What should a feed vitamins RFQ specify?
State the chemical form, activity units, stabilisation or encapsulation, carrier, shelf life, storage conditions, destination authorisation and the point in the process where the vitamin will be added.
Vitamins
Feed Vitamins
Also known as: Vitamin A · Vitamin D3 · Vitamin E · B-complex
Fat- and water-soluble vitamins supplied as micro-encapsulated commodity actives (A, D3, E, K3, B1–B12, C, biotin, folate).
Short answer: Specify each vitamin by form and declared activity, coating or stability claim, carrier, pack size and lot-linked certificate of analysis. Compare offers on delivered cost per unit of activity at the dose your nutritionist approves. FeedMatch reviews your RFQ before contacting suitable suppliers; availability, responses and terms are not guaranteed.
Applications by species
broilerslayersbreedersturkeyswinedairybeefshrimpsalmonpet foodhorse
Top global export origins
China European Union United States Japan India
Compare origins on the same delivered basis for your discharge port and shipment window with the landed-cost calculator, then request offers through a reviewed RFQ.
Certifications buyers commonly request
Schemes buyers often ask suppliers to document for this ingredient — not a statement that any supplier holds them. FeedMatch asks for the current certificate in the RFQ; check that its scope covers the product and activity in the scheme's own register (see GMP+ and FAMI-QS).
GMP+ FAMI-QS Kosher Halal Non-GMO options
Buyer considerations
Advantages
- Concentrated (1 g/t of active for some), long shelf-life when protected
Constraints & risks
- Chinese supply concentration; Vitamin A and E prices particularly volatile
Feed Vitamins sourcing questions buyers should settle before an RFQ
These questions turn a broad market search into a comparable procurement brief. Values, doses, substitutions and performance expectations must be approved by the buyer's qualified nutrition, veterinary, feed-science, safety and regulatory advisers.
How should buyers compare feed vitamins supplier quotations?
Compare delivered cost per declared activity unit at the point of use. Include overage policy, stability, remaining shelf life, packaging, testing and expected retention through storage and processing.
Which documents should a feed vitamins supplier provide?
Request a current specification, technical and safety data, recent batch certificates of analysis, manufacturing and feed-safety certification, destination registration where required, allergen or GMO status where relevant, traceability details, shelf-life evidence and a clear procedure for non-conforming lots. Verify documents and claims before approval.
What changes feed vitamins availability and the price offered to buyers?
The quoted result can change with feedstock or active-material availability, production concentration, plant outages, energy and freight costs, packaging, order size, Incoterm, destination registration, testing requirements and delivery window. FeedMatch does not publish a live price; buyers should request a firm, time-bound quotation against one controlled specification.
Buying this as part of your additive programme
Feed Vitamins is bought inside the additives category, where specification discipline — not price per kilogram — decides the real cost. Our feed additives procurement guide covers how to write a quotable specification, which certifications and registrations to demand (FAMI-QS, GMP+, EU Reg. 1831/2003), when a premix beats buying straights, and how to normalise offers to delivered cost per unit of active.
Official standards and regulatory references
Confirm the current rule for the exact product, target species and destination market before contracting. Private assurance schemes may support supplier qualification but do not replace applicable law.
- Codex CXC 54-2004 — Code of Practice on Good Animal Feeding
- EU Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 — feed hygiene and HACCP
- EU Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 — feed-additive authorisation
- EU Food and Feed Information Portal — authorised feed additives
- EU Directive 2002/32/EC — undesirable substances in animal feed
Key specifications to contract
Shelf Life & Stability
Shelf life is the period over which an ingredient retains its declared specification under defined storage conditions; it is a conditional statement, not a fixed property of the material.
Oxidation & Rancidity Indices
Oxidation degrades fats and fat-soluble vitamins, and is tracked through peroxide value, anisidine value, TOTOX and free fatty acids — a set that must be read together, not individually.
Tolerances & Analytical Variation
Every analytical result carries measurement uncertainty; contractual tolerances define how much variation is accepted before a price adjustment, rejection or claim is triggered.
Particle Size & Granulometry
Particle size distribution governs mixing homogeneity, pellet quality, digestive efficiency and segregation risk, and is specified as a geometric mean diameter with a distribution, not a single sieve figure.
