Growing Back to the Future
Renew Energy of Jefferson, WI is prepared to deliver high-value products to a fuel and feed-hungry marketplace.
As mentioned before, the HED drying system helps reduce scorching and heat variability in the drying process, after which the product is sent to a special kiln for further conditioning. The kiln system is an essential cog in the process as it uses gentle rolling and heating actions to condition roughly 2,000 tons/batch.
“Kiln conditioning helps differentiate our product because it dramatically improves the handling characteristic of the end product,” Busch notes. “After a conditioning sequence lasting between 36 to 48 hours the product comes out less sticky and much easier to handle, which makes our customers happy.”
Arguably the biggest asset Busch and Thorner have to draw upon to fulfill Renew Meal’s value proposition is found in the REVEAL system, a new proprietary process introduced by Cargill Animal Nutrition. (See sidebar for more on REVEAL system).
“This technology is a breakthrough for us because now we can truly know with a level of precision previously unavailable, the exact nutrient value of our co-products,” says Busch. “As a feed supplier this is huge because now when the Certificate of Analysis is attached to that load of feed, the end user now has options on how to best feed, mix or manage their ration for optimum nutrient value. We’ve now helped address the variability issue that’s limited acceptance of co-products in the past.”
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND
An agreement with Michigan-based Zeeland Farm Service, to market its Renew Meal feed, meets one challenge facing many ethanol plants: What to do with the co-products we produce?
Differentiation is very important to Renew as it seeks to position its branded feed line now and for years to come. Busch looks at a differentiation strategy as a huge opportunity to get closer to the marketplace.
“Part of what makes us different is how we push the technological envelope in every segment of production,” notes Busch. “From fractionation to our drying, conditioning and evaluation processes, new technologies elevate our performance and raise expectations of the co-products category.
“That means going out to our customers and suppliers to learn what’s important to them,” Busch emphasizes. “Whether its developing products with better amino acid profiles or pelletizing bran for fuel to capture 8,000 btu’s/lb. with less than 1% ash. This is what people want and we hope that they come to us for these solutions today, tomorrow and for years to come.”
CARGILL REVEALS NEW NUTRIENT MEASUREMENT SYSTEM
Cargill Animal Nutrition announces that its REVEAL system is available for customers, and is currently in place at the Renew Energy facility in Jefferson, WI.
The REVEAL system is a core process used to identify the nutrient profile of animal feed ingredients via a process which provides a way to measure and manage nutrients reliably, accurately and quickly.
“Nutrient measure represents a cornerstone of nutrition,” says Mark Knief, general manager, Global Consulting Services, Cargill Animal Nutrition. “Wet chemistry has been the metrics standard for acquiring this nutrient measure, and wet chemistry procedures have continued to improve based on the equipment, analytical procedures, lab information and nutrients analyzed, along with other, more timely procedures.”
REVEAL provides a coordinated approach, including wet-chemistry and near-infrared reflectance (NIR) measures that link to related processes to buy, sell or formulate ingredients in real time.
Additionally, the REVEAL system features software calibrated to measure nutrients and access unique technology from Cargill, which offers accurate, real-time assays on nutrients such as fat, protein, fiber, NDF, ADF, ash and moisture. The REVEAL system enables a variety of NIR instrumentation, although the Feed Forage Analyzer 5000 and InfraXact Lab NIR Analyzer from FOSS NIRSystems, Inc., are preferred instruments.
“The demand for the faster delivery of real-time information has often outpaced a lab’s ability to keep up and provide the critical data to manage ingredient use,” says Knief. “We’re now able to shift this paradigm through linkage of real-time measurement to value creation in our customers’ businesses through REVEAL.”
Why is this important to feed producers? Accuracy and speed results in turnaround times that allow more time to manage nutrient variations found in ingredients. The legacy of Cargill’s vast experience in managing feed nutrients places volumes of data points and unique nutrient knowledge, at the users’ fingertips. Lastly, feed producers can now take comfort in knowing the exact nutrient content of the ingredients in their feedstocks, a tremendous aid in developing predictability in animal performance.
“With this improved delivery of nutrient information it’s now possible to manage purchasing decisions based on animal need, which can save producers money in times of high-priced commodities,” says Dr. Jose Abin, global poultry consultant, Cargill Animal Nutrition.
“At more than 20 years in the making, the process has been tested thoroughly to deliver on its promise of putting precise and robust nutrient data into our customers’ hands,” he says.
Part of that extensive development phase included a testing protocol to ensure customer expectations are met and satisfaction is delivered via a one-month “validation cycle.”
“We take a month to put the program through the paces by plugging a customer’s specific needs into the evaluation matrix to accommodate frequency, volume and sourcing of feed samples,” explains Abin. “Once we and the customer are satisfied that our findings are consistent, we release the REVEAL system to the customer.”
To learn more about the REVEAL system, contact a local Cargill representative or visit www.cargillcs.com.
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