There's quite a bit of movement in the by-product and residual flows. The supply of many products is good. In fact, several suppliers indicate they're working hard to get certain products placed. This is a positive development for livestock farmers.
The current economic climate in the livestock sector makes monitoring costs even more important than ever. As a farmer, you naturally have little control over many things, but the fact that some byproducts are becoming somewhat cheaper due to increased supply is a welcome bonus.
Byproducts from potato processing, among others, are under pressure. For example, potato press fiber from the starch industry or potato chips from the French fry industry are readily available at most traders. According to some traders, this effect was exacerbated by last week's winter weather. This has led to some customers shifting their supplies. These products, which are generally easier for livestock farmers to process and store, are pushing feed potatoes off the plate somewhat. "It's only the true enthusiasts who are buying feed potatoes again," said one trader. The DCA Indicative Price for feed potatoes dropped to €25 per tonne this week.
Ask not evenly distributed
The increased supply of by-products certainly doesn't mean there's a surplus. Brewers' grains, for example, remain in high demand. Waiting times have been eliminated at most suppliers, but brewers' grains remain relatively popular. The DCA Indicative Price for brewers' grains fell by €0,05 this week to €3,80 per percent dry matter.
The silage maize market has yet to gain momentum. Livestock farmers experiencing a shortage of maize are inquiring about availability, but are still waiting to buy. Therefore, the trade is primarily coming from customers without their own maize and with a small silo. The DCA indicative price for maize silage remains stable at €85 per tonne. According to traders, good silage for dairy cows or goats is difficult to find. "You mainly need a stopper," said one trader. The DCA indicative price for silage stands at €80 per tonne.
The steady work in hay and straw continues. Straw is available, but sellers are in no hurry to sell it. The DCA indicative price for both wheat and barley straw is €165 per tonne. Hammered Spanish straw is about €10 to €15 more expensive than regular coarse straw. This is quite remarkable. The DCA indicative price for grass seed hay ranges from €165 to €180 per tonne, depending on the variety. Demand for grass seed hay is not high, traders report. Meadow hay remains stable at €200 per tonne.