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FEED STATS

More robust and accurate global figures for feed output in 2015 Milling and Grain congratulates Alltech on producing the most up-to-date, reliable statistics on feed production the industry has access to. The European Feed Manufacturers Association continues to provide in-depth statistics on its 27 member counties in its annual Feed Facts, but this is more a historical record which provides three-yearold figures plus forecasts. Other national associations also collect data, such as the American Feed Industry Association. Others servicing the industry, such as Feed International and AllAboutFeed, have attempted to provide meaningful global figures and did provided a useful service to readers in the past. However, Alltech’s ongoing annual survey, which is right up-to-date and which sees value in the industry having access to accurate figures, has become the record of choice. While there were estimates and missing data in the early years, the 2015 figures – published in January 2016 - are the most accurate yet.

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sk and you shall receive. As global disposable income increases, consumers have developed a palate for protein, and, over the past five years the feed industry has delivered. Results from the 2016 Global Feed Survey released in late January by Alltech estimates international feed tonnage now at 995.50 million metric tonnes, a 1.97 percent increase over last year and a 14 percent increase since Alltech first published Global Feed Survey results in 2011 - but still just 4.5 million tonnes short of the one billion tonne mark. The analysis of five-year trends showed growth predominantly from the pig, and poultry feed sectors and intensification of production in the African, Middle Eastern, Latin American and European regions. Aquafeed output shows a year-on-year decline according to these latest figures. Aquafeeds recorded 35.47 million tonnes, down from 41 million tonnes in the figures released for 2014. China still accounts for over 50 percent of all farmed fish

"Aqua feed numbers fall despite global increase in farmed fish production" produced and it’s aquafeed output is between 60-70 percent of the total consumed globally. “Aquafeed numbers don’t reflect the strong growth in this sector. We do not see that in this survey,” admits Aidan Connolly, chief innovation officer of Alltech, who headed up the initiative to conduct the survey when he hosted the news webinar in January. 58 | February 2016 - Milling and Grain

“The production of farmed fish exceeds what we see in feed production increases,” he acknowledged. He says this could be due to more efficient farming, better feed conversion ratios and/or better statistics gathering. “Traditionally, there has been a lot of wastage and we see production systems are becoming more efficient,” he added. Regarding statistics gathering, Mr Connolly said that while it has become increasingly easier to collect data and the figures more comprehensive over the years, there always would be difficulties in achieving accuracy and that some estimates had to be used. In addition, this year’s survey cover 32,341 feedmills in total, up form 31,043 for 2014.

The feed barometer

“The feed industry is an excellent barometer of economic health and, based on our five years of data, predicts economic growth more accurately than many other indices,” says Mr Connolly. The Global Feed Survey assesses the compound feed production

"The number of feedmills in China, the United States and Brazil, the first, second and third largest markets has declined" from more than 130 countries through information obtained in partnership with local feed associations and Alltech’s sales team, who visit the 32,341 feed mills annually. The 2016 survey showed poultry feed has the market share and is growing faster than any other species, with 46 percent of total global feed manufactured specifically for broilers, egg layers, turkeys, duck and other fowl. This year’s survey also confirmed that corn and soybean meal are the standard feed ingredients globally.    The top 10 feed producers in the world remained the same: China, the United States, Brazil, Mexico, India, Spain, Russia, Germany, Japan and France. As a region, Europe saw the most growth, up 13 million tonnes over last year, with the largest contributions coming from Russia, Turkey, Belarus and Poland.  Down two percent from last year, China still holds the title of leading feed producer in Alltech’s annual Feed Survey with 179.93 million tonnes manufactured throughout the country’s 8550 feedmills.