DES MOINES, Iowa – The Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC) has joined the Pork Checkoff’s Nutritional Efficiency Consortium (NEC), a group of organizations addressing the increasing cost of pork production.

Larry Kline, vice president of finance and business development for the Pork Checkoff, said, "We are 25 partners-strong in our quest to maximize feed efficiencies in the pork industry. This is a great example of pork producers working together and partnering outside the industry to find solutions."

Since its inception, the NEC has reportedly funded more than $1.1 million in research. Research priorities have included a review of alternative feed ingredients for swine rations; the use of coproducts, such as distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in swine rations; the estimation of net energy for feedstuffs; a study into the physiology of nutrient utilization by pigs; and, the effects of coproduct use on pork quality. 

"We've partnered with soybean producers for research and even marketing in the past. This is the first time, however, that we have the opportunity to work with the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council and we look forward to a successful, long-term relationship," Kline said. "This is another example of cooperation between farmers to find success for both industries."

More information on the Nutritional Efficiency Consortium can be found online at www.pork.org/PorkScience/NutritionalEfficiency.

Source: Pork Checkoff