NWF Agriculture

What NWF Agriculture does

NWF Agriculture is a UK national manufacturer of compound feeds, blends, moist feeds, protected proteins, supplements, silage additives and conservation films for the ruminant livestock sector. It is the only compound feed mill in the United Kingdom dedicated exclusively to ruminant production, with its flagship Wardle, Nantwich facility being the largest specialist ruminant feed mill in the country. The business serves approximately 4,500 to 5,000-plus UK dairy, beef and sheep farmers and is reported to feed roughly one in six dairy cows in Britain, producing approximately 580,000 tonnes of feed per annum across five production sites (Wardle, Longtown/Brayton, Wixland and Aspatria). The platform is anchored on a regional field-sales model with a Northern Sales Director and a Southern Sales Director, supported by NWF Feed Specialists who deliver on-farm advisory and direct-to-farm delivery via a 39-vehicle fleet.

Product breadth is substantial: core compound feeds for dairy, beef and sheep are augmented by the protected-feed Ultra range (Ultra Pro-R, Ultra-Soy, Ultra Starch-W), a buffered rumen-supplement portfolio (Stable Rumen Pak, Healthy Rumen Pak, Ultra Buf, Myco Challenge Farm Pak), the Sila-Guard and Ultra Guard silage additive families, the OxyBlock silage-film range (OxyBlock Ultra 90μm and OxyBlock Prime 45μm with EVOH barrier), UltraMin minerals and NWF Mineral Buckets, fertilisers (Nitram, Ammonium Sulphate, blends and straights), Champion and Ultra grass-seed mixtures, and the manufactured moist-feed product Brayton Gold. Supporting services include the NutriOpt rationing programme, a Diet Sieving service developed with Trouw Nutrition, an in-house Forage Analysis laboratory at Wardle delivering 24-hour turnaround, Dairy Costings benchmarking, Soil Analysis and the NWF Academy advisor-training programme.

NWF Agriculture is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NWF Group plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market; the company was founded in 1871 as a farmer-owned trading company and traces the opening of the Wardle mill to 1980. It operates alongside sister companies New Breed UK Ltd (acquired July 2015, ruminant breeding and genetics), NWF Fuels and Boughey Distribution under the group. All five production sites are UFAS-accredited, with additional FEMAS, FIAS, FAA, FAR, VMD and Cyber Essentials credentials, and an ISO 14001 environmental management certification is in progress with NQA. Revenue is generated through direct sale of physical feed tonnage plus associated inputs and technical-service subscriptions; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The longest-tenured strategic certification — single-species ruminant focus — is also the most economically meaningful, because it underwrites NWF's eligibility for major-processor sustainability programmes such as the Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group (TSDG) Gold Standard.

Name

NWF Agriculture

Legal name

NWF Agriculture Limited

Website

https://nwfagriculture.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1871

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

NWF Agriculture is a UK national manufacturer of compound feeds, blends, moist feeds and silage products for ruminant livestock. The company operates the UK's only ruminant-dedicated compound mill and supplies approximately 4,500 to 5,000 dairy, beef and sheep farmers across Great Britain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Feed Manufacturing

NAICS

Other Animal Food Manufacturing (311119)

akta.pro primary industry

TMR/Complete Rations & Pelleted Ruminant Feeds (AFADAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performance & Health Outcome Consulting (growth, FCR, milk yield, gut health) (AFADAMAG), Protein Meals & Byproduct Feeds for Ruminants (Soybean Meal, Canola Meal, DDGS, Beet Pulp) (AFADAAAG), Forage Preservation & Additives (Silage Inoculants, Preservatives) (AFADAHAI), Mineral & Salt Products for Ruminants (Free-Choice Minerals, Salt Blocks) (AFADAAAF)

Keywords

• Ruminant feed manufacturing
• Dairy cattle nutrition
• Compound animal feeds
• Livestock feed supply
• Agricultural feed milling

Headquarters

HQ city

Wardle

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Compound Feeds and Blends: Core business is manufacture and supply of ruminant compound feeds and blends. Compound mills and strategically located blending sheds manufacture feeds for dairy, beef and sheep.
2. Trading Desk - Straights and Speciality Feeds: Comprehensive trading desk supplying range of straights and speciality feeds to complement compound feeds and blends.
3. Forage Seeds and Additives: Supply of grass seeds, forage seeds (maize, sugar beet, turnips), fertilizers, silage additives, and clamp protection products.
4. Moist Feeds: State-of-the-art moist feeds production at Aspatria Mill producing Brayton Gold and other moist feed products, manufactured to order for consistent specification.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NWF Agriculture manufactures and supplies ruminant compound feeds, blends, moist feeds, straights and specialty feeds to UK dairy, beef and sheep farmers from five strategically located UFAS-approved production sites, led by the largest specialist ruminant feed mill in the UK at Wardle. The portfolio also includes protected feeds, supplements, silage additives and films, grass seeds, fertilizers, minerals and protected fats, supported by in-house technical services such as the NutriOpt rationing programme, on-site forage and soil analysis, and the NWF Academy training programme.