Each parameter is explained in the specification library — what it measures, how it is tested and what to verify.
Laboratory testing programme
| Test | Why buyers run it |
|---|---|
| Vitamin assay (HPLC) on the delivered lot | Potency, not label claim, is what the animal receives |
| Moisture | Water accelerates degradation and causes caking |
| Particle size and flowability | Homogeneity and dosing accuracy |
| Stability indicators after long transit | Confirms remaining usable life |
Storage, packaging, transport & handling
Shelf life
Typically 6–18 months for single vitamins in original sealed packaging; markedly shorter in premixes containing trace minerals or choline chloride.
Storage recommendations
- — Cool, dry, dark storage — heat, humidity, light and oxygen all accelerate loss
- — Keep original sealed packaging until use; reseal partial packs immediately
- — Store away from trace minerals and choline chloride, which catalyse degradation
- — Record production date and enforce first-expiry-first-out
Packaging options
- — Sealed foil or multi-layer bags with moisture and light barrier
- — Fibre drums for larger volumes
- — Original manufacturer packaging retained until dosing
Transportation considerations
- — Avoid prolonged heat exposure; specify temperature-controlled transport for sensitive vitamins
- — Minimise transit time — shelf life is consumed in transit
Handling best practices
- — Dose against assayed potency, not label nominal, when material is aged
- — Apply overage where degradation during feed processing is expected
- — Verify mixer homogeneity using a vitamin or marker assay
Procurement considerations
- —Contract minimum remaining shelf life on arrival, measured from production date
- —Require the certified assay and the stated storage conditions behind the shelf-life claim
- —Confirm authorisation status of the vitamin form in the destination market
Common industry standards
- — GMP+ FSA / FAMI-QS feed safety scheme certification of the producing site
- — ISO/IEC 17025 accredited analysis for contractual and safety parameters
- — HACCP plan covering the specific material and process route
- — Codex Alimentarius Code of Practice on Good Animal Feeding
- — Destination-market additive authorisation for the specific vitamin form
Typical risks & common mistakes
Typical risks
- — Potency below label claim by the time of feeding
- — Accelerated loss in mineral-containing premixes
- — Degradation from heat and humidity during ocean transit
Common mistakes
- — Buying on price per kilogram of product rather than per unit of active potency
- — Storing vitamins next to trace minerals
Species & industry intelligence
BroilersLayersBreedersTurkeySwineDairy cattleBeef cattleShrimpSalmonPet foodHorse feed
Poultry — Broilers procurement hub
Formulation stages, KPIs and the ingredient basket for poultry — broilers operations.
Poultry — Layers procurement hub
Formulation stages, KPIs and the ingredient basket for poultry — layers operations.
Aquaculture procurement hub
Formulation stages, KPIs and the ingredient basket for aquaculture operations.
Dairy Cattle procurement hub
Formulation stages, KPIs and the ingredient basket for dairy cattle operations.
Swine procurement hub
Formulation stages, KPIs and the ingredient basket for swine operations.
Beef Cattle procurement hub
Formulation stages, KPIs and the ingredient basket for beef cattle operations.
Related knowledge
Procurement verification library
Certificates of analysis, sampling, inspection, origin, traceability and import documentation.
Buying guides & checklists
Step-by-step buying guides and printable verification checklists.
Feed calculators
Least-cost, inclusion and landed-cost tools for procurement planning.
Knowledge center
Technical articles, market context and regulatory background.
Educational reference maintained by FeedMatch Group. We do not rank, recommend or endorse manufacturers; values are indicative industry references and never replace testing of the delivered lot.
Exact grades buyers order
Related buyer resources
Dosage references and specifications behind the micro-ingredients in the blend:
- Choline chloride 60% inclusion rate by species (g/t) Dose per tonne by species and phase, why it is dosed outside the vitamin premix, and the cost per tonne of finished feed.
- Choline chloride 60% feed-grade specification Assay, carrier, moisture and heavy-metal spec, packaging and Incoterms for a comparable offer.
- Feed additives procurement guide Qualification checklist, landed-cost normalisation and contract wording for micro-ingredient purchases.
