October 26, 2010

English grain co-op produces livestock feed

North East Grains co-operative of Northumberland, England, which earlier diversified into blending livestock feed, is now starting to sell the product to farmers across the county.

The members of the grain drying and storage co-operative have been able to buy coarse mix produced under its own Northumbrian Blended Feeds brand for the last five years. But the business is now making the ruminant feed - the only non-organic coarse mix produced in the county - available for other farmers to buy from its headquarters at Longhirst near Morpeth.

The business uses British-produced ingredients, the majority of which are sourced from Northumberland, with the rest bought from clients who are supplied by North East Grains.

Like the trend for local food for people, local animal fodder is being promoted under the flag of traceability and because customers can buy direct from the producer, the price is better because it cuts out the middle man.

The business has won quality assurances for the feed from Universal Feed Assurance Scheme and Quality Meat Scotland. It is also offering to make bespoke bags of feed for farmers who want to create their own mixes.

North East Grains, which was set up 23 years ago, has 70 members and this year opened a GBP2-million (US$3.17-million) expansion that includes a new 20,000-tonne capacity grain store, and a 100-tonne per hour dryer and cleaning plant.

In addition to its core grain storage, drying and marketing, it has diversified across a number of sectors including rodent control.