UK animal feed output levels up by 1.4%
Figures just published by the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) confirm a 1.4% increase in animal feed output across the UK.
The data covers the ten months up to April 30 this year.
During this period, total production of Great Britain's (GB's) animal feed – including by integrated poultry units (IPUs) – has reached 11.4 mega tonnes (Mt).
This is up marginally (+1.4%) year-on-year, and up 2.2% on the previous five-year average.
The key driver of this climb in feed demand is the cattle sector, and to a lesser extent the sheep sector.
Cattle and calf feed demand has seen a 5% rise this season so far, with climbs in both dairy and beef feed production, and improved beef and milk prices supporting growth in 2024/25.
Despite a 2.2% increase in total feed production on the back of more competitively priced alternative proteins, AHDB analysts are confirming a lower rate of cereal inclusion this season. As such, total cereals usage (excl. maize used by IPUs) is relatively unchanged on the year (+0.2%).
Maize
In terms of cereal splits, maize usage has remained firm throughout the season so far, with usage by GB compounders up 37% (109 kilo tonnes (Kt)) on 2023/24 levels.
As maize imports were priced competitively earlier in the season, large quantities were bought forward, and as such, firm imports and usage have continued as we head towards the end of the season.
In addition, the upturn in maize usage, as well as the lack of domestic supply, has seen wheat used by British compounders drop back 3% (89Kt) year-on-year.
Looking ahead for animal feed
In the short term, some increase in demand for cereals is envisaged on the back of a more positive cattle and sheep outlook.
However, the price relationship between cereals and alternative raw materials will be key to overall usage.
Additionally, price movement of imported maize against domestic wheat will be something to watch in the new season beginning in July.
Current grain markets
Meanwhile, international grain markets have remained in the doldrums this week.
Pressure has come from better-than-expected US crop conditions and steady EU export demand. However, Black Sea supplies and any updates on tensions in Ukraine and Russia remain in focus.
In addition, 52% of the US winter wheat crop has been rated as being in good or excellent condition, up from 50% a week earlier and above analyst expectations.
In terms of development, 83% of the crop has now headed, with harvest well underway in Texas and other southern states.
The proportion of the US maize crop rated in good or excellent condition has reached 69% in Monday's report, up from 68% the week before, but in line with expectations.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Port of Cork set to open €100m deepwater berth dedicated to offshore energy development
The Port of Cork is poised to become the first port in the Republic to deliver dedicated quay facilities for the offshore renewable energy sector through a new €100m development. The 200-metre long CORE1 (Cork Offshore Renewable Energy 1) deepwater berth at Ringaskiddy East will be ready for use by October, port officials have said. It will have the length, depth, and load-bearing capacities required by companies that will build the large-scale offshore wind farms proposed for the Irish and Celtic seas. However, the Port of Cork Company has said it will need additional land and funding to provide the full range of dedicated quayside facilities that the sector requires if it is to help Ireland achieve its ambitious targets to create at least 37GW of offshore renewable energy generation capacity by 2050 — about six times our current peak electricity demand. The port company set out its progress on offshore renewable energy infrastructure for EU Commissioner Michael McGrath and his officials during a visit to the CORE1 project, which is being co-financed by the EU to the tune of some €38m. 'It would not have happened without a grant from the EU,' the port's commercial officer Conor Mowlds said. 'But there are challenges facing the port now after handing over 30-acres for offshore renewable energy (ORE). "However, Cork has the potential to become the centre of gravity to support Ireland's ORE sector — similar to what happened to Aberdeen during the North Sea oil boom.' Mr McGrath said that, given the scale of EU funding involved, he wanted to see the project first-hand and be briefed on where it fits within the Port of Cork's overall capital development ambitions. 'They have very ambitious plans for the years ahead, which will have to be brought forward in a phased manner and will require extensive consultation with the local community, statutory processes will have to be followed, and then funding packages put together," he said.
