WALNUT, Calif., Nov. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- VIASPACE Inc.
(OTCQB: VSPC) today announced new laboratory test results on Giant
KingTM Grass as animal feed. The Giant King Grass
was harvested at the VIASPACE nursery in California and the tests were conducted by
Dairy One in Ithaca, New York, one
of the world's premier forage testing laboratories.
Young Giant King Grass first
harvested on November 11, 2013 at a
height of 3 to 4 feet tall had a crude protein (CP) level of 19.5%
of dry matter, with 34% acid detergent fiber (ADF), 55.5% neutral
detergent fiber (NDF), 67% total digestible nutrients (TDN) and net
energy of lactation (NEL) of 0.64 Mcal/lb. These figures are
comparable to alfalfa which is the top forage crop and commands the
highest prices.
Results were reported previously on Giant King Grass cut on
July 11, 2013. This was a third
growth and the height was 4 to 6 feet, with CP of 15.6%, 38.9% ADF,
64.1% NDF, 59.8% TDN and NEL of 0.57. These figures are comparable
to oat or sorghum hay with 50% more protein.
Harvest of third growth Giant King Grass at a height of 4 to 7.5
feet on November 11, 2013 had CP of
10.5%, 37.4% ADF, 66.3% NDF, 64% TDN and NEL of 0.55. These figures
are also comparable to oat or sorghum hay with slightly higher
protein. Giant King Grass is much better than
cornstalks. This harvest was a bit older and taller and had
more stalks then the July 11, 2013
harvest.
"These new animal feed results confirm that Giant King Grass is
an excellent source for animal feed," states CEO Dr. Carl Kukkonen. From our studies, it is
apparent that Giant King Grass behaves like other forage crops in
that younger, shorter and more tender plants have higher protein
and lower fiber which is advantageous for some applications.
Slightly older plants produce more dry matter, with lower protein
and more fiber. Animals need both protein and dry matter (fiber)
and both types of animal feed are needed in the marketplace.
Dairy cows and feedlot cattle are typically fed a Total Mixed
Ration (TMR) of forage, grains, protein supplements, minerals and
vitamins that are thoroughly mixed to meet the nutritional needs of
the animal. If the forage has higher nutritional value, less
supplements are required which lowers the cost of feeding the
animals."
Kukkonen continued, "The advantage of Giant King Grass is its
very high yield, and the fact that it is perennial which means that
replanting every year is not required. The data shows that Giant
King Grass nutritional value can be as good as alfalfa when cut
short, and oat or sorghum hay when it is cut taller--but with twice
the yield and you don't have to replant every year. This
means lower cost of production and higher profits for the
grower. In addition to the announced animal feed project in
Arizona, VIASPACE is pursuing
multiple other animal feed opportunities."
VIASPACE Chairman, Dr. Kevin
Schewe, commented: "The U.S. domestic and international
animal feed markets are enormous, growing in demand and confirm an
immediate and significant market and revenue source for VIASPACE
and its shareholders. The current demand for animal feed represents
a sales equivalent of U.S. $300
billion worldwide and is projected to double by 2050.
VIASPACE and its business partners can initiate and implement Giant
King Grass animal feed projects anywhere in the world with suitable
climate and irrigation/rainfall very quickly with lower capital
cost than our power plant projects. The first U.S. commercial
plantings of Giant King Grass for animal feed are currently
underway with VIASPACE and SynTawa Energy in Arizona. We expect increased demand for Giant
King Grass in low-frost areas of the U.S. Southeast, Southwest and
Hawaii in addition to our
documented global outreach. The Giant King Grass test results from
the Dairy One laboratory are superb and serve to strengthen our
position with our new animal feed clients."
A picture of the Giant King Grass harvested on November 11, 2013 in California is available on the VIASPACE
Facebook page www.facebook.com/viaspaceinc.
About VIASPACE Inc.
VIASPACE grows renewable Giant KingTM Grass as a
low-carbon fuel for clean electricity generation; for
environmentally friendly energy pellets; and as a feedstock for
bio-methane production and for green cellulosic biofuels,
biochemicals and biomaterials. Giant King
Grass is a proprietary, high yield, dedicated biomass clean
energy crop. Giant King Grass when
it is cut frequently at 3 to 7 feet tall is also excellent animal
feed. For more information, please go to www.VIASPACE.com or
contact Dr. Jan Vandersande,
Director of Communications, at 800-517-8050 or IR@VIASPACE.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Information in this news release includes forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements relate to future
events or future performance and involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results,
levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially
different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking
statements. Such factors include, without limitation, risks
outlined in our periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission, including Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2012, and
other factors over which VIASPACE has little or no control.
SOURCE VIASPACE Inc.