The American Feed Industry Association’s (AFIA) Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) has released its latest report detailing the economic impact of ingredients used in the US petfood industry. The report shows that in 2024, the industry utilised £10.2 billion ($13.2 billion) worth of ingredients, contributing to a total economic activity of £13.2 billion ($17.4 billion) through the supply chain.
The report found that US retail sales of dog and cat food reached £41.4 billion ($51.7 billion), with 9.8 million tonnes of product sold. Dry dog food led the category, accounting for 55% of total sales and generating £15.4 billion ($19.7 billion) in revenue.
The industry sourced ingredients from various sectors, including farm products, animal-based sources, and marine products. It used 9.28 million tonnes of ingredients, with farm products alone contributing £6.6 billion ($8.5 billion) worth of ingredients, and animal-based ingredients adding another £6.6 billion ($8.5 billion) in value.
Among the most common ingredients, animal proteins, particularly chicken, were the most heavily used, followed by grains and beef. Marine products had the highest value at £2.7 billion ($3.5 billion), surpassing other ingredients like beef and chicken.
The report also highlighted the distribution of petfood manufacturing facilities across the US, noting that 518 facilities operate in 43 states. Michigan and Minnesota lead with 27 facilities each, while Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas follow closely behind. Missouri also leads in farm-product sales to petfood manufacturers, with £1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) in sales.
The findings underscore the significant role the petfood industry plays in the agricultural economy, as well as its dependence on a broad network of suppliers.