A key link in the food chain

A dependable supply of high-quality fodder is vital to keep livestock businesses ticking, which is where Fodder Link comes in.

Brett Carsburg, Commodities and Logistics Manager at Smithfield Cattle Company, has been buying straw and cereal hay from Fodder Link for about three years. The company has two properties – Sapphire feedlot at Yelarbon near Goondiwindi and Smithfield at Proston — both of which have around 20,000 head of cattle. 

“Cameron understands what we need. He pays attention to detail, he listens, and he makes transactions as simple as possible,” said Mr Carsburg.

“Above all else, we need good quality at a good price but execution is also key. You can have the best hay trader, but if the logistics and execution are messy, that makes my life difficult. We need a product to be where it should be, when it should be, and we work in an industry that is volatile and never runs on straight lines. Each week, things pop up and there are hurdles to jump and Fodder Link works with us to overcome those challenges.” 

Growing up on a cattle property between Rockhampton and Mackay has given Cameron Angel a solid background in breeding, feeder cattle and the livestock industry.

One lesson he learned is the importance of livestock producers being able to access the right type of feed, at the right quality and price, at the right time. With this in mind, Mr Angel launched Fodder Link in 2015.

Over the past nine years Fodder Link has grown to be one of the country’s most successful interstate feed supplier networks, bringing together fodder producers, feedlots, graziers and the dairy industry who all rely on a dependable supply of high-quality feed.

“I have supplementary fed on farm and in feedlots, so I understand the process. I understand performance and we work hard to have a clear understanding of our customers’ needs. It’s our job to ensure they receive the right product in a timely fashion,” said Mr Angel.

“Fodder Link sources roughage and fodder from thousands of suppliers nationwide. We have arrangements with a series of freight operators and we have an expert logistics team, managed by Helen Armstrong, that provides a bespoke service to customers. We have great freight networks and every day, we choose the most efficient freight provider to transport hay from A to B so customers know delivery is guaranteed.

Through a practical, boots-on-the-ground approach to doing business, Mr Angel and his experienced team of inspectors at Fodder Link have established an extensive network of growers across Australia who mostly supply hay and straw.

“In the beginning, I travelled around different areas and whenever I saw a hayshed, I’d drive down the driveway of that property, meet the farmer, shake hands and build a rapport,” said Mr Angel.

“We still take that approach. We have inspectors in Horsham in Victoria, Wagga Wagga in New South Wales and we have people on the ground in Queensland. Our inspectors will spend a couple of weeks in a hay-growing area, meeting local growers and recruiting new suppliers. That’s the most effective way of doing business – there are no shortcuts.”

Mr Angel creates a win-win situation for Fodder Link’s growers and fodder consumers. Growers are provided with a contract that brings certainty of guaranteed payment and clarity around bale weights, how bales are stored to maintain product quality, and when product will be delivered.

Customers who buy from Fodder Link also have peace-of-mind knowing that the business has rigorous procedures to ensure the feed it supplies is good quality and fit for purpose.

“We go on site when hay is baled or in the shed to inspect and grade it. We inspect every facet – the appearance, we look at how the product is stored, the integrity of the bales to ensure they are transportable, we feed test the nutritional value of the hay and we grade it,” explained Mr Angel.

Fodder Link also offers external feed testing services through their own lab supported by Rock River Laboratory and can carry out NIR testing so customers have a complete nutritional picture of what is in the feed they are buying. This information can enhance the development of ration formulations and feeding plans.

Fodder Link also collects and analyses the Commodity Vendor Declaration on all batches of hay and straw submitted by a grower. Commodity Vendor Declarations officially list all chemicals applied, affirming date of application for all.

“We receive this declaration before we complete a contract with a grower to ensure a product is fit for purpose for the customer,” said Mr Angel.

“We genuinely care for our customers and about finding the best products for a customer and we can offer a range of products depending on what they want to achieve. They may choose a high-energy diet which is more grain-based and we can complement that. Or customers may be adding hay to feed when they really only need straw, which is a lower price point. We work closely with every customer to provide them with the best solution.”