India Cattle Feed Market Overview, 2029

From the rural fields to the modern farms, the story of the Indian cattle feed market is that of resilience, innovation, and sustainability, feeding not just livestock but the hopes of a nation striving for agricultural excellence. India's cattle feed market plays a vital role in the country's agricultural landscape since it impacts livestock productivity as well as dairy production. It ranks among the world's top producers with large milk and beef production volumes. Historically, India's cattle feed industry has evolved from a traditional feeding system into an organized market. For centuries, they were supplied by local agricultural by-products comprising forage, grains, and legumes. The inception of the NDDB in 1965 was one of the major landmarks in their development phase, focusing mainly on increasing milk production to meet the needs of the expanding population. The Green Revolution of the late 20th century brought high-yielding varieties and modern farming technologies for crops while increasing the availability of key feed ingredients such as maize and soy. The Indian cattle feed market is not homogeneous-it has developed significantly different across regions due to divergence in agricultural practices, size of the population of livestock, and availability of feed. States like Maharashtra, Haryana, and Punjab are among some of the biggest in the country with strong dairy industries. The demand for quality cattle feed is also high in these areas. On the other hand, areas having high number of beef cattle like Rajasthan and Gujarat could be different on the nutritional level and the feed preference. The compound Livestock Feed Manufactures Association (CLFMA) was in June 1967 formed as an association of feed manufactures and other associated industries like ingredient suppliers, imports, feed additive manufacturers, consultant, hatcheries and milk cooperatives and feed machinery manufacturers. CLFMA is the only All-India Association of its kind, which represents manufacturers of nutritionally balanced and scientifically compounded feed for cattle, poultry, fish, prawns, etc.

According to the research report "India Cattle feed Market Overview, 2029," published by Bonafide Research, the India Cattle feed market is anticipated to grow at more than 4% CAGR from 2024 to 2029. India cattle feed market is dominated by organized as well as unorganized players producing a wide range of feed products that comprise concentrates, supplements and complete feeds. Major feed ingredients include maize, soybean meal, cottonseed meal, rice bran and various types of fodder. The trend shift to scientifically formulated feed enhances productivity and health due to increasing awareness about livestock nutrition. Innovations in feed formulations now include additives such as probiotics, enzymes, and vitamins, which improves digestibility and nutrient absorption, thus reflecting the market dynamics that are evolving in keeping up with consumer requirements. Several key drivers are found to be driving the growth of the cattle feed market in India. Rising demand for dairy and meat products due to increased populations and disposable incomes compels farmers to enhance the productivity of livestock through superior feed. Government initiatives taken in the form of National Livestock Mission and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, otherwise known as PM-KISAN, also positively contribute to higher productivity of livestock along with monetary support to farmers, which develops the market of cattle feed. Technological innovation in the form of precision feeding and digital technologies associated with livestock management increase demand for quality cattle feed. Awareness among the farmer community about animal nutrition also pushes them towards adopting scientifically prepared feeds. The India cattle feed market faces a few challenges. Risk to production cost and profitability is considered one of the biggest risks because of volatility in prices of key feed ingredients that are influenced by climate change as well as global market trends. Feed quality varies because of unorganized players in the market and puts at risk the health as well as productivity of the livestock. Furthermore, the industry has high pressure on its back in terms of calls for sustainability with regard to environmental concerns derived from livestock farming. Greenhouse gas emissions and land usage constitute two of the main factors contributing to such calls. Feed quality and safety standards are also set quite high, and conformity to such regulatory issues can be a challenge to smaller players who may have difficulty meeting such requirements.

The Indian cattle feed market is part and parcel of its agricultural framework especially driving due to its dairy and beef industries. Major constituents in feed of dairy cattle are grains such as sorghum and millet, oil cakes from mustard and cotton seeds, which are absolutely must requirements in milk production. Since it is one of the largest milk-producing countries in the world, India has a constant demand for high-quality cattle feed. The demand for skim milk powder is increasing with higher milk consumption and production, which is expected to fuel the growth of the market. However, beef cattle are the smallest category of animal livestock industry in India. Beef market is still relatively underdeveloped due to the fact of cultural regard for cows in Hinduism. Attention given to beef cattle feed is on its small share of the overall feed market. The overall feed for beef cattle is similar to that for dairy cattle, but it is often more likely to be supplemented with protein-rich additives for growth. Calves require a specific nutrition diet to be properly fed and grow positively and well. The kind of feed for calves generally is of high-quality forage supplemented with concentrates that are high in protein and energy. A lot of importance is given to calf nutrition as its foundation is crucial for future productivity in both dairy and beef sectors. A more recent concern with animal health and productivity has resulted in a phenomenal increase in the use of compound feeds. These are nutritionally balanced mixtures, designed to meet specified dietary requirements.

The India cattle feed market is witnessing significant growth, driven by the increasing demand for dairy products and a growing focus on animal nutrition. Key segments contributing to this market include cereals/grains, protein meals/cakes, additives, forages, and others. Cereals and grains, such as maize, sorghum, and wheat bran, are primary energy sources in cattle feed, with their demand bolstered by the expanding livestock sector. Protein meals and cakes, including soybean meal, groundnut cake, and mustard cake, are crucial for meeting the animals' protein requirements. The growth in this segment is propelled by the increasing demand for milk and milk products, which necessitates high-protein feed for enhanced productivity. Feed additives, encompassing vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and probiotics, are gaining traction due to the rising awareness of animal health and nutrition. The push towards reducing antibiotic use in animal feed has also driven the demand for alternative additives that promote growth and improve feed efficiency. One of the most promising and growing segments in the India cattle feed market is forages. Forages, which include green fodder like sorghum, maize, and various grasses, as well as dry fodder like hay and silage, are increasingly important for several reasons. Forages provide essential fiber and nutrients that enhance rumen health and overall cattle performance. Moreover, the availability of arable land and favorable climatic conditions in many parts of India support the cultivation of forages. Government initiatives promoting fodder development and the establishment of fodder banks have further boosted this segment. Additionally, the growing demand for high-quality milk and milk products has driven the need for better-quality forages to improve cattle productivity. Other feed ingredients, such as tubers, molasses, and alternative materials like distillers grains and rice bran, are also utilized in the India cattle feed market. The use of these ingredients is driven by the need to diversify feed sources, optimize costs, and ensure the availability of feed materials.


Considered in this report
• Historic year: 2018
• Base year: 2023
• Estimated year: 2024
• Forecast year: 2029



Aspects covered in this report
• Cattle Feed market Outlook with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Type
• Dairy Cattle
• Beef Cattle
• Calves
• Others
By Ingredients
• Cereals/Grains
• Protein Meals/ Cackles
• Additives
• Forages
• Others

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

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