Live Animals Market Report 2026

The live animals market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.58 trillion in 2025 to $2.73 trillion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing global meat consumption, rising demand for dairy products, traditional breeding improvements, expansion of commercial livestock farming, enhanced disease control measures.

The live animals market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.39 trillion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing adoption of genomic selection tools, rising demand for sustainable livestock systems, increasing focus on high-efficiency breeding programs, expanding international animal trade, greater need for animal welfare compliance. Major trends in the forecast period include rising demand for high-quality livestock breeds, expansion of disease-resistant animal varieties, growth in livestock productivity enhancement practices, increasing shift toward ethical and welfare-oriented animal management, greater emphasis on traceability and verified animal origins.

The growth of the live animals market is the increasing prevalence of zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases, caused by pathogens that can spread between animals and humans, pose a significant public health concern. The close interaction between humans and various animals in live animal markets raises the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. According to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), up to 75% of newly discovered or emerging infectious diseases and 60% of recognized infectious diseases have zoonotic origins. Zoonoses cause substantial human fatalities and disease episodes globally. The heightened awareness of zoonotic diseases is expected to drive the growth of the live animals market.

Major companies in the live animals market are focusing on introducing innovative treatment solutions, such as monoclonal antibodies, to address deadly diseases in live animals, including canine parvovirus, and to strengthen their competitive position. Monoclonal antibodies are a broad class of therapeutic biological products that continue to revolutionize modern medicine and are used across numerous clinical fields, including hematology, immunology, oncology, and infectious diseases. For example, in May 2023, Elanco Animal Health Inc., a US-based pharmaceutical company, launched the Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody, the first and only treatment for this severe canine illness. The therapy can be given to dogs eight weeks of age or older infected with canine parvovirus. With efficacy from a single dose and a strong safety profile in healthy dogs, this monoclonal antibody treatment targets the virus directly and may provide a less intensive and more effective alternative to supportive care alone.

In September 2024, Boehringer Ingelheim, a Germany-based pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and markets treatments for humans and animals, acquired Saiba Animal Health AG for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition strengthens Boehringer Ingelheim's portfolio in the rapidly expanding field of pet therapeutics, with a particular focus on addressing chronic diseases in aging pets. Saiba Animal Health AG is a Europe-based pharmaceutical company that specializes in developing therapeutic vaccines for pets utilizing a virus-like particle (VLP) platform.

Major companies operating in the live animals market are New Hope Group Co. Ltd., Charoen Pokphand Group Co. Ltd., Wellhope Foods Co. Ltd., Genus plc, EW Group GmbH, Groupe Grimaud SA, Wens Foodstuff Group Co. Ltd., Beijing Dabeinong Technology Group Co. Ltd., Muyuan Foods Co. Ltd., Tyson Foods Live Production Division, Perdue Farms Live Operations, Smithfield Livestock Services, JBS Live Pork Division, Sanderson Farms Poultry Live Operations, Koch Foods Live Operations, Marfrig Livestock Supply, Danish Crown Farming Division, Vion Livestock Procurement, National Beef Cattle Sourcing, Cargill Animal Husbandry Division, Hormel Foods Livestock Procurement, Foster Farms Poultry Live Operations, Pilgrim’s Pride Live Poultry, Maple Leaf Foods Livestock Division, Allanasons Livestock Trading.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs are impacting the live animals market by increasing costs associated with cross-border livestock trade, transportation, quarantine services, and regulatory compliance, thereby affecting segments such as cattle, pigs, poultry, and small ruminants. Regions with high import and export volumes, including Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East, are particularly affected by elevated operational expenses and slower trade flows. Nonetheless, tariffs may encourage domestic livestock development, incentivize local breeding programs, and reduce dependence on imported animal stock, creating long-term strategic benefits for some countries.

The live animal market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides live animal market statistics, including live animal industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with live animal market share, detailed live animal market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the live animal industry. This live animal market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

Live animals encompass all living organisms other than humans, including birds, fish, crustaceans, insects, reptiles, worms, and developing eggs. They are categorized based on the types of animals they represent and are often intended for purposes such as breeding, milk and meat production, egg production, or labor.

The primary types of live animals include cattle and buffalo, pigs, poultry, sheep and goats, and others. Cattle and buffalo specifically denote domesticated bovine farm animals raised for purposes such as milk, meat, hides, or draught. These live animals are typically distributed through both business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) channels.Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the live animals market in 2025. The regions covered in the live animals market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the live animals market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The live animals market consists of sales of livestock and production animals, slaughtering animals and pets. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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