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Despite a strong start to 2019, the amount of concentrate feed used in NI across the first six months of the year is down significantly on 2018 figures.
According to information published by DAERA, the biggest percentage reductions are in the sheep sector, with 36,900t of feed used to June 2019, down 27% on the 50,300t used the previous year. While overall sheep numbers have fallen slightly in 2019 compared to 2018, the main factor was the good growing conditions this spring, which meant farmers were able to save on concentrate feed.
A favourable spring, and less pressure on fodder supplies saw other livestock farmers able to cut back on concentrate feed.
Dairy cow compounds fell 4.4% to 283,900t, while dairy coarse mixes or blends were down 12.4% to 114,500t. Beef coarse mixes or blends were down 11.6% to 124,700t. Across all cattle rations the amount used to June 2019 is 8.6% down on 2018.
When cattle and sheep are added together, it is a reduction of 73,800t, or a saving to farmers of approximately £16m.
Pigs and poultry
The other big users of feed in NI are the pig and poultry sectors, and between them they account for over 40% of all concentrate feed purchased by farmers.
With both little impacted by weather, feed rates are little changed from 2018 to 2019.
In the first six months of 2019, a total of 115,300t of concentrate was fed to pigs, with 426,800t fed to poultry.
Across the entire NI industry, the total feed tonnage to June 2019 stands at 1.27mt, down over 5% on the 1.34mt fed to June 2018.
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