Canola Meal $170.00, Feed Barley $160.00

[rain]

wd9 on a different post was talking about canola meal replacing Barley if meal prices drop too much.

In Calgary region it does not work right now. In the lethbridge area it may.

The question is how much feed wheat and feed barley used by feedlots could be replaced with Canola Meal.

Any livestock nutritionists in the crowd?

Lets say for the sake of arguement that canola meal could replace 10% of the barley we feed in western canada. That adds and extra Million Metric Tonne to our barley carryout. It could be interesting that canola meal could put a break on feed prices instead of corn from the US.

wd9 you most definately where on to someting from your other post.

[rain]

OH Ya corn is 200.00/MT rail Calgary region

[charliep]

Not a nutritionist but the one issue with canola is lower energy. By the time they have squeezed all the oil out of canola, there is a low energy protein product.

Energy is the nutrient that will have value in feed ingredients. Makes life interesting for feed peas. Should be valued on the basis of energy equal to feed wheat with the fact 20 ish (never sure the exact number) versus 12 ish on feed wheat protein.

[wd9]

Things to consider, DDG's, like meal, are a protein source, not a (carbohydrate) starch source. Feed needs balance, an animal will not do well on a diet of DDG's and meal alone.

Also, protein is a carb with a nitrogen attached. Which is why you add urea to increase protein in wheat, which is also why a low protein starch is best for ethanol. Sugar has no protein and needs no starch to sugar conversion cycle which improves ethanol efficiency. Also no DDG's produced.

Canola meal has lots of fibre. Fibre is a carbohydrate and is assessed as a carb but since it is undigestable, the carbs don't get absorbed and passess thru the animal with a net energy loss, although they would be regular. To calculate carb value take total carb value in grams minus fibre weight in grams and you are left with digestable carbs.

Bountiful ethanol production requires a strong supply of starch for a strong feed industry. Byproducts of ethanol production (DDG's) to be utilized in feed require starch production in order to be valuable. Result, affects of the protein complex.

Which is why corn went up in value not only as a result of ethanol increase but as the starch traditionally dumped into feed went into ethanol production, compounding the availability of excess protein and lack of starch. Starch values for feed then tried to compensate for the decreased availability of starches due to the increased feeding of the protein or the perception and/ or reality of a shortage of feed (starch).

Compound this with the fact US farmers own a lot of ethanol production and either make the money on ethanol or corn but not both at the same time. They are happy either way but happier if the ethanol plant makes money and runs. Especially if they have cattle too. Result, more protein, less starch.

The six billion dollar question is what is going to happen in Canada in the near term and long term and the real hook in this seems the production and subsequent value of starches for feed - human and livestock. IE, will the value of starch for the non-energy markets like feed and flour be the real winner for farmers in the future - but make feedlots / millers non-viable? Guess that one is up to the consumer.

Where does that leave cold crush of oilseeds (leaving fats in the meal for feeding) and its pricing traditionally more expensive than like barley, but will the balance change in the future?

Any other thoughts? There is lots of holes to pick in this, it is after all the future not history.

Good to hear you are back Charlie. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the protein/carbs/fats balance and where you think we are heading.

[TOM4CWB]

Charlie;

You made it back?

Good to hear from you!

WHat's up about Agri-ville... is it really shutting down Jan 1?

[sawfly]

very informative post wd9