Irish Examiner
10 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Ireland's goods exports to Canada fall by more than 50%
At the EU-Canada summit in Brussels last week, Canadian prime minister Mark Carney, anxious to offset the loss in trade with the US following the bruising exchanges with president Donald Trump in recent months, seized the opportunity to push to enhance the current strategic trade partnership with the EU. Under the current Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), Ireland has gained enormously since its initial signing in 2017. Ireland's exports to Canada rose from €1.7bn in 2017 to €5.2bn in 2024. But the market has crashed in the current year, with Irish goods exports to Canada reduced by over 50% in the first four months of this year, which are now forecast to be €2.2bn for 2025 — a heavy loss of €3bn on the prior year. Much of the lost sales were in the pharmaceutical and medical devices sector, which were affected by companies in the sector in Ireland prioritising shipments to the US to get ahead of expected tariffs in April. Also affecting the market was a fall-off in demand from Canadian companies due to lost sales into their main market in the US as the tariff war increased in the early months of the year. This 54% reduction in Irish exports to the Canadian market was not reflected in Ireland's exports to its other markets in the US or the EU, which showed an increase. This is a worrying development for Ireland's goods exporters to Canada. Boost for services However, there are potential gains to be had in the market for services, if the plan to negotiate a digital tech agreement proceeds, which both parties agree would 'enhance cooperation on AI innovation, including collaboration on AI factories, to link our high-performance computing infrastructure and to deepen research cooperation in strategic technology areas such as AI and quantum'. Many Canadian firms that have set up in Ireland come from sectors such as financial services, information technology, and industrial tech. This has boosted Ireland's services exports to close to €5bn, based on the latest estimates from Canadian government statistics. Eight of the top 10 Canadian companies have a presence in Ireland. Four of the top six Canadian banks have operations in Ireland, as do four of the five leading Canadian software companies. Top Canadian insurance companies in IDA's portfolio include Sun Life, which celebrated 25 years in Waterford in 2023, Fairfax, and Canada Life, the parent company of Irish Life. Other familiar names include Scotiabank, National Bank of Canada, TD Global Finance, Bank of Montreal Europe, Brookfield Renewable, Celestica, Greenfield Global, OpenText, Constellation Software, Couche Tard, and Descartes. The services industry exporters are likely to be the big gainers from future trade development with Canada but it awaits the full implementation of the CETA agreement, which has been blocked by Sinn Féin over investor protection clauses that are to be given to Canadian investors in Ireland. However, minister of state for international development Neale Richmond, answering questions in the Dáil, said the Government would move to fully ratify the CETA trade deal, which includes the investor protection clauses, in the coming weeks, despite the misgivings of Sinn Féin. Security and defence The EU had other issues to tackle and were anxious to secure a security and defence agreement with Canada, responding to the political and commercial shock created by their main partner, the US, in threatening to pull out of Nato and demanding a minimum defence expenditure of 5% of GDP by EU member states. 'The partnership will launch work towards a bilateral agreement related to the Security Action For Europe (SAFE) instrument and give access to a €150bn loan mechanism dedicated to joint defence procurement and explore the possibility of establishing an administrative arrangement between Canada and the European Defence Agency,' a joint statement said. The document made specific mention of enhanced coordinated naval activities as a key priority as well as boosting industrial cooperation, which will benefit Ireland as it pursues the expansion of its naval fleet. The statement on security and defence issued as the summit concluded is seen as a key step in a new EU-Canada strategic partnership of the future. For EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, there was the added benefit that the deal would aid Europe with one of its greatest needs: critical raw materials that the EU lacks. Read More New markets elude Ireland and EU as reliance on agriculture stalls deals
The Irish Sun
10 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Beloved car brand will RETURN to UK after two decades as it unveils new ‘forward-looking' model
A BRITISH sports car maker is set to make a comeback after not producing any vehicles for over 20 years. The Advertisement 2 The 66 year-old company announced their revived brand development program Credit: PA Dating back to 1959, Marcos began producing sports cars designed for racing, such as the Xylon before it went into liquidation more than two decades ago. Owner and chairman of Marcos, Howard Nash, said: "Marcos is a much-loved "It has a wonderful history but also an ethos of simplicity for raw, driver-focused handling. "It's an analogue experience you can't get from large car manufacturers and supercar brands, and one which I think enthusiasts hanker after today.' Advertisement Read More Motors News He added: 'We want to honour that original ethos while being forward-looking too, giving Marcos a new, younger audience, as well as bringing the brand back for those who grew up with it.' F1 champions, including The new Marcos projects are reported to be under evaluation at the moment. The first one is teased to be a "faithful reimaging of a much-loved Marcos model," according the firm. Advertisement Most read in Motors Exclusive Breaking The second is expected to be a completely new model, that may even be suitable for use on the track and road. It will, however, "honour the brand ethos of light weight, simplicity and seat-of-the-pants handling," the company states. Major sporting event returning to UK for first time in six years as fans vow to buy tickets 'as soon as they come out' The final project hopes to stay true to the cars' history on the road. This comes with the Marcos Car Company's rights to original body moulds in its vehicles, as well as their manufacturing tooling. Advertisement Further details are likely to be revealed later. The three new projects will be the first cars the manufacturer has produced in more than 20 years 2 The English car manufacturer was a rival to the original Mini Cooper and Lotus Elite Credit: Alamy