Purchase specification and commercial terms
What to agree before you buy feed ingredients
Short answer: suppliers can only quote like-for-like when the specification and the commercial terms are written down. Use the two checklists below. Your nutritionist sets the nutrient values; this page does not suggest any limits, prices or tolerances.
| Product identity | Exact name, origin and process (e.g. solvent-extracted soybean meal), not a generic category. |
|---|---|
| Analytical specification | Parameters with limits and basis: protein, moisture, fat, fibre, ash or the key nutrient for that ingredient. |
| Contaminant limits | Mycotoxins, salmonella, heavy metals and residues under your local feed regulation. |
| Sampling and test method | Who samples, where (loading or arrival), how many samples, which laboratory and method. |
| Packaging and handling | Bulk, big bag or bags; storage and handling conditions in transit. |
| Documents per lot | Certificate of analysis, phytosanitary or health certificate and certificate of origin, as required. |
| Price basis | Price per tonne in one currency with an Incoterms® 2020 rule and named place (e.g. CIF named port). |
|---|---|
| Quantity and tolerance | Contract tonnage, delivery schedule and the agreed quantity tolerance. |
| Payment terms | Deposit, letter of credit or open account, and the documents that trigger payment. |
| Quality acceptance | Which analysis is final (loading or arrival), how a referee sample is resolved, and price adjustment or rejection rules. |
| Claims window | How many days after delivery a quality or quantity claim can be raised, and what evidence is needed. |
| Delivery and delay | Delivery window, who bears late-delivery costs and force majeure wording. |
| Validity | How long the offer stays valid and how price changes are handled for later deliveries. |
Compare offers on cost per kg of output, not price per tonne alone: a cheaper ingredient that worsens feed conversion can cost more per kg produced.
Calculators and checklists are free. Plant and equipment projects start from USD 250,000; ingredient and feed supply has no such minimum. Our team reviews each request before contacting suppliers. Incoterms® is a trademark of the International Chamber of Commerce.
Your next step, by buying intent
Pick the lane that matches where you are in the purchase — each link goes to the exact tool or page for that step.
Specify
What exactly am I buying?
Quantify
How much, and at what landed cost?
Qualify
Is this supplier and lot acceptable?
Availability and the ability to trade depend on the applicable law and on the licences and approvals required, which differ by product and country. Each participant is responsible for the rules that apply to its own role: suppliers for the products they offer and supply, buyers for their own import permissions and checks. FeedMatch is not a manufacturer, importer, exporter, seller or regulatory approver; it facilitates sourcing and screens requests before any supplier is contacted. Regulation & responsibilities.
Frequently asked questions
What is the shelf-life of feed vitamins?
12–24 months in original micro-encapsulated form, 3–6 months in premix, 2–4 months in finished feed.
Why is Vitamin A price so volatile?
Global capacity concentrated in DSM (formerly), BASF, Adisseo and one or two Chinese producers. Any single-site outage moves market ±30%.
Do I need natural vs synthetic E?
Synthetic dl-α-tocopheryl acetate is the workhorse. Natural d-α-tocopherol (RRR) is 1.4× more bioactive; used in premium pet-food and reproductive diets.
For commercial farm feed buyers
Buying feed vitamins for a commercial farm
- Best for
- Commercial farms, integrators, distributors and feed buyers sourcing feed vitamins and related feed, additives or nutrition supply on a recurring commercial scale — not pet food, hobby farms or backyard quantities.
- Animal species covered
- Broilers and layers, dairy and beef cattle, pigs, tilapia, salmon and shrimp, plus sheep and goats on request.
- Typical feed buyer needs
- A written specification, suppliers whose documents show they can hold that specification, comparable pricing on the same delivery terms, documented quality (CoA, certifications) and a supply schedule that matches production.
- Bulk feed and recurring supply
- Most requests are bulk or big-bag volumes on monthly or quarterly contracts. Volume per delivery, storage capacity on farm and contract length change price more than the headline per-tonne quote.
- Feed additives and premix
- Premix, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, organic acids, toxin binders and other additives can be quoted alongside compound feed or ingredients so one supplier comparison covers the whole ration.
- What affects feed cost
- Raw-material origin and specification, inclusion rates, freight and Incoterms, packaging, order volume, payment terms, currency and certification requirements. Landed cost, not ex-works price, decides the winner.
