The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), in partnership with the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation (FPRF), has released a new report detailing the feed consumption of major U.S. livestock, poultry, and aquaculture species. According to the report, these animals consumed approximately 283.6 million tons of feed in 2023.
Lara Moody, executive director of IFEEDER, emphasized the significance of the feed supply chain in supporting animal agriculture and providing nutritious food for consumers. The report highlights the vital role of feed mills, ingredient suppliers, liquid feed manufacturers, renderers, and crop farmers in sustaining livestock production.
Breakdown of Feed Consumption by Species
Conducted by researchers at Decision Innovation Solutions (DIS), the study used a ration cost optimization model to estimate the feed consumption of major animal species. Excluding harvested forages and roughages, the 2023 consumption data includes:
- Beef cattle: 76.7 million tons
- Broilers: 61.5 million tons
- Hogs: 60.9 million tons
- Dairy cattle: 48.7 million tons
- Egg-laying hens: 17.7 million tons
- Turkeys: 10.9 million tons
- Horses: 5.3 million tons
- Sheep and goats: 1.2 million tons
- Aquaculture: 615,800 tons
The report analyzed over 70 feed ingredients, revealing that corn was the most used at 159.4 million tons, followed by soybean meal (35.4 million tons), corn distillers’ dried grains (32.6 million tons), wheat middlings (5.6 million tons), and canola meal (5.2 million tons). Additionally, dairy and beef cattle, sheep, goats, and horses consumed 267.4 million tons of harvested forages and roughages, such as corn silage, alfalfa hay, and wheat straw.
Circular Ingredients: A Key Component in Animal Feed
The study found that 37% of total feed consumption (excluding harvested forages and roughages) came from circular ingredients—coproducts or byproducts from the human food industry and other processes that would otherwise go to waste. U.S. feed mills and rendering facilities collaborate with local bakeries, food processors, and ethanol plants to repurpose these ingredients through a regulated process, helping reduce food waste while maintaining nutritional value for animals.
Top States for Feed Consumption
Five states led in total feed ingredient consumption in 2023:
- Iowa: 29.1 million tons (primarily for hogs, beef cattle, and egg-layers)
- Texas: 24.4 million tons (beef cattle, dairy cattle, and broilers)
- Nebraska: 17.3 million tons (beef cattle and hogs)
- North Carolina: 15.5 million tons (hogs, broilers, and turkeys)
- Kansas: 15.3 million tons (beef cattle, hogs, and dairy cattle)
Access the Full Report
The full report, along with infographics and an interactive map that allows users to explore data by species, state, or ingredient, is available at ifeeder.org/consumption-report.
