Global feed output in 2024 hits 1.4B tons: Alltech

GLOBAL – Global feed production rebounded in 2024 after a stagnant year in 2023, increasing by 1.2% to reach 1.39 billion tonnes, according to Alltech’s 2025 Agri-Food Outlook, a report that includes the findings from the company’s 14th annual global feed production survey.

This growth, achieved despite challenges such as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), climate fluctuations, and economic uncertainty, highlights the resilience and adaptability of the international agriculture industry, as noted by Alltech, a global leader in animal nutrition and biotechnology.

China remained the top feed producer with an output of 315 million tonnes, a decrease of 2% from the previous year. All other countries in the top 10 saw year-on-year increases in feed production, including:

– United States: 269.6 million tonnes (up 0.68%)

– Brazil: 86.6 million tonnes (up 2.43%)

– India: 55.2 million tonnes (up 4.56%)

– Mexico: 41.4 million tonnes (up 1.38%)

– Russia: 38.4 million tonnes (up 8.53%)

– Spain: 35.9 million tonnes (up 1.46%)

– Vietnam: 25.8 million tonnes (up 3.41%)

– Türkiye: 24.5 million tonnes (up 4.83%)

– Japan: 24.2 million tonnes (up 0.14%)

These 10 countries are responsible for nearly 66% of the world’s feed production.

Regionally, Africa and the Middle East posted the largest growth, with a 5.4% increase in output to 95.5 million tonnes. The Asia-Pacific region remains the largest feed producer, totaling 533.1 million tonnes.

North America, the second-largest feed-producing region, saw a modest increase of 0.6% to 290.7 million tonnes, while Europe experienced a 2.7% increase in total feed production, reaching 267.8 million tonnes.

Latin America also saw significant growth, with output rising by 3.6% to 198.4 million tonnes. Oceania, the smallest feed-producing region, increased its output by 2.5% to reach 11 million tonnes in 2024.

In terms of specific feed types, poultry, beef, and dairy feed production increased in 2024, while declines were noted in pig and aquaculture feed output.

Poultry feed production increased for both broilers (385.4 million tonnes; up 1.8%) and layers (173.3 million tonnes; up 1.4%).

Broiler feed continues to be the largest species segment, accounting for nearly 28% of total global feed tonnage.

The slower growth rate for layers reflects ongoing industry challenges, including disruptions from avian influenza and oversupply in certain regions.

Global pig feed production saw a slight decline of 0.6% in 2024, dropping to 369.2 million tonnes.

Conversely, dairy feed tonnage experienced a significant gain, increasing by 3.2% to 165.5 million tonnes due to strong consumer demand, favorable milk prices, and a shift toward more intensive farming practices.

Beef feed tonnage also rose, increasing from 131.6 million tonnes in 2023 to 134.1 million tonnes in 2024, reflecting a global increase of 1.8%.

Meanwhile, global feed production for the aquaculture sector declined slightly by 1.1% in 2024, totaling 52.9 million tonnes, continuing a downward trend that began in 2023.

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