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4-12-16 Sect. 1.qxp:Layout 1 4/7/16 1:48 PM Page 1 Staggenborg gets look at Rwandan feed milling operations By Donna Sullivan, Editor Lance Staggenborg, plant manager for Purina Animal Nutrition, LLC in Nashville, Illinois, traveled to Rwanda in January with the goal of helping improve efficiencies in their feed milling facili- ties. He graduated from Kansas State University in 2009 with a degree in Feed Science and Management. Land O’ Lakes, of which Pu- rina is the farm animal feeds unit, has an international de- velopment office for promot- ing education in other coun- tries. A five-year project in Rwanda began with the focus on educating the coun- try’s population on dairy nu- trition and the health value of drinking the milk they produced rather than selling Lance Staggenborg worked with Rwandan feed millers to improve the quality and it all. consistency of their final products. Developing marketing strategies is also a chal- “I raised the question, lenge they face as they work to develop a viable animal feed industry. Courtesy photos who is doing anything with ed in the country ranged carry only 300 pounds per said, adding that they had no the cereal grains?” Staggen- technologically from people trip or the group that took idea what the nutritional val- borg said. “How are they practically grinding with feed to milk drop-off points ues of their feed was, and feeding their livestock? Are stones to one comparable to so farmers could show up most had no way to test it. there any opportunities U.S. facilities, Staggenborg with their cans of milk then The Zamura Feed Mill had The six facilities Staggenborg visited ranged in their available?” described. The country has buy a bag of feed to take testing equipment that had technological capabilities. Above is the Zamura Mixer, The initial answer was no, only been producing live- back and feed their animals, been funded by Donnie which was funded by Tyson president and CEO Donnie there were no efforts being stock feed for about two there were issues that needed Smith, president and CEO of Smith. made in that area. Then last years. Prior to that, they im- to be addressed. “The feed Tyson, which although not they assumed the suppliers committing to a year in the September he received a call ported their feed. wasn’t good because it was the most advanced technolo- were sending them what they Rwanda, and spending a that there was an opportunity The first facility he visit- based off an old formula,” gy, at least allowed some said they would. Staggen- month with each group in Rwanda. ed is a small operation that Staggenborg said. “If your measure of quality control borg believes that helping would go a long ways in get- What Staggenborg dis- makes about six tons of feed formula isn’t right, the cus- for their raw material inputs them make sure they are get- ting them where they need to covered when he arrived in a month. “He could be mak- tomer won’t see any results and outbound product. ting what they pay for was be. “There is opportunity Rwanda was not so much a ing more feed,” Staggenborg and won’t be happy.” Staggenborg said he shift- probably the most valuable there,” he said. “From an ag lack of efficiency in their pointed out. “But there’s no He found the Rwandan ed gears to more of a quality thing he did with that partic- standpoint, they’ve got a lot production as a lack of mar- one to sell it to.” That was a feed millers were very open and consistency focus than ular group. of room to grow, and they ket development, which will common theme throughout to dialog and new ideas. that of efficiency. He put He said the experience know that. They are capital- need to be addressed for the the trip – a lack of organized “They were looking for procedures together for them gave him a huge apprecia- izing on the resources that country to be successful in sales efforts and a reliance someone to give them some that are common in the Unit- tion for how privileged we show up to help them. They their efforts to build a live- on word-of-mouth advertis- sort of answer,” he said. ed States, like a mixer test, are in the United States. have the potential to take ad- stock feeding industry. ing. Distribution and feed “They had no idea what to and taught them how to ad- “Given the situation and the vantage of that and help the Rwanda’s economy is quality were also an issue. do.” dress the values of a test cards they’ve been dealt, country out of poverty. They based largely on subsistence Although they were diligent Their feed formulas were from a management stand- they were very happy, nice, just need help to drive the agriculture. “The market is and creative in their efforts, based on using what ingredi- point. respectful, very proud of culture change that would there, but it hasn’t been stim- such as the man who deliv- ents were on hand, such as He was also shocked to where they’re at and what benefit not just individuals, ulated,” Staggenborg ex- ered feed on a motorized maize bran left over from learn that inbound ingredient they’ve got,” he said. but families, communities plained. “They don’t want to three-wheeled cart that could making flour, Staggenborg weights were not checked, as He believes that someone and people as a whole.” spend money on feed when they have grass and forage for free. There’s no one to explain that you can spend a Starting with the best in Russia little money and make more money.” By Steve Suther Founded in 1995 in breeders: “This whole initia- The six facilities he visit- Amid the forest-rimmed Moscow and already a leader tive started when Miratorg meadows and newly cross- in pork and poultry, compa- began building a herd based fenced pastures of western ny executives researched on superior Angus genetics Russia, a quarter-million beef production systems. from the U.S., and now they young beef cows earn their They were familiar with are an active member of the keep by producing high- CAB from the imported American Angus Associa- quality beef while building product in Russia since 1998 tion.” rural communities and a sus- until recent years, and on USDA’s Foreign Agricul- tainable future for families later visits to the U.S. that in- tural Service (FAS) esti- on two continents. cluded shopping for Angus mates more than $300 mil- The Certified Angus genetics and initial training lion in U.S. beef cattle sales Beef® (CAB®) brand began in American ranch manage- to Russia in the last five production and sales in Rus- ment. years, most of that in 2012. sia this spring, through li- The world’s leading Another 80,000 beef cows censed partner Miratorg brand of fresh beef became a are expected to enter the Agribusiness Holding, said logical end target for the A Miratorg cowboy checks cattle on horseback on a country this year. CAB President John Stika. North American-style plan Bryansk area farm. Courtesy photo Two 50,000-head feed- Most of those cows are Miratorg announced in 2009 according to minutes. has great potential for Russ- yards as well as Miratorg’s commercial purebred An- as it began to build up “The decision to expand ian agriculture and con- 400,000-head annual capaci- gus, sourced mainly from the dozens of cattle ranches beyond North America for sumers, it stands to strength- ty processing plant were United States over the last south of Moscow in the the first time was not taken en the global reach and repu- completed in the last two eight years, and spurred by Bryansk region. Its leader- lightly,” Stika said, “but we tation of the Certified Angus years. These channel pro- Russian loan subsidies ship team reached out to found much in common. It’s Beef brand.” duction from 140,000 Angus aimed at building a modern CAB in 2011 to explore mu- rare to have the opportunity CAB board chair John cows, primarily offspring of food supply chain. A large tual opportunities, which to engage with people start- Pfeiffer, Mulhall, Okla., said registered cattle and genetics share of them belongs to Mi- have been discussed in CAB ing from scratch,” he added. the decision is “a natural fit,” imported from members of ratorg. board meetings since 2013, “And while this partnership good for the brand and for Continued on page 8 4-12-16 Sect. 1.qxp:Layout 1 4/7/16 1:48 PM Page 2 Page 2 Grass & Grain, April 12, 2016 flock. This is one of my most esting situations when we vivid memories and as I re- visited my Uncle Charlie in call I was not quite four Phillips County. You had to when my mother assigned be really careful where you me this task. stepped in the yard and Our white chicken house even the front porch. was no more than 20 feet Gathering eggs was my long by 12 feet wide. It had second major responsibility windows clear across the when I turned six. This was Fowl play south side for sunlight in always a real adventure. By John Schlageck, farms are a sight to behold the winter and a breeze Most of the hens didn’t Kansas Farm Bureau and a far cry from the small, when opened in the sum- make much of a fuss when Last week I heard the lives.

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