Top Animal Feed Companies

Huge urban growth in the Asia-Pacific & Latin American regions continues to fuel immense demand for animal protein. An upward push from increased average family income and population centres that are moving into cities has caused many people to prefer higher quality proteins (meat, dairy, eggs, etc.) over other foods; therefore, livestock producers are forced to convert from producing livestock using traditional ways and graze their animals, to farming using intensive farming methods with all of their animals on small plots of land with the animal feeding programs utilizing heavy amounts of grain-based feed, or compound feeds.

Industry Overview

According to SkyQuest Technology “Animal Feed Market By Species (Poultry, Cattle, Swine, Aqua, and Pet), By Additives (Antibiotics, Vitamins, Antioxidants, Amino Acid, Feed Enzymes, Feed Acidifiers, and Others), By Processing & Packaging, By Region - Industry Forecast 2026-2033,” Global Animal Feed Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 5.2% by 2033, on account of urgent need for automating quantified data. The industry continues to grow and evolve through the development of precision nutrition technology, which includes digital monitoring and AI systems for animal feed optimization; because of this technology, producers can improve FCRs while generating less waste and reducing their production cost. Finally, as consumers and regulatory bodies continue to stress the importance of the availability of safe, healthy food options and animal welfare, the demand for functional feed additives that can replace AGPs will continue to grow, as the regulatory restrictions on AGPs become more significant.

Top 10 Global Animal Feed Companies

1. Guangdong HAID Group (China)

Established in 1998, HAID Group has become one of the top global producers and suppliers of fish food. Located in Guangzhou, China, the company is vertically integrated; that is, it has invested in all aspects of its business, from R&D to manufacturing and producing fish food to raising the fish themselves. The company has successfully expanded its product line beyond just fish and shrimp feed by developing premixes for the poultry and swine industries.

2. De Heus (Netherlands)

De Heus is one of the world's largest privately-owned companies supplying animal nutrition products to farmers and has been doing so for more than 100 years. Unlike other vertically integrated feed companies, De Heus is focused primarily on becoming a nutritionally focused partner to the independent farmer. The company sells to purchasers in over 75 countries, with a large market presence in many emerging markets, including Vietnam, Brazil, and several countries in Africa.

3. Muyuan Foods (China)

Muyuan has created a unique vertical business model within the pig breeding industry called a "closed-loop" industrial system. As one of the largest pig breeding operations in the world, Muyuan produces and uses the majority of its own feed internally to support the growth and maintenance of its herds. This control over feed production and formulation allows the company to significantly reduce its exposure to biosecurity threats and the volatility of the commercial market for feed.

4. JBS S.A. (Seara) in Brazil

JBS is considered the biggest protein producer globally; however, the company’s success is greatly attributed to its global feed operations. Each year, the company creates millions of tons of animal feeds through its Seara (Brazil) & Pilgrim’s Pride (USA/Europe) divisions. By gaining control of its feed supply through vertical integration, JBS provides the poultry and hogs processed on its facilities with a consistent, quality feed source. JBS has recently begun focusing on developing "low-carbon" feed products to allow these products to meet global export sustainability guidelines. 

5. Alltech, Inc. based in the USA

Alltech is a leader in feed biotechnology, and instead of using bulk grains, they create yeast-based feed ingredients, enzymes, and organic trace minerals. Their guiding principle is "ACE" (Animal, Consumer and Environment), which directs them in their quest to find "natural" alternatives to antibiotics. Other feed producers purchase Alltech's specialized ingredients to help support the gut health and immunity of their livestock.

6. Japfa Ltd., headquartered in Singapore

Japfa is one of the largest agri-food companies in South East Asia with operations in Indonesia, Vietnam, India and Myanmar. The company has an integrated operating network with industrial-scale poultry and swine operations supported by the company’s own feed mills.

7. Dabeinong Group (DBN) (China)

Dabeinong is a science-based, high-tech agricultural company. They are China's leading supplier of feed premixes and feed concentrates, primarily serving the needs of millions of small- and medium-sized farmers.

8. East Hope Group (China)

East Hope is a large, privately-held conglomerate that was formed when the famous Hope Group was split up. East Hope has expanded its business into heavy industry sectors such as aluminum and chemicals, while maintaining a strong agricultural foundation. East Hope has more than 100 feed subsidiary companies across China and Southeast Asia.

9. Royal Agrifirm Group (Netherlands)

Agrifirm is a leading agricultural cooperative, meaning that it is owned by the tens of thousands of farmer-members it serves. The cooperative structure enables Agrifirm to place the long-term sustainability of their member farmers and profit from farming above the short-term profits of corporations.

10. Harim Group (South Korea)

Harim dominates the poultry and agricultural industries in South Korea. Global logistics integration has been their primary strategic focus and in 2015 they purchased the major shipping company Pan Ocean to provide them with their own grain supply chain, creating an uninterrupted flow of grain products from North and South America to South Korea.

Other Leading Global Animal Feed Companies

• Guangdong HAID Group (China)
• De Heus Animal Nutrition (Netherlands)
• Muyuan Foods (China)
• JBS S.A. / Seara (Brazil)
• Alltech (USA)
• Japfa Ltd. (Singapore)
• Dabeinong Group (DBN) (China)
• East Hope Group (China)
• Royal Agrifirm Group (Netherlands)
• Harim Group (South Korea)
• Smithfield Foods (USA/China - WH Group)

Conclusion

The global animal feed market is at a 'cross-roads' between achieving optimal operational efficiency on one hand, and environmental stewardship on the other. Even though the animal feed industry is currently experiencing several headwinds (e.g., volatile corn and soybean prices and geopolitical supply chain disruptions), its long-term outlook is still strong. The future of the animal feed market will be driven by a "circular feed economy," which emphasises using alternative proteins such as insect meal, algae, and single-cell proteins to reduce dependence on traditional agriculture (e.g., corn and soybeans). Market leaders in the future will be those who successfully integrate biotechnology and digital transparency into their supply chains. By the end of the decade, the animal feed sector will no longer just be about "volume," but rather about supplying sustainable, traceable and nutritious solutions that promote livestock productivity and contribute to feeding an ever-growing global population.