Forage Maize Seed Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Product Type (Fresh Forage, Stored Forage [Silage, Hay]), By Application (Cattle, Poultry, Swine, Others) and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

Maize is one of the best forage crop grown worldwide. Maize is a high yielding, rapid growing, and nutritive forage which can be fed at any phase of growth, without posing any type of risk to livestock. Maize can be widely utilized to manufacture excellent quality herbaceous fodder with good digestibility.  Maize fodder can be used as green or dry and extensively utilized to produce excellent hay and silage. These aforementioned reasons are expected to drive the global market demand for forage maize seed. Moreover, the increasing production of animal feed to fulfill the rising demand for animal feed is expected to boost the cultivation of forage maize seed. For instance, according to the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs, livestock fodder manufacturing in the U.K. raised by 3.7% for pigs, 6.6% for cattle, and 10% for sheep in December 2017 compared to previous year.

The prominent players operating in the market are embarking on the mergers & acquisitions and new product launch to increase their footprint in the global market of forage maize seed. For instance, in March 2018, KWS Saat S.E. introduced maize forage varieties. The new product is consist of enhanced properties of maize such as high kernel content, better yield, and improved dairy production by cows on the consumption of this maize forage variety.

The increasing concerns over livestock health and rising preference towards natural animal feed have increased the utilization of forage seeds such as maize, alfalfa, chicory, and many others in animal feed preparation. The increasing popularity of organic meat and meat products has forced manufacturers to include forage seeds in animal feed preparation. Maize is one of the most important silage plants in the world because of its ability to produce high energy forage with low labour and equipment requirements than other forage crops. The production of forage maize is a good compromise between yield, conservation, and forage value. The good profit margin associated with the cultivation of forage maize is predicted to increase the sale of forge maize seed among growers. Furthermore, maize forage is also used as a rotation crop owing to its various benefits such as less disease in subsequent cereal crops, improved yields in subsequent crops, and improved soil quality. The increasing cultivation of maize forage as a rotational or inter-crop is predicted to boost the demand for forage maize seed. The steadily increasing area under the cultivation of maize owing to its substantial demand as food and animal feed is projected to drive the global market of forage maize seed. For instance, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation (FAO) the area under maize cultivation has increased from 190 million ha in 2015 to 193 million ha in 2018.

The various difficulties faced by the maize forage seed producers such as the inclination towards feed quantity over quality and decrease in seed yields because of soil erosion and lack of soil fertility are predicted to restrain the market growth.

Key Players Covered:

The prominent players operating in the global forage maize seed market are DowDuPont Inc., Royal Barenbrug Group, Allied Seed LLC, Ampac Seed Company, Monsanto Company, BrettYoung Seeds Ltd., Foster Feed and Seed, Imperial Seed Ltd., Foragen Seeds, Advanta Seed Ltd., and Others.

Fresh maize forage is an important source of fodder for smallholder owned animal stock. Since fresh maize forage is harvested at primary phase of growth it consist of stalks, husks and leaves which provide very good quality fresh forage which is palatable and easily digestible to livestock. The increasing utilization of fresh maize forage from growers to feed the livestock is predicted to boost the cultivation of fresh maize forage. Furthermore, maize silage made out of whole maize plants is important forages for ruminant livestock. Farmers appreciate maize silage due to its outstanding feeding quality, and high-energy offered to all classes of ruminants such as buffaloes, cows, and sheep. These benefits lead to increased animal performance and profitability of the livestock enterprise which are predicted to boost the production of maize silage.

The cattle segment is predicted to hold a considerable share in the global market of the forage seed. The primary reasons for the increasing utilization of forage maize seed in cattle feed preparation are to increase the milk quantity as well as quality and to boost the immunity of the livestock. The addition of forage maize seed in cattle feed preparation is expected to ensure the best performance and optimum yield of the cattle. Moreover, increasing demand for organic poultry meat and meat products are expected to boost the utilization of forage maize seed in the preparation of poultry feed.

Regional Analysis:

North America is expected to witness robust growth in the global market of the forage maize seed. The rising consumer inclination towards organic meat and increasing consumer demand for milk and processed dairy products are predicted to drive the forage maize seed market within the region. Moreover, the high production of maize within the region, especially in the U.S. is expected to be a favorable factor for market growth. For instance, According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation (FAO), the total area under the cultivation of maize in the U.S. was about 33 million hectare in 2018.

Asia Pacific is predicted to witness substantial growth in the global forage maize seed market. Asian buyers’ inclination towards less intensively produced and disease-free bovine meat are expected to remain some favorable factors for market growth within the region. The rising demand for meat in Asia Pacific due to the rising disposable income, constant financial growth, and increasing awareness of the nutritional value of meat and meat products is predicted to drive the market within the region. Animal production for meat and dairy has been considerably growing within Asia Pacific. For instance, in 2018, India produced 801 million heads of Chicken which was 18 million more than the 2017. The growth in poultry production, cattle production, and other animal’s production to fulfill increasing dairy and meat requirements is projected to generate a demand for better forage crops such as maize.

Segmentation

Key Industry Developments:

• In February 2018, Denmark-based forage seed supplier, DLF, completed the acquisition of the assets of Gapp Semillas S.A. This acquisition is anticipated to help DLF Company to increase its prominence in Latin American Market.


• In September 2016, Spanish multinational company, Semillas Fitó, had signed an agreement with Valley Seeds to introduce new forage seeds in Europe market.