The "Current Situation of Concentrate Feed" updated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in June 2025 provides a detailed analysis of the current state and challenges of feed in the livestock industry, particularly concentrate feed, and initiatives for expanding domestic feed production.
Key Points
Feed Self-Sufficiency Ratio and Current Status of Concentrate Feed
- Feed supply volume (TDN basis) in FY2023: roughage 20%, concentrate feed 80%
- Proportion of feed costs in management costs: breeding cattle 44%, fattening cattle 40%, milk production 48% (Hokkaido) / 56% (Prefectures), fattening pigs 67%, broilers 59%, laying hen operations 57%
- Raw material usage for compound and mixed feed (FY2024): total 23.83 million tons, with corn accounting for approximately 50%
- Corn import sources: United States 81%, Brazil 18% (FY2024)
Expansion of Domestic Concentrate Feed Production
- Grain corn cultivation area in FY2024: approximately 2,960ha (grain corn approximately 2,810ha, ear corn approximately 150ha)
- Production volume: approximately 18,000 tons (FY2024)
- Regional distribution: Hokkaido leads with approximately 65% of cultivation area (1,911ha) and approximately 72% of production volume (13,852 tons)
- Tohoku region follows with approximately 20% of cultivation area (603ha) and approximately 18% of production volume (3,490 tons)
Challenges and Measures for Grain Corn Production
- Low moisture tolerance makes cultivation difficult in wet fields, requiring drainage measures such as perimeter ditches, bullet drainage, and subsoil breaking
- Production costs are higher than imported feed prices
- Need to secure sales destinations (livestock farmers)
- Challenges in securing workers, machinery, and locations for harvesting, processing, and storage operations
Feed Price Trends
- Chicago market prices, maritime freight rates, and foreign exchange fluctuations affect feed corn import prices
- Factory delivery prices for single-ingredient feed corn fluctuate according to market trends
- Compound feed factories are mainly located in Pacific coastal port areas (57 companies, 102 factories)
The article demonstrates the importance of improving feed self-sufficiency through domestic feed production expansion and responding to the risks of imported feed price fluctuations.