U.S. Grains Council (USGC) staff, members and partners recently traveled to Gujarat, India to explore the possibility of exporting distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) to the Indian dairy industry as a nutritious supplement to cattle diets.
“Currently, there is no market access for U.S. DDGS in India, but there is massive demand for dry fodder in the livestock industry,” said Reece Cannady, USGC regional director for South Asia. “As the most populous country in the world, it’s impossible to understate the opportunity in front of us to open a brand-new market for U.S. agriculture.”
Cannady and U.S. Forage Export Council (USFEC) Director John Szczepanski led a delegation that included USGC Marketing Specialist Nayantara Pande; USGC Regional Consultant Amit Sachdev; USGC Administrative Assistant Pallavi Mahindru; POET Technical Services Director Dr. Kevin Herrick; and Viviza Services Consultant Dr. Pradeep Mahajan.
The group toured a feed plant and met with management staff and animal nutritionists to discuss the industry’s current feed formulas and its potential needs for the future. They also visited several local farms and processing centers for a full view of the dairy industry from start to finish.
The next two days were spent at AMUL, the largest dairy cooperative in India and one of the largest dairy product manufacturers in the world, touring its facilities and meeting with executive staff.
The team examined AMUL’s dairy facilities, chocolate plants and its calf rearing center, which was jointly supported by the Council in 2017 and is now the leading dairy cattle genetics program in India. Group members then gave presentations to the company’s leadership about the nutritional benefits and availability of U.S. DDGS.
“DDGS are packed with protein, environmentally friendly and abundantly available from U.S. producers, all significantly attractive factors to the Indian dairy industry,” Cannady said.
“Opening the Indian market to U.S. DDGS would be a win for U.S. producers and exporters and for Indian producers looking for additional dry ingredients that will improve livestock health, dairy quality and milk yields.”
Learn more about the Council’s work in India here.
About The U.S. Grains Council
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org.