Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsFeedipedia

Feedipedia: An Online Encyclopedia of Animal Feeds

Feedipedia is an open access information system on animal feed resources that provides information on nature, occurrence, chemical composition, nutritional value and safe use of nearly 1,400 worldwide livestock feeds.

Feedipedia is a joint project of INRAE (formerly INRA-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, French National Institute for Agricultural Research), CIRAD (Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, French Agricultural Research Center for International Development), AFZ (Association Française de Zootechnie, French Association for Animal Production) and FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations).

The main objective of Feedipedia is to provide extension and development workers, planners, project formulators, livestock farmers, science managers, policy makers, students and researchers with the latest scientific information to help them identify, characterize and properly use feed resources to sustainably develop the livestock sector. This is particularly important in emerging and developing countries where feed resources available locally are often under-utilized due to lack of information. Providing global knowledge on feed resources, including unconventional and lesser known ones, contributes to the development and use of innovative and appropriate feeding options and strategies.

Feed Data Sheets Include:

  • Feed names, including vernacular and scientific names
  • Description of the plants or plant parts/products used as feed
  • Feeding recommendations for the main livestock species: cattle, sheep, goats, camels, poultry, pigs, rabbits, horses, fish and crustaceans
  • Tables of composition and nutritive value
  • Photos and agronomy, including processing charts, distribution and basic agronomic information
  • Forage management
  • Processes for improving nutritional value
  • Anti-nutritional factors and dietary limitations
  • Environmental impact of the production of the feed resources and recommendations on how to minimize this impact

Animal feeds are a crucial component of livestock production, which is a major contributor to food security and rural livelihoods. Accurate and comprehensive information on feed resources is essential for making informed decisions on livestock feeding, optimizing feed use, and reducing negative impacts on the environment.

While extensive data exists for temperate feedstuffs, information on tropical and sub-tropical feed resources remains fragmented and often difficult to access. Feedipedia bridges this critical knowledge gap by synthesizing global research into peer-reviewed, standardized datasheets.

Geographically, Feedipedia covers feed resources worldwide, with a strong focus on tropical, subtropical, and Mediterranean regions where feed scarcity and quality constraints are most pronounced.

Contents and Benefits

Feedipedia provides:

  • Independent, peer-reviewed scientific information on feed resources
  • Standardized tables of chemical composition and nutritional value
  • Practical feeding recommendations and management strategies across species

Feedipedia offers several benefits to farmers, users, and researchers

For farmers:

  • Identification of locally available feed alternatives
  • Formulation of balanced, cost-effective diets
  • Reduction of feed wastage and production costs
  • Prevention of toxicities and nutritional deficiencies

For users:

  • Reliable reference data for livestock development projects
  • Standardized values for policy formulation and feed planning
  • Educational resource for students and extension specialists

For researchers:

  • Comprehensive bibliographic synthesis across international literature
  • Identified gaps in nutritional knowledge to guide future research
  • Harmonized data sets for comparative and meta-analytic studies

Methodology

Information in Feedipedia is synthesized from international scientific literature, institutional reports, specialized databases, and expert contributions. Nutritive values and chemical compositions are rigorously validated and processed through standardized prediction equations. The platform operates on a collaborative model where scientists and subject-matter experts draft, review, and continually update datasheets to maintain scientific integrity.

Project History

Feedipedia was initiated in 2009 through the merger of two major animal feed databases: the INRA/CIRAD/AFZ feed tables and the FAO Animal Feed Resources Information System (AFRIS), building upon the pioneering work of Tropical Feeds published by Bo Göhl in 1981. This collaborative initiative united the scientific expertise of French agricultural research institutions with the global reach of the FAO to establish a unified, open-access encyclopedia of animal feeds.