After last week's rain, the grazing season is more or less over, and the corn has been chopped, except for a few small plots. This is causing some shifts in the feed market. There are significant differences, especially in by-products.
Brewers' grains are and remain a product in high demand. Almost every livestock farmer is familiar with them, and they are naturally available year-round. However, the supply of brewers' grains is on the tight side compared to demand. The DCA Indicative Price for brewers' grains is rising this week by 5 cents to €3,90 per percent dry matter.
Brewers' grains aren't the only crop in short supply. Potato processors are keeping a slow pace, and that's reflected in the supply of steam peels. The price of these is also rising. Potato chips, on the other hand, are more widely available. Seasonal products like pressed pulp and pressed fiber are also reasonably readily available. The market is at a stage where it can be very worthwhile for livestock farmers to critically review their rations and inquire about affordable alternatives.
Sufficient feed potatoes
Feed potatoes are also readily available. The corn is in the silage pit and the last of the grass has been cleared, so the demand for potatoes for ensiling has dried up. This leaves a group of livestock farmers who feed potatoes as loose feed. The DCA indicative price for feed potatoes dropped by €5 this week to €35 per tonne.
The silage maize harvest was almost complete. It was wetter in the north of the country this autumn than in the south, but overall, the maize was harvested under good conditions. With the supply of maize directly from the field, it's practically done. Therefore, for the DCA Indicative Price, we've switched back to ready-to-feed maize. This is primarily for customers who just need a few loads to bridge the gap until their new silage is properly preserved. Early-chopped maize can already be fed, however. The DCA Indicative Price for silage maize this week is €80 per tonne.
In hay and straw, it's mainly regular work that continues. Meadow hay is mainly sold to horse owners, who are now more active in the market because their horses are being brought indoors. The DCA indicative price for meadow hay remains stable at €190 per ton. Grass seed hay remains a niche market, but especially compared to last year (when almost nothing happened), it's coming back. "We always have a load," says a forage dealer. The DCA indicative price for grass seed hay ranges from €165 for English ryegrass to €180 for red fescue.
To the bulbs
Demand for straw from the dairy sector is quiet. There's more demand for horse straw, but the market is primarily driven by bulb growers. These are customers who only want long straw. Due to the changeable weather that occurs later during the grain harvest, not all straw offered is long enough. The price range for straw is very wide. A non-discriminating buyer in the south of the country can still find a good deal for €150 per ton, while in the north, €180 is also common. For straw suitable for bulbs, traders are quoting prices of €165 to €170 per ton.