The global direct-fed microbials market size was valued at USD 1,299.14 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 2,449.82 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 7.3% during the forecast period (2023–2031).
Direct-fed microorganisms or probiotics are helpful bacteria that promote gut health. Including these probiotics in an animal's diet promotes its growth and development. In addition, they strengthen animals' immune systems, preventing the formation of harmful organisms in the stomach. Direct-fed microorganisms have transformed intestinal bacterial populations, enhanced disease resistance, decreased pathogen shedding when challenged orally, increased intestinal immunity, decreased disease symptoms, and improved human and animal health. Probiotic bacteria are replacing antibiotics to enhance the health and productivity of farm animals. The administration of these products plays an essential role in enhancing cost reduction, feed digestibility, and nutrient absorption, promoting animal growth. In addition, various kinds of bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, are being used by many animal producers.
High Need for Probiotics to Save Cost
Many microbial species are present in the animal gut, which enhances energy intake, transportation, conversion, and storage. The microflora in the gastrointestinal tract affects energy efficiency in the host animal. The feed of ruminating animals consists of complex carbohydrates that animals easily digest. Hence, feed efficiency is decreased, and more feed needs to be provided to animals to provide adequate nutrients. Therefore, the inclusion of probiotics in the diet of ruminants improves fiber digestion. Probiotics enhance cellulolysis and the synthesis of microbial proteins in the animal gut.
Additionally, using probiotic organisms helps degrade complex feed compounds consumed by animals and convert them into simple compounds. Animals can quickly metabolize these compounds to absorb all the nutrients from the feed. Thus, animals can absorb more nutrients from a small amount of animal feed. This helps to reduce the animal feed cost incurred during animal production and helps to increase profitability, driving the global market growth.
Surge in Demand for Meat and Milk
The human population is increasing at a rate of 1.1% annually. By mid-2030, the population is estimated to reach 8.4 billion and 9.6 billion by mid-2050. This growth in the population is expected to increase the consumption of animal products such as meat and milk. For example, meat consumption has tripled over the last four decades. Furthermore, in developed countries such as the U.S., the U.K., and Germany, meat per person is around 80 kg annually.
In contrast, in developing countries such as China and India, per-person consumption is approximately 32 kg of meat, thus having a high growth potential in developing regions. Hence, to meet the growing demand for meat and milk, dairy and poultry farmers are using different growth promoters such as antibiotics and probiotics to develop animals. Therefore, a rise in milk and meat consumption as growth promoters propels the use of probiotics.
Increase in Cost of Production
The direct-fed microbial production for animals includes various manufacturing steps such as fermentation and drying. It is estimated that 70% of the cost of production is due to media cost, which is used during fermentation. Most direct-fed microbial products are exported to different countries, estimated to require almost six months. Therefore, the microbial strains are processed in such a way that they are viable for a longer period.
Furthermore, these products need to be appropriately packaged to prevent the risk of contamination. Hence, microbial strains undergo a drying process to eliminate moisture, increasing contamination risk. The drying process requires specialized equipment to retain the viability of cells even after being packed. This use of specialized equipment further increases the cost of production of direct-fed microbial. Therefore, all these factors together lead to an increase in the cost of production of direct-fed microbial products, which hinders global market growth.
Rising Concerns Regarding the Use of Antibiotics in Animals
Antibiotics are more frequently used in animal production as compared to the usage of human treatment. For example, almost 80% of antibiotics are used in agriculture. Most organisms can mutate and adapt to the changing environment. Animals cannot completely assimilate antibiotics; thus, almost 70% of these antibiotics could be found as residues in their waste matter. These antibiotic residues could be transferred to humans while consuming milk and meat.
Additionally, the frequent use of antibiotics leads to the development of resistant strains of bacteria. These resistant microbes remain unharmed by antimicrobial products and can affect human health and cause diseases. Therefore, most regulatory organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Organization for Animal Health, favor banning antibiotics for usage as growth promoters in animal production. Hence, a ban on antibiotics is expected to offer tremendous opportunities to expand the direct-fed microbial market, as direct-fed is a potent alternative to antibiotics.
| Study Period | 2019-2031 | CAGR | 7.3% |
| Historical Period | 2019-2021 | Forecast Period | 2023-2031 |
| Base Year | 2022 | Base Year Market Size | USD 1,299.14 Million |
| Forecast Year | 2031 | Forecast Year Market Size | USD 2449.82 Million |
| Largest Market | North America | Fastest Growing Market | Europe |
Based on region, the global direct-fed microbials market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA
North America is the most significant shareholder in the global direct-fed microbials market and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 7.3% during the forecast period. The human population is growing in North America, which has fueled the meat and milk production demand. Therefore, the need to use different growth promoters has augmented to increase milk and meat production. In 2017, 5% of the world resided in North America. It is estimated that the human population in North America will increase to 433.1 million by 2050, hence increasing the demand for meat and milk. This, in turn, has boosted the demand for direct-fed microbial. Earlier, antibiotics were used as growth promoters in animal production. However, due to the risk of production of antibiotic-resistant organisms, antibiotics were banned as growth promoters in some parts of North America.
