New feed standards reduce need for soybeans

Total demand for soybeans, a major agricultural import, is expected to drop by 14 million metric tons in China's farm animal industry, with the adoption of new standards featuring reduced protein content in animal feeds.

The two recommended standards, released by China Feed Industry Association on Friday, are aimed at easing China's reliance on imports for protein-intensive animal feed and promoting more environmentally friendly development of its animal husbandry industry.

Compared with existing national standards, the new ones decrease the lower limit of protein content for pigs and chickens, the most widely consumed meats in China. They also prescribe an upper limit.