By Bruce Cochrane
FARMSCAPE
21/02/2007
A new feed manufacturing facility at the University of Manitoba is allowing scientists to evaluate alternative crops for feed, and new processing equipment and technologies.
The National Centre for Livestock and the Environment feed processing facility is located at the University of Manitoba's Glenlea Research Station and was officially opened last summer.
A one day workshop for on-farm feed manufacturing, slated the middle of next month, will give pork producers an opportunity to view the facility and learn about the key aspects of feed manufacturing.
U of M Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences associate dean Dr. Karin Wittenberg notes the facility is designed to process feeds for cattle, swine and poultry.
The mill is designed to meet the requirements of the herd and flocks associated with the University of Manitoba, the research herds and flocks.
What we have tried to do is have our runs large enough that we can feed the herds and flocks that we need to but also to do smaller batches so, if we need a batch for example where we have very expensive equipment, maybe we only want to make a batch size of 100 to 150 kilograms, we have the ability to go to those smaller levels as well.
Basically this mill allows us to take current technologies and anyone that wants to come in with a new technology to look at how it compares the opportunity exists.
The mill uses the current protocols used by industry in terms of quality control measures and it gives industry, whether they're feed processors, regulators such as CFIA or producers a chance to test ideas in conjunction with the researchers here at the University of Manitoba.
Dr. Wittenberg says feed mill is well designed to evaluate feed processing equipment and technologies and to demonstrate how feed processing equipment works and the technologies that can improve the efficiencies with which feeds are used.
