Author
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Holser, Ronald |
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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 7/16/2014 Publication Date: 9/8/2014 Citation: Holser, R.A. 2014. Risk analysis of poultry feed costs. Meeting Abstract [abstract]. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Introduction and Aims. Poultry feed continues to be a significant expense in poultry production as the cost of corn and soybean meals remain elevated. Alternative meals are under investigation to reduce production costs while maintaining high feed conversion rates and body weight gain. Two promising alternative feed components include dried distillers grain (ddg), a co-product from the corn dry milling process, and field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense), an emerging energy crop. Aims and Objectives. Economic analyses were performed to evaluate the use of ddg and field pennycress in a modified feed formulation leading to potential reductions in poultry production costs. Materials and Methods. The cost of feed formulated with dried distillers grain or pennycress meal were compared to a standard corn and soybean meal formulation. The evaluation was based on a feed with equivalent crude protein and amino acid supplements. A cost function was created in Excel and tested with @Risk to determine the sensitivity of cost on feed components. Results. Calculations showed favorable economics were possible when local sources were available and transportation costs were minimized. Shipping feed components from corn and soybean producing regions of the Midwestern US to the Southern US offset potential cost reductions. In contrast, field pennycress is widely distributed so that production of biodiesel and co-product meal could be integrated to supply local poultry production. Conclusions. Dried distillers grain and pennycress meal may be used to reduce the cost of poultry feed formulations based on their respective material costs, however, when transportation costs are included the economic benefit shifts toward locally sourced material. |
