MANHATTAN, KANSAS, U.S. — In an effort to reach an international audience while teaching the basics of feed processing, the IGP Institute held the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) Middle East and North Africa 4^th poultry feed manufacturing course, April 22-26. The course had 19 participants from countries including Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco.

“It was a good group with diverse technical backgrounds, but all from the animal feed and production sector,” said Carlos Campabadal, IGP Institute outreach specialist for feed manufacturing and grain quality management. “The group was interested in improving their knowledge on the different technical areas on feed operations.”

The course covered topics that included U.S. feed production, particle size reduction, batching and mixing, energy audits, feed mill management, quality control in a feed mill, pelleting, extrusion, feed ingredient storage and the effects of feed processing on poultry nutrition among other things.

Participants of the course also had the opportunity to visit Countryside Feed Mill in Seneca, Kansas, U.S. There, participants were able to interact with the operations personnel and the animal nutritionist.

Having the opportunity to meet other participants from other countries that are professionals within the poultry and feed industries was a big benefit, said Miguel Escobar, USSEC consultant and course participant.

“To have all the participants thinking and collaborating with each other problems in our own feed mills was beneficial,” Escobar said. “The professors summarized pros and cons of poultry feed manufacturing and we were able to discuss different situations that we have come across in our daily activities within our own companies. For me I found that questions and comments outside of the classroom were always an initial point for other in-depth conversations.”

Looking toward the future, Campabadal recognizes the value in hosting the USSEC-sponsored courses.

“At the IGP Institute, we are always looking at supporting USSEC and the Kansas soybean producers on helping  increase the international markets for U.S. soybeans and co-products,” Campabadal said.