Pig feed production still higher

By Bethan Wilkins

According to our latest figures, pig feed production for July-October was 4% higher than in the same period last year. This continues the growth trend that has been in place since the start of 2019. At 678,000 tonnes production was also 4% higher than in the previous four-month period.

Breeding pig feed output was higher on the year, rising by 1%. This was different to the position earlier in the year; production had been slightly lower than 2019 during Q2 2020.

Feed output for all stages of clean pig production was also higher on a year earlier.

The higher volumes support our expectations that there has been some expansion in pig numbers available. Currently, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are challenging processing and this seems to be leading to a backlog of pigs held on farm. Expansion in pig numbers compared to previous years may have accentuated this difficulty.

Of course, if pigs are being kept on farm for longer, this will increase feed requirements and may account for some rise in pig feed demand going forward. Some producers are reportedly now using “holding diets” in an attempt to slow pig growth.

Pig feed costs have been rising recently and this will be increasingly limiting profitability for pig producers. Use of barley across compound animal feed overall was 27% higher than last year across July-October, reflecting increased price competitiveness relative to wheat. In fact, all the other cereals covered saw higher usage than last year. The amount of wheat used was 12% lower than in 2019.

Use of most oilseed meals/cakes across animal feeds was lower than last year. The exception was oilseed rape meal/cake (+1%).

Overall production of animal feed, including integrated poultry units, was 1% up on July-October last year, at 4.46 million tonnes.

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