Product overview

NWF Agriculture is a national manufacturer of ruminant feeds operating as a platform of products and services. The core offering comprises compound feeds and blends for dairy, beef and sheep, supported by a comprehensive range of associated products including protected feeds (Ultra Pro-R, Ultra-Soy, Ultra Starch-W), supplements (Rumen Paks, Magnesium, Salts), silage additives (Ultra Guard, Sila-Guard range), silage films (OxyBlock range), grass seed (Champion, Ultra mixtures), fertilisers (Nitram, Ammonium Sulphate, blends, straights), and minerals (UltraMin range). The company also operates the only compound mill in the UK dedicated solely to ruminant feed. Services include the NutriOpt Feed Rationing Programme, Diet Sieving, Forage Analysis, Dairy Costings, Soil Analysis, and the NWF Academy training programme. In 2025, the company expanded into manufactured moist feeds with Brayton Gold produced at a new state-of-the-art facility at Aspatria Mill.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ultra Pro-R: High-quality vegetable protein supplement containing high levels of Digestible Un-degradable Protein (DUP) bypass protein for ruminants.
• Ultra-Soy
• Ultra Starch-W
• Brayton Gold
• OxyBlock
• SilageKeeper
• SealKeeper
• Stable Rumen Pak
• Healthy Rumen Pak
• Ultra Buf
• UltraMin
• Ultra Guard
• Sila-Guard

Products and services

• Dairy Feeds Compound feeds and blends formulated for high-yielding UK dairy cows to support milk production, calving and herd health through quality nutrition and technical services.
• Beef Feeds Compound feeds designed for beef production systems at every stage from calf through to finished animal, formulated to maximise growth rates and carcase composition.
• Sheep Feeds Feed range for ewes, rams and lambs providing energy, protein, minerals and vitamins to optimise flock performance, growth and health.
• Brayton Gold Moist Feeds Manufactured moist feed with fixed specification, food-grade preservative and enhanced palatability from distillery syrups for consistent ration formulation across dairy and beef systems.
• Protected Feeds (Ultra Pro-R, Ultra-Soy, Ultra Starch-W) High-quality protected vegetable protein and starch supplements delivering high levels of Digestible Un-degradable Protein (DUP) and bypass starch for high-performance ruminants across dairy, calf, beef and sheep systems.
• Rumen Supplements (Stable Rumen Pak, Healthy Rumen Pak, Ultra Buf, Myco Challenge Farm Pak) Rumen buffer and health supplements containing yeast, buffering agents and mycotoxin binders to optimise rumen pH, combat SARA and protect against mycotoxin challenge.
• Silage Additives (Ultra Guard and Sila-Guard ranges) Silage additives with bacteria and enzymes designed to optimise fermentation, improve aerobic stability and digestibility across grass, whole crop and maize silage production.
• OxyBlock Silage Film Range Multilayer silage protection films with EVOH oxygen barrier technology plus UV covers and gravel bag accessories for restricting oxygen ingress into silage pits and stacks.
• Grass Seed Mixtures (Champion and Ultra ranges) Grass seed mixtures including long-term dual-purpose Champion mixtures and Ultra short-, medium- and long-term ley options for cutting and grazing forage production.
• Fertilisers (Nitram, Zaksan, Ammonium Sulphate, blends and straights) Straight and blended fertilisers including Nitram 34.5%N ammonium nitrate, Zaksan 32%N, Ammonium Sulphate and bespoke NPK blends for grassland and arable systems.
• UltraMin Minerals and Buckets Range of carefully formulated powdered minerals, vitamins and feed/mineral buckets for dairy, beef, sheep and youngstock, including Dry Cow and breeder formulations.
• NutriOpt Feed Rationing Programme Comprehensive dairy rationing system for formulating cost-effective, balanced rations with sufficient levels of essential nutrients, delivered through NWF Feed Specialists.
• Forage Analysis Service Full forage analysis service for Fresh Grass, Grass Silage, Maize, Whole-crop, Hay and Haylage with 24-hour results turnaround from the on-site laboratory at Wardle, maintained and quality assured by Trouw Nutrition.
• Diet Sieving Service Technique developed with Trouw Nutrition that assesses physical breakdown of diets and compares feed to targets using a modified Penn State Separator System adapted for UK forages.
• Dairy Costings Service Business efficiency analysis service with graphing tools to assess yield output, milk from forage and margin over concentrates, with league tables produced every four months.
• Soil Analysis Service Soil testing service for accurate assessment of nutrient levels including pH, P, K, Mg and trace elements for grassland, arable and forage crops, with kits available from £15.
• Transition Cow Programme Complete nutritional programme designed to take dairy cows successfully from drying off through to productive and healthy early lactation.
• NWF Academy Professional training programme producing qualified farm advisors through comprehensive modules covering ration formulation, animal nutrition and physiology, forage management, youngstock management and sales training.

