END OF THE CHAIN

摘要

Most feed manufacturers would recognise that, in the final analysis, it is the consumer at the checkout who is the ultimate source of their fortunes. What the consumer pays leads back, via the livestock producer, to the ex-mill price paid by the livestock farmer. Particularly in the case of pig and poultry producers, where manufactured feed constitutes a high proportion of total production costs but also where ruminant livestock producers are concerned, it will be consumers' willingness and ability to pay that will exert a significant influence upon the cost of feed. What has been the effect of the recession upon consumption of livestock products? Production of feed in the first ten months of 2012 has been running ahead of the same period of 2011. Does this mean that demand for livestock feed is up or does it reflect factors such as the dreadful weather that has characterised much of 2012. Roger Dean has been casting an eye over the available data.