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Protein Sources for the Animal Feed Industry

Domestic animals continue to make important contributions to global food supply and, as a result, animal feeds have become an increasingly critical component of the integrated food chain.

Livestock products account for about 30 percent of the global value of agriculture and 19 percent of the value of food production and provide 34 percent of protein and 16 percent of the energy consumed in human diets.

Meeting consumer demand for more meat, milk, eggs and other livestock products is dependent to a major extent on the availability of regular supplies of appropriate, cost-effective and safe animal feeds. Few issues have generated as much public concern in recent times, however, as the protein supply in feeds for livestock production.

Not only is the demand for livestock products increasing markedly due to population growth, particularly in the developing world, but feed suppliers also have to cope with increasing safety concerns, epitomized by the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease crisis, associated with the feeding of meat and bone meal (MBM). There is also anxiety about the use of genetically modified crops such as soybean and maize and concern about incidents involving chemical contamination (e.g., dioxin) of feeds. The considerable and increasing demand for animal protein is focusing attention on the sources of feed protein and their suitability, quality and safety for future supply. Consumers in the market are increasingly demanding assurances about food safety and production methods throughout the integrated food chain.

Responding to these issues and related prospects for future livestock production, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with the support of the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF), organized an Expert Consultation in Bangkok from April 29 to May 3 2002 to consider ‘Alternative Strategies and Sources of Protein for the Animal Feed Industry'. The consultation and following workshop were attended by 70 participants from 26 countries, representing developed, developing and transition countries.

You can review the full proceedings (as published by the FAO's Animal Production and Health Division) here.

Or you can review the Executive Summary here