Sorghum Feeding Trials to Begin in Saudi Arabia
USGC and Checkoff think trials may help sorghum market.
Compiled by staff
Published: Feb 28, 2011
Saudi Arabia is the largest importer of barley in the world, but when global grain prices spiked in 2006-07, the government began to look at other grains in order to diversify its needs. The Sorghum Checkoff and U.S. Grains Council have stepped up by sending three containers, or about 60 tons, of U.S. sorghum to Saudi Arabia for a commercial poultry feeding trial.
Alvaro Cordero, the Grain Council's manager for international operations, says once the trials wrap up, they will share the results with the feed and poultry industries and government officials so they can better understand the feeding value of U.S. sorghum. He explains that in Saudi Arabia, the government subsidizes feed grains, but the subsidy varies from grain to grain and they are not always on par with the value of the grain.
Florentino Lopez, marketing director for the Sorghum Checkoff, says the feeding trial is similar to the trial currently underway with poultry producers in Egypt. Lopez says U.S. sorghum is an excellent feed grain, but is at a market disadvantage right now. He says they hope sound production data at commercial farms in Saudi Arabia helps demonstrate its value in rations and eventually levels the playing field. Doing so would create more market opportunities for U.S. sorghum producers.
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Tagged: sorghum, checkoff, barley, poultry producers
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