Courtesy of Weekly Times Now
In its third annual feed survey, US animal health and nutrition company Alltech found the farmed fish industry’s share of the global feed market grew by 17 per cent in 2013, although actual tonnage accounted for a relatively low 40 million tonnes.
By comparison, the poultry industry’s share of the market grew by 6 per cent last year, but it was the largest user, consuming 444 million tonnes.
Source: Weekly Times Now
Alltech said the pig industry was the second biggest feed user, chomping through 243 million tonnes last year, with the ruminant sector accounting for 196 million tonnes.
Globally, feed production increased by 1 per cent last year to 963 million tonnes.
Alltech said the industry was now worth more than $US500 billion ($A440 million).
The company surveyed compound feed production in 130 countries through local industry associations and its own sales team, who visit 28,000 feed mills across the globe.
Alltech vice-president Aidan Connolly said he was surprised the feed industry did not break the one billion tonne mark last year given the global growth in consumption of animal proteins.
The slower growth in feed production was likely influenced by a series of droughts that had plagued more than 30 countries worldwide in 2012, which, in turn, had driven up the price of raw feed materials and food prices, Mr Connolly said.
China was the biggest producer of compound feed, accounting for 189 million tonnes in more than 9500 mills.
The US was second on 169 million tonnes, while Brazil was well back in third place, with an estimated 67 million tonnes of feed produced.
Australia was ranked 24, with 9.84 million tonnes of compound feed produced.
Alltech said the ruminant feed sector, comprising dairy, beef and small ruminants, took less compound feed last year compared with the previous year.
Aquaculture has become a key market, with a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation report in 2012 saying it was one of the fastest growing animal-food producing sectors.
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