In an attempt to support soy swine customers from Romania, a group of USSEC technical experts including Dr. Juan Acedo Rico, Dr. Josep Gasa, and Dr. Gonzalo Mateos visited with pig integrators from South and Central Romania during the third week of May. In addition to talking to the customers about the U.S. Soy Advantage, the goal of the mission was to support the increase of efficiency in swine manufacturing by improving the manufacturing and management of feeds.

After several years of contradictory evolution, the local swine industry has recovered and has the chance to be back on the map of large swine European countries. The low cost labor and abundant grains production combined with new investments through still-available, non-returnable European funds have been the main factors for the last years' growth trend in pig production in the country. Due to favorable conditions, foreign investors from the U.S., Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium are having a significant and growing presence in Romania's swine sector.
USSEC experts visited with medium size swine integrations in the Constanta and Brasov areas in order to understand the predicted future growth trends and offer technical support to U.S. soy customers.
“Romanian managers know that pig meat production costs are in close relation with the raw materials price and this represents about 70 percent from the total cost of fattening pigs," said Dr. Rico. “Currently, the Romanian nutritionists are formulating pig feeds for performance goals, herd health, and specific requirements. A variety of pellet and mash feeds are available. Ingredients and feeds are tested regularly in laboratories. The nutritional and quality control aspects of pig feeds are often well monitored in swine integrations. However, we have noted possible improvements in some overlooked areas such as feed efficiencies through proper management in feed manufacturing, feed transportation, and delivery. Soybean meal differentiation by origin and formulating feeds with different ingredient matrices for different origins should become a 'denominator' for all the swine producers," he concluded.

The activity was successfully implemented, increasing awareness of U.S. Soy and demonstrating commitment to the growing swine industry customers from Romania. Consultants concluded that given the increasing pig meat production, consumption and exports trends in Romania and due to certain opportunities, the local swine industry is predicted to grow and this will lead to potential imports of U.S. Soy.