Cargill’s largest contributor to adjusted operating earnings in the first quarter was the Animal Nutrition and Protein Division. The beef business led the way in profitability, which was helped by higher numbers of cattle in the supply chain as well as consumer demand for more beef. The poultry-based divisions, along with turkey and egg businesses, were more profitable than they were in the previous year. Animal nutrition product sales grew in Asia and North America, contributing to the strong growth as well. Aqua Feed sales were down in some countries due to weather-related incidents. The segment’s new aqua nutrition unit offset part of the impact with its overall sales strength. Cargill wants to grow its protein portfolio, so it purchased Five Star Custom Foods, which specializes in cooked protein products for food service and food manufacturing sectors.