New member: Nutritional Efficiency Consortium

Consortium members
The consortium's current members include the Pork Checkoff, state pork associations, state and national corn grower associations and several allied industry organisations.

Larry Kline, vice president of finance and business development for the Pork Checkoff, said, "We are 25 partners-strong in our quest to maximise feed efficiencies in the pork industry. This is a great example of pork producers working together and partnering outside the industry to find solutions." 

Since its inception, the nutritional efficiency consortium has funded over $1.1 million in research. Research priorities have included a review of alternative feed ingredients for swine rations; the use of co-products, such as distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in swine rations; the estimation of net energy for feedstuffs; a study into the physiology of nutrient utilisation by pigs; and, the effects of co-product use on pork quality. 

Huge benefits
"The benefits to the industry are huge. This consortium allows us to leverage checkoff monies with funds from our partners, but the benefit is not only financial," said Mark Boggess, director of animal science for the Pork Checkoff. "This consortium pools together the expertise of all of the different partner organisations. We set better priorities and make better decisions for the industry as a group. The Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council is a great new partner." Boggess represents the Pork Checkoff and coordinates program activities for the consortium. 

"We've partnered with soybean producers for research and even marketing in the past. This is the first time, however, that we have the opportunity to work with the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council and we look forward to a successful, long-term relationship," Kline said. "This is another example of cooperation between farmers to find success for both industries."

Related Website
• Pork Checkoff 
• Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council  
 
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