Ruminant populations continue to expand

One of the clearest indicators of market growth is the steady increase in ruminant populations throughout the region.

Regional estimates indicate that the Middle East had approximately 110.6 million ruminants in 2023, compared with 108.8 million in 2021. Within this total, cattle and buffalo populations reached approximately 11.2 million head, reflecting continued investment in both dairy and beef production systems.

The growth in animal numbers highlights the sector’s efforts to meet rising domestic demand for livestock products. While imports continue to play an important role in regional food supply, many countries are increasingly focused on improving local production capacity and strengthening supply chain resilience.

Sheep and goats remain particularly important in many Middle Eastern countries due to their adaptability to arid environments and their cultural significance within local food systems. At the same time, commercial dairy and beef operations continue to expand in response to growing consumer demand.

Saudi Arabia remains a key market

Saudi Arabia stands out as one of the most important livestock markets in the region. The country’s combination of strong consumer demand, relatively high purchasing power, and ongoing agricultural investment has supported growth across both dairy and meat production sectors.

Saudi Arabia’s ruminant population increased from approximately 24.3 million head in 2021 to 25.9 million head in 2023, reflecting continued confidence in the livestock industry and ongoing investment in production infrastructure.

The country has also invested heavily in modern dairy systems, feed production, water management technologies, and food processing capacity. These developments are helping support greater self-sufficiency while meeting demand from a growing population and expanding foodservice sector.

Beyond Saudi Arabia, countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar are also investing in livestock systems designed to improve productivity, food security, and domestic supply capabilities.

Feed demand rises alongside livestock expansion

As animal populations grow, demand for feed inputs is expanding rapidly throughout the region.

Feed represents one of the largest operating costs in ruminant production, making nutrition a critical area for productivity improvement and profitability. Producers are increasingly adopting more sophisticated feeding programs to maximize growth, milk production, reproductive performance, and overall herd health.

Demand is increasing for:

• Compound feeds
• Mineral supplements
• Feed additives
• Protein ingredients
• Forage management solutions
• Rumen health products
• Precision nutrition technologies

Nutrition has become particularly important in a region where climatic conditions can challenge animal performance. Heat stress, water limitations, forage quality variability, and resource constraints often require carefully balanced feeding programs to maintain productivity.

Feed companies and nutrition specialists are increasingly developing solutions tailored specifically to the environmental conditions and production systems found throughout the Middle East.

Dairy and beef demand support investment

The market opportunity extends beyond simple volume growth. Consumers are increasingly seeking higher-quality meat and dairy products, creating opportunities for producers to improve product consistency, quality, and value.

Growth in modern retail, hospitality, tourism, and foodservice sectors is further supporting demand for premium livestock products. This trend is encouraging investment throughout the value chain, including:

• Advanced genetics programs
• Modern dairy facilities
• Beef finishing operations
• Animal health technologies
• Feed manufacturing capacity
• Data-driven livestock management systems

As production systems become more intensive and performance-oriented, producers are increasingly focused on improving efficiency while maintaining animal welfare and product quality standards.

Food security drives long-term growth

Food security remains one of the most important strategic priorities across the Middle East. Many governments are implementing policies designed to strengthen domestic agricultural production and reduce vulnerability to global supply chain disruptions.

Livestock production forms an important component of these strategies. Investments in dairy, beef, sheep, and goat production are often linked directly to national food security objectives, supporting long-term development of the sector.

Technologies that improve productivity, resource efficiency, water management, feed utilization, and animal health are expected to play an increasingly important role in helping producers achieve these goals.

Challenges facing the sector

Despite strong growth prospects, the Middle East livestock sector continues to face several important challenges.

Water scarcity, limited arable land, climate variability, feed import dependence, and environmental constraints can all affect production economics and long-term sustainability.

These challenges are increasing interest in:

• Precision nutrition programs
• Water-efficient production systems
• Improved forage management
• Heat stress mitigation strategies
• Genetic improvement programs
• Digital livestock management technologies

Addressing these constraints will be critical for supporting future growth while maintaining competitiveness and resource efficiency.

Market outlook

The Middle East ruminant market is expected to remain highly attractive for companies operating in feed, animal health, genetics, and livestock production inputs.

Demand for beef, dairy products, and nutritional solutions is likely to continue expanding as populations grow and consumers seek greater access to high-quality animal protein.

At the same time, producers will increasingly focus on technologies and management practices that help improve efficiency in environments characterized by limited natural resources and challenging climatic conditions.

Conclusion

The Middle East ruminant sector is entering a period of sustained expansion supported by strong demand for meat and dairy products, increasing investment in food security, and growing adoption of modern livestock technologies.

For companies involved in animal nutrition, feed additives, animal health, genetics, and production systems, the region represents one of the most promising growth opportunities in global livestock production.

Success, however, will depend on helping producers overcome environmental and resource constraints while continuing to improve efficiency, sustainability, and product quality across the value chain.