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The ASA-IM Middle East Dairy ProgramAs with all aspects of the ASA-IM program, our involvement in the dairy sector is focused on promoting the use of soybean and soybean products to assure better quality feed and greater profitability for the dairy farmers of the region. ASA-IM started its dairy program in 1999 in Turkey. At that time, it is fair to say that Turkish farmers hardly used any soybean meal or full fat soybean meal in ruminant feeds and virtually no one even knew the term 'by-pass protein'. In response to these circumstances, ASA-IM programs focused on technology transfer in the areas of nutrition and herd management and the introduction of TMR (total mixed ration) formulation. In Egypt, the ASA-IM dairy program picked up where an Ag-Link/USAID (USG's United States Agency for International Development) six-year dairy improvement project had left off. The Ag-Link program had assisted farmers in the production of good quality corn silage and the use of TMR feed formulation based on milk production. The subsequent ASA-IM program, also begun in 1999, continued to emphasize the importance of good nutrition and the role of soybeans in formulating economical feeds. One-on-one assistance to farmers helped fine tune feeding programs. ASA-IM continues to regularly host U.S. dairy experts - for example, Dr. Charles Stallings (Virginia Tech University, USA) and Dr. Jan Van Eys (Dutch consultant) - to address current technical issues at seminars and during on-site visits in both Turkey and Egypt. These experts continue to promote the effectiveness of using soybean products and the importance of by-pass protein in ruminants, demonstrating to producers the effectiveness in TMR formulae of economic ingredients such as dehulled soybean meal, full fat soybean meal, soy hulls, roasted soybeans and bypass soy protein. Having conducted TRM software training workshops, hundreds of TMR software packages are now being used in Turkey and Egypt to accurately calculate optimum dairy rations. In recent years, particularly progressive farmers have been invited by ASA-IM to participate in the Wisconsin World Dairy Expo, which is held annually in the United States. Dairy short courses and farm visits in the USA are a part of the program. As a result of such activities, Turkish and Egyptian producers are using increasing amounts of soybean meal and full fat soybean meal. Egyptian commercial dairy rations now contain more than 20% soybean meal. Dairy farmers in Turkey now routinely request that their feed millers include soy or, right on their farms, they add soybean products like soybean meal, fullfat soybean meal, soy hulls, and high by-pass soybean products (such as Soypass® or Aminoplus® [AGP®]). A Turkish oil crushing company has started the production of Soypass® in a joint-venture with Borregaard LignoTech. Links to Dairy-related technical publicationsSoy in dairy feeds: hulls, roasted soybeans, full fat soybean meal and detruded soybean meal - Use of soybean meal, soy hulls and full fat soybeans in dairy cattle diets - Feeding heat-treated full fat soybeans to cows in early lactation - For further information on the ASA-IM Middle East Dairy Program, you may contact:
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