Feed Efficiency: A Key Production Trait and A Global Challenge

Abstract

Animal agriculture is facing substantial challenges from a steep projected increase in global demand for high quality animal protein and the need to adapt to higher temperature due to climate change. Indeed, with predictions that the world human population will increase to between 9 and 10 billion, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that by 2050 there will be increased demand for meat and egg protein by 73% and dairy prod-ucts by 58% over 2011 levels.