U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) staff based in its regional office for Europe, the Middle East and Africa recently traveled to Nigeria to observe the results of a feed trial examining the benefits of U.S. distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in poultry diets and meet with other local grain importers to highlight its economic advantages in bulk shipments.
The trial showed U.S. DDGS had a positive impact on poultry survivability, production stability and overall meat quality.
“The variable prices of Nigeria’s feed grain price markets are an opportunity for U.S. producers. By working with importers to facilitate larger purchases, U.S. DDGS can become cost-competitive against other inputs while improving livestock health,” said Mohamed Salah Bouthour, USGBC deputy regional director for Africa.
“The inconsistent availability of locally grown corn and soybeans also opens avenues for other U.S. commodities including sorghum, and we are excited about the possibility of conducting a similar feed trial with U.S. sorghum to prove its effectiveness and demonstrate its lack of tannins, a significant advantage in the Nigerian market.”
After reviewing the trial’s results and discussing them with end-users, the Council’s delegation continued to Ghana to hold meetings with the country’s main feed and poultry players and strengthen future partnerships with stakeholders.
Visits included the Poultry Association of Ghana and several feed producers and importers interested in U.S. corn for its competitive price and U.S. DDGS for its application in aquaculture.
“Domestic poultry production in Ghana is bottlenecked by imported meats holding significant market share among consumers, but U.S. feed grains would enjoy strong demand if the domestic industry can become more competitive,” Bouthour said.
“Stakeholders in both countries asked to be kept informed about future feed trials and Council programming because they recognize the quality and potential economic benefits of U.S. products, a promising sign that we need to continue our educational and network expansion efforts on the continent.”
Learn more about the Council’s work in DDGS here.