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Animal Feed Production in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Harry Dee Harry Dee London, United Kingdom Last Updated: October 2024 SIC C10.910

Revenue

£7.3bn

2024-25

£7.3bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XXX.Xm

Employees

9,798

Businesses

309

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Animal Feed Production in the UK industry analysis

The Animal Feed Production industry focuses on manufacturing feed for farm animals, including concentrated animal feed, feed supplements and unmixed feeds. Animal feed comes in various forms, from raw grains to compound animal feed that offers particular nutritional benefits to maintain the animal's health and enhance the quality of the end product. Cereals account for approximately half of animal feed producers’ inputs, while oil cake accounts for nearly one-quarter. A combination of minerals, protein concentrates and other food production by-products make up the remaining share. Thanks to the sheer volume of livestock raised domestically for human consumption, the industry's primary downstream market is farmers that nurture livestock destined for the Meat Processing industry.

Trends and Insights

  • Fluctuating input prices cause revenue volatility. The unpredictable costs of essential grains like wheat and barley directly influence animal feed producers’ revenue. For instance, revenue shot up in 2021 as wheat prices spiked.
  • The poultry feed industry sees a boom. This surge has been driven by the increasing popularity of poultry as a critical protein source in the UK.
  • Northern Ireland is the centre of UK livestock farming. Benefitting from favourable trade regulations post-Brexit, Northern Ireland offers an abundance of livestock, creating ample business opportunities for animal feed producers.
  • Diversity keeps market share concentration low. A range of animal feed products allows companies to specialise in niche areas, preventing any one company from dominating the market.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £7.3bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Input price movements incite revenue volatility

  • Fluctuations in input prices have a huge influence on animal feed producers’ revenue. Since grain inputs like wheat and barley are internationally traded commodities, their prices are inherently volatile.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Animal Feed Production in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Cultivating uncertainty may hinder animal feed sales

  • Since the end of the Brexit transition period on 1 January 2021, the UK has lost access to the Common Agricultural Policy and its subsidies. While the government has guaranteed to maintain subsidy payments up to 2027, previous allocations will progressively contract each year, replaced by the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).

Biggest companies in the Animal Feed Production in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (£m)
2025
AB Agri Ltd
1,004.8
ForFarmers UK Ltd
657.1
Wynnstay Group plc
350.6

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Animal Feed Production in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Feed for other farm animals, Poultry feed and Cattle feed. Feed for other farm animals is the largest segment of the Animal Feed Production in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Poultry feed booms in line with growing poultry product sales

  • Poultry feed producers differentiate between egg-laying hen feed and chicken meat feed. Egg-laying hens require more protein throughout their lifespan, whereas meat chickens benefit from protein in the early stages of life.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Producers in this industry prepare feeds for farm animals, including concentrated animal feed and feed supplements. They also make unmixed feeds and treat slaughter and industrial food manufacturing waste to produce animal feed.

What's included in this industry?

Cattle feedPoultry feedPig feedFeed for other farm animalsOther concentrates and products

Companies

AB Agri LtdForFarmers UK LtdWynnstay Group plc

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

FODDERPRE-MIXTUREMRSA

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 10.91 - Animal Feed Production in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Fluctuating input prices cause revenue volatility. The unpredictable costs of essential grains like wheat and barley directly influence animal feed producers’ revenue. For in...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The poultry feed industry sees a boom. This surge has been driven by the increasing popularity of poultry as a critical protein source in the UK.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Northern Ireland is the centre of UK livestock farming. Benefitting from favourable trade regulations post-Brexit, Northern Ireland offers an abundance of livestock, creating...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Diversity keeps market share concentration low. A range of animal feed products allows companies to specialise in niche areas, preventing any one company from dominating the ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

AB Agri propels innovation in feed production. The company is driving research and development in animal feed production, collaborating with the London-based insect farming c...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of AB Agri Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of ForFarmers UK Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Wynnstay Group plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for AB Agri Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for ForFarmers UK Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Wynnstay Group plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Regulations uphold feed safety and quality. The Food Standards Agency enforces strict standards on feed mills across the UK to ensure animal feed is safe and of a high qualit...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Rising commodities hinder profitability. Fluctuating commodity prices, especially soaring wheat costs due to global conflicts and the pound's depreciation, have squeezed

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Animal Feed Production in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Animal Feed Production in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £7.3bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Animal Feed Production in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 309 businesses in the Animal Feed Production in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Animal Feed Production in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Animal Feed Production in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Animal Feed Production in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Animal Feed Production in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Animal Feed Production in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Animal Feed Production market in United Kingdom are AB Agri Ltd, ForFarmers UK Ltd and Wynnstay Group plc

What does the Animal Feed Production in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Cattle feed and Poultry feed are part of the Animal Feed Production in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Animal Feed Production in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is AB Agri Ltd.

How competitive is the Animal Feed Production in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Animal Feed Production in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Grain Milling in the UK

Complementors

  • Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing in the UK
  • Meat Processing in the UK
  • Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling in the UK

International industries

  • Animal Food Production in the US
  • Pet Food Production in the US
  • Dry Pet Food Production in the US
  • Farm Animal Feed Production in the US
  • Animal Feed Production in Canada

View all industries in United Kingdom

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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