SEGOVIA, SPAIN — The US Grains Council (USGC) partnered with Animal Data Analytics (ADA), a commercial research institution, on a trial of sorghum use in swine diets in Spain, an effort to encourage end users to incorporate sorghum in feed rations.
The USGC said feeding trials are an effective way to market raw materials as feedstocks, providing millers an understanding of the impact on their bottom line before committing to buying a premium product. A thorough understanding of the return on investment can help inform producers who are hesitant to consider alternatives to locally available feedstocks.
“The Council is excited to partner with ADA to facilitate this trial,” said Jace Hefner, USGC manager of global trade, who traveled to Segovia, Spain, to observe the trial’s commencement. “This measurement of sorghum’s efficacy in swine diets will not only serve to bolster its feed grain use in the Iberian Peninsula, but in markets around the world with elevated quality standards for pork products.”
The trial consists of 288 pigs that will receive three separate diets: a traditional Spanish control diet of wheat and barley, a corn-based diet, and a sorghum-centric diet. The animals will be fed over the course of 77 days, including 28 days in the growing phase and 49 in the finishing phase. Upon the trial’s completion in February 2024, diet effects on health, performance, fat firmness, meat quality and color and environmental impact will be measured and aggregated.
Integrating sorghum into Iberian pig feeds historically has shown superior performance to competing feedstocks in global markets, particularly when compared to those native to Spain and its nearby trade partners, the USGC said.
“There is no doubt about the quality of US-grown sorghum, and the Council’s tireless support of agricultural research and testing continues to show its value to importers and international producers,” Hefner said.
The United States is the world’s top exporter of sorghum, with 7.4 million tonnes shipped to 21 countries in marketing year 2021-22.
The Spanish feed market (compound and on-farm) annually uses about 26 million tonnes of grains, about 75% of the country’s total consumption, according to the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture.
