England and Wales have launched a consultation on livestock feed regulations, following Scotland’s initiative, to explore the possibility of allowing non-ruminant Processed Animal Protein (PAP) in pig and poultry feed. The consultation seeks public input on a proposal to permit poultry PAP in pig feed and porcine PAP in poultry feed, which has been banned for over 20 years.
Adrian Kesterson, technical advisor to FABRA UK, emphasized that safety and sustainability are key reasons for revising feed regulations. He noted that the current restrictions were introduced as part of the UK’s BSE prevention strategy, but European scientific evidence supports the safety of the proposed changes, which could improve nutrition, animal welfare, and sustainability.
Kesterson also mentioned that the consultation includes the use of insect proteins in feed and ruminant gelatine in non-ruminant feed, both of which are supported by FABRA UK. He highlighted the nutritional advantages of PAP for pigs and poultry, noting that these animals are naturally omnivorous and require rich protein sources.
Research from Europe shows that PAP inclusion rates of 5–10% in feed can enhance animal health and productivity, offering an alternative to vegetable protein sources like soymeal. Additionally, PAP has significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to soymeal, with poultry and porcine PAP emitting only 20-25% of the emissions associated with soymeal.
The consultation, which is open until April 1, 2025, aims to create a level playing field for the UK livestock sector, aligning it with European standards. The consultation in Scotland has already closed, and any potential changes to the regulations would be implemented across Great Britain simultaneously.
