Quality Liquid Feeds

What Quality Liquid Feeds does

Quality Liquid Feeds (QLF) is a family-owned, US-based manufacturer founded in 1977 in Dodgeville, Wisconsin by Kenneth R. Berg that develops and produces molasses-based liquid feed supplements, cooked low moisture tub supplements under the Ignite brand, and liquid carbon-based fertilizers under the L-CBF brand for livestock and crop producers. The company operates six product programs — Dairy, Feedlot, Pasture, Mill (SuprCoat), Tubs (Ignite), and Agronomy (L-CBF) — distributed across 16 manufacturing plants nationwide and serving customers from individual cow-calf operators to large dairy and feedlot enterprises.

QLF's core technology centers on molasses-based liquid formulations (55-65% dry matter from domestic cane molasses) using proprietary Xanthan Gum suspension systems that ensure even distribution of nutrients, additives, and minerals throughout each batch. In agronomy, the L-CBF product line uses sugarcane molasses as a complex carbon source in low-pH fertilizer formulations (e.g., L-CBF 7-21-3 MKP Starter, BOOST, Amino15, TerraFed) designed to enhance soil biology and nitrogen use efficiency. QLF supplements are designed for year-round feeding (365 days) without freezing concerns and are delivered into Total Mixed Rations (TMR) or via free-choice lick tank systems, with documented field-trial outcomes such as +8.83 bu/ac yield improvement from a 3-year PTI Farm study of L-CBF Amino15.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time product sales of liquid supplements, tubs, and fertilizers to enterprise dairy and beef producers (direct delivery with equipment installation), mid-market cow-calf operators (via free-choice lick tanks and dealer network), and SMB feed mills. The go-to-market is built on a network of field sales representatives and district sales managers covering geographic territories, supported by a wholly-owned transportation subsidiary (QLF Transportation, established 1999) operating 104 trucks, 135 trailers, 90 professional drivers, 485 railcars, and 25 barges. QLF provides bundled equipment delivery, technical advisory services, and applied research via a 2017-built research center and greenhouse, and has expanded via acquisitions including the 2020 purchase of the LOOMIX brand and plants from ADM.

Name

Quality Liquid Feeds

Legal name

Quality Liquid Feeds, Inc.

Website

https://qlf.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Quality Liquid Feeds is a family-owned US manufacturer founded in 1977 that produces molasses-based liquid feed supplements, Ignite low-moisture tubs, and L-CBF liquid carbon-based fertilizers for dairy, beef, cow-calf, feed mill, and crop producer customers nationwide via 16 plants and a captive transportation fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Feed Supplements

NAICS

Other Animal Food Manufacturing (311119), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Textured/Sweet Feed Blending (Molasses-Based) (AFADAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bagged Retail Commodity Feeds (Small Pack Formats) (AFADAIAJ), Beverage Concentrates, Syrups & Mixers Wholesale (AFAIAGAF)

Keywords

• Liquid feed supplements
• Molasses-based feed
• Low moisture tubs
• Liquid carbon fertilizers
• Ruminant nutrition

Headquarters

HQ city

Dodgeville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Liquid Feed Supplements: Sale of molasses-based liquid feed supplements for dairy and beef cattle, sold directly to producers or through dealers for incorporation into TMR or lick tank systems.
2. QLF Ignite Tubs: Sale of low moisture block/tub supplements for cattle, horses, and other livestock in various protein and mineral formulations.
3. Agronomy/L-CBF Fertilizers: Sale of liquid carbon-based fertilizers and crop nutrition products including L-CBF 7-21-3, L-CBF BOOST, L-CBF Amino15, and related products.
4. Mill Products: Coating products for feed mills using cane molasses, vegetable-based fat, and caramel flavoring for texturized feeds, pellets, and grain mixes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Quality Liquid Feeds manufactures and sells molasses-based liquid feed supplements, cooked low moisture tub supplements, feed mill coating products, and liquid carbon-based fertilizers for the U.S. agriculture industry. Its product portfolio spans six program areas (Dairy, Feedlot, Pasture, Mill, Tubs, Agronomy) and is delivered through direct producer sales, a dealer network, and the company's own transportation division.