Quantifiable outcome

• Feed output increased from 50,000 to 580,000 tonnes per annum in 10 years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jim Peet AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2016Acquired business operating at Longtown site, Sandysike Mill. Part of NWF's expansion strategy to strengthen presence in Cumbria region.
• Barenbrug UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrass seed partner that grows, blends and packages Champion & Ultra grass seed mixtures for NWF Agriculture. Barenbrug are internationally respected grass breeders dedicated to ensuring farmers achieve maximum return from grass growth.
• Trouw NutritioncoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for diet sieving research project modifying the Penn State Separator System for UK forages. Trouw Nutrition also maintains and quality assures NWF's on-site laboratory at Wardle for forage analysis.
• Müller UK & IrelandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor milk processor customer. NWF Agriculture supplies dairy feed to TSDG (Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group) farmers supplying Müller, with all NWF compound feeds meeting Gold Standard soya requirements from March 2026.
• New Breed UK LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquired share capital in July 2015. Operates under NWF Feeds business alongside NWF Agriculture.
• Stuart Family (Raby's Farm)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partnership at Bilsborrow, Lancashire. Stuart family ran blending site since 2009; NWF partnered to supply ruminant compound feeds and blends through this location from August 2016.
• Cogent BreedingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership in NWF Beef Bulletin Edition 1 for industry content collaboration.
• AB VistaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership in NWF Beef Bulletin Edition 1 for industry content collaboration.
• Scotmin NutritionminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerManufactures NWF Mineral Bucket Range including Dry Cow, Cattle GP, Protein Energy, Cattle Breeder, Ewe Breeder, and High Mag products under NWF brand.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mole Valley Feed Solutions: Mole Valley Feed Solutions is a UK compound feed manufacturer serving dairy, beef and sheep farmers through a regional direct-sales model with on-farm nutritional advice — closely analogous to NWF Agriculture's specialist ruminant positioning and field-sales approach.
• ForFarmers: ForFarmers is one of the largest feed producers in Europe, offering compound feeds, specialty feeds and advisory services to ruminant, swine and poultry farmers across the UK and continental Europe — directly comparable to NWF Agriculture's UK compound and blend business.
• Carr's Group: Carr's Group manufactures and supplies compound animal feeds and feed blocks in the UK and internationally, primarily to ruminant producers — a direct peer with overlapping compound-feed manufacturing and complementary feed-block products.
• AB Agri (Associated British Foods): AB Agri manufactures compound animal feeds and provides nutrition and advisory services to ruminant and monogastric producers in the UK and globally through brands such as AB Vista and Premier Nutrition — a direct competitor with broader species coverage than NWF.
• Wynnstay Group: Wynnstay is an AIM-listed UK manufacturer and supplier of animal feeds (compounds, blends and straights), fertilisers and farm supplies, with significant exposure to dairy, beef and sheep farmers in Wales and the Welsh borders — directly comparable in product mix and customer profile.
• Harbro Group: Harbro is a Scottish feed manufacturer producing compound and specialty feeds for ruminants with strong on-farm nutritional services — a direct peer with similar focus on UK dairy, beef and sheep producers.

Emerging players

• Alltech: Alltech is a global animal nutrition company providing feed supplements, premixes and on-farm support across species. Its UK ruminant supplements and Yea-Sacc/yeast technologies overlap with NWF's branded Rumen Pak supplement range and serve similar dairy and beef customers.
• Volac International: Volac is a UK-based specialist in young animal nutrition (calf milk replacers) and forage silage inoculants — adjacent to NWF's rumen supplement and silage additive portfolios, with overlap on the dairy farmer customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Trouw Nutrition (Nutreco): Trouw Nutrition is a global animal nutrition business within Nutreco offering premixes, specialty feeds and nutritional services to multiple species. It is also a key technology partner to NWF (Diet Sieving, forage lab QA), making it both an incumbent competitor and an enabler.
• Cargill Animal Nutrition: Cargill is a global animal nutrition provider offering compound feeds, premixes and feed additives across all major livestock species. Its UK ruminant feed business competes with NWF on dairy rations while also serving monogastric and aquaculture markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 NWF Agriculture