The amount of maize used in GB compound and integrated poultry unit (IPU) animal feed production in the 2018/19 season to date increased to a record high, according to AHDB usage data. Total usage of maize for the Jul-Nov period was 209.5Kt, up 72.8kt from the same last year.

November 2018 saw a month on month reduction of wheat usage falling by 2% to 392.5Kt. However, maize usage in November animal feed production saw a 38% increase from October levels to 61.6Kt. Meanwhile barley and oat usage remained fairly stable on the month sitting at 82.4Kt and 8.1Kt respectively.

Total usage of all cereals for GB animal feed production including IPU was 2702.7Kt in the first five months of the 2018/19 season, up 82.2Kt from 2017/18. Usage of wheat so far this season (Jul-Nov) reached 2015.4Kt, almost 3% above the same period last year. However, barley usage so far in 2018/19 (Jul-Nov) has declined by 11% year on year. Likely reflecting the narrow spread between feed wheat and barley this year. Lastly oat usage rose by 12.2Kt in the first five months of this season compared to 2017/18.

The record usage of maize in rations reflects the tight supply for UK grains this season (read more here) and the need for imported maize. The recent narrowing of the discount of imported maize (any origin) to UK grain, highlighted yesterday (read more here), could potentially reduce the price competiveness of maize and boost usage of domestic wheat and barley.