Volac Wilmar unveils upgraded ROI tool to boost dairy farm profitability

UK – Volac Wilmar Feed Ingredients has launched an upgraded version of its Return on Investment (ROI) Calculator, designed to help dairy farmers and nutritionists evaluate the financial and nutritional benefits of rumen-protected fat supplementation in dairy rations worldwide. 

The tool, known as ROI Calculator 2.0, enables users to input their own herd data for real-time insights into profitability, feed efficiency and nutrient digestibility.

According to the company, the enhanced calculator builds on its original performance-to-financial correlation model with more comprehensive datasets and analytical features. It aims to help farmers balance short-term cash flow needs with long-term herd performance.

“The Return on Investment Calculator 2.0 allows farmers anywhere in the world to input their own herd data, such as milk prices, feed costs and fat supplement pricing, for an instant projection on profitability and nutrient digestibility,” explains Paul Fransen, Developer and Business Development Manager for Volac Wilmar Feed Ingredients. 

“By tailoring recommendations to individual farm economics, the tool empowers producers to strike a balance between cash flow constraints and long-term herd performance.”

Expanded capabilities

Volac Wilmar, a joint venture between UK-based Volac and Singapore’s Wilmar International, has combined Volac’s nutritional expertise with Wilmar’s global sourcing and logistics capacity since its establishment in 2015. 

Its Megalac range of rumen-protected fat supplements remains a key brand for dairy producers seeking to enhance feed energy density.

The new ROI Calculator 2.0 draws from two meta-analyses by Dr. Adam Lock’s research group at Michigan State University, which consolidated findings from over 65 peer-reviewed studies.

These datasets underpin key inputs such as expected milk yield, milk composition, and feed efficiency.

The upgraded tool enables users to analyse hydrogenated fatty acid products, calcium salts, and high-C16 rumen-protected fat supplements at flexible inclusion rates. 

It also offers a suite of 15 customizable graphs covering metrics such as return on investment, nitrogen efficiency, feed efficiency, and nutrient digestibility, providing users with a clearer picture of both immediate margins and long-term performance.

“This allows users much greater economic insights to compare cash flow impacts with longer-term efficiency gains,” Fransen adds.

Supporting data-backed farm decisions

As global dairy farmers continue to navigate volatile feed costs and fluctuating milk prices, Volac Wilmar believes the ROI Calculator 2.0 will serve as an important decision-support tool. 

It enables producers to evaluate which fat supplement formulations deliver the greatest value for their herds while maintaining nutritional balance and profitability.

“The ROI Calculator 2.0 doesn’t just give farmers numbers – it gives them actionable insights that show how fat supplementation strategies can improve milk yield, cow health and financial returns,” says Fransen. 

“Every input must deliver a value, and this tool is going to allow users to evaluate which rumen-protected fat supplement will deliver the most value to their individual herd. Fat supplements are highly energy-dense and different fatty acid formulations drive different aspects of production.”

The ROI Calculator 2.0 is available free of charge online, providing an accessible and data-driven approach for farmers seeking to strengthen their feeding strategies and boost overall dairy profitability.

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