The farm animal feed market - France

1.1 Definition and scope of the study

The farm animal feed market refers to the production and distribution of feed for farm animals. It encompasses activities involving agricultural production, the agri-food industry and livestock farming.

Products in this industry are based on the use of two main raw material inputs:

compound feeds (mixtures of raw materials)
additives (incorporations that improve food)

The global market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.62% between 2017 and 2023. This growth comes amid larger rates of urbanisation and higher demand for animals products. On top of this, the supply of products is continously being innovated which subsequently fuels demand.

In France, the market for animal feed in France has remained somewhat stable since 2012. Between 2012 and 2019, the market shrunk by a mere 0.03%. France is an important producer of animal feed; in the European Union for instance, it produces the highest volumes of cereal. In particular, Bretagne accounts for a large share of this output.

The market structure in France is fragmented, in terms of the large number of companies in the market. However, five companies stand out and control a major share of sales. These companies include Groupe Avril, Terrena, LDC, Eureden and Cooperl.

Market trends include a growin concern for the nutrition in animal feed. In particular, scrutiny regarding animal feed has increased dramatically parallel to general health concerns and trends in society. It is not only the aspect of avoiding bad end-products for human consumption, but also a concern for the animals, which has increased quality concerns on the animal feed. Thus, production of bio animal feed has increased by a CAGR of some 12.54% between 2011 to 2018.

1.2 The global market: sustained growth over the long term

Market size animal feed World, ****-****, in $US billion Source: ****

The global market for animal feed is expanding at positive rates. Between **** and ****, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of *.**%.

The main drivers for this increase include rapid urbanization and an increase in the overall consumption of meat ...

1.3 Stability in the domestic market

France was Europe's third largest producer of animal feed (***) in ****. The nation produced **.* million tonnes, compared to Germany's **.* and Spain's **.*. [***]

Market size farm animal feed France, ****-*****, in € million Source: ****

The market for animal feed in France has remained somewhat stable since ****. Between **** and ****, the market shrunk by a mere *.**%. Whilst ...

1.4 International Trade

In this section we look at France's trade with farm animal feed. In particular, we consider the following codes from UN Comtrade: ****-Vegetable materials and vegetable waste, vegetable residues and bi-products; whether or not in the form of pellets, of a kind used in animal feeding, not elsewhere specified or included ...

2.1 French agriculture as a demand driver

Agricultural capacities adapt after the geographical setting, but also after demand, both domestic and international. Indeed, animal farming is to a large extent made for the ultimate goal of consuming animals as foods. Hence, animal feed depends not only on the possibility to produce the basis of animal feed (***) but also ...

2.2 Demand based on production

Demand for compound animal feed based on production, by animal France, ****, in % Source: ****

The graph above shows the production of compound feeding in France. This production is positively correlated to the demand of animal feed, meaning it reflects which animals require compound animal feed, and how much they need.

Poultry accounted ...

2.3 Cereal: a cornerstone in animal feed

Cereals are seeds/grains of grasses. The most important cereals are wheat, rice, maize, oat, barley, rye, millet and sorghum, many of which make up an integral part in animal feed. France is Europe's largest producer of cereal; in ****, the nation produced *.* Mha (***) of cereal, or **% of the total production in ...

2.4 Demand trends

Meat consumption

Meat consumption is a critical driver for animal feed, since a large part of farming is for consuming the meats of the animals. Thus, analysing the evolution of French consumer's meat consumption is relevant.

Annual per capita consumption of meat, by kind of meat France, ****-****, in kg/capita Source: ...

3.1 Market analysis

Companies and employees in the farm animal feed sector (***) France, ****-****, in units Source: ****

The graph above shows the evolution in number of companies and employees in France since ****. There is a clear downward trend for both metrics. The number of firms in the sector for animal feed has decreased by ...

3.2 Production in France remains stable

Total production of animal feed France, ****-****, in '*** tonnes Source: Coop de France The graph above shows the production output of animal feed in France between **** and ****. It includes feed for ruminants, pigs, poultry, rabbits and miscellaneous. Production has remained stable, and decreased marginally. In ****, **.** million tonnes of animal feed ...

3.3 Geographical analysis of production

Geographical distribution of production of animal feed

France, ****, in tonnes

Source: ****

In ****, the largest area of production of animal feed in France was in Bretagne. This was also the region with the by far highest density of production (***). This can be compared with Pays de la Loire which had *** tonnes/km*. ...

3.4 Actors on the market

In the French market for farm feed, there are * main types of actors:

Cooperatives: these are large diversified companies which often operate in the larger foods industry, where pet and human food is included as well. Farm animal feed often makes up a smaller revenue stream Private Groups: these companies dominate ...

4.1 Product Overview

Animals on a farm require a healthy diet in order to be raised in a healthy manner. Ultimately, consumers' willingnnes to consume animals or the quality of by-products from animals (***) is highly dependant on their diet. Here, animal feed comes into play. There are two broad categories of animal feed:

Forage: ...

4.2 Price analysis

In this section we analyse the price evolution for the main pillars of produce in farm feed. In particular the graph below shows an overview of general prices, and the graph after that shows the price of cereal in France. Cereal is in focus given the highlighted importance in *.*.

Prices ...

4.3 Supply trends

Production of biological animal feed France, ****-****, in % Source: Coop France Scrutiny regarding animal feed has increased dramatically parallel to general health concerns and trends in society. It is not only the aspect of avoiding bad end-products for human consumption, but also a concern for the animals, which has increased quality ...

5.1 Current regulation

The European Union's new approach to shared responsibility for food safety is set out in Regulation EC/***/**** on feed hygiene. This regulation introduces in particular the following main elements:

the registration by the competent authority of all establishments involved in any stage of production, processing, storage, transport or distribution of feed; the ...