Steam flaking is no longer a processing method exclusively for corn– steam flaking sorghum for livestock diets has sparked the interest of Mexican end-users. Mexico is currently the largest importer of U.S. sorghum, utilizing sorghum in the rapidly growing livestock industry, where the swine, layer and beef sectors often prefer sorghum over other feed ingredients.

U.S. Grains Council consultants in Mexico have been actively reaching out to sorghum processors who are interested in steam flaking. These consultants have provided technical advice to sorghum processors, as well as helping promote sorghum utilization in animal diets. USGC consultants help end-users determine the cost-benefit ratio of this process to address concerns about the bottom-line value of utilizing steam flaked sorghum in animal diets.

“In the next year Mexico’s imports of U.S. sorghum are expected to increase from 1.1 million metric tons to 2.45 million tons, which is a 123 percent increase,” said Julio Hernandez, USGC director in Mexico. “Mexico is experiencing a drop in sorghum production, forcing them to import more sorghum, particularly from the United States.”

Sorghum requires processing to release the protein matrix surrounding the starchy grain that animals utilize. Steam flaking generates the greatest disturbance to sorghum’s protein matrix and therefore creates the greatest amount of starch available for livestock consumption as compared to other sorghum processing methods.

Mexico is a growing market and the Council is actively addressing inefficiencies that still exist. The Council’s programs are strategically focused to maximize the U.S. marketing advantage as well as to maximize proximity to the Mexican market to expand sales of U.S. sorghum.