Unlocking Insights: FEFAC Releases the 2024 Feed & Food Report – What You Need to Know!

The European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC) recently released the Feed & Food Report 2024, shedding light on important economic trends within the European feed sector. This report is crucial as it highlights how the feed industry supports both the livestock and aquaculture economies across Europe.

In 2023, the EU’s production of compound feed reached 146.9 million tons, a slight dip of 0.22% from the previous year. The pig sector took a serious hit, declining by 4.1% primarily due to the impacts of African Swine Fever (ASF). In contrast, poultry feed saw a rise of 2.5%, even while grappling with challenges like Avian Influenza (AI).

The broader EU economy faced hurdles due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, leading to an energy crisis. This sparked inflation and reduced demand for animal products, affecting feed production levels. Yet, some countries like France, Spain, and Portugal managed to maintain or even raise their feed production, with Spain experiencing the most notable increase.

Overall, poultry feed production grew by 1.4 million tons, while pig feed dropped by nearly 2 million tons. This decline contributed to the struggles of small farms due to decreased profitability, especially as China continued its recovery from ASF. Interestingly, cattle feed production saw a slight increase of 0.9 million tons compared to the previous year.

In terms of feed composition, the EU produced 145 million tons of various feed types in 2023. This included 74.6 million tons of feed cereals, 36.5 million tons of cakes and meals, and several other categories, illustrating the diversity and breadth of feed sources used in production.

Moreover, the livestock population across the EU-27 saw further reductions, with cattle numbers falling by 1.4%, pigs by 1.1%, and sheep and goats by 3.7%.

This backdrop highlights the ongoing challenges and shifts within the European agricultural landscape. As the world recalibrates post-crisis, monitoring these trends will be crucial for understanding future developments in the feed industry.

For a more in-depth look, you can download the full report here.

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