The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), in collaboration with the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation (FPRF), released a report quantifying feed consumption across major U.S. livestock, poultry, and aquaculture species. In 2023, these sectors consumed approximately 283.6 million tons of feed.
The report highlights the essential role played by feed mills, ingredient suppliers, and other industry stakeholders in ensuring a steady food supply for animals, which ultimately provides Americans with meat, milk, and eggs. IFEEDER’s executive director, Lara Moody, emphasized the importance of this data in advancing understanding of a sustainable animal feed supply chain.
Using a ration cost optimization model, the study, conducted by Decision Innovation Solutions, found that beef cattle consumed the most feed at 76.7 million tons, followed by broilers (61.5 million tons) and hogs (60.9 million tons). Other major feed consumers included dairy cattle (48.7 million tons), egg-laying hens (17.7 million tons), and turkeys (10.9 million tons). Aquaculture consumed 615,800 tons of feed.
The report also examined the top feed ingredients, revealing that corn accounted for the largest share at 159.4 million tons, followed by soybean meal (35.4 million tons) and corn distillers’ dried grains (32.6 million tons). A significant portion—37% of total feed consumption—came from “circular” ingredients, which are byproducts from the human food industry or other industrial processes that might otherwise be wasted.
The findings highlight the industry’s efforts to reduce waste and support sustainability by utilizing coproducts and byproducts in animal feed, a practice that helps minimize landfill waste.
Source: IFEEDER
