Nutritional Ingredients in Animal Feed Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2020-2030F

The Nutritional Ingredients in Animal Feed Market was valued at USD 110.01 Billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 164.64 Billion by 2030, rising at a CAGR of 6.91%. The growth of the global nutritional ingredients in animal feed market is primarily driven by the rising demand for high-quality animal protein, such as meat, eggs, and dairy products. As global population and incomes rise, particularly in emerging economies like India, China, and Brazil, consumers are increasingly seeking protein-rich diets. This shift in consumption patterns is pushing livestock producers to enhance productivity and improve the health and growth rate of animals through nutritionally balanced feed, thereby fueling demand for advanced feed additives like amino acids, vitamins, enzymes, and acidifiers.

Key Market Drivers

Rising Awareness And Growing Concern for Food Quality and Safety

Heightened awareness among consumers regarding the quality of animal-derived food products is reshaping the animal feed industry. People are increasingly scrutinizing not just what they eat but how it was produced - including the health and nutrition of livestock. As a result, feed manufacturers are under pressure to use clean, traceable, and high-quality nutritional ingredients that ensure animals are raised responsibly and without harmful additives.

Food safety concerns are also driving a shift away from traditional growth promoters and antibiotics toward more natural and functional alternatives. There is growing demand for feed ingredients that enhance animal immunity and reduce disease outbreaks without compromising food integrity. Enzymes, probiotics, and phytogenics are gaining popularity as feed solutions that align with safer and more sustainable livestock production practices.

Regulatory authorities across the globe are enforcing stricter food safety standards and monitoring residues in meat, milk, and eggs. This has compelled feed producers and livestock farmers to adopt best practices in sourcing, formulation, and ingredient transparency. The emphasis is on preventive nutrition - keeping animals healthy through balanced diets rather than relying on curative medication after disease strikes.

Key Market Challenges

Fluctuating Raw Material Prices

One of the key challenges faced by the nutritional ingredients in animal feed market is the constant fluctuation in raw material prices. Essential feed components such as corn, soybean meal, fishmeal, amino acids, and vitamins are highly susceptible to changes in global supply-demand dynamics, climatic variability, and geopolitical factors. Disruptions like droughts in crop-producing countries, rising energy costs, or trade restrictions can drastically increase input costs.

These price swings create uncertainty for feed manufacturers, making it difficult to maintain consistent product formulations while preserving profitability. For many small- and medium-scale feed producers, absorbing such cost hikes is not feasible, often resulting in compromised feed quality. This, in turn, impacts animal health, productivity, and overall product output, such as meat, milk, and eggs. Furthermore, unstable prices hinder long-term planning and procurement strategies, forcing manufacturers to reactively adjust to market shifts.

Price volatility also stifles innovation and investment across the feed industry. When manufacturers face unpredictable input costs, they become more cautious about developing new products or scaling up production facilities. This hesitation limits progress in areas like precision nutrition, natural additives, and antibiotic-free feed solutions, which require sustained research and financial commitment.

Currency fluctuations and rising freight charges further compound the issue, especially for companies that depend on imported raw materials. In emerging economies with weaker supply chain infrastructure, even minor disruptions can lead to significant shortages and cost spikes. To navigate this challenge, many feed producers are turning to local sourcing strategies and exploring alternative ingredients like insect protein or agricultural by-products. However, building a resilient supply chain that can withstand price shocks remains a critical priority for the industry.

Key Market Trends

Rise of Sustainable Alternative Proteins

The rise of sustainable alternative proteins is becoming a transformative trend in the nutritional ingredients in animal feed market. As traditional protein sources like soybean meal and fishmeal face criticism for their environmental impact, feed manufacturers are exploring eco-friendly substitutes such as insect meal, algae-based proteins, and microbial biomass. These alternatives offer comparable or even superior amino acid profiles while requiring significantly less land, water, and energy to produce.

Insect protein, derived from species like black soldier fly larvae, is gaining traction due to its high protein content and ability to convert organic waste into valuable nutrients. Similarly, algae-based proteins and single-cell proteins produced from fermentation processes are being adopted for their sustainability credentials and functional benefits. These solutions not only reduce reliance on overexploited resources but also align with regulatory and consumer demands for environmentally responsible livestock production.

Sustainable proteins also provide feed manufacturers with greater supply chain flexibility and resilience. Traditional protein sources are vulnerable to weather conditions, trade restrictions, and fluctuating commodity prices, which can disrupt availability and profitability. In contrast, alternative proteins like microbial or insect-based ingredients can be produced in controlled environments, ensuring consistency and traceability. Companies are investing heavily in R&D and pilot-scale facilities to scale up production and improve the nutritional and functional profiles of these ingredients. Additionally, their ability to be tailored for species-specific applications - such as poultry, swine, or aquaculture - enhances their versatility across feed markets. As awareness of climate change and resource efficiency grows, the adoption of sustainable protein sources is set to accelerate, reshaping animal nutrition strategies across developed and emerging economies alike.

Key Market Players

• BASF SE
• Ingredion Inc
• Barentz
• Cargill Inc
• Altech Corp
• DSM N.V
• Kerry Group

Report Scope:

In this report, Global Nutritional Ingredients In Animal Feed Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends, which have also been detailed below:

Nutritional Ingredients In Animal Feed Market, By Nutrition Type:

• Proteins
• Vitamins
• Amino acids
• Enzymes
• Acidifiers
• Antibiotics
• Antioxidants

Nutritional Ingredients in Animal Feed Market, By Animal Type:

• Poultry
• Cattle
• Fish
• Others

Nutritional Ingredients in Animal Feed Market, By Source:

• Corn
• Wheat
• Soyabean meal
• Fish
• Oats
• Alfalfa
• Others

Nutritional Ingredients In Animal Feed Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Mexico
• Canada
• Europe
• France
• Germany
• United Kingdom
• Spain
• Italy
• Asia-Pacific
• China
• India
• South Korea
• Japan
• Thailand
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE

Competitive landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in Global Nutritional Ingredients in Animal Feed Market

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With the given market data, the publisher offers customizations according to a company’s specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report.

Company Information

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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