June 3, 2009

Falling animal numbers in Hungary over the years has severely affected the feed industry there, according to official statistics and an industry expert.

 

Official statistics showed that Hungary's pig herd has dropped from 12 million to less than four million in 10 years. Over the same period of time, Hungary's dairy cow herd dropped from 407,000 to 324,000.

 

Keeping in line with the drop in livestock numbers, Hungary's feed production dropped nearly one million tonnes every five years since 1998. Total Hungarian feed production in 2007 and 2008 reached 4.1 million tonnes, of which 1.7 million tonnes were produced in 2008.

 

The Hungarian feed industry's main problem is the regular destocking in the country, said Zsofia Potsa, secretary general of the Hungarian Grain and Feed Association.

 

Potsa said Hungary has about 600 registered companies producing feed, but only 250 of them sell feed to clients, indicating that most companies produce feed for themselves.