USSEC recently provided technical assistance in El Salvador to a feed mill for the efficient use of U.S. soybean meal in dairy diets.
USSEC Animal Nutrition consultants Carlos Campabadal and Alejandro Gonzalez provided technical assistance to Mor Feed Mill, which is the second largest feed mill in El Salvador and produces 7,000 metric tons (MT) of feed, 40 percent of which is dairy feed.
The technical assistance consisted of participating in three field
days and farm visits with the objective
of promoting the use of dairy feed, specifically U.S. soybean meal, as the
main source of protein. These activities
were conducted in three different
regions of El Salvador (San Pablo 
Tacachico, Santa Ana, and Sapotitlan). 
During the field days, Mr. Campabadal
gave two presentations titled “The Efficient Use of Dairy Feed by Lactating Cows” and “The Effect of Nutrition on Dairy Cattle Reproduction.” Mr. Gonzalez also presented two conferences titled: “Feeding the Replacement Dairy Herd” and “Administrative Systems for a Dairy Cattle Operation.” The main topics covered in the presentations were the efficient use of U.S. soybean meal in dairy diets, feeding systems for lactating and dry cows, nutrient requirements, forage production and utilization, the importance of record systems, and feeding programs for the replacement herd.
As a result of this technical visit, Salvadorian dairy producers and farm owners are more informed of the nutritional value of U.S. soybean meal, the importance of a good nutrition program to achieve higher reproductive parameters, buying high quality feeds made with U.S. soybean meal as the main source of protein, and the role of a good forage program to optimize dairy performance to ensure an efficient and continuous use of U.S. soybean meal in all dairy diets by Mor Feed Mill. It is quite likely that this will increase the demand for U.S. soybeans.