February 29, 2008

High costs prompt South Korean feed millers to increase starch in feed formulation

High grain prices and scant supply of corn have prompted South Korean feed millers to opt for cheaper starch in feed formulations, agriculture and aquaculture specialist, Kiotechagil, said.

Murray Hyden, chief technical officer at Kiotechagil, explained that South Korea has a strong and growing animal feed industry and the hike in prices triggered modifications in the feed formulation.

Hyden pointed that feed mills are now buying any starch materials that they can, and imports of manioc starch are increasing to make up the deficit. 

Manioc starch lost popularity in Europe due to slow gelatinisation through pelleting operations.

Conditioning times in Korea are very short at 10 - 15 seconds rather than the 60 seconds normally used in the UK.