WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) said on July 11 that it has spread awareness of distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) usage throughout Japan. Despite the large use of DDGS in Japan, many actually fail to recognize DDGS as an ingredient in compound feed.

The council conducted DDGS workshops focused on swine nutrition in the major swine producing areas of Japan. The goal was to develop DDGS, corn gluten meal (CGM) and corn gluten feed (CGF) markets within the Japanese swine sector and provide updated information on DDGS nutritional values and feed use.

Presentations by Dr. Gerald Shurson of the University of Minnesota and Dr. Malachy Young of Gowans Feed Consulting emphasized the advantages of DDGS as an energy, digestible amino acid and phosphorous, and efficacy of high inclusion of DDGS in gestating and lactating sows. The findings from the council’s sponsored poultry feeding study on the quality of manure by feeding DDGS were presented, demonstrating that DDGS can be fed to layers without any problems in egg quality and manure characteristics. Japanese producers also had their questions answered about reduced-oil DDGS and its energy value in animal feeds.

The council also participated in the International Poultry and Pig Show, with 20,000 livestock producers and feed/livestock related businesses, to continue spreading the economic and nutritional advantage of DDGS. By interacting with Japanese livestock producers, they also became more familiar and comfortable with U.S. DDGS.

Through the council’s continued effort to educate major importers, feed millers, and integrated livestock and poultry operations, we were able to strengthen the relationship with Japanese producers and businesses and expand the U.S. DDGS market. The council now projects around 500,000 tonnes of U.S. DDGS will be exported to Japan in 2012.