Poultry farmers in particular and animal farmers in general are having a bit of bother with outbreaks of bird flu in some partts of India, coupled with increasing input costs. Soybean meal which is a key input in poultry, aqua and even swine feed has witnessed rising prices across India, triggering serious concern within the poultry, aqua, and livestock feed industries.
According to industry reports, soybean meal prices surged nearly 25% within one month:
- from approximately ₹56/kg in early April
- to nearly ₹70/kg by early May 2026
Feed industry stakeholders described the situation as critical because soybean meal remains India’s primary protein source for:
- poultry feed
- aqua feed
- cattle feed
- livestock nutrition formulations
Industry estimates suggest feed contributes:
- 65–70% of poultry production costs, making soybean meal inflation a direct threat to:
- poultry farmer profitability
- broiler economics
- egg pricing
- feed manufacturer margins
- livestock sector stability
Former Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers Association chairman Dinesh Bhosale reportedly urged urgent government intervention to stabilize feed markets as despite lower exports of SBM from India, domestic market prices have risen around 25% in a month.
