The 2017 Alltech Global Feed Survey, released in January 2017, estimates that world feed tonnage has exceeded 1 billion tonnes for the first time.

This is a 3.7% increase over last year and represents 19% growth since the inaugural survey in 2012, despite a 7% decrease in the number of feed mills.

The annual survey is "the most comprehensive ever", now covering 141 countries and more than 30,000 feed mills. The results show that the US and China are the top two countries, producing one-third of all animal feed, and that predominant growth came from the beef, swine and aquaculture feed sectors as well as several African, Asian and Middle Eastern countries.

"This year clearly demonstrates the growing efficiency and consolidation of the feed industry," said Aidan Connolly, chief innovation officer and vice president of corporate accounts for Alltech. "Not only has total feed production exceeded 1 billion tonnes for the first time, but it has done so with fewer facilities, which means greater efficiencies and a decreased environmental footprint."

The Alltech Global Feed Survey assesses compound feed production and prices through information collected by Alltech's global sales team and in partnership with local feed associations. It is intended to serve as an information resource for policymakers, decision makers and industry stakeholders.

This year's survey showed that the top 30 countries, ranked by production output, are home to 82% of the world's feed mills and produce 86% of the world's total feed. The top 10 feed-producing countries in 2016, in order of production output, were China, the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, India, Russia, Germany, Japan and France. These countries contain 56% of the world's feed mills and account for 60% of total production.

Interested parties can download the 2017 Alltech Global Feed Survey booklet and view the accompanying webinar at http://go.alltech.com/alltech-feed-survey

Source of image: Jeffrey Beall, Wikimedia Commons