How buyers define requirements
- Define the functional outcome you are buying (phytate release, mould inhibition, mycotoxin binding, gut stability), then the product class.
- Express the requirement in activity units per kilogram of finished feed, not in kilograms of product.
- Confirm the additive is registered or authorised for the target species in the destination country.
- State the thermal exposure of your process — conditioning temperature, retention time, expander or extruder.
- Decide on carrier and form (powder, granulate, coated, liquid) based on your dosing equipment.
Specifications that matter
| Parameter | Typical requirement | Why it matters to a buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Declared activity | Units/g, CFU/g or % active | The actual purchased value; price per tonne of product is meaningless without it. |
| Thermostability | Documented recovery at your conditioning profile | A phytase that loses half its activity at 85 °C is a different product commercially. |
| Shelf life | 12–24 months stated conditions | Determines order sizing and inventory policy. |
| Particle size / flowability | Matched to micro-dosing equipment | Drives homogeneity in the mixer and dosing accuracy. |
| Carrier and dust | Low-dust granulate for manual handling | Operator safety and loss during handling. |
| Heavy metals, dioxins, microbiology | Within feed-legal limits | Contaminant load is concentrated in micro-ingredients. |
| Homogeneity / CV in feed | CV ≤ 10% at inclusion rate | Proves the additive can actually be distributed at your dose. |
Certifications commonly requested
- — FAMI-QS certification for the manufacturing site (the sector standard for specialty feed ingredients)
- — GMP+ or FSSC 22000 where the supply chain requires it
- — Registration or authorisation number in the destination market for the species claimed
- — ISO 17025 accreditation of the laboratory issuing activity results
- — Halal / Kosher and GMO-status declarations where the finished feed requires them
Laboratory reports to review
- — Certificate of Analysis stating activity with the assay method and its reproducibility
- — Stability and thermal-recovery study relevant to your pelleting conditions
- — Independent counter-analysis of activity on the first lots from a new supplier
- — Contaminant panel: heavy metals, dioxins/PCBs, microbiology
- — Homogeneity trial results at your intended inclusion rate
Packaging considerations
- — 25 kg bags with moisture barrier for hygroscopic products
- — Pre-weighed sachets where micro-dosing accuracy is a known weakness
- — Sealed IBCs or drums for liquids, with compatible dosing connections
- — Labelling must carry activity, batch, expiry and storage conditions in the destination language
Shipping considerations
- — Temperature-sensitive products need declared transport conditions, not assumed ones
- — Probiotics and live cultures: avoid tropical container dwell; consider air freight for first lots
- — Confirm dangerous-goods classification for acids and certain liquids before booking
- — Match Incoterms to who controls the temperature-sensitive leg of the journey
Storage considerations
- — Store below the stated temperature and out of direct sun; log warehouse conditions
- — Keep original sealed packaging; reseal opened bags immediately
- — Strict FIFO with expiry-based picking, not delivery-based
- — Re-assay activity if the product exceeds half its shelf life before use
Procurement risks
Paying for declared activity that is not present
Control: Independent activity counter-analysis on the first three lots and randomly thereafter, with a contractual price adjustment for shortfall.
Activity destroyed during pelleting
Control: Require a thermal recovery study at your actual conditioning temperature and retention time, and validate with post-pellet sampling.
Regulatory non-authorisation in the destination
Control: Verify the registration number and the authorised species before the order, not at customs.
Dosing inhomogeneity
Control: Run a mixer homogeneity test at the intended inclusion rate; consider a pre-mixed carrier.
Expiry losses
Control: Order sizing tied to consumption rate rather than volume discounts.
Common purchasing mistakes
- — Comparing suppliers on price per kilogram of product instead of price per activity unit in finished feed
- — Assuming a laboratory can verify any additive — many activity assays are product-specific
- — Ignoring the thermal profile of your own mill when reviewing stability claims
- — Buying a 24-month supply of a live-culture product for a warehouse without temperature control
- — Accepting a technical dossier that describes trials in a different species or dose
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare two enzymes with different unit systems?
Convert both to your outcome, not their units: request the recommended dose in units per kilogram of finished feed for your diet and species, plus the matrix values claimed. Then compare cost per tonne of finished feed at equivalent matrix credit.
Can my laboratory verify the activity?
Sometimes. Many assays are proprietary or method-dependent, so the same sample can produce different values in different laboratories. Agree the assay method in the contract and use an ISO 17025 laboratory familiar with it.
Do I need FAMI-QS certification from the supplier?
It is the widely recognised specialty-feed-ingredient standard and the easiest way to establish baseline manufacturing control. Where a supplier lacks it, expect to substitute a full on-site audit.
How much stock should I hold?
Enough to cover lead time plus a safety buffer, but never past a comfortable margin on shelf life. Micro-ingredients lose value invisibly; overstocking is a common and unrecorded cost.
Procurement checklist
Premix Procurement Checklist
Premixes and additives concentrate both value and risk. Use this checklist to make offers comparable and to prove that what was declared is what arrived.
Open the checklist
Your next step, by buying intent
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Specify
What exactly am I buying?
Quantify
How much, and at what landed cost?
Qualify
Is this supplier and lot acceptable?
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