Spanish feed production expected to remain stable

Last year, Spain produced 30,861,800 tonnes of animal feed, according to figures from the Confederación Española de Fabricantes de Alimentos Compuestos para Animales (CESFAC). This represents an increase of approximately 1.7 million tonnes compared to the previous year. CESFAC expects production to remain steady this year, forecasting a total output of around 30.9 million tonnes.

Data not fully comparable

CESFAC, representing around 750 companies, notes that last year’s figures are not directly comparable with previous years due to a methodological change by the National Statistics Office, implemented in response to new EU regulations.

Pig feed leads production

In Spain, which has the largest pig herd in the EU, pig feed accounted for the biggest portion of animal feed production last year, reaching nearly 13.4 million tonnes—over 45% of the total. Although production peaked at over 14 million tonnes in 2021 and slightly less the following year, pig feed output has generally remained above 13 million tonnes over the past 5 years. Nearly 15% of total production is concentrated in the northern region of Catalonia, with an additional 10% coming from Aragon.

Animal feed output overview

Cattle feed:

• Production reached 8 million tonnes.
• Expected to rise to 8.2 million tonnes by 2026.

Poultry feed:

• Output was just over 5.6 million tonnes.
• 5 years ago, it was just under 4.9 million tonnes, showing steady annual growth.
• CESFAC expects a further increase of 115,000 tonnes this year.

Sheep and goat feed:

• Nearly 2.26 million tonnes produced.
• Not comparable with last year due to changes in definitions.

Rabbit feed:

• Spain produced 283,000 tonnes for production rabbits.

Sector commitment and adaptation

At CESFAC’s annual conference, president Fernando Antúnez emphasised that animal feed is a strategic component of the entire agri-food chain. "The sector maintains its commitment to the supply of safe, efficient and top-quality products. Companies adapt continuously to an environment marked by regulatory changes, geopolitical uncertainty and new market demands to strengthen the competitiveness of Spanish livestock,"