Global feed production reaches 1.4B tons in 2024, driven by strong recovery: Alltech

GLOBAL – The Global animal feed production rebounded in 2024, increasing by 1.2% to reach 1.39 billion tonnes, according to the 2025 Agri-Food Outlook released by Alltech. 

The findings, drawn from the company’s 14th annual global feed survey covering 142 countries and 28,235 feed mills, mark a notable recovery after a stagnant 2023.

Despite challenges such as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), erratic weather patterns, and ongoing global economic pressures, the animal nutrition industry demonstrated resilience and adaptability. 

Alltech, a global leader in animal nutrition and biotechnology, highlighted the results as evidence of the sector’s steady progress.

China retained its position as the world’s top feed producer with 315 million tonnes, though this marked a 2% decrease from the previous year. 

In contrast, the rest of the top 10 feed-producing countries recorded year-on-year increases:

• 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%)

Together, these nations accounted for nearly 66% of total global feed output.

Regionally, Africa and the Middle East posted the strongest growth, with a 5.4% increase in production to 95.5 million tonnes.

Asia-Pacific remained the largest producing region at 533.1 million tonnes, followed by North America, which posted a modest 0.6% increase to 290.7 million tonnes.

Europe also showed improvement, with a 2.7% growth in feed production to 267.8 million tonnes.

Latin America continued its upward trend, producing 198.4 million tonnes, a 3.6% increase from the previous year. Oceania, the smallest feed-producing region, grew by 2.5% to reach 11 million tonnes.

Demand for poultry feed continues to surge 

By species, poultry feed led the growth. Broiler feed production rose to 385.4 million tonnes (up 1.8%), while layer feed grew to 173.3 million tonnes (up 1.4%). Broiler feed alone accounted for nearly 28% of the world’s total feed volume. 

However, the layer sector’s slower growth was attributed to lingering effects of avian influenza and regional oversupply.

Dairy feed saw one of the most significant increases, jumping by 3.2% to 165.5 million tonnes. This was driven by strong consumer demand, favourable milk prices, and a shift toward more intensive production systems. 

Beef feed production also increased by 1.8%, reaching 134.1 million tonnes, up from 131.6 million in 2023.

On the downside, global pig feed production fell slightly by 0.6% to 369.2 million tonnes. The aquaculture sector also continued its decline, with feed production dropping 1.1% to 52.9 million tonnes in 2024, extending a downward trend that began the previous year.

Despite sector-specific challenges, the overall increase in global feed output in 2024 signals a steady recovery and underscores the critical role animal nutrition plays in global food security and agricultural sustainability.

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