Palm Kernel essential feed

Palm kernel used as a supplementary stock feed in the dairy industry is currently essential feed, according to Taranaki Fed Farmers chairman Derek Gibson.

Lack of hay and silage as supplementary feed, especially in the north island has meant use of this product to fill the feed gaps is important.

But does its usage reflect a less conservative approach to farming whereby  reserve feed supplies have been reduced at the expense of unrealistic production goals?

Pastoral farming has always been matching feed supply with feed demand and top managers plan many months ahead, and have fall back reserves to cover shortfalls.

NZ crop farmers produce quality grains and straws which would fill the gaps in a similar role to palm kernel, but is it's continual useage a sign that many farmers are not concerned with the damage to our "green image" and only concerned with profit maximisation?

Yesterday, Taranaki Federated Farmers dairy sector chairman Derek Gibson said the 10,000 tonnes of palm kernel was currently essential feed for the region's 478,000 cows due to drought. "It's an animal welfare issue because there have been such challenging drought conditions," Mr Gibson said. Ideally, the farmers would prefer to use locally produced hay and silage, he said.

Palm kernel was a byproduct of the palm oil industry and used right throughout the world, he said. If not used as cattle feed it would go to waste or be burnt. It was important for cows, now in-calf, to have plenty of condition on going into winter.

Fonterra says it shares community concern about tropical deforestation, "which in some cases has been driven by the establishment of palm oil plantations". Fonterra was a member of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil to ensure it was informed on sustainability issues in South-East Asia and "to actively contribute to more robust sustainability certification systems".