Milk prices have dropped significantly overall. This is also noticeable in the feed trade. Farmers are more cost-conscious and are more inclined to wait and see. Buyers are not pressured into making a quick decision. Fortunately, there are plenty of options when it comes to buying feed.
The range of by-products is generally extensive. Several suppliers are using feed value prices to calculate for customers which products offer the best cost performance. Livestock farmers are not immune to this. Many farms were able to build up a buffer last year, but of course, you don't want to lose that right away.
Potato and grain processing products are plentiful. There are some differences between what suppliers offer. For example, one supplier may have a wide selection of steam peels and report that pressed fiber is quite balanced, while another may need to push a bit harder to get pressed fiber, for example, placed. Most traders have ample supply of feed potatoes. Not every livestock farmer enjoys feeding potatoes. It's a product that's harder to store and something the cows also need to get used to. If parings are available for roughly the same price, some prefer them. Supply remains more or less the same as before Christmas, but demand is waning somewhat, according to insiders. The DCA Indicative Price for feed potatoes is dropping slightly this week to €20 per tonne.
Supply and demand for brewers' grains remain fairly balanced. There are certainly no long waiting lists, but there's also no stockpiling. Brewers' grains are a product many farmers are familiar with, available year-round, and on which cows generally thrive. Unlike various by-products, the price is slightly less important, according to an insider. The DCA Indicative Price for brewers' grains remains stable at €3,80 per percent dry matter.
Look, look, don't buy yet
Demand for silage maize hasn't really picked up yet. "Some inquiries are being made, but before you quote a price, it takes a lot of thought," says a trader. The DCA indicative price for silage maize is €80 per tonne. Good silage from a first or second cut is sought, but supply is disappointing. There are plenty of bales of autumn grass, but few buyers. The DCA indicative price for silage remains stable at €80 per tonne.
The steady flow of straw continues. Depending on the region, quality, and buyer flexibility, there are significant price differences. Beautiful, long, white straw in the north of the country, ready for unloading, quickly approaches €180 per tonne, while shorter straw in the south is delivered to the farm starting at €150. The DCA indicative price for wheat straw is €160 per tonne. Hay trade is limited. An occasional load of grass seed hay or meadow hay is available, but nothing out of the ordinary, according to a trader. The DCA indicative price for grass seed hay ranges from €165 to €180 per tonne, depending on the variety. Meadow hay remains stable at €200 per tonne.