Valuing Rye, Triticale, Wheat and Peas in Domestic Feed Markets

[charliep]

Working on a presentation on valuing alternative feeds in the domestic market. Looking for thoughts/ideas.

[TOM4CWB]

Charlie;

Energy/digestibility values need to be quantified, then a consistant/long term supply of any one of these new feed grains can be used in a substitution formula in the feed industry.

Wheat has a known feed value, both for digestibililty and energy, therefore will be first up in a ration, as conversions are reliable for rate of gain and side effects when rates of gain are pushed.

Much research work needs to be done on rye and triticale, as western Canadian feed grain users don't easily transfer or trust EU feed grain formula conversions factors. Feed grain users here require the "show me, and show me a cost advantage..." or they will not switch to "exotic" feed grains.

THe chicken and egg situation is very relevant here, I need a stable reliable market as a grain grower, and feed users want a secure abundant cheap supply of these grains or they won't switch away from traditionl feed grains.

Then the old standby of unit trains of US corn further stops growth of these new feed grains.

Crop Insurance reflects an unstable market, with low insurance prices, further stopping the growth of these grains!

What is the answer?

[boone]

Well Tom4cwb there is something we agree on prov. ag-exstention needs to weigh in here and not only evaluate alternatives but properly advertise the true prot/tdn/etc and wipe out the Quija board effect that draws users back to past practice.

[Armin]

The one crop that seems to be forgotten in our feed industry is Faba Beans. I started growing them years ago to replace soy meal for my pigs and had tremendous results. I now grow them for export although some get into the feed mills to. They have very high protein values and don't need a lot of processing for feed. They also and N back to the soil. Another thing they do well is break up the soil because of their tap root. I'm not sure if they can be fed to all animals but I know that cattle and hogs are alright. In Germany apparently the use them as silage for their dairies. If you need more info call Flo Beaudet at Roy Legumex at ST.Jean, Man. 1-204-758-3597
Armin Friesen

[boone]

Armin
Is there a variety that has smaller seed and is still valuable in the same higher priced market? Seem the last time we looked at them 83-84? the seed cost per acre was a stumbling block.

[Armin]

Yes there are some smaller seed varieties out there. The one we grow now is called Fatima which is hybrid between the chinese broad bean and the original faba bean. It is a large sized bean but some of the smaller beans grown years ago are still out there. I know that Flo is still looking for some of these beans for our domestic canning trade.
The seed costs are about .18 cents per lb. with the innoculent. We seed about 160 lbs.per acre which comes to about $30 per acre but when you consider that you don't much or any fert.it doesn't seem that much.

[boone]

Armin
thanks for that info, maybe another tool in the market toolbox. Does the plant do well out of the wetter areas. The Wadena Porcupine plain area was big for awhile but not many growers out in the dark brown arid areas, what you think would be a limiting factor.

[TOM4CWB]

Armin and Boone;

There are new white low tanin fababeans being developed in CDC Saskatoon as well as good material from Europe that is faster maturing and high yielding.

In Alberta we have big problems with lagus bugs marking the seed coat.. so we can't get human consumption.

We (APG and AAFRD) are in the process of doing energy and protein work, hope to have more info later this winter... will keep you posted.

[boone]

Thanks Tom4CWB I was watching the bean development with much enthusiasm in Sktoon and missed that info.