ASIA has cemented itself as the top feed producing region in the world, accounting for more than a third of global production.

According to a survey of 132 countries by US animal health and nutrition company Alltech, world feed production has reached a record 873 million tonnes, with Asia accounting for 305.7 million tonnes for its huge poultry, pork, cattle and aquaculture industries.

Alltech conducted the survey of feed grain, hay and silage production in each country through its regional managers, breaking data down to livestock classes and aquaculture.

Alltech corporate accounts vice-president Aidan Connolly said the report showed a significant increase from the 717.6 million tonnes published by Watt Publishing Company in 2010.

"Feed production is an increasingly global phenomenon and this survey is the broadest in its ... review of the world feed industry," he said.

The Alltech report shows China as the world's biggest producer of feed at 175.4 million tonnes, or 20 per cent of global production.

The US is next at 164.9 million tonnes, followed by Brazil at 59.6 million tonnes.

Mexico, Japan and India follow with production of 26.3, 24.9 and 23.4 million tonnes respectively.

Australia is ranked 25, with estimated production of eight million tonnes.

Australian feed production is beaten by unlikely countries such as Iran, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia.

All are big buyers of Australian wheat, with the Philippines and Indonesia purchasing large quantities of feed wheat.

Globally, the poultry sector is the biggest user of feed at 378.6 million tonnes, or 43 per cent of total feed usage. The ruminant sector accounted for 224.3 million tonnes, while pig producers used 200.7 million tonnes.

Alltech said the fastest-growing sector was aquaculture, although usage was relatively small at 29.7 million tonnes.

More than half the feed used for aquaculture - 16.6 million tonnes - was in China. China produced more feed for its aquaculture sector than total feed production in each of the bottom 121 countries surveyed.

The Alltech report confirms the US as the biggest poultry sector, with production of 83.9 million tonnes of feed - or 10 times Australia's total feed output.

Europe is the second largest feed producing region of the world behind Asia at 195.1 million tonnes.