A decrease in intake of these foods to reduce intake of saturated fat and cholesterol has been recommended by some health scientists, but there is continuing debate about the probable benefits to the health of the general population of such a reduction. Conversion Rates of Grain to Animal Food Products Conversion rates of the energy and protein in feeds consumed by animals to human food energy and protein vary, depending on species, production system, feed type, and product. Poultry and pork production are most efficient on the basis of total feed intake. This fact has been overlooked in some assessments of the role of animals in food production. On a global basis, less than three kilograms of grain are required to produce a kilogram of meat from any of the species and less than one kilogram of grain per kilogram of milk or eggs.
Less grain is fed to livestock in developing than in developed countries.
It has been estimated that, on a global basis, animals produce a kilogram of human food protein for each 1.4 kilogram of human-edible protein consumed. The biological value of protein in foods from animals is about 1.4 times that of foods from plants. Thus, diverting grains from animal production to direct human consumption would, in the long term, result in little increase in total food protein and would decrease average dietary quality and diversity. Also, feed grains can be and are diverted to direct human use during periods of temporary feed grain shortage. An additional consideration is that corn, or maize, the principal feed grain, yields much more per hectare than wheat, the number one food grain.