Feed buyer FAQ — ingredient nutrients, costs and mill timelines

No. FeedMatch is not a nutritionist and does not publish formulations. The formula calculator turns species, stage, target weight gain and feed conversion ratio into tonnage and landed-cost planning figures so you can brief a supplier. Any final formulation must be issued and signed off by a qualified animal nutritionist.

Species and production stage, number of animals or batch size, target weight gain, expected feed conversion ratio, and your own cost inputs for ingredients, freight, duty and handling. Nothing is pre-filled with market prices, so the output reflects your figures only.

Use your own historical closing data for the same species, stage, genetics, climate and management. Where you have no history, run the calculator across a range rather than a single value and treat the band as a planning envelope, then have a nutritionist confirm it.

Yes. Species, stage, tonnage, feed conversion ratio and landed-cost assumptions carry into the reviewed request so you do not retype them. A person reads the request before any supplier is contacted.

Feedipedia's soybean meal, type 48 and similar, table reports a mean dry matter content of 88% as-fed; on a dry-matter basis its mean crude protein is 52.6%, calcium is 3.8 g/kg and phosphorus is 7.1 g/kg. These are reference-table averages for that type, not guaranteed values for every soybean meal lot. Do not compare dry-matter percentages directly with an as-fed offer; request a certificate of analysis stating the moisture basis.

Feedipedia's maize grain, Europe, table reports mean dry matter of 86.3% as-fed; on a dry-matter basis its mean crude protein is 9.4%, calcium is 0.5 g/kg and phosphorus is 3.0 g/kg. These figures are for the named regional dataset, not a universal corn specification or a guarantee for a shipment. Confirm moisture, origin and tested lot values before comparison.

No. A published ingredient average is not a finished-feed target or a batch result. Nutrient values, including vitamins and species-specific energy estimates, depend on ingredient grade, processing, storage and analytical method; energy systems are not interchangeable across species. Set your own required parameters and test the delivered lot, then have a qualified animal nutritionist approve any formulation. FeedMatch does not formulate diets or certify ingredient quality.

No. FeedMatch is not a lender, bank or credit provider. Where relevant, reviewed projects can be introduced to independent financing providers, subject to their own assessment and approval. Financing is never guaranteed.

Commonly working capital facilities, trade finance and letters of credit, equipment leasing, asset-backed lending, export-credit backed finance and project finance for larger builds. The financing guide explains what each one suits and the indicative tenor ranges published by the market.

Typically company and ownership details, audited or management accounts, the project scope and budget, offtake or sales evidence, collateral or guarantees, and the destination and regulatory context. Prepare these before you request an introduction.

The financing guide is published for several markets and languages, and each country page links its local edition. Availability of any instrument depends on the provider, not on FeedMatch.

Build capital cost up from capacity in tonnes per hour, process route (pelleting or extrusion), intake and storage, dosing, grinding, mixing, cooling, coating, packaging, automation level and the civil and installation scope. The cost calculator lets you enter your own rates and returns a breakdown and a planning band.

No. Prices depend on configuration, supplier, origin, delivery terms and timing, and publishing indicative prices would mislead. You enter your own cost assumptions; formal figures come from quoted offers after a reviewed request.

Scope. One may exclude civil works, steel structure, electrical installation, commissioning, spares or training while the other includes them. Compare scope line by line before comparing totals, and check whether capacity is nameplate, guaranteed or average.

Civil and foundation works, the building envelope and height for an extrusion line, electrical supply and transformer capacity, dust and fire safety, spares, freight and duty, installation labour, commissioning, training and working capital for the first production runs.

Plan in phases: engineering and layout, permitting, equipment manufacturing, shipping, civil works, mechanical installation, electrical and automation, commissioning and handover. Several phases overlap, and manufacturing plus shipping usually drive the critical path. Use the timeline page to build a phase plan and have each supplier confirm their own durations in writing.

Late civil works and foundations, incomplete electrical supply, permits, unclear scope splits between supplier and buyer, changes to the process route after ordering, and shipping or customs on the destination side.

Early. Financing assessment usually runs in parallel with engineering, because payment milestones are set at order and providers need the scope, budget and evidence before equipment is released for manufacturing.

Often yes — for example commissioning a mash line first and adding pelleting, coating or extrusion later. Phasing must be designed in from the start: building height, foundations, electrical capacity and space for the later line are hard to retrofit.

Landed cost depends on the product and specification, volume and contract length, origin, packaging (bulk or bagged), freight route and Incoterm, import duties, inspection and laboratory testing, and currency. FeedMatch does not publish prices; quotes come from suppliers after a human-reviewed brief, and you compare them on the same landed-cost basis.

Timing depends on how complete your specification is, how quickly suppliers can respond, document and sample checks, contract negotiation, and production and shipping schedules for your route. A clear brief with species, volumes, quality parameters and delivery terms is the single biggest factor in shortening the process. Every case is reviewed by a person, so we confirm realistic timing for your project rather than promising a fixed period.

Typical risks are specification mismatch, contamination or quality drift between shipments, missed delivery dates, incomplete export or health documents, and payment exposure. They are reduced by agreeing written specifications, independent inspection and lab analysis at loading, checking company documents and references, clear Incoterms and penalties in the contract, and secure payment terms. FeedMatch performs company-level review before approaching suppliers; it does not certify suppliers or guarantee their performance.