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The European Union produces almost 80% of its animal protein feed requirement, with the majority of imports being in the form of soya bean and rapeseed meal.
In total, 85 million tonnes of crude protein is consumed annually.
Roughage, such as grass and silage maize, is the main source of feed protein representing 45% of total EU feed use.
Oilseed meals supply almost one quarter of the feed proteins, but the EU only produces 26% of what it consumes in this category.
Balance sheet
The findings were contained in the EU feed protein balance sheet, published by the European Commission.
It presents the feed supply, demand and trade of various protein sources.
This includes crops (cereals, oilseeds and pulses), co-products (meals from crushing soya, rapeseed and sunflower), non-plant based sources (animal proteins, former foodstuffs) and roughage (grass, silage maize, fodder leguminous).
European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan said the publication was a significant improvement in market transparency: “The sector is vital for the success of our agriculture.
"Improved market transparency facilitates further analysis of the dynamics in this market and allows actors to respond appropriately to those dynamics.”
Protein content
Breaking down the feeds into protein content categories shows the EU has a high rate of self-sufficiency for products with a protein content less than 15% and those over 50%.
In contrast, the EU produces only 29% of what it consumes in products with a protein content of 30 to 50%.
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