The expansion of livestock production in feed-deficient countries is the biggest driver of growth in the coarse grain trade. In both China and Taiwan the U.S. Grains Council has hosted numerous swine programs to increase swine producers’ technical knowledge. These countries have seen expansion and/or upgrades in farming efficiency in their pork industries.

This week, the Council sponsored two international teams, from China and Taiwan, to attend the World Pork Expo as well as to complete several different short courses about new advances in U.S. swine production.

“This educational program will familiarize key swine producers in China with facility design methods used in the United States,” said USGC Director in China Bryan Lohmar. “The team also will become familiar with wean-to-finishing farms, application systems and manure management practices in the United States.”

China’s rapidly growing swine industry has been facing the challenge of manure management. Aware of this constraint, the Council has been working proactively with producers in China to overcome this hurdle.

The swine industry in Taiwan faces its own obstacles as it is learning the most effective solutions to deal with swine industry problems. These challenges include generational change in farm management, lack of superior breeding hogs, increasing animal health issues and limited access to new production and management technologies.

“The primary purpose of this trip for the Taiwanese team is to learn how to improve production efficiency in hog farming, convince the new generation hog leaders of the capability of the U.S. to supply exports and educate the team on the advantages of using U.S. grains and distiller’s dried grains with solubles,” said USGC Director in Taiwan Clover Chang, “They will also contact with some commercial companies for importing superior breeding hogs from the United States.”

The Council will continue swine programs for both countries in the future to work to overcome these challenges and support increased demand for coarse grains.