7 November 2008

2 minute read

South America

U.S. Grains Council consultant Dr. Randy Shaver, a dairy science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, traveled to South America this week to see firsthand results of the Council’s ongoing dairy feeding trials in Chile.

In collaboration with the Chilean farm supply cooperative, Cooprinsem, and six Chilean dairy farms, the Council has arranged several feeding trials to include distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a co-product of U.S. ethanol production, into selected Chilean dairy farms.

The trial has shown “favorable results” according to Shaver. “The July and August phase of the trial was during Chile’s winter feeding period where cows rely more on stored forages.

We are measuring milk yield and composition, and milk component yield responses to DDGS on these farms,” said Shaver. Although Cooprinsem currently utilizes DDGS in its feed rations regularly, its interest lies in the possibility of increasing the inclusion ratio with respect to milk production. The trial will test supplementing DDGS at 10 percent and 12 percent of total ration dry matter or 5.5 pounds per cow per day.

In the 2007/08 corn marketing year, Chile imported approximately 70,500 metric tons of U.S. DDGS, up 39,500 tons from the previous year. “Although it is too early to forecast DDGS use in Chile, it could amount to 10,000 tons per month in the near future,” said Jaime Cuellar, USGC consultant in Colombia. Cuellar has been accompanying Shaver during his visits to Chile throughout the trial period. “The cooperation by Cooprinsem and the Chilean dairy farms has been excellent,” said Shaver.

The next phase of the trial will be in November and December, Chile’s late spring feeding period where cows rely more on grazing pastures. In January 2009, Shaver will return to Chile to conduct field days and seminars where he will present the feeding trial results.

TheCattleSite News Desk