Olam Agri launches Tru Value cattle feed

NIGERIA – Olam Agri has launched Tru Value, its first cattle feed range in Nigeria, targeting beef fattening and dairy production as the company expands its animal nutrition business beyond poultry and aquaculture.

The product was officially launched in Kaduna, with Nigeria’s Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, describing the launch as a significant development for the country’s livestock sector.

Maiha said scientifically formulated feed was essential to improving animal growth, milk production, fertility, health and profitability, particularly as the government works to modernise livestock production and develop commercially viable value chains.

“Feed availability all year round, whether fodder, crop residue or concentrate, is the cornerstone of any national framework for peace, prosperity and sustainable livestock management,” Maiha said.

He added that genetics alone could not deliver higher livestock productivity, with management and nutrition also determining how effectively animals realise their genetic potential.

According to the minister, Tru Value could support commercial feedlot systems by improving feed conversion, accelerating weight gain and reducing the time required to finish cattle.

The government is working to establish modern feedlots, abattoirs and meat-processing infrastructure as part of efforts to make Nigeria’s red meat sector safer, more traceable and commercially competitive.

Maiha urged Olam Agri to make the feed accessible to commercial farmers, cooperatives, pastoral communities and smallholders, while supporting farmer training, feeding demonstrations and partnerships with research and regulatory institutions.

Olam Agri expands into cattle nutrition

Sharad Gupta, president and global head of Integrated Feed & Protein at Olam Agri, said the launch marked the company’s expansion from poultry and aquaculture feed into cattle nutrition in Nigeria.

The Tru Value range comprises three products:

Tru Value Beef Pellet, designed to support efficient weight gain and shorter fattening cycles.

Tru Value Beef Plus Pellet, targeting accelerated growth and improved finishing.

Tru Value Dairy Pellet, formulated to support higher milk yields and herd productivity.

Gupta said the range was developed to address two key challenges reported by cattle farmers: inconsistent feed quality and unreliable supply.

The products are formulated to provide balanced nutrition and consistent quality across every bag.

Gupta said around 98-99% of raw materials used in Olam Agri’s Nigerian feed production are sourced locally, while the company will combine its existing distribution network with cattle feed dealers to reach farmers across the country.

“We believe that the best model is to drive ruthless efficiency in the entire value chain and make sure that the price paid by consumers is as low as possible,” Gupta said.

Gupta said Nigeria is the first market for the company’s expansion into cattle feed and that Olam Agri sees opportunities to help livestock farmers improve performance, strengthen food security and create greater value across beef and dairy value chains.

He added that Olam Agri’s access to wheat bran from its milling operations provided an advantage in producing ruminant feed.

Sameer Wadhera, vice president at Olam Agri, said Nigeria’s estