A host of supply chain issues is causing a shortage of amino acids like lysine used in pork and poultry rations. SDSU Extension Swine Specialist Bob Thaler says the tight supplies have been going on for several weeks and have nearly doubled lysine prices. He says it’s a result of the perfect supply chain storm that has halted imports of lysine from China.
He says nearly all of the dry lysine used in the U.S. for livestock and poultry rations has to be imported.
Thaler says swine producers are having to reformulate their rations to replace lysine and are opting for more DDGs and soybean meal.
He says the lysine shortage is expected to continue into spring. The one upside is when pigs are fed less lysine and more soybean meal they produce more nitrogen in the manure, which is welcome with record high fertilizer prices.
