Global feed tonnage reached 995.6 million tons in 2015, according to the 2016 edition of an annual global feed survey by agriculture supplier Alltech.

The survey, conducted in December 2015, gathered data from 131 countries, 32,341 feed mills, and several feed industry associations.

Over the past five years, global feed tonnage has increased by 14 percent and, in the past year alone, tonnage increased by 2 percent, the survey showed. The data reflects a worldwide increase in the demand for protein and the global need for feed production.

With feed sales estimated to be worth $450 billion based on average feed prices, the global feed industry continues to grow.

These trends in feed production, feed value and consumer demand all speak to the need for continued robust market development and trade servicing work with global customers of U.S. feed grains, the core mission of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC).

More from the survey including an interactive map, webinar recording and online booklet, are available here.

This topic will be addressed in more depth during a breakout session on future feed grain demand and opportunities in the livestock sector scheduled for USGC’s 56th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting in late July in Louisville, Kentucky.