U of S led wheat DDGS guide supports opportunities for feed products

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 9, 2012 2012-01-02-AG The Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) is pleased to announce publication of the Wheat DDGS Feed Guide, produced on behalf of the University of Saskatchewan led Feed Opportunities from Biofuels Industries (FOBI) Network.

By University Communications
This publication supports the marketing of Canadian feed products and covers the use of wheat DDGS in beef and dairy cattle, swine, poultry and aquaculture.
"As a byproduct of ethanol production, which has grown in importance in Canada, wheat distiller dried grains with solubles (wheat DDGS) is an excellent animal feedstuff," said Rex Newkirk, guide editor and Cigi director of research and business development. "This publication provides practical guidance for the industry to use this product to its full potential and creates opportunities for wheat in industrial applications."
"The guide is a culmination of extensive work conducted by the FOBI Network as a $6.2-million project invested in adding value to the industry through innovation," said Colleen Christensen, executive director of the Feed Innovation Institute, University of Saskatchewan, and head of the network.
"Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada provided $5.6 million of the funding and supported research for the project conducted by the University of Saskatchewan, and other institutions and organizations," she said. "Much of the information provided in the guide is a result of this research."
Wheat ethanol production has increased from one ethanol plant, located in Lanigan SK, to six sites in Western Canada by 2007. The bioethanol industry uses 1.4 million tonnes of wheat each year, creating approximately 500,000 tonnes of wheat DDGS. Complete utilization of the wheat seed through ethanol and DDGS production is necessary for financial profitability. Accordingly, the research described in this feed guide has been supported by Terra Grains Fuels, Northwest Bioenergy Corp, NorAmera Bioenergy, Highland Feeders, Pound-Maker Agventures and Husky.
Copies of the guide are available at www.cigi.ca or by contacting Colleen Christensen at (306) 966-4154.
About FOBI
The Feed Opportunity from the BioFuels Industries (FOBI) Network was an initiative of the Feeds Innovation Institute, a commercialization entity of the University of Saskatchewan that ran from May 2008 to March 2011. The vision of FOBI was to stimulate the sustainable growth of the bio-ethanol and livestock sectors, leading to a stimulation of economic activities in rural Canada. FOBI focused on optimization of the overall feed value chain of wheat DDGS as well as on value addition to bio-ethanol co-products.
FOBI is a collaborative and multidisciplinary research network which was composed of researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Feedlot Health Management Services Ltd, University of Alberta, University of Calgary, Saskatchewan Research Council, Prairie Swine Centre, Western Beef Development Centre and University of Saskatchewan. More information regarding this research can be found at www.ddgs.usask.ca
About Cigi
Cigi (Canadian International Grains Institute) is an independent market development institute created in 1972. Its mission is to create profitable opportunities for Canadian field crops through the delivery of technical expertise, support and customized training to the domestic industry and customers around the world. Cigi is funded by farmers, the Government of Canada (AAFC) and industry partners. www.cigi.ca
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For more information, contact:
Colleen Christensen
Executive Director
Feeds Innovation Institute
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 227-1333
colleen.christensen@usask.ca
Rex Newkirk
Director, Research and Business Development
Cigi (Canadian International Grains Institute)
(204) 983-2031
rnewkirk@cigi.ca