- RFQ checklist
- Species and production stage, tonnes per month, target specification, delivery port or farm location, packaging, required certifications, first delivery date and contract duration.
- Supplier matching process
- You define the requirement, FeedMatch structures the RFQ, sends it to relevant qualified suppliers, and returns comparable offers side by side so you can negotiate on equal terms.
- Buyer is not charged
- Farm buyers are not charged to submit a requirement, receive matched suppliers or compare quotes.
FeedMatch helps farm buyers compare feed suppliers, nutrition providers, additives suppliers and related solutions. FeedMatch is an intermediary and does not manufacture feed or provide financing directly.
Choose your path
What do you need next?
- Equipment: USD 250K+
- Supplier-neutral
- Human-reviewed
I need to buy feed
Finished feed for my animals
Poultry, dairy & beef, pig and aquafeed, plus bulk feed contracts.
I need ingredients
Ingredients, premixes & additives
Soybean meal, grains, DDGS, fish meal, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, premixes and additives.
Suppliers are contacted only after authorized human review. Plant and equipment projects generally from USD 250,000; feed and ingredient supply has no such minimum.
How it worksFeed Vitamins: Sourcing brief and purchase decisions
Product-specific specification
| Feed Vitamins | Evidence to request |
|---|---|
| Product-specific specification | Named vitamin and chemical form; potency units, coating and carrier; stability through processing and storage. |
Lot acceptance and traceability
Turn the product checks into a written specification approved by your technical team. Separate guaranteed contractual values from typical information; state units, moisture basis, analytical methods and tolerances. Request a dated, lot-linked certificate of analysis and representative sampling plan. Agree who releases the lot, what happens after an out-of-spec result, and how retained samples and claims are handled. A generic technical sheet is not evidence for the shipment you receive.
Compare delivered offers on the same basis
Use the same grade, quantity, named delivery place, Incoterm, currency and quote date. Separate product, freight, insurance, duties, testing, handling and payment costs; never count included freight twice or unknown charges as zero. Concentrates require an agreed active-content or activity basis. Moisture correction and nutritional equivalence must use measured analysis and qualified approval, not a kilogram-for-kilogram swap. Ask for quote validity and confirm inclusions before comparing totals.
Shipment, storage and repeat supply
State quantity and units per shipment, frequency, requested arrival window, packaging and unloading constraints. Record warehouse temperature/humidity needs, remaining shelf life at arrival, segregation and traceability requirements. Ask the team to obtain dated lead-time proposals and contingency terms; this is not a stock or supplier-availability claim. Product eligibility and import documents must be checked for the actual destination and animal species, not inferred from another market.
Relate sourcing to measured feed conversion
A lower ingredient invoice does not prove a lower cost of animal production. Use the FCR calculator with your own feed consumed, liveweight gain and complete-feed cost over the same period. Keep species, phase, feed basis and measurement method consistent. Do not attribute an FCR change to an additive without comparable evidence; the calculator evaluates inputs, not product efficacy. Any inclusion or reformulation decision belongs to your qualified nutritionist.
Include these details in your RFQ
- Product, form/grade and approved specification; species and feed phase
- Quantity and units per shipment; repeat frequency
- Delivery country, receiving point, Incoterm and requested window
- Packaging, storage, unloading and remaining shelf-life needs
- Lot tests, sampling, traceability and required destination documents
- Offer validity, currency, payment terms and acceptance/claims conditions
Buyer use is free. Ingredient and recurring feed supply are assessed by specification, viable volume/frequency, destination and logistics—not the plant/equipment capital minimum. FeedMatch reviews your request, contacts suitable suppliers and presents responses through the team; no direct buyer–supplier handoff and no guaranteed offers.
Technical and regulatory references
- Codex CXC 54-2004 — Code of Practice on Good Animal Feeding
- EU Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 — feed hygiene and HACCP
- EU Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 — feed-additive authorisation
- EU Food and Feed Information Portal — authorised feed additives
- EU Directive 2002/32/EC — undesirable substances in animal feed
Ready to submit your ingredient RFQ?
Send your specification, quantity and destination for human review; the US$250,000 minimum applies only to plant and equipment projects. FeedMatch reviews and organises your brief before contacting suitable suppliers, then presents responses through FeedMatch—not through direct buyer-to-supplier contact.
Submit your requirements