Calculated Feed Use by Animal Class

Feed Management magazine reviewed the feed potential for the four main classes of livestock (Swine, Beef, Dairy and Poultry) in their October issue. Their feed potential value represents the calculated value of complete feed needed for feeding livestock and poultry based on estimates of feed efficiency and animal weight and USDA estimates of animal numbers in 2003. The potential feed use by these major livestock classes reached a record 194 million tons in 2002 and the calculated values for 2003 indicate stability in animal numbers and feed use.

The feed use by swine was reported declining about a half percent from the 2002 values due to reduced numbers of pigs in North Carolina, Illinois and Colorado. The swine feed potential increased slightly in Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska. They report that the total number of swine operations in the U.S. declined two percent in 2003 to about 2,750 operations. Contract growers accounted for 38 percent of the total inventory.

Minor changes in the feed potential were reported for the other three classes of animals. There was some movement of beef operations into the North Central States and the feed potential for dairy declined by less than one percent compared to 2002. Overall, the milk cow inventory continues to decline and milk produced per cow continues to rise.

Poultry use of feed continues to make up a large share of the total feed use in the U.S. The calculated values for 2003 indicated no change in feed use by turkeys and layers and a slightly reduced total feed use by broilers. Part of the reduced use by broilers could be attributed to the big increase in calculated feed use values in 2002.

Consumer and export demand for meat, milk and eggs determine animal numbers and directly impact feed use demand. A growing population and export market for food products should continue to expand the U.S. feed market potential.

The report provides information on livestock and poultry numbers by state and region. The leading ten states in numbers of swine, beef cattle, dairy and poultry are shown in Table 3. Chart 1 compares total calculated feed volume used by the various livestock species; Chart 2 shows use of soybean meal by species; and Chart 3 combines total potential feed use by animal class and soybean meal use. These charts show the importance of soybean meal in feeding these animal species.

Gill, Clayton. 2004. USA feed market data. Feed Management 55(5): 8-16.