FIRST QUARTER OUTCOME DEFRA has recently published its February update for production of compound feeds, blends and concentrates in Great Britain during February. Total production amounted to 936,800 tonnes, 17,900 tonnes or
1.9 per cent more than in February 2016 and the second highest level of production for the month since records began to be kept in their present form in 1992. The record is still held by 1996, when production amounted to 951,000 tonnes. Production of feeds for cattle and calves in February amounted
to 344,100 tonnes, 6,300 tonnes or 1.9 per cent more than in the corresponding month of 2016. At 36.7 per cent of total production for the month, this figure was slightly lower than the corresponding figure in 2016. The largest increases compared to year earlier output were in compounds and blends for dairy cows, suggesting that a degree of confidence has returned to the dairy sector after a period of very low prices. Production of compound feeds for dairy cows, at 159,900 tonnes, was 2,600 tonnes or 1.7 per cent higher than in February 2016 while production of dairy blends, at 73,900 tonnes, was 3,900 tonnes or 5.6 per cent higher; this suggests a continuing and understandable degree of caution on the part of dairy farmers. In contrast, production of both compounds and blends for non-
dairy cattle was lower in February 2017 than a year earlier. Production of compounds, at 58,400 tonnes, was down by 3,400 tonnes or 5.5 per cent while production of non-dairy blends, at 25,600 tonnes was marginally lower than a year earlier, being down by 500 tonnes or 1.9 per cent. Output of protein concentrates, at 7,000 tonnes was unchanged on twelve months previously. Production of feeds for pigs in February 2017, at 135,800 tonnes,
was 8,600 tonnes or 6 per cent less than in February 2016. The share of feeds for pigs in total output of compounds, blends and concentrates, at 14.5 per cent, was significantly lower than a year earlier, when it
Editor’s Notebook is sponsored by Compound Feed Engineering Ltd
was 15.7 per cent. There were declines in production across the sub-species with the
exception of link and early grower feeds and in production of protein concentrates for pigs, the latter being, in any case, typically less than a thousand tonnes a month. Production of the largest constituent of feeds for pigs, finishing feed, at 68,500 tonnes was down by 3,900 tonnes or 5.4 per cent compared with February 2016. Production of feeds for growing pigs, at 23,500 tonnes, was down by 4,300 tonnes or 15.5 per cent while feeds for breeding pigs, at 30,800 tonnes, was down by 1,500 tonnes or 4.6 per cent. In contrast, output of link and early grower feeds for pigs, at 7,900 tonnes, was 900 tonnes or 12.9 per cent up on the corresponding months of 2016, a sign perhaps of a recovery in the making. Total production of feeds for poultry in February 2017, at 292,100
tonnes, was 8,600 tonnes or 3 per cent higher than in February 2016 and a record for the month in question, albeit it must be borne in mind that recent statistical adjustments made by DEFRA have made comparison between recent and less recent data more difficult. The largest sub-sector, broiler feed, at 151,600 tonnes production in February 2017, showed an increase of 9,500 tonnes or 6.7 per cent over the corresponding month of 2016. The next biggest sub-sector, feeds for laying birds, at 86,300 tonnes was ahead of year earlier output by just 500 tonnes or 0.6 per cent. However, production of poultry breeding and rearing feeds, the third largest sector, at 24,500 tonnes in February 2017 showed a decrease of 1,899 tonnes or 6.8 per cent on year earlier levels. Production of feeds for turkeys, at 8,000 tonnes, was up by 600 tonnes or 8.1 per cent on year earlier levels and there was a marginal increase in the miscellaneous category. Production of feeds for sheep and lambs, at 116,400 tonnes in
February 2017, at 116,400 tonnes, was ahead of year earlier levels by 6,500 tonnes or 5.9 per cent. At 12.4 per cent of total output of compounds, blends and concentrates for the month, it was ahead of February 2016 when production of feeds for sheep constituted 12 per cent of total production. The largest sub-sector, compounds for breeding sheep, at 65,300
www.cfegroup.com PAGE 4 MAY/JUNE 2017 FEED COMPOUNDER
tonnes, saw an increase of 2,400 tonnes or 3.8 per cent compared to February 2016. The sector distinguished itself by recording year-on- year increases in production across all its sub-sectors with the single exception of protein concentrates which, at 600 tonnes, saw production down by a quarter compared to the corresponding month a year earlier. Compounds for growing and finishing stock, at 41,700 tonnes, was 5,000 tonnes or 13.6 per cent ahead of production in February 2016
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