since January whilst other feed slipped below 2018 returns for the first time this year. Both cattle and calf and poultry feed arrested a pattern of successive significant drops whilst still falling behind year previous outputs. In contrast, sheep feed continues an eight month run of considerably lower production meaning that at this point in the year sheep feed is at its lowest level since 2014 and is the sixth lowest total of the last 20 years.


FIRST QUARTER OVERVIEW – NORTHERN IRELAND Total production of compounds, blends and concentrates during the first quarter of 2019 amounted to 690,100 tonnes. In spite of a record breaking January, 2019’s quarter one returns fell 24,800 tonnes or 3.5 per cent short of the record 714,900 tonnes produced in the same period of 2018, thanks to February and March production being significantly down on their year earlier counterparts. The current total is, nevetheless, the second largest on record and was a significant 74,000 tonnes or 12.0 per cent greater than the 10 year average for the timeframe. Total feed production during the first quarter of 2019 was made up


of: 52.6 per cent cattle and calf feed, 31.4 per cent poultry feed, 8.5 per cent pig feed, 3.9 per cent other feed and 3.7 per cent sheep feed. Quarter one cattle and calf feed, at 362,700 tonnes, was a sizeable


25,700 tonnes or 6.6 per cent down on the same quarter a year earlier where production reached unparalleled heights. 2019’s total is, however, the third highest total since records began, 2013 being the other year to surpass the current returns. The 10 year average of Q1 production was significantly bettered by 32,700 tonnes or 9.9 per cent. No sectors of cattle feed during 2019 could match the output of the


corresponding period a year earlier. All other cattle compounds dropped by 100 tonnes to 1,900 tonnes; dairy cow compounds decreased by 6,100 tonnes or 4.1 per cent to 144,400 tonnes. Notable declines were also seen in beef coarse mixes or blends and beef cattle compounds, with the former’s production falling 3,900 tonnes or 4.6 per cent to 80,100 tonnes and the latter’s doing so by 7,600 tonnes or 14.1 per cent to 46,400 tonnes. Dairy coarse mixes or blends followed a similar trajectory, dropping 7,100 tonnes or 9.4 per cent to 68,100 tonnes whilst other calf compounds remained comparatively steady, falling only 900 tonnes or 4.0 per cent to 21,400 tonnes. Not since 1998 have pig feed production reached comparable


levels to those achieved in the first quarter of 2019. The 58,800 tonnes of output surpassed its year earlier counterpart by 700 tonnes or 1.2 per cent. 2019’s total additionally stands a considerable 11,300 tonnes or 23.8 per cent above the 10 year average for the quarter. Only pig breeding feed could not better the output from 2018’s Q1


which, at 8,600 tonnes of production was 300 tonnes or 3.4 per cent lower than at the same point a year earlier. The rest of the subsectors climbed about their respective totals: pig link and early grower feed did so by 600 tonnes or 7.1 per cent to reach 9,000 tonnes; pig finishing feed and pig starter and creep feed both did so by 200 tonnes to reach 23,300 tonnes and 6,900 tonnes respectively; and pig growing feed did so by 100 tonnes or 0.9 per cent to reach 11,000 tonnes. At 216,400 tonnes, poultry feed production reached record levels for the quarter, surpassing the previous record from 2108 by 6,300


PAGE 6 JULY/AUGUST 2019 FEED COMPOUNDER


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tonnes or 3.0 per cent. Additionally, the 10 year average for quarter one, of 183,900 tonnes, was considerably bettered by 32,500 tonnes or 17.7 per cent. While chick rearing feed fell to 6,200, a drop of 500 tonnes or 7.5


per cent, layer and breeding feed and turkey and other poultry feed both increased sharply, with the former expanding to 77,600 tonnes and the latter to 10,700 tonnes, respective growths of 3,700 tonnes or 5.0 per cent and 2,400 tonnes or 28.9 per cent. The sector was rounded off with an 800 tonnes rise in broiler feed which brought its total up to 121,900 tonnes, a 0.7 per cent upturn. Sheep feed was the only sector whose production in Q1 fell behind


both its year earlier and 10 year average totals. The 25,600 tonnes produced during the quarter were the lowest ever recorded and are 7,900 tonnes or 23.6 per cent lower than the total amassed during the same period a year previously. The total also sat 5,600 tonnes or 17.9 per cent below the 10 year average for the quarter of 32,100 tonnes. There were considerable falls across the entire sheep feed sector,


the most substantial being the 4,800 tonnes or 27.8 per cent drop in breeding sheep compounds to 12,500 tonnes. Coarse mixes or blends for sheep fell 21.6 per cent to 5,800 tonnes, a reduction of 1,600 tonnes, whilst production of growing and finishing sheep compounds, at 7,300 tonnes, decreased by 1,500 tonnes or 17.1 per cent. With production reaching 26,600 tonnes, other feed posted its


highest first quarter return for 10 years, surpassing the year earlier total by 1,800 tonnes or 7.3 per cent and the 10 year mean for the period by 3,100 tonnes or 13.2 per cent. Flaked maize and maize meal production was appreciably lower


than the levels reached in the first quarter of 2018 with the 14,900 tonnes of output 3,500 or 19.0 per cent below the previous total. Flaked barley and barley meal also fell behind year earlier production by 200 tonnes, dropping to an output of 600 tonnes. These reductions were compensated for by other feed practically doubling its production when compared to a year earlier. The 11,000 tonnes produced was 96.4 per cent or 5,400 tonnes greater than the return of Q1 2018. 2019’s first quarter returns mirror almost exactly the pattern


displayed in each of its composite months, chiefly, a clear split between ruminant and non-ruminant production. Taken in isolation, non-ruminant feed output is at record heights, whereas sheep feed, in contrast, is at record lows. Although down on year earlier levels, cattle and calf feed production remains steady and reflects the general trend, one of relatively strong a positive output despite being down on the record highs seen at this stage of 2018.


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