U.S. corn producers sending their corn to U.S. ethanol plants also receive added value for their crop from the derivative distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS). A widely used feed ingredient in the United States, DDGS is increasingly being used in markets around the world. The U.S. Grains Council, funded by U.S. agriculture and USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, conducts educational seminars and feeding trials to increase familiarity and usage of the U.S. feed ingredient. “The Council identifies opportunities for DDGS in foreign markets and then begins an introduction of the co-product to end-users unfamiliar with the ingredient,� said Dan Keefe, USGC manager of international operations for DDGS. “Part of the introduction usually includes proving the nutritional value of DDGS in livestock and poultry rations.
This is why we conduct several DDGS feeding trials annually.� A feeding trial using DDGS recently concluded in Egypt in the dairy, water buffalo and poultry sectors. The conclusion matches up with the results of previous trials orchestrated by the Council. “Once again, DDGS has carried its weight both on a nutritional and economic level,� said Keefe. For example, when feeding DDGS to dairy cattle in Egypt at a 20 percent inclusion rate, milk production increased 5 percent and a total feed cost savings of $17 per metric ton. In the water buffalo sector, DDGS fed at a 12 percent inclusion resulted in an average daily weight gain increase of 13 percent and feed cost savings of $8.40 per ton. Layer hens and broilers fed DDGS resulted in feed cost savings of $1.50 per ton. Dr. Hussein Soliman, USGC director in Egypt, said U.S. DDGS exports to Egypt will likely amount to 85,000 metric tons in the 2009 calendar year, up from 60,000 tons in 2008. He anticipates the Egyptian market to have a potential demand for DDGS reaching 400,000 tons. Keefe estimates total exports for 2009 will ultimately total more than 5 million tons. DDGS shipments in the third quarter of 2009 were up 29 percent compared to 2008 numbers.