By Joe O’Brian, U.S. Grains Council Regional Director in the Middle East

Last month the U.S. Grains Council contacted every major poultry integrator in Saudi Arabia to educate their dairy and poultry sectors, as well as traders and importers on the benefits of U.S. distiller’s dried grains with solubes (DDGS) and other commodities during a weeklong poultry outreach.

Saudi’s poultry industry is very modern, but like its dairy industry, it is reluctant to try new ingredients after having found success with the traditional corn and soybean meal diet. The poultry industry had many questions concerning logistics and storage, citing Saudi’s harsh summer climate as a barrier to imports. The Council directed them to studies indicating that DDGS survives well in many similar nations and climates and that end-users should never plan on lengthy storage periods but rather turn over stock in a timely fashion.

One-on-one meetings were held with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Agriculture and other major poultry companies. Following the meetings, there was a seminar in Jeddah for approximately 15 leading members of the poultry and feed sectors along with other Saudi officials. Dr. Phil Smith, senior nutritionist at Tysons Food, gave a presentation on the benefits of inclusion of DDGS in poultry rations. Various DDGS related materials, user handbooks, along with lists of Council members that supply DDGS were given to those in attendance.

We have been working hard to ensure Saudi Arabia includes DDGS and corn gluten feed on its import feed ingredient subsidy list. Most, if not all, industry sources are now familiar with the product and have commenced buying and using these products, or are confident enough to contact U.S. suppliers, tender for and seek out price and delivery terms according to their own unique requirements and specifications

The Council looks forward to continuing to educate the Saudi Arabian poultry and dairy sectors on U.S. DDGS.