Japan Steps Up Utilization of Rice in Animal Feeds

 
Jul 08, 2016
A fancy feast indeed
Cat-eating-sush
ARLINGTON, VA – Japan, faced with an oversupply of rice, is moving to encourage use of rice, both domestically produced and imported, as livestock feed.  According to a report from the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, last year Japan set a record for rice utilization in animal feeds, exceeding 1 million metric tons (1,173,000 MT), and surpassing the utilization rate of sorghum for the first time.  In the period October 1, 2015 – March 31, 2016 rice utilization in compound feeds has averaged 5.3 percent, already 0.3 percent higher than total compound feed formulation for all of last year.  

In the previous 10 years the inclusion rate of rice in feed rations in Japan averaged a little less than 2 percent, so this is a dramatic increase in rice use in animal feeds. Other reports indicate that of the total utilization in 2014-15, 55 percent (650,000 MT) appears to have come from rice imported under minimum market access ordinary tenders.
 
This policy affects Japan’s rice imports, which are controlled by the Ministry of Agriculture.  

“It is disappointing to see a high value food product like rice being utilized for animal feed but it’s obviously better than letting it deteriorate in government storage,” said USA Rice Vice President of International Promotion Jim Guinn.  “Most of the rice Japan imports under minimum access never reaches the market as whole grain rice; it is only released in broken form, re-exported as food aid, and utilized for non-food purposes such as, in this case, animal feed.”  

Guinn continued, “USA Rice will continue to advocate that Japan allow market demand to determine the end uses for rice imported from the United States.”


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