Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. and DFS, Inc. have announced a joint research collaboration to measure levels of digestible energy (DE) in corn grain for animal feed.  Pioneer, the world's largest seed company, and DFS, a leading regional feed manufacturer, will use this information to better manage grain quality variation in the feed production process. 

    This research effort will use proprietary NIR (near infrared) technology developed by Pioneer which measures grain DE for monogastric animals such as hogs and poultry.  By measuring the DE levels of corn grain, DFS will be better able to evaluate and manage the inbound nutritional value of grain, which will result in more efficient feed production process control.

    Also, DFS will implement a data feedback process that will share information on inbound corn DE with growers providing the grain so they will be better able to make seed selection and grain management decisions to produce grain with higher DE levels.   This data feedback system will help growers recognize the variation that exists in corn nutritional composition and enable them to improve the feeding value of the grain they produce.

    This pilot is part of the Pioneer IndustrySelect(SM) program that characterizes improved seed products and develops more efficient grain supply chain systems in order to better meet specific end-user needs.  The program's goal is to provide efficient value delivery to customers through information management, targeted product development and grain production.

    "Corn is our main ingredient in feed production; we have devoted a good deal of time over the past few years to learn about corn's characteristics and how those characteristics impact feed formulation and milling," says Dave Kier, president and general manager of DFS, Inc.  "We believe the way to improve quality is to first identify points of uncontrolled variation and then strive to control them.  We are pleased to be working with Pioneer in this effort.  DFS, Inc., was the first feed mill in the United States to achieve ISO9001 certification and this effort fits well into our culture of continuous process improvement."

    "We believe this is where the feed industry's heading -- measuring grain nutrition value to better understand the link between seed genetics and quality feed production," says Dan Jones, pork and poultry business manager, Pioneer.  "This pilot project between DFS, Inc., and Pioneer generates value for DFS, their feed customers and corn growers by helping the total system better comprehend the importance of grain nutritional variation and the positive impact properly selected hybrids and efficient grain management systems can have on improving nutritional value delivery."

    Since 1981, Pioneer's team of livestock nutritionists and researchers has evaluated corn grain to determine nutritional differences between hybrids and to develop grain assay tools that can be utilized in efficient grain supply chains.  Hybrids that produce grain with superior digestible energy are classified as high available energy (HAE) hybrids.  During years of proprietary research, Pioneer has utilized more than 400 diverse and discrete grain samples to develop an NIR predictive model that directly predicts DE. 

    Within the Pioneer IndustrySelect program, the company has characterized nearly every hybrid family that it sells commercially and around 100 of its hybrids in North America for the 2005 growing season qualify to receive the HAE designation.

    DFS, Inc., is a quality focused ISO-9001 certified feed manufacturer located in Newell, Iowa.  With a state-of-the-art feed mill and a dedicated staff, DFS is committed to continuously improving the quality of its products and services for its customers.  Founded in 1970, DFS has grown from being a feed dealer to establishing its own sophisticated line of Nutra Mix products, building upon its years of knowledge and experience in the feed industry.  DFS is a value added supplier of nutrition for hog and turkey producers in northwest Iowa, South Dakota and eastern Nebraska.   

    Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont, is the world's leading source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics, crop protection solutions and quality crop systems to customers in nearly 70 countries.  DuPont is a science company.  Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere.  Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.

    (SM) Servicemark of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.