Feed & Grain's special report from the IPE/IFE

The 2010 International Poultry Expo and International Feed Expo, held January 25 – 29 in Atlanta, covered an array of today’s most relevant topics during its five day educational program lineup. The American Feed Industry Association and the Poultry and Egg Institute summoned a host of the most progressive thinking minds in the poultry industry to speak at this year’s programs.

With presentation topics ranging from sustainability, animal welfare, new regulations and production optimization, there was something of value for each feed manufacturer, ingredient supplier, equipment manufacturer and industry service provider in attendance.

For those who didn’t attend the event, FEED & GRAIN provides a special report, summarizing the key messages presented this year.

At the International Education Forum, Keith Epperson, AFIA’s vice president of manufacturing and training, covered two developing issues: new chromium and manganese emissions regulations and the Oil Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure ruling.

The National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants has added two compounds to its list of 187 hazardous air pollutants: chromium and manganese. These ingredients are used in varying percentages in nearly all animal feed, thus affecting 6,300 facilities in the United States, including feed manufacturing facilities and feedlots.

The ruling requires monthly cleaning to minimize dust, states that facilities must keep all doors closed to contain dust inside and rules that mixers and bags must be closed at all times.

At the load-out points, the space between the bin and the truck or railcar must be kept to a minimum (not defined) using drop filter socks, which very few facilities currently use.  It also states that dust cyclones must be 95% efficient. Epperson said facilities with cyclones more than 10 years old will probably need to replace them in order to be compliant. The AFIA estimates that the equipment upgrades and additions could cost the industry an excess of $1.25 billion.

By May 5, 2010 facilities must inform the EPA of their chromium or manganese use and by May 14, 2012 compliance is mandatory. The AFIA and other feed and grain associations are working to revise many amendments to this ruling. 

On November 9, 2009 the EPA announced the final amendments to the SPCC Rule. It states that facilities must report to the EPA when it spills more than 1,000 gallons of oil in a single discharge.

The ruling also imposes additional standards on oil storage, which may adversely affect feed facilities because it requires bulk storage containers to be elevated, stainless steel and uninsulated. Any new equipment or upgrades must be made by November 10, 2010, the date when compliance becomes mandatory. 

Feed facilities may be exempt from the ruling by providing the EPA with documentation that oil from the facility does not have access to navigable waters. The documentation must be included in the facility’s SPCC plan, which is due by November 10, 2010. All facilities must submit an SPCC plan regardless if they are exempt or not.

The AFIA Forum also gave attendees an in-depth look at the safety and quality of rendered products for animal diets. Dr. David Meeker, National Renderer’s Association, said the rendering industry is valued at nearly $300 billion in the United States and Canada alone.  

Rendering is the cooking and drying of meat products for feed and non-feed use. It’s one of the oldest forms of waste recycling and is essential to public health.  Rendered meat is commonly used as a protein supplement in feed. Meat bone meal is comparable to soybean meal, but higher in protein, energy, phosphorus and zinc.

The NRA is currently researching potential non-feed markets, such as biofuels, that may be developed in the future.

The raw material for rendering comes from slaughter scraps, naturally deceased farm animals, restaurant grease, feathers and recalled meat.