USSEC organized a seminar tour to the central Chinese cities of Chengdu, Shenyang and Tianjin to conduct three seminars in collaboration with Guangzhou Meritech Bio-Engineering Co. Ltd.  Highlighted topics were the safe and efficient production of animals and feed along with the high digestible protein value of U.S. soybean meal.  These conferences took place from March 11-15.
About 300 technical managers from local feed mills and integrated poultry / swine companies attended the events.  Two speakers were invited from Schothorst Feed Research in the Netherlands.  Dr. Jannes Doppenberg presented a lecture titled “Net Energy System in Swine Nutrition and Production,” while Dr. Francesc Molist discussed “Dietary Fibers in Swine Nutrition and Production.”  Dr. Doppenberg demonstrated that soybean meal of U.S. origin has a much higher energy value than meals of other origins.  The audience showed great interests in their presentations as the net energy system is a new and efficient method for most Chinese feed mills that have begun looking for better ingredients such as U.S. high digestible soybean meal.
USSEC Animal Utilization (AU) Technical Director Dr. Richard Han presented the topic “Managing Poultry Gut Health with Nutrition.”  Additionally, Dr. Han talked with the audience and reporters present about common misunderstandings on GMO crops, mainly GMO soybeans and corn, which enhanced Chinese customers’ confidence in U.S. soybeans.
Two speakers from Meritech, Dr. Gene Jin, Managing Director and Dr. Baojing Yuan, Technical Manager spoke about gut health management with antibiotic growth promotion (AGP) alternatives for swine.  The audience actively interacted with all the speakers during seminars, breaks and meal functions.
In addition to seminars, on-site technical consultancy and technical training were also provided to three key feed production customers.  The speaker team stressed to the customers that feed ingredient quality is critical in animal health and that U.S. soybean meal has a higher value on digestible proteins.
USSEC AU Program Manager Sunny Zhang attended the seminars and provided interpretation, along with Dr. Han, for the presentations by the two Schothorst consultants during seminars and on-site technical services.