Faba Beans

[Pulseman]

Hello, any work being done on protein enrichment from low tannin faba beans for fish feed? Guess good margins exist if we could get FB's to 65% protein and fishmeal is US$850 - 900 for Vancouver delivery.

Any financial assistance availble to set up a plant to process 50,000MT of faba's?

Where could the starch portion go?

[rook]

When I think of starch I think of livestock feed or ethanol.

If fish meal is $850US it seems to me there has to be an opportunity there.

[clancey]

Isn't fishmeal is ground up fish? There have been a lot of tests done on feeding legumes to fish. Most of the research has centered on peas.

A couple of years ago, Dr. Murray Drew of the Prairie Feed Resource Center at the University of Saskatchewan, said, "A plant protein replacement for fish meal in a salmon diet, for example, must be at least 60% protein, contain few antinutritional factors and have a stable source and price. We also know from previous research into soybean as a replacement, that negative reactions to the feed are avoided by including no more than 20% plant protein in a fish diet. Furthermore, to meet the 40% protein level required by the aquafeed, protein concentrates from plants must be used."

Investigation of peas as a source of aquafeed showed that they contain about 22% protein and also antinutritional factors such as fibre, which prevents the digestion of the nutrients by the fish. Processing the pea to produce pea protein concentrate, however, showed the crude protein remained much the same, but the digestibility improved considerably because the fibre had been removed.

"The aquaculture industry is moving towards vegetable meal instead of fish meal, and our studies have definitely shown that Saskatchewan feed ingredients have potential in this area," concludes Drew. Processing is the key to fulfilling this potential, as it is necessary to improve the nutrient density and to remove the anti-nutritional factors. And, although we need to do large commercial trials, we have shown that such processing is possible. Prices must be competitive with fish meal and oil, but I don't think this is a problem either.

"In fact, there are Saskatchewan companies currently moving toward commercialization of pea protein and flax dehulling. The preparation of fish feed is only a short step from there," says Drew.

[Pulseman]

What are the nutritional values that need to be fulfilled for legume protein to go into fish feed?

What are unwanted values to look out for?

I feel it would be easier to bring dehulled low tannin faba's from 38% to 65% protein then dehulled peas with ~27% up to 65%?

[Armin]

HI,
I am going to a faba bean conference in Sakatoon on June15. If you want to e-mail your request and details I will talk to some people there. I have grown them for 25 years and I think there is tremendous potenial for any livestock feed. I know there are zero tannins developed and will be available in the near future. Send your info to this address. arminm@mts.net

[Pulseman]

Hello Mark,

Nothing to say to this, why so quiet? Give us your inside. Is the interest from the fish feeders for alternatives to chilean fish meal only for the media, but when it comes to action it is "pay what ever it takes" to buy the fishmeal we need?

[Armin]

Hi Pulseman,
I know it's been awhile since I was on this sight but I am back now. There has been some work done in regards to fish meal and Faba Beans. I don't think that 65% protein is attainable yet. I also that the fish farm industry is working with the right people to use beans as a protien supplement. I going to our next meeting on Oct/16 and I will ask some guestions there to see what is going on. I also know that a true 0 tanin bean isn't that far away and it will be targeting feed rations in all animal feeds as a proptien inhancer. I will get back to you on this when I return from the next meeting.
ARMIN

[Pulseman]

Thanks Armin,I have enriched product with 65% protein from fababeans. The process is not difficult, but expensive. 2Mt/h in, .9 MT 65% protein out = $1.500.000 for 24/365 processing of 18,000 Mt and producing 7,200 MT of protein.
Offered this to the two big co's on the coast and still waiting if they want it for testing.
We have a severe problem with this, this year we will have a large production of fababeans and if we can not find a premium market that pays 10-15% more for fababeans over feed peas then the production will disapear.
Keep me posted, seems we can saywhatever we like, no one is looking into this chapter of agri-ville, they are all busy spending the money from $10/bushel wheat.

[Armin]

Hi Pulseman,
I hear you loud and clear. I don't understand why so many people are running after cereals when there are other options. Even with 32% protein and the fact that you grow and process them on farm for animal protein, I can't understand why these have not been developed a long time ago. I also understand that Parheim Foods is looking into the hull for a starch product. They are already doing this with peas and are saying that the starch from 0 tannin will be a better product. We have the same problem here in Man. right now. The best I will see as far as price goes is .07 cents per lb. for the canning trade. Maybe we can other markets for the beans ourselves. I think that 0 tannin beans will have a good fit in the prairies because there are so many uses for this product. That and the fact that they according to the ag people at the U.of Sask, they are one of the highest N. fixers of all the pulses. Al we have to do is get the product out there in quantities that we guarantee supply. That is why I joined this groupe. This committee is up farmers, ag reserchers, pulse growers ass.(from all 3 provinces) and industry people including feed(animal and fish) and also human consumption. I will report more to this sight when I get back.
ARMIN

[olson]

Gentlemen,
Good discussion thus far. Our air classification work suggests 60-63% protein with yields in the 30% range with a dehulled zero tannin faba bean product. The question is getting enough value for co-products (hulls and starch)to cover costs involved in processing as well as allowing for a profit margin. One of the challenges with the feed manufacturers is showing there is something unique
(a differentiated product)with your feed ingredient ie. how is the protein isolate from canola meal different from (worst or better)than faba bean? Our most recent experience is indicationg that $/unit of protein(%protein divided $per metric tonne) is the largest factor in indicating whether your ingredient will fit into a feed manufacturer's ration.

[Ron]

You are right about chasing $$$ in wheat, I actually forget to even look here and will try to be more open minded in the future. What are the yields like in central alberta? Are there any markets without on-farm processing? Any websites you recommend?
Thanks

[Pulseman]

So, I guess some feeding trials should be initiated with the BC fish feed manufacturers to see if $600/MT 65% faba bean flour can in part replace $1000/MT fish meal. But, where is the Government if you need it, some small burocrates make themselve important and play big guy, rather then initiate some action. Unless we get a primium market for FB's soon, they will disapear into the clouds again as in the early 80'.

[olson]

I, for one, would not want to see zero tannin faba bean end up like in the 70s or 80s. As for faba bean replacing fishmeal....my understanding is faba bean would be replacing the current plant protein component(canola meal, soya bean meal)which is 20%-25% of the ration and potentially some portion of the fish meal and oil, although, this % is open to debate depending if you are talking to the industry or academia. It is true that fish oil is expensive, maybe even higher than $1000/tonne, however, we been told 63% faba bean
priced at a corn gluten meal equivalent.