Bi-products from beer production, the so-called mash, has proved to be a good filler in feed for fur farming animals, opening the door to a brand new business area in Zealand. The idea arose in connection with a network programme focused on new applications for bi-products. The network programme was initiated by Risø DTU with funds from Region Zealand.
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For further source information, please contact:
Lars Olufssen, CEO of Biograin/JLG Innovation, Skælskør/Korsør, +45 20 87 60 70
Flemming Stjernegaard, CEO of Sjællands Pelsdyrfoder A.M.B.A, Højby Sjælland, +45 59 30 24 14
For further information about Risø DTU’s network programme on waste and bi-products, please contact:
Louise Vogel Georgi, Business Developer, Risø DTU, +45 46 77 46 20
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For several years, the enterprises Biograin/JLG Innovation from Korsør in Zealand have been selling bi-products from beer production, which is normally used for cattle feed. However, cattle farmers do not need much feed during the summer when the cows are grazing, and Biograin was therefore looking for alternative applications.
“For a number of years, we have had an agreement to buy germinated barley grain, the so-called mash, from beer production, and the invitation from Risø DTU to participate in their so-called ‘waste network’ therefore sounded like a good idea,” says Lars Olufssen, CEO of Biograin/JLG Innovation.
Via the network, Lars Olofssen established contact with Flemming Stjernegaard, CEO of the Zealand mink feed producer Sjællands Pelsdyrfoder A.M.B.A., and together, they soon saw the possibilities of a partnership.
“We used the network to spread the word that we needed a lot of fibre for our feed. And Lars had this mash full of fibre, so it was very obvious for us to start a trial,” recounts Flemming Stjernegaard.
Good and sweet
The trial started out in small scale with addition of different mash concentrations to the normal feed mix, because the taste of the final feed mix is quite important.
“As a feed producer, there are two things you need to ensure: First, the nutritional quality must be in order, and second, the animals have to like the feed. The mash turned out to be very well suited, because it is rather sweet and just to the animals’ liking,” says Flemming Stjernegaard.
New customers
Since both the producer and the furry end users had approved the mash for use, the path was open for a partnership, and over the past year, Sjællands Pelsdyrfoder A.M.B.A. has been using mash in its feed. This has also been the start for other collaboration projects for Biograin, who has contacted some of the other producers in Denmark and has helped them introduce mash into their production.
“In addition to supplying the mash, we develop machines for handling the feed and we supply know-how, among other things in relation to the use of mash in feed. The annual feed production totals 650,000 tonnes, so obviously, this is an interesting market for us,” says Lars Olofsson of Biograin, which purchases 100,000 tonnes of beer production mash annually.
The network is the driver
Both network participants have benefited financially from Risø DTU’s network programme.
“I am very happy about this, because I can save money on my raw materials, and at the same time, the minks like the product. Furthermore, it is a good match for our production,” says Flemming Stjernegaard of Sjællands Pelsdyrfoder, while Lars Olufssen of Biograin is pleased to able to sell his product in a new market.
But in addition to the immediate financial gain, the network has also opened the door for other thoughts and ideas for development.
“From the outset, we believed that we could do something different and better than what has been done for the last 150 years where the mash has been used for cattle feed. On this basis, it has been a clear benefit to find a network that focuses on development and problem solving. And what’s more – it is interesting to meet people from other industries as well as research scientists and to work with them to find solutions,” says Lars Olufsson, who is determined to participate in other network programmes to find inspiration and solutions for his development.
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