European compound feed production slumps 4%
The total production estimate for compound feed production in the European Union is now set at 147.6 million tonnes, which is 3.8% below the figure for 2008 (153.4 mio. t).
The significant downturn has affected all animal species, in particular cattle feed (around -6%), pig feed (-5%) and, to a lesser extent, poultry feed (-1%).
Four key factors have weighed on the EU feed demand in 2009:
1) The dramatic crisis affecting the dairy sector, which triggered a severe contraction of the demand for efficient cattle feed, i.e. compound feed; mainly in the 3rd and 4th quarter;
2) The continuation of the downward slope of the pig production cycle, amplified by the financial difficulties of pig farmers;
3) The low market quotations for cereals, with the consequence that farmers had few incentives to put their cereals on the market rather than using them on the farm; and
4) The financial crisis, which led to lower consumer demand for products of animal origin, i.e. to a switch to less expensive animal proteins sources.
|
|
Cattle
|
Pigs
|
Poultry
|
Others
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
+/-
|
|
Country
|
2009
|
2009
|
2009
|
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
%
|
|
Spain
|
6,740
|
9,500
|
4,400
|
909
|
22,117
|
21,549
|
-2.6
|
|
France
|
5,003
|
5,894
|
8,472
|
1,539
|
22,679
|
21,292
|
-6.1
|
|
Germany
|
5,876
|
8,923
|
5,169
|
716
|
21,825
|
20,829
|
-4.6
|
|
Netherlands
|
3,330
|
5,920
|
3,600
|
450
|
14,577
|
14,040
|
-3.7
|
|
UK
|
4,799
|
1,494
|
6,239
|
1,303
|
14,001
|
13,836
|
-1.2
|
|
Italy
|
3,480
|
3,180
|
5,445
|
1,570
|
14,349
|
13,830
|
-3.6
|
|
Poland
|
670
|
1,370
|
4,340
|
370
|
7,129
|
6,750
|
-5.3
|
|
Belgium
|
1,097
|
3,580
|
1,326
|
138
|
6,288
|
6,185
|
-1.6
|
|
Denmark
|
997
|
2,867
|
550
|
174
|
4,960
|
4,588
|
-7.5
|
|
Hungary
|
530
|
1,580
|
1,755
|
205
|
4,125
|
4,070
|
-1.3
|
|
Ireland
|
2,131
|
633
|
486
|
400
|
3,693
|
3,656
|
-1.0
|
|
Portugal
|
805
|
955
|
1,380
|
270
|
3,510
|
3,410
|
-2.8
|
|
Romania
|
130
|
1,400
|
1,530
|
12
|
3,044
|
3,072
|
0.9
|
|
Czech Rep.
|
502
|
929
|
1,039
|
367
|
2,979
|
2,841
|
-4.6
|
|
Sweden
|
930
|
385
|
525
|
150
|
2,127
|
1,991
|
-6.4
|
|
Finland
|
600
|
345
|
305
|
65
|
1,385
|
1,315
|
-5.1
|
|
Austria
|
393
|
232
|
446
|
235
|
1,305
|
1,306
|
0.1
|
|
Bulgaria
|
35
|
205
|
410
|
18
|
710
|
668
|
-5.9
|
|
Slovakia
|
206
|
214
|
223
|
12
|
834
|
655
|
-21.5
|
|
Slovenia
|
95
|
110
|
260
|
12
|
495
|
477
|
-3.6
|
|
Lituania
|
32
|
71
|
245
|
13
|
401
|
364
|
-9.2
|
|
Latvia
|
38
|
111
|
159
|
17
|
329
|
325
|
-1.2
|
|
Cyprus
|
111
|
13
|
62
|
109
|
292
|
295
|
1.0
|
|
Estonia
|
40
|
140
|
48
|
2
|
236
|
230
|
-2.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EUR 27 *
|
38,570
|
50,051
|
48,414
|
9,056
|
153,390
|
147,574
|
-3.8
|
*Malta, Greece and Luxembourg excluded. Milkreplacers are included in total figure.
- A continuation of difficulties in the dairy sector despite a modest increase in milk prices;
- The end of the downward trend in the pig production cycle; and
- A continued recovery in consumer demand for poultry products.
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