Lysine production for animal feed is a major global industry, reaching in 2009 almost 700,000 tons for a market value of over €1.22 billion. Lysine is an important additive to animal feed because it is a limiting amino acid when optimizing the growth of certain animals such as pigs and chickens for the production of meat. Lysine supplementation allows for the use of lower-cost plant protein (maize, for instance, rather than soy) while maintaining high growth rates, and limiting the pollution from nitrogen excretion. In turn, however, phosphate pollution is a major environmental cost when corn is used as feed for poultry and swine.
lysine production for animal feed is a major global industry reaching in 2009 almost 700000 tons for a market value of over €122 billion lysine is an important additive to animal feed because it is a limiting amino acid when optimizing the growth of certain animals such as pigs and chickens for the production of meat lysine supplementation allows for the use of lower-cost plant protein (maize for instance rather than soy) while maintaining high growth rates and limiting the pollution from nitrogen excretion in turn however phosphate pollution is a major environmental cost when corn is used as feed for poultry and swine