Ethanol Blog

Although the U.S. Grains Council successfully helped implement the U.S.-Columbia Free Trade Agreement in May, the Council still believes there can be more done to grow the country's confidence in dried distillers grains with solubles, according to an article on the Council's website (http://bit.ly/…).

The FTA removed duties on corn, corn co-products and other grains, including the end of a 10% duty on DDGS imports. Colombia has used more DDGS since then, but the Council believes more growth is possible if Colombian dairy producers become more familiar with DDGS.

Feeding trials using DDGS in Costa Rica and Chile have proven that DDGS complement the grazing system used by Colombian dairy producers, who must supplement grazing with feed concentrates. The Council estimates the country's dairy sector could use more than 250,000 metric tons of DDGS per year, so trials in Colombia are taking place at five dairies in the Bogota region to familiarize local livestock producers and nutritionists with DDGS. They will also be taught how to use DDGS to reduce feed costs without sacrificing productivity.

Even though the trials are not completed, the producers involved have seen higher milk production and lower feed costs.

Cheryl Anderson can be reached at Cheryl.anderson@telventdtn.com.

(ES)

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