Session 3. Moderator: Jaume Coma – Vall Companys (Spain).
Technology in swine production systems: the Chinese experience.
16:20 h. Modern swine production in China. Hu Bing – Muyuan Foods Co., Ltd (China).
17:00 h. Nutritional aspects. Jaume Coma – Vall Companys (Spain).
17:10 h. Genetic aspects. Javier Corchero – Topigs Norsvin ES (Spain).
17:20 h. Management and pathology control aspects. Enric Marco – Marco Vetgroup SLP (Spain).
17:30 h Round table
18:15 h End of day
Thursday, 6 November
Session 4. Moderator: Javier García – Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
FEDNA Tables, 2025. Fibre fraction of feedstuffs. Chemical composition and nutritional value. Key aspects.
9.00 h. a. Dynamics of fibre degradation and ruminal passage: Bringing a complex topic down to earth.
Gonzalo Ferreira – Virginia Tech (USA).
9.35 h. b. Poultry.
Gonzalo González Mateos – Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain).
10.10 h. c. Swine.
Sonja De Vries – Wageningen University & Research (Netherlands).
10:45 h Coffee break
11:25 h Round table: Challenges in swine nutrition. Moderator: Pedro Medel (Innovabiotics S.L., Spain).
Hans Stein – University of Illinois (USA).
Riccardo Vincenzi – Veronesi (Italy).
Jaume Coma – Vall Companys (Spain).
Francesc Molist – Schothorst Feed Research (Netherlands).
Ruurd Zijlstra – University of Alberta (Canada).
Session 5. Moderator: Emilio Borja – Grupo AN (Spain). New feed manufacturing technologies.
12.25 h a. Manufacturing cost analysis. Influence of new trends in feed presentation and blending.
Juan Acedo Rico – Acedo-Rico & Asociados (Spain).
13.10 h. b. Pellet quality characteristics and their influence on poultry productivity.
Wilmer Pacheco – Auburn University (USA).
13:55 h Cocktail lunch.
Session 6: Moderator: Ana Isabel García Ruíz – Trouw Nutrition (Spain).
15.40 h Coccidiosis control in poultry: use of coccidiostats, vaccines and natural products and their possible interactions.
Vasil Stanev (Phibro Animal Health, Belgium).
16.20 h Mineral nutrition in domestic species.
16.20 h. a. Importance of acid-buffering capacity in piglets.
Ruurd Zijlstra – University of Alberta (Canada).
17.05 h. b. Electrolytes and magnesium in ruminant nutrition.
Bill Weiss – Ohio State University (USA).
17:50 h Presentation of the FEDNA Prize, closing remarks and official course closure.
18:00 h End of course.
For more information:
-. World calendar of POULTRY EVENTS (updated weekly by NeXusAvicultura)
-. XL FEDNA SPECIALISATION COURSE – 2025