USSEC recently provided technical service in Mexico to four aqua feed mills which produce balanced feed for aqua cultured species, along with providing assistance to a shrimp farm.  USSEC aqua feed consultants Jairo Amezquita and Mark Newman travelled to Guadalajara to visit these mills which together have a potential consumption of 40,000 metric tons (MT) per year of U.S. soybean meal.  During the visits, the consultants discussed different aspects of the manufacture of aqua feeds with high inclusions of U.S. soy products with nutritionists and representatives from the commercial area in addition to examining the various aspects of the management of fish culture, fish nutrition, the manufacturing of aqua feeds, and the details of manufacturing such feeds.  They also gave presentations to feed mill staffs regarding USSEC’s role in global aquaculture, marine fish nutrition and the extrusion process.  The feed mills showed interest in reducing the technical parameters and the cost of feed and improving the feeds and feeding practices of their customers.  Mr. Newman continued to Ciudad Obregon to visit a shrimp farm to provide technical service regarding the difference between pelleted and extruded shrimp feed, the extrusion process, the advantages and disadvantages of extruded shrimp feed, how fines (dust) can be generated by poor handling procedures, and good practices in the storage of shrimp feed.
These technical service visits are very important because they allow USSEC to help producers improve their performance and profitability through the recommendations and implementation of better management practices.