Furthermore, increased awareness about the benefits of using probiotic microbial strains led to increased demand for direct-fed microbial for animal production. In addition, an increase in R&D for developing better strains to improve the efficiency of animal production has significantly contributed to the market's growth. The U.S. dominated the North American direct-fed microbial market, which is anticipated to continue over the forecast period. This is attributed to the increased adoption of direct-fed microbial in animal feed, owing to the ban on antibiotics in this region.
Europe is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.7% over the forecast period. Europe's growth can be attributed to increased consumption of direct-fed microbial in livestock feed over the past few years. It is projected that increased consumer knowledge of the negative consequences of antibiotics in animal feed would spur market expansion in this area. In 2006, the use of antibiotics was outlawed in Europe. Thus, using a direct-fed microbial market has witnessed significant growth in Europe, which fueled the market's growth. However, the market in Europe is mature; therefore, the market's growth will slow down during the forecast period. In 2017, around 10% of the total world population resided in the European region. The population in the European region has reached its threshold and is expected to decrease during the coming years. In addition, the low fertility rate in this region is expected to decrease the population. The human population in Europe is expected to drop to 706.8 million by 2050 from 735.4 million in 2010. Therefore, the growth of the direct-fed microbial is expected to be sluggish in Europe.
The direct-fed microbial market in Asia-Pacific is predicted to grow fastest over the forecast period, owing to the increased incidence of antibiotic resistance in this region. The human population is growing exponentially in Asia-Pacific. It is expected to increase to 5.2 billion by 2050 compared to 4.3 billion million in 2018. An increase in population is expected to boost demand for milk and meat consumption. In 2017, 60% of the world population resided in the Asia-Pacific region, which led to an increase in the consumption of meat and milk in the region. This, in turn, fueled the demand for direct-fed microbial. Furthermore, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Australia has a significant share of 6% of the total global milk consumption. In addition, China accounted for the majority share and is projected to dominate during the forecast period. The milk consumption rate has increased in China and India, contributing to the growth of the direct-fed microbial market in the region.
LAMEA's market is studied across Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the rest of LAMEA. The human population in LAMEA is expected to increase to 2,477.5 million by 2050. This increase in population is likely to lead to a rise in the demand for milk and meat consumption, which, in turn, will boost the need for direct-fed microbial. Brazil has the most significant milk consumption rate in this region. In addition, milk consumption has increased in Israel and Argentina. The use of antibiotics for animal production persists due to the lack of well-established government regulations. Thus, the use of direct-fed microbial has been negatively impacted. However, due to the rise in awareness regarding the side effects of using antibiotics, antibiotics for animal production will be replaced with direct-fed microbial. This is expected to boost market growth over the forecast period.
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The global direct-fed microbials market share is segmented by product type and livestock.
Based on product type, the global direct-fed microbials market share is divided into lactic acid bacteria, Bacillus, and other organisms.
The lactic acid bacteria segment is responsible for the largest market share and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% over the forecast period. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) is a Gram-positive, non-spore-forming bacteria. Unlike other anaerobic bacteria, LAB grows in the presence of oxygen. After glucose fermentation, LAB produces lactic acid as the primary end product, such as homofermentors. Lactic acid bacteria are gradually being used in animal feed, as they are beneficial for the gut flora of the animal's internal organs. In addition, these microbes improve the intestinal microbial balance in animal species such as swine, broilers, and ruminant animals. LAB produces bioactive or regulatory metabolites that help to modulate the immunological parameters and intestinal permeability. The lactate produced by the lactic acid bacteria during glucose fermentation helps to increase the lactate level in the host. As the lactate is further converted to propionate and acetate, the increased lactate level helps to increase the metabolizable energy in animals. Therefore, the benefits offered by using lactic acid bacteria fuel the market's growth.
Bacillus is a term coined for rod-shaped, Gram-positive, aerobic, or anaerobic bacteria widely found in soil and water. Bacillus species remain viable even in harsh environmental conditions and have a long shelf life; thus, they are suitable for commercialization. For instance, these species can survive at extreme pH, which helps them thrive in the gut of animals. Bacteria belonging to the bacillus strain produce essential enzymes such as pectinolytic and proteolytic that maintain the gut health of livestock animals. In addition, the proteolytic enzyme secreted by bacillus species helps enhance the fibrinolytic activity in the plasma and stimulates the regeneration process, contributing to normal digestion. Additionally, Bacillus strains produce vitamins and essential amino acids, which help improve the feed's nutritional value. Moreover, Bacillus strains reduce total hepatic cholesterol, plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, promoting better animal health.
Based on livestock, the global direct-fed microbials market is segmented into swine, ruminants, poultry, aquatic animals, and other livestock animals.
The swine segment owns the highest market share and it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.5% during the forecast period. Swine or pig is one of the most consumed livestock across the globe. Probiotics promote gut health by altering microbial flora in neonatal pigs. In addition, the gut microbial flora in neonatal piglets is majorly affected by factors such as inconsistent phenotypic expression within the species and random microbial exposure while rearing. Therefore, early microbial exposure positively affects the gastrointestinal microbiota in swine.
The addition of direct-fed microbial improves feed efficiency and positively impacts the profitability of dairy and meat production. The use of probiotic products further promotes food and environmental safety. In addition, food-borne pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, and Listeria thrive in the gastrointestinal tract of ruminant animals or on their hides. These pathogenic bacteria can threaten the integrity and profitability of milk and meat production. Some commonly used bacteria in direct-fed microbial supplements for cattle production are B. subtilis and L. lactis.
