The roughage shortage is a major problem for dairy farmers in some places in the Netherlands. Such as in the south and east of the country, where little roughage was taken from the country last year due to the drought on the sandy soils.
In the current relatively cool spring, many dairy farmers made the first cut of ensilage last weekend. The question now is how dairy farms with a roughage shortage should get through the summer period. It seems that the dairy farmers are just watching the situation for the time being.
According to Agrifirm, the market for roughage and concentrates is stable, with purchases of concentrates by dairy farms not deviating from normal. The roughage trade is also quiet. This has everything to do with the high level of prices. Dairy farmers are not yet working to supplement the shortage due to the high roughage and concentrate prices.
Making the first cut
Dairy farms have different choices to deal with the forage shortage, depending on the feed supply on the farm. Feeding the first cutting of the year, when it is ready, may be obvious. This has the advantage that the dairy cows receive high-quality roughage during the summer period at relatively low costs.
This, together with the rising milk price in recent months, could be good for the summer period. For the winter period, the dairy farmer can then feed later grass silage or purchase roughage. The problem is therefore moved to the winter season, where roughage and concentrate prices can be at a different level.
By-products or concentrates
Using by-products or concentrates to supplement the ration is of course also an option. If fresh grass is fed on the farm, for example, by-products from starch extraction from grain maize (such as Corngold) may be an option. This product is cheap in terms of price/quality ratio with a price of around €2,40 per % dry matter. With the high starch and negative OEB, it fits well next to fresh grass.
Purchasing silage maize is also possible, but there is little supply and the highest price is paid for it.
Expectations
The fact that raw material prices have risen so much recently is partly due to the corona crisis. At the beginning of the corona crisis, many raw material producers reduced production, because it was thought that the crisis would significantly reduce demand. In practice this appears not to be the case, which has caused shortages. It is expected that producers will rebuild production and inventories, which may put some downward pressure on prices later.