The China Feed Industry Association has approved new feed standards using low protein diets that will reduce the country’s soybean consumption by up to 11-14 million tonnes/year.
The new standards for pig and chicken feed announced on Oct 26th lower the protein levels in pig feed by 1.5% and chickens by 1%.
The move is aimed at easing China’s reliance on imports. If supplemented with amino acids, the changes won’t affect yield and meat quality.
China is seeking ways to cut soybean meal in animal feed. The measures came after Beijing imposed 25% tariffs on $34 billion worth of US products including soybeans in July in retaliation to US tariffs on Chinese goods of the same amount.