United Kingdom Feed Additives Market Analysis
The United Kingdom Feed Additives Market size is estimated at USD 0.88 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 1.14 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 5.16% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
The feed additives market in the United Kingdom (UK) is a critical segment of the agricultural and livestock industry, driven by the increasing demand for animal nutrition and health products. Feed additives are essential for improving the quality, safety, and efficiency of animal feed, thus enhancing overall productivity and ensuring better health outcomes for livestock.
Meat and other animal products consumption has risen fast, as it is increasingly recognized as a valuable source of nutrition and protein. For instance, according to the OECD, consumption of poultry meat was 2,094.3 thousand metric tons in 2022, which increased by 2,170.3 thousand metric tons in 2023. White meat and chicken are the most commonly consumed meat in the country. The growing trend of feed additives is observed among all the segments of livestock, with poultry being ahead of ruminants and swine.
With a growing focus on animal welfare, there is an increasing demand for additives that promote health, growth, and disease resistance without using antibiotics or other pharmaceutical interventions. The UK’s regulatory framework, shaped by both domestic and EU standards, has become more stringent, especially post-Brexit. This includes regulations aimed at reducing the use of certain chemicals, promoting sustainability, and addressing consumer demand for safer, healthier products. Therefore, there’s a growing shift towards using more sustainable and natural feed additives as consumers demand cleaner, more eco-friendly farming practices. This includes a focus on plant-based and organic ingredients.
The UK market is experiencing innovations in feed additives, particularly in areas such as precision nutrition, where data and technology are used to formulate more tailored and efficient feed solutions. There is also growing interest in alternative proteins (e.g., insect-based or plant-based protein), bio-based feed additives (e.g., enzymes and probiotics), and sustainable production techniques for feed additives.
United Kingdom Feed Additives Market Trends
Rising Demand for Premium Animal Protein Fuels The Expansion Of The Vitamins Feed Additives
The UK has seen a steady rise in the demand for high-value animal proteins, including meat, dairy, and eggs, driven by increasing population, higher disposable incomes, and changing consumer preferences towards protein-rich diets. For instance, according to the OECD, consumption of poultry meat was 2,094.3 thousand metric tons in 2022, which increased by 2,170.3 thousand metric tons in 2023. Likewise, overall per capita consumption has grown from 169 eggs per person per year to 175 eggs per person per year from 2021 to 2023. This growth in animal protein consumption places greater pressure on the livestock industry to increase production while maintaining quality and sustainability, creating a need for feed additives like vitamins that improve feed efficiency, animal growth, and overall productivity.
As consumer demand for high-value animal proteins (such as beef, chicken, eggs, and dairy) rises, livestock producers need to ensure that animals are healthy, grow quickly, and efficiently convert feed into meat, milk, or eggs. Vitamins such as Vitamin A, D, E, and B12 play a crucial role in maintaining animal health, promoting growth, improving reproduction, and enhancing immune function. The use of vitamins in feed helps livestock achieve optimal growth rates, better feed conversion ratios, and higher productivity, which is critical for meeting the growing demand for animal protein.
Besides, as demand for animal protein increases, the cost of feed—one of the largest expenses in livestock production—becomes a more significant concern for farmers. Feed additives such as vitamin play a crucial role in improving feed conversion rates (FCR), which is the ratio of feed consumed to body weight gain in animals. Vitamins in animal feed not only ensure animal health but also improve the nutritional quality of animal-based food products. For example, adequate Vitamin D in poultry feed can lead to better shell quality in eggs, while Vitamin E can enhance meat quality by reducing oxidative stress in animals.
Poultry Dominates the Market
Poultry dominates the UK’s feed additives market due to its significant consumption, high meat production volumes, and the importance of feed efficiency and animal health in poultry farming. For instance, according to FAOSTAT, poultry meat production was 1.93 million metric tons in 2019, which increased by 1.95 million metric tons in 2022.
Poultry (mainly chicken) is the most consumed meat in the UK, making up a significant share of the overall meat market. With the growing demand for poultry products such as chicken breasts, sausages, and nuggets, the poultry sector drives a large proportion of the feed additives market. As a result, poultry farmers are major consumers of feed additives, using them to enhance the efficiency, health, and growth of poultry, ensuring that production meets consumer demand.
Poultry, particularly in intensive farming systems, is vulnerable to diseases and infections. Feed additives like probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, and organic acids help promote gut health and improve digestion, reducing the incidence of diseases and improving overall bird health. The shift away from antibiotics due to regulatory pressures and consumer concerns has led to increased use of non-antibiotic feed additives to improve poultry health and maintain production efficiency.
The UK has strict regulations on the use of antibiotics and other growth-promoting substances in poultry farming. As a result, farmers are turning to feed additives like probiotics, enzymes, and natural growth promoters to ensure compliance with these regulations while maintaining the health and productivity of their flocks. Additionally, sustainability regulations and the growing demand for antibiotic-free poultry have led to an increasing use of natural feed additives to support sustainable farming practices.
United Kingdom Feed Additives Industry Overview
The feed additives market in the United Kingdom is largely consolidated, with various international companies occupying major chunks of the market for various feed additive types. Companies like Alltech, Cargill, BASF SE, Dupont Danisco, and Nutreco occupy major shares in the market for amino acids, probiotics, vitamins, antioxidants, and mycotoxin detoxifiers.
United Kingdom Feed Additives Market Leaders
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Alltech
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Cargill Inc.
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BASF SE
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Dupont Danisco
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Nutreco
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
United Kingdom Feed Additives Market News
- February 2023: Evonik launched its first plant-based feed additive. The product, called PhytriCare IM, consists of selected plant extracts with a high flavonoid content. Flavonoids are known for their anti-inflammatory effects. The product is available immediately throughout the Europe.
- July 2022: Cargill has extended its partnership with Innovafeed to provide aquafarmers with innovative and nutritious ingredients, including additives.
United Kingdom Feed Additives Industry Segmentation
Feed additives are defined as products used in animal nutrition for purposes of improving the quality of feed and the quality of food from animal origin. The United Kingdom Feed Additives Market is segmented By Additive Type (Antibiotics, Vitamins, Antioxidants, Aminoacids, Enzymes, Prebiotics, Probiotics, Binders, and Others) and By Animal Type (Ruminants, Swine, Poultry, and Other Animal Types). The report offers market sizing and forecasts in volume (Metric Tons) and value (USD) for all the above segments.
Additive Type | Antibiotics |
Vitamins | |
Antioxidants | |
Amino Acids | |
Enzymes | |
Prebiotics | |
Probiotics | |
Binders | |
Others | |
Animal Type | Ruminants |
Swine | |
Poultry | |
Other Animal Types |
United Kingdom Feed Additives Market Research Faqs
How big is the United Kingdom Feed Additives Market?
The United Kingdom Feed Additives Market size is expected to reach USD 0.88 billion in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 5.16% to reach USD 1.14 billion by 2030.
What is the current United Kingdom Feed Additives Market size?
In 2025, the United Kingdom Feed Additives Market size is expected to reach USD 0.88 billion.
Who are the key players in United Kingdom Feed Additives Market?
Alltech, Cargill Inc., BASF SE, Dupont Danisco and Nutreco are the major companies operating in the United Kingdom Feed Additives Market.
What years does this United Kingdom Feed Additives Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the United Kingdom Feed Additives Market size was estimated at USD 0.83 billion. The report covers the United Kingdom Feed Additives Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the United Kingdom Feed Additives Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.