Animal protein meals, fats in livestock feed see sharp decline across the United States

USA – The use of animal protein meals and fats in livestock feed has fallen sharply in the United States, with new industry data revealing a 25% drop in protein meals and a staggering 39% decline in fats and oils since 2019.

According to a new report from the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation (FPRF), published in partnership with leading industry groups, this downward trend is the result of a combination of economic, environmental, and supply chain shifts. 

The comprehensive study tracked feed ingredient consumption across major livestock sectors in 2023, offering insights into the evolving dynamics of animal nutrition in the country.

In total, the amount of rendered ingredients used in livestock, poultry, and aquaculture feeds dropped from 9.75 million short tons in 2019 to just 5.28 million tons in 2023. 

The steep decline is attributed primarily to a surge in biofuel production, increased exports of rendered fats, and volatile fat and oil prices, which nearly doubled in 2022 before showing signs of stabilisation.

Simultaneously, feed manufacturers are turning toward more cost-effective and readily available plant-based alternatives. 

The rising use of soybean meal, driven by expanded domestic soybean crushing capacity, has positioned it as a leading protein source. 

Corn protein concentrate and fermented soy protein are also gaining traction, further reducing reliance on traditional animal-derived ingredients.

Another factor driving the shift is the growing efficiency in preserving human-grade food, which has reduced the volume of waste available for rendering. 

As a result, the use of circular ingredients—those repurposed from waste streams, such as rendered fats and protein meals—fell by 3.7%, while the use of non-circular ingredients rose by 7.6% over the past year.

“Accurate production data is crucial to showcasing the rendering industry’s role in sustainability,” said Kent Swisher, president and CEO of the North American Renderers Association (NARA) and FPRF. “These findings help quantify the value of circular ingredients while also underscoring the industry’s evolving challenges and opportunities.”

Despite the decline in rendered ingredient use, overall feed consumption remains robust.

Beef cattle accounted for the largest share in 2023, consuming 76.7 million tons of feed. Broiler chickens followed with 61.5 million tons, and pigs with 60.9 million tons. 

Regionally, feed usage was highest in Iowa, Texas, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Kansas—states with dense livestock populations and major feed manufacturing operations.

The report also identified the top five feed ingredients for 2023: corn, soybean meal, corn distillers’ grains, wheat residue, and canola meal. 

These ingredients reflect the industry’s pivot toward plant-based and byproduct-derived components in the face of rising costs and changing market demands.

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