As distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) continue a steady flow into Canada, a U.S. Grains Council delegation visited trans-loading facilities and a research feedlot servicing Alberta end-users. The team was especially interested in observing the industry’s ability to handle and store DDGS coming into Canada from the United States.
“I was happy to see facilities in the area have developed infrastructure for the handling of DDGS. That is the first vital step to providing the product to the market,� said delegation member Rich Zeller of Glacial Lakes Energy. Zeller said the team visited two trans-loading sites, one owned by Rycom Trading in Sunburst, Mont., and another operated by TransMark in Stirling, Alberta.
“During our tours we had the chance to talk directly with customers, and we learned that DDGS is not driven by price alone but also by quality. Not all DDGS are the same and for this reason, customers we spoke to felt it was important for them to locate plants that produce high-quality DDGS.�
The group also visited a DDGS feedlot demonstration at a Claresholm beef feedlot where research funded by the Council is being conducted to determine the highest feed intake of DDGS among cattle. While it’s too early in the study to make any conclusions, the group observed the trial methods and cattle allocations and saw firsthand how the feedmill works with the product. Overall, the tours gave team members an inside look at how DDGS moves from the United States into Canada and what the requirements are for Canadian end-users.
“It is important for us to remember that building strong export relationships is key to adding value to our co-products,� said team member Matt Fitzthum of CHS. “Canadian beef and hog producers are a market that can be accessed by trucks and railcars at a fraction of the cost it takes for DDGS to reach Asia or Europe, making Canada a vital trading partner.