Our findings show that on-line determination of feed ingredient quality is necessary for consistent quality compliance in continuous production. NIRS holds promise for predicting feed compositions that consistently meet the quality in real time and is a viable alternative to more time-and cost-consuming traditional methods based on wet chemical analysis. The advantages of NIRS are further enhanced by its ability to readily authenticate the origin of feed ingredients. Feed authentication is essential for ensuring correct labeling and safety in production and for increasing transparency, traceability and accountability throughout the supply chain 36 . Accurate origin determination ultimately ensures transparent environmental assessment during production, allowing decisionmakers to include environmental considerations in feed optimization.