World Grain - February 2020 - 54

SURVEY:
Alltech attributes decline to ASF outbreak's impact on China's pig herd
by Arvin Donley

he annual Alltech Global Feed Survey, released
on Jan. 27, estimates that international feed tonnage decreased by 1.07% to 1.126 billion tonnes
of feed produced in 2019, due largely to African swine
fever (ASF) and the decline of pig feed in the Asia3DFL¿FUHJLRQ
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Alltech began the annual survey nine years ago.
The top nine feed-producing countries, according to
the survey, are the United States, China, Brazil, Russia,
India, Mexico, Spain, Japan and Germany. Together,
these countries produce 58% of the world's feed production and contain 57% of the world's feed mills, and
they can be viewed as an indicator of overall trends
in agriculture. China had been the top feed-producing
country, but its pork industry was rocked by ASF, which
resulted in the culling of about half of its pig herd.
Dr. Mark Lyons, president and chief executive of¿FHU RI $OOWHFK VKDUHG WKH VXUYH\ UHVXOWV YLD SXE
lic livestream from Alltech's global headquarters in
Nicholasville, Kentucky, U.S.
"2019 presented extreme challenges to the feed inGXVWU\ZLWKRQHRIWKHPRVWVLJQL¿FDQWEHLQJ$IULFDQ
swine fever," Lyons said. "The regional and global
LPSOLFDWLRQV DUH UHÀHFWHG E\ WKH$OOWHFK *OREDO )HHG
Survey and the decline in global feed production. While
SLJIHHGSURGXFWLRQLVGRZQLQD൵HFWHGFRXQWULHVZH
are noting increased production both in other species as
producers work to supplement the protein demand, and
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age caused by ASF will have long-term implications,
and we expect that the top protein sources will continue
to shift as our industry adapts to the shortage."
The global data, collected from 145 countries and
nearly 30,000 feed mills, indicates feed production by
species as: broilers 28%; pigs 24%; layers 14%; dairy
12%; beef 10%; other species 6%; aquaculture 4%;
and pets 2%. Predominant growth came from the layer,
broiler, aqua and pet feed sectors.
REGIONAL RESULTS
The following are regional results from the survey.
x North America: The United States is the largest feed-producing country globally with an estimated 214 million tonnes, with beef (61.09 million tonnes), broilers (48.525 million tonnes) and
pigs (44.86 million tonnes) as the leading species.
North America saw steady growth of 1.6% over
last year. Canada produced 21.6 million tonnes
with pigs (8.23 million tonnes), broilers (3.25
million tonnes) and dairy (4.2 million tonnes)
leading species feed production.
x Latin America: As a region, Latin America saw
2.2% growth to 167.9 million tonnes. Brazil remained the leader in feed production for the region and third overall globally, with the primary
species for feed production being broilers (32.1
million tonnes) and pigs (17.0 million tonnes).
Brazil, Mexico and Argentina continue to produce
the majority of feed in Latin America with 76%
February 2020 / World Grain / www.World-Grain.com

©qiujusong - stock.adobe.com

Approximately
50% of China's
pig population
was culled in
2019 due to
the African
swine fever
outbreak.

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World Grain - February 2020

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