WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — In the past four years U.S. distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) imports to Canada have more than quadrupled in part due to the promotional efforts of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), the group said on Sept. 27.
High profile feeding trials in cooperation with the government of Canada established the economy of feeding DDGS to beef cattle and to pigs, and helped build Canada as the number three market last year for U.S. DDGS exports. U.S. DDGS exports to Canada rose from 190,373 tonnes in marketing year 2006-07 to 881,670 tonnes in 2010-11, the last year for which complete trade data is available.
Recently the Council partnered with Great Lakes Turkey Farms, a major turkey producer in Ontario, Canada to conduct a turkey feeding trial, demonstrating the economic benefits of feeding DDGS to turkeys. As part of the study, more than 32,000 turkeys were fed at inclusion rates of 9% percent and 15% of DDGS. The increased feeding levels resulted in no adverse effects in performance and proved to be an effect alternative to traditional feed ingredients. The elevated inclusion rate represents a 75,000 tonnes of new demand for DDGS. Prior to the study Canadian turkey farmers had been lowering inclusion rates with the belief that DDGS were contributing to wet litter in barns. The study further demonstrated that when balanced correctly, the feed formulas containing both the previous and current DDGS inclusion rate did not have any detrimental effects on litter conditions.
Tyson Seigel, president of Great Lakes Turkey Farms suggested that, "By learning this new information indicated by the feed study, using DDGS at higher inclusions rates can allow Canadian producers to use more DDGS when cost-effective to lower feed costs and increase profits."
As part of the Council's commitment to customer education, consultant Neil Campbell noted that "our work's not done because after seeing such good results, we want to continue exploring DDGS usage in feed at higher levels." Campbell has begun circulating the study's findings to turkey producers and nutritionists throughout Canada to encourage higher inclusion rate and realize this 75,000 tonnes of new demand. The Council's ongoing initiatives show that there is still room to grow for U.S. DDGS exports to Canada.