Yeast-based products have long been associated with ruminant nutrition, but their next growth area may be much wider. From pet food to poultry and aquaculture, functional yeast components are increasingly being positioned as tools for different animal nutrition systems.

This was the key message shared by Dr. George Gong, Technical Expert at Angel Yeast, who spoke to The Animal Economics following his technical presentation at TUYEM 2026 in Antalya Belek. Gong said yeast and yeast extracts already hold an important place in ruminant feeding, but their potential use is not limited to this segment.

According to Gong, yeast peptides, yeast cell wall products and other functional yeast-derived components can also be used in pet food. He said Angel Yeast has recently been increasing its work especially for the pet food market, reflecting the growing interest in functional ingredients across companion animal nutrition.

When it comes to live yeast, Gong noted that the company’s main focus in international markets remains ruminant nutrition. However, he said the wider yeast portfolio opens the door to multiple applications across animal production and nutrition.

“When we look at yeast peptides, yeast cell wall and other functional components, the field of use becomes much broader,” Gong said. “These components can be evaluated not only in ruminants, but also in poultry nutrition, aquaculture, pet food and food applications.”

Held under the theme “Central Turkiye”, TUYEM 2026 brought together feed industry representatives from different parts of the world to discuss raw material supply, sustainable production, feed technologies and new commercial opportunities. In this context, Gong’s comments also reflected a broader industry trend: feed and nutrition companies are increasingly looking beyond traditional categories to expand the role of functional ingredients across species and markets.

Gong believes yeast and yeast extracts will become more widely used not only in ruminant nutrition, but also in different areas of animal production and feeding. In particular, he expects functional yeast components to gain more room in pet food, poultry and aquaculture.

For Angel Yeast, this points to a broader direction: maintaining its position in ruminant nutrition while exploring new opportunities for yeast-based solutions across fast-developing nutrition markets.