By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) recently undertook a visit to Saudi Arabia to support the nation’s rapidly expanding poultry and livestock feed industry. The objective of the visit was to encourage the use of U.S. corn, sorghum and corn co-products, while also helping local feed companies address storage challenges caused by the region’s climate.
Council representatives met with feed and livestock companies across Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah. These discussions provided insight into grain handling needs, market competition and the effects of heat and humidity on grain quality. Although large firms like ARASCO operate advanced grain handling facilities, maintaining grain integrity remains a challenge due to the region’s extreme temperatures.
A storage and nutrition conference was held in Riyadh, where U.S. experts shared strategies to manage grain quality and maximize nutrition in feed rations. The event also introduced corn-fermented protein (CFP) and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), both known for improving feed efficiency and animal performance.
The U.S. team also highlighted the advantages of sorghum, which offers competitive pricing and valuable nutritional properties suitable for poultry and dairy diets. With Saudi Arabia nearing full self-sufficiency in poultry production, the demand for sustainable and reliable feed sources is increasing.
The visit encouraged direct discussions between Saudi buyers and U.S. agribusiness representatives, strengthening future cooperation. The Council plans to organize additional industry workshops to support growing agricultural trade partnerships in the Arabian Gulf.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-songdech17
Categories: National