South Africa Animal Feed Market Overview, 2029

South Africa has a well-established feed manufacturing industry, with a network of feed manufacturers across the country. These facilities produce a variety of feed products. South Africa has achieved a remarkable level of self-sufficiency in animal feed production. The country produces a significant portion of its animal feed requirements, reducing reliance on imports and enhancing food security. Benefits from a diverse range of feed ingredients due to its favorable climate and agricultural resources. The South African animal feed industry places a strong emphasis on animal welfare. Feed manufacturers develop formulations that promote optimal animal health, growth, and well-being, aligning with consumer expectations for ethically produced animal products. Industry has embraced technological advancements, including automation, digitalization, and data analytics. These technologies improve feed production efficiency, enable precision feeding, and enhance quality control measures, ensuring consistent and high-quality feed products. Poultry feed by livestock type is highest in demand, driven by the demand for poultry meat products by consumers. The rising population further boosts the demand for poultry meat, but the rising feed prices hamper the market's growth. Since poultry meat is the cheapest form of meat available, consumers' consumption is high. Increased demand for organic feed and industrial livestock production further augments the market's growth.

According to the research report "South Africa Animal Feed Market Overview, 2029," published by Bonafide Research, the South Africa Animal Feed market is anticipated to grow at more than 4% CAGR from 2024 to 2029. The South African animal feed market is poised for significant growth, driven by various factors that present both opportunities and developments within the sector. As the demand for animal protein continues to rise due to population growth and changing dietary preferences, the need for efficient and high-quality animal feed becomes increasingly critical. One of the primary growth points in the South African animal feed market is the increasing demand for poultry and aquaculture feeds. Poultry remains the dominant sector, accounting for a substantial portion of feed consumption. The rise in local meat consumption, particularly chicken, is expected to drive further investments in poultry feed production. Additionally, aquaculture is gaining traction as consumers seek sustainable seafood options, creating a burgeoning market for fish feed. Recent developments in the South African animal feed industry include advancements in feed formulation technologies and an emphasis on research and development. Companies are adopting more scientific approaches to create nutritionally balanced feeds that enhance animal health and productivity. This focus on innovation is crucial as it aligns with global trends towards more specialized and tailored feed products. Furthermore, there has been a noticeable shift towards organic and natural feed ingredients, reflecting consumer preferences for healthier animal products. The South African animal feed market presents numerous opportunities for both local and international players. The increasing awareness of animal welfare and health has led to a growing demand for high-quality feed additives that promote better growth rates and disease resistance. This trend encourages investment in research initiatives aimed at developing innovative feed solutions that cater to specific nutritional needs.

The South African animal feed market is diverse and segmented into various ingredient categories, each playing a crucial role in livestock nutrition. Cereals such as corn, wheat, barley, and sorghum are predominant in South Africa's animal feed due to their high energy content and availability. They are essential for poultry and ruminant diets, providing the necessary carbohydrates for growth and production. The increasing demand for poultry meat, which constitutes the highest consumption of meat in the country, drives the reliance on these grains. By-products from food processing, including oilseed meals (like soybean and sunflower), are vital in formulating cost-effective feeds. They offer a rich source of protein and essential nutrients. The use of these by-products helps reduce waste while enhancing the nutritional profile of animal feed, making them popular among feed manufacturers aiming to optimize costs without compromising quality. Cakes and meals derived from oilseeds and grains are also significant. They provide protein and fat, crucial for energy-dense diets in livestock. For instance, soybean meal is favored for its high protein content, essential for poultry and swine. Supplements like vitamins, minerals, and amino acids are increasingly incorporated into animal feeds to enhance health and productivity. The rising consumer awareness regarding animal welfare and product quality has led to a growing demand for fortified feeds that support optimal growth and health in livestock. Other ingredients include functional additives such as probiotics and enzymes that improve digestion and nutrient absorption. The shift towards organic and sustainable farming practices has also spurred interest in these innovative feed solutions, aligning with consumer preferences for healthier animal products.

The South African animal feed market is segmented by source into Plant-based and Animal-based ingredients, each playing a crucial role in meeting the nutritional requirements of various livestock. Plant-based sources remain the main source of protein for animal feed, providing a range of benefits for both the animals and feed manufacturers. These sources include cereals like corn and sorghum, which are high in energy and essential for poultry and ruminant diets. By-products from the processing of oilseeds, such as soybean and sunflower meals, are also widely used due to their rich protein content and cost-effectiveness. Cakes and meals derived from these plant-based sources are favored for their ability to enhance the energy density of animal diets. Animal-based sources, although less prominent, play a significant role in certain livestock segments. Fish meal, for instance, is particularly important for poultry feed, as it provides a concentrated source of protein, fats, and calcium that are crucial for growth and production. The increasing commercialization of aquaculture in South Africa has also led to a growing demand for aqua feed, which relies heavily on animal-based ingredients like fish meal.

Animal feed Pellets are made from corn, bean pulp, straw, rice husk, and other cereals and grains for different animals. They have comprehensive nutrition, improve digestibility of feed, decrease picky eaters of animals and are easy to store and transport. The pellets often contain grease as they provide oxidation and hydrolysis. Oxidation helps to convert unsaturated fats into saturated fats when the feed pellets have improper fats as it is easy to hydrolyse. The quality of pellets can be defined by the repeated handling, bagging, transportation, and storage feed lines without much damage or fine particles. The pellet quality and efficiency depend on the raw materials used, like corn and soy lack the ability to achieve good pellet quality, while that of wheat increases pellet durability because of high protein content and hemi-cellulose in contrast to corn and soy products. Cereals by ingredient type are rich in starch content and are highly preferred to feed animals. Every grain or cereal varies in its nutritional content and digestive anatomy of the animal. Starch that is completely digested before the end of the small intestine (SI) provides the maximum amount of glucose from the grain to support growth. Barely, corn, oats, and rye are entirely used as animal feed and only small amounts are used for human consumption. These grains and cereals might be fed in whole or compound form, mixed with other bi-products or oils, minerals or vitamins to form a complete meal for animals. The produced cereals are stored after drying to reduce moisture levels and preserve them for the full year. Since some are seasonal grains, they need to be produced for the whole year and stored to meet the demands. Production is highly influenced by particular crop failures, droughts, or climatic conditions.



However, COVID-19 has caused some problems and changes in the feed industry, like many other industries, and the South Africa feed industry is no exception. It had a negative impact due to disruptions in supply chain activities caused by global trade restrictions. A sharp drop in demand for restaurant meals and an increase in demand for grocery store food, combined with certain challenges in reorienting meat supply networks, resulted in a surge in retail meat prices and occasional grocery store stock-outs of specific meat products. Lower demand for cattle and supplies of beef and pork resulted from the drop in demand.


Considered in this report:
• Geography: South Africa
• Base year: 2023
• Estimated year: 2024
• Forecast year: 2029

Aspects covered in this report
• South Africa animal feed market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Ingredient:
• Cereals
• By Products
• Cakes & Meal
• Supplements
• Others

By Livestock:
• Cattle Feed
• Poultry Feed
• Pig Feed
• Aqua Feed
• Others

By Form:
• Pellet
• Mash
• Crumbles
• Cubes and Cakes

By Source:
• Plant-based
• Animal-based

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analysing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to Animal Feed Industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.