Probiotics in Animal Feed Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Probiotics in Animal Feed Market is projected to grow from USD 4.71 Billion in 2025 to USD 7.45 Billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 7.94%. Defined as viable microorganisms added to livestock diets, probiotics are designed to optimize intestinal microbial balance, thereby enhancing host health and growth performance. The market is primarily driven by strict global restrictions on antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs), which create a need for effective natural alternatives, and the rising global demand for animal protein that necessitates improved feed conversion ratios. These fundamental drivers operate independently of evolving trends such as the shift toward multi-strain formulations or water-soluble delivery systems.

However, a significant technical hurdle limiting wider adoption is the inherent instability of probiotic strains during high-temperature feed processing and storage, which can reduce microbial efficacy. To demonstrate the scale of potential integration within existing systems, the European Feed Manufacturers' Federation (FEFAC) projected that industrial compound feed production in the EU27 would reach 147 million tonnes in 2024. This substantial production volume highlights the critical need for robust probiotic technologies capable of withstanding rigorous industrial manufacturing conditions.

Market Drivers

Regulatory restrictions on antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) serve as the primary catalyst for the adoption of probiotics in animal feed. As governments worldwide enforce stricter bans to combat antimicrobial resistance, producers are compelled to integrate natural alternatives that maintain herd health without medicinal interventions. This regulatory pressure effectively shifts the industry standard from curative to preventative gut health management, positioning probiotics as essential tools for compliance and pathogen control. The impact of these policies is evident in the reduction of drug dependency; according to the World Organisation for Animal Health's May 2025 'Annual Report on Antimicrobial Agents Intended for Use in Animals', global antimicrobial use in animals decreased by 5% between 2020 and 2022, signaling a decisive transition toward non-antibiotic production systems.

Simultaneously, the rising global demand for high-quality animal protein necessitates improved feed efficiency and production yields, further driving market penetration. Probiotics are increasingly utilized to optimize nutrient absorption, reduce feed costs, and enhance growth rates, ensuring that livestock producers can meet intensifying consumption needs sustainably. According to the OECD and FAO's 'OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2025-2034' released in July 2025, global meat production is predicted to reach 375.8 million tonnes by 2034, underscoring the immense scale of output required. To support this expansion, leading manufacturers are scaling operations; for instance, Novonesis reported a 9% organic sales growth in its Planetary Health Biosolutions division for the full year 2024, highlighting the robust commercial momentum behind bio-based agricultural technologies.

Market Challenges

The inherent instability of probiotic strains during high-temperature manufacturing and storage serves as a primary restraint on market growth. Industrial feed processing methods, particularly pelleting, frequently utilize elevated temperatures that can significantly reduce the viability of living microorganisms. When these additives lose potency prior to consumption, they fail to deliver the intended health and growth benefits, leading to inconsistent performance results for livestock producers. This unpredictability creates financial risk and reluctance among feed manufacturers to integrate probiotics into standard commercial diets, as they prioritize ingredients that guarantee stability throughout the supply chain.

The magnitude of this technical limitation is highlighted by the immense scale of feed that undergoes industrial processing. According to the Alltech 2024 Agri-Food Outlook, global compound feed production volume reached 1.29 billion metric tons in 2023. As a vast majority of this production involves heat-intensive processes, the inability of standard probiotic strains to withstand such conditions limits their addressable market share. Consequently, manufacturers often forego these additives in favor of more stable alternatives, directly hampering the broader adoption of probiotics in the global animal feed sector.

Market Trends

The expansion of probiotic applications in aquaculture is reshaping the market as producers aggressively replace chemical therapeutics with functional feed solutions to ensure disease resistance. Unlike terrestrial livestock where probiotics are established, the aquatic sector is currently witnessing a rapid integration of specific bacterial strains to manage water quality and enhance gut health in high-density farming. This transition is accelerated by manufacturers validating these additives to reduce medicinal dependency. For instance, according to Skretting's 'Impact Report 2024' from June 2025, the company achieved a 53% decrease in the use of non-critically important antimicrobials since 2021, underscoring the successful commercial implementation of preventative health strategies.

Simultaneously, the premiumization of probiotics for companion animal nutrition has emerged as a high-value trend, driven by "pet humanization" where owners demand human-grade functional ingredients. This trend diverts from livestock yield optimization, centering on longevity and digestive wellness for dogs and cats through specialized microbiome solutions. Brands are increasingly incorporating sophisticated biotic blends into retail pet foods to align with consumer awareness. Validating this demand, according to ADM's '2024 Pet and Animal Wellbeing Market Insights Report' from September 2024, 71% of U.S. pet owners have purchased prebiotics, probiotics, or postbiotics for their pets at least once, reflecting the massive commercial potential of microbiome-focused products.

Key Players Profiled in the Probiotics in Animal Feed Market

• ADM Inc.
• International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
• CHR. Hansen Holding A/S
• Evonik Industries AG
• DSM BV
• Ohly GmbH
• Alltech Inc.
• Kemin Industries Inc.
• Provita Eurotech Ltd.
• Lallemand Inc.
• Glanbia PLC

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Probiotics in Animal Feed Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Probiotics in Animal Feed Market, by Livestock:

• Poultry
• Swine
• Ruminants
• Aquaculture
• Pets
• Others

Probiotics in Animal Feed Market, by Source:

• Bacteria
• Yeast & Fungi

Probiotics in Animal Feed Market, by Form:

• Dry
• Liquid

Probiotics in Animal Feed Market, by Distribution Channel:

• Retail Stores
• Others

Probiotics in Animal Feed Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Probiotics in Animal Feed Market.

Available Customization

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