Global feed production rises to 1.44B tonnes in 2025 as sector enters recovery phase

GLOBAL – Global feed production reached approximately 1.44 billion tonnes in 2025, marking a 3% increase, or about 40 million tonnes, compared to the previous year, according to data from Alltech.

The findings, based on a survey of more than 38,800 feed mills across 142 countries and reported by World Grain, point to a recovery in livestock production. 

However, growth patterns remain uneven across regions.

“Most regions and sectors experienced growth, and these figures point to a strong recovery phase in livestock production,” researchers noted. 

“However, the data show that growth was uneven, increasingly regionalised, and driven less by herd expansion than by structural changes, productivity gains, and changes in the way production is measured and recorded.”

Top producers dominate global output

The top 10 feed-producing countries remained unchanged in 2025, collectively accounting for 65% of global production. 

Nearly half of total output, around 48%, was concentrated in just three countries: China, the United States and Brazil.

China retained its position as the world’s largest feed producer, with output reaching 330.1 million tonnes, up 4.8% year-on-year. 

The United States followed with 267.4 million tonnes, though production declined slightly by 0.8%. Brazil ranked third with 89.9 million tonnes, up 2.8% from the previous year.

Other major producers included India (57.7 million tonnes, +4.5%), Mexico (41.9 million tonnes, +1.2%), Russia (38.3 million tonnes, +1.1%), Spain (37.5 million tonnes, -3.4%), Vietnam (26.5 million tonnes, +2.6%), Turkey (25.5 million tonnes, +3.8%) and Japan (24 million tonnes, -1.3%).

Poultry and swine drive volume growth

By species, poultry and swine continued to dominate global feed demand. 

Broiler feed accounted for the largest share at 400.4 million tonnes, increasing by 3.7%, followed by swine feed at 380.9 million tonnes, up 3.0%.

Layer feed reached 180.1 million tonnes (+3.2%), while dairy cattle feed totalled 170.3 million tonnes (+2.6%). Beef cattle feed saw marginal growth of 0.5% to 134.2 million tonnes.

Aquaculture feed recorded one of the fastest growth rates at 4.7%, reaching 55.5 million tonnes, reflecting rising global demand for farmed fish. 

Feed for horses remained relatively stable at 10.2 million tonnes (+0.2%).

Regional trends highlight shifting production landscape

Asia remained the global centre of feed production, accounting for 559 million tonnes of output. 

Latin America continued to strengthen its position, producing 204 million tonnes, up 2.8%.

North America recorded a slight decline of 0.7% to 288 million tonnes, while Europe posted modest growth of 1% to 274 million tonnes.

Africa recorded the fastest regional growth at 12%, while the Middle East grew by 1.1%, with the two regions combining for 102.5 million tonnes. 

Oceania also expanded, with output rising 3.4% to 11.1 million tonnes.

The data underscores a shifting global feed landscape, where growth is increasingly driven by efficiency gains, evolving production systems and regional market dynamics rather than traditional herd expansion.

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