MARKET DEVELOPMENT
New Zealand Increases Palm Kernel Imports
New Zealand Increases Palm Kernel Imports
31/12/2015 (Irish Farmers Journal) - Despite recommendations from Fonterra that farmers should not feed more than 3kg per cow per day, New Zealand dairy farmers palm kernel (PKE) imports increased by 60% in November.
In October, 138,763t of the controversial livestock feed supplement was imported; this increased to 222,413t in November. In November 2014, this figure was 178,381t, according to Statistics NZ data.
Imports of PKE, a byproduct of the palm oil industry, has increased from 96,000y in 2002 to a record 2m tonnes last year.
Earlier this year, Fonterra launched a campaign urging dairy farmers to reduce the level of PKE in the cow’s diet to a maximum of 3kgs per cow per day because higher levels could alter the composition of milk.
Environmental group Greenpeace has campaigned for a long time to stop PKE usage. They claim the deforestation of land in southeast Asia contributes significantly to the increased level of carbon emissions in the world today.
In October, 138,763t of the controversial livestock feed supplement was imported; this increased to 222,413t in November. In November 2014, this figure was 178,381t, according to Statistics NZ data.
Imports of PKE, a byproduct of the palm oil industry, has increased from 96,000y in 2002 to a record 2m tonnes last year.
Earlier this year, Fonterra launched a campaign urging dairy farmers to reduce the level of PKE in the cow’s diet to a maximum of 3kgs per cow per day because higher levels could alter the composition of milk.
Environmental group Greenpeace has campaigned for a long time to stop PKE usage. They claim the deforestation of land in southeast Asia contributes significantly to the increased level of carbon emissions in the world today.