The European sales of concentrates this year will be about 5 million tons (-3,5%) lower than last year. This is mainly due to animal diseases and the war in Ukraine. The sale of pig feed is particularly hard hit.
This is reported by the European trade association of animal feed producers Fefac. Sales are expected to amount to 145 million tons of compound feed this year. The only countries where compound feed production and sales will remain at the same level are the Baltic countries, Ireland, Poland, Bulgaria and Slovenia. Compound feed sales are declining in the other EU countries, including the largest member states, which also have the largest animal numbers.
Less pig feed in Belgium and Denmark
Pig farming is the most affected, Fefac indicates. This is not surprising given the problems with African swine fever, stagnant meat sales, declining sales to China and low selling prices. As a result of all this, 5,5% less feed is expected to be sold than in 2021.
Sales of pig feed are under most pressure in Belgium (-11%), Denmark (-9%), Portugal (-8.4%), Germany (-8%) and the Czech Republic (-7,4%). In the Netherlands and Belgium, the pig herd is also shrinking under pressure from the nitrogen problem. In Romania and Poland, pig farming is most affected by African swine fever, but there is no government pressure to reduce the herd.
Bird flu and cheap imports
Sales of poultry feed are expected to decline by 3,4%. This is mainly due to contamination of companies with Avian Influenza (AI). The countries hit hardest are France, Belgium, Italy and Hungary. Related to this, companies were less likely to introduce new animals due to increased costs for feed, energy and packaging. In addition, poultry farmers also suffered greatly from the temporary zero rate for Ukrainian poultry products in July and August.
Sales of cattle feed are also declining, but relatively limited. Fefac predicts a sales decline of 1,3%, despite additional feed sales in countries that were confronted with drought problems and lagging production of roughage last spring and summer.
Less corn, more feed grain
The almost 20% smaller corn harvest in the EU will probably lead to a larger share of feed grains in concentrates in the coming months, replacing corn. The Fefac also takes into account even more rising costs and uncertainty about the supply of grains and oilseeds from the Black Sea region. In addition, animal diseases and environmental problems in the EU remain issues that will continue to pose challenges to the animal feed industry in the coming year, says Fefac.