IFEEDER Adds Beef, Dairy Reports to Supply Chain Analysis

The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) has published two new species-specific reports focusing on beef and dairy cattle, completing a comprehensive analysis of how vitamin and amino acid supply chain disruptions affect U.S. livestock production [2, 3]. These final additions build on four previous reports regarding broiler chickens, laying hens, turkeys, and swine, which were released earlier this year [1, 3]. The project aims to quantify the impact of nutrient shortages on animal health, producer viability, and national food security [1, 4].

Key takeaways

• IFEEDER released beef and dairy reports to complete a six-species assessment on nutrient supply chain risks [2, 3].
• The analysis examines how disruptions to vitamins and amino acids impact animal health, productivity, and food availability [1, 3].
• The broader strategic assessment was originally released in November 2025, following a research proposal process initiated in late 2024 [1, 4].
• Industry experts and nutritionists provided insights for the reports, which are available at IFEEDER.org [1, 3].

Completing the livestock sector analysis

The new beef and dairy reports serve as the final components of IFEEDER’s "Strategic Assessment on the Impact of Vitamin and Amino Acid Supply Chain Disruptions on U.S. Food Security," a project initially conceived in November 2024 to address growing industry concerns about global supply chain reliability [2, 4]. While the foundational strategic assessment was released in November 2025, the organization subsequently issued shorter, targeted reports for specific sectors to allow stakeholders to hone in on relevant data [1, 3]. The first four mini-reports, covering broilers, layers, turkeys, and swine, were published in January, with the ruminant-focused reports following in May [1, 2].

Assessing production and economic risks

According to IFEEDER, the species-specific documents detail how interruptions in access to essential feed ingredients could affect critical performance indicators such as milk yield, reproduction, weight gain, and feed efficiency [2, 3]. The reports warn that shortages of key nutrients could reduce productivity, increase production costs, and potentially affect the affordability of beef and dairy products for consumers [2]. Lara Moody, executive director of IFEEDER, stated that these insights are intended to help feed manufacturers, producers, and policymakers better understand vulnerabilities and prepare for challenges that could impact food availability [2, 3]. Each report incorporates perspectives from technical experts and practicing nutritionists to reflect real-world supply chain challenges [1, 3].

Why it matters

This analysis comes as global feed manufacturers report increasing concerns about supply chain disruptions driven by logistics issues, geopolitical tensions, and rising input costs [2]. By identifying the specific consequences of vitamin and amino acid deficiencies across major livestock sectors, IFEEDER aims to provide the data necessary for the industry to strengthen supply chain resilience and protect U.S. food security [1, 2]. All six species reports are now accessible to the public through the organization’s website [1, 3].