Product overview

Quality Liquid Feeds (QLF) is a family-owned American company (founded 1977) that develops and manufactures liquid feed supplements, cooked low moisture blocks (Ignite tubs), and liquid carbon-based fertilizers (L-CBF agronomy products) for the agriculture industry. The company operates 16 feed manufacturing plants and an in-house transportation division. The product portfolio spans six main program areas: Dairy (molasses-based liquid supplements for lactating cows, dry cows, prefresh cows, and heifers), Feedlot (calcium-suspension supplements with Xanthan Gum for cattle in confinement), Pasture (free-choice and bale treatment supplements for cow-calf operators), Mill (SuprCoat cane molasses-based coating products for feed mills), Tubs (Ignite low moisture protein and mineral blocks including equine and dairy formulations), and Agronomy (L-CBF liquid carbon-based fertilizers including 7-21-3 MKP Starter, BOOST, Amino 15, 5-5-5-1S Foliar, TerraFed, plus Kelpak seaweed biostimulant). QLF acquired the LOOMIX brand from ADM in 2020 and operates a dedicated transportation fleet with 104 trucks, 135 trailers, 485 railcars, and 25 barges for product distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• L-CBF: Liquid Carbon-Based Fertilizers product line for agronomy/crop production, including L-CBF 7-21-3 MKP Starter, L-CBF BOOST, L-CBF Amino 15, and L-CBF TerraFed products.
• Ignite
• SuprCoat

Products and services

• Dairy Liquid Feed Supplements Molasses-based liquid feed supplements for dairy cattle including lactating cows, dry cows, prefresh cows, and growing heifers. Delivers rumen-available carbohydrates and protein from natural and non-protein nitrogen sources, with additives (Rumensin, yeast culture, vitamins, organic trace minerals, biotin) distributed evenly throughout TMR rations.
• Feedlot Liquid Feed Supplements Calcium-suspension liquid supplements for feedlot cattle using Xanthan Gum for maximum suspension. Includes confined cattle supplements, high-inclusion products for diet energetics, and Beef Starter, delivering complete supplement packages with rumen degradable protein, ionophores, and precision nutrients for starting, backgrounding, and finishing cattle.
• Pasture Liquid Feed Supplements Free-choice lick tank and bale treatment liquid supplements for cow-calf operators on range or pasture settings. Products contain 20-40% crude protein from NPN (urea) and natural protein sources, designed to enhance forage utilization and rumen fermentation with consistent 365-day feeding.
• SuprCoat Mill Products Cane molasses-based coating products for feed mills, applied to pellets, grain mixes, texturized feeds, sweet feeds, and custom mill blends. Uses domestic cane molasses, vegetable-based fat, and caramel flavoring to enhance appearance, palatability, and reduce bricking/caking in finished feed.
• Ignite Low Moisture Tub Supplements Cooked low moisture block/tub supplements for livestock including protein tubs (14-40% protein), mineral tubs, multi-species tubs, equine tubs (featuring Zinpro 4-Plex EQ), and dairy tubs including DCAD products for transition cows. Designed with cold flow properties for effective nutrient delivery in range or pasture settings.
• L-CBF 7-21-3 MKP Starter Liquid carbon-based fertilizer (7N-21P-3K) with unique orthophosphate source formulated in lower pH blend using monopotassium phosphate (MKP) for effective delivery of plant-available nutrients from planting.
• L-CBF BOOST 4-0-3-2S Concentrate Concentrated source of available carbon (4N-0P-3K-2S) in low pH chemistry package used to complement other fertilizer products, improve liquid fertilizer performance, soil nutrient use efficiencies, and reduce spray drift.
• L-CBF Amino 15-0-1 Foliar Nitrogen Foliar nitrogen solution (15N-0P-1K-0.5S) combining urea and L-form amino acids with complex carbon from sugarcane molasses for safe, efficient protein production and extended spray droplet window. Validated by a 3-year PTI Farm study showing +8.83 bu/ac average yield increase with fungicide at VT stage.
• L-CBF 5-5-5-1S MKP Foliar Base-balanced foliar blend (5N-5P-5K-1S) of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Sulfur packaged with complex carbon source to aid in utilization of nutrients essential for plant growth.
• L-CBF TerraFed Liquid carbon-based fertilizer (1N-0P-3K) containing natural forms of nitrogen, potassium, and micronutrients from cane molasses, enhanced with fermentation yeast extract and citric acid chelating agent for soil microbe food source.
• Kelpak Seaweed Biostimulant Natural seaweed concentrate from Ecklonia maxima kelp species harvested off Southern Africa, approved for organic farming by USDA NOP. Provides bioactive compounds for improved fruit set, root growth, and stress tolerance in crops. Distributed by QLF.
• PowerAid Micronutrient Blend Synergistic 7-way micronutrient blend featuring dual chelation (PASP Amino Acid Complex and EDTA) with plant-ready Boron for strengthening cell walls and supporting reproductive development.
• LOOMIX Brand (Acquired) Liquid feed supplement brand acquired from ADM in 2020, expanding QLF's liquid feed supplement portfolio and manufacturing capacity.

Quantifiable outcome

• +14.6 bu/ac yield increase with L-CBF Amino15 + fungicide applied via drone in Nevada, Iowa trial (2025)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Louisiana Sugar Growers (SUGAR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999QLF entered a supply agreement with SUGAR (Louisiana Sugar Growers) in 1999 for cane molasses ingredients used in liquid feed supplements and L-CBF products.
• Zinpro Performance MineralscoreTechnology or IntegrationQLF has partnered with Zinpro for Availa 4 trace mineral products and 4-Plex EQ for equine tub formulations. Zinpro provides performance minerals that are incorporated into QLF Ignite tub supplements for enhanced animal nutrition.
• ADM (Loomix Brand Acquisition)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2020, QLF purchased the LOOMIX brand and manufacturing plants 100% from ADM, expanding their product portfolio and manufacturing capacity in the liquid feed supplement market.
• Precision Technology Institute (PTI) FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPTI Farm in Pontiac, Illinois conducted 3-year study evaluating L-CBF Amino15 with fungicide at VT stage, demonstrating consistent yield improvements averaging +8.83 bu/ac.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves20 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Biozyme / VitaFerm: Biozyme markets the VitaFerm line of nutritional supplements, including tub products and beef/dairy nutrition programs — directly comparable to QLF's Ignite tub line in format, channel, and target customer.

Direct peers

• Ridley Inc. Ridley manufactures livestock feed, premixes, and supplements for dairy, beef, and other species across North America — directly comparable in core customer base and product portfolio, with overlap in liquid supplements and tubs.
• Akey (Carl Akey, Inc.): Carl Akey, Inc. manufactures livestock feed supplements, premixes, and specialty nutrition products for ruminants and other species — competing directly with QLF in dairy and beef supplement manufacturing and distribution.
• Hubbard Feeds: Hubbard Feeds produces complete feeds, supplements, and specialty nutrition products for beef, dairy, equine, and small ruminants — overlapping with QLF in cattle supplements and equine tubs through comparable channel structures.
• Westway Feed Products: Westway Feed Products manufactures and distributes molasses-based liquid feed supplements for livestock across North America, making it the most directly comparable competitor to QLF in core product, customer base, and delivery model.
• Furst-McNess Company: Furst-McNess manufactures liquid feed supplements, premixes, and protein blends for swine, cattle, and other livestock — directly comparable to QLF's liquid feed supplement franchise and channel mix.
• Varied Industries / Vi-Cor: Vi-Cor manufactures liquid feed supplements and nutrition products specifically for dairy and beef cattle, overlapping directly with QLF's Dairy, Feedlot, and Pasture programs in product, customer, and channel.

Broad incumbents

• Land O'Lakes / Purina Animal Nutrition: Land O'Lakes operates Purina Animal Nutrition, a major North American feed and supplement manufacturer serving dairy, beef, and lifestyle livestock — comparable on customer base and product breadth though far broader in scale and product scope than QLF.
• ADM Animal Nutrition: ADM is a global agribusiness with a large animal nutrition division and was the prior owner of the LOOMIX brand acquired by QLF in 2020 — making ADM both a supplier/customer relationship precedent and the most credible large-scale competitive threat.
• Cargill Animal Nutrition: Cargill operates one of the largest animal nutrition businesses globally, producing feed, premixes, and supplements for dairy and beef — overlapping with QLF on every customer segment and product category but at far greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/qlfuk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Quality Liquid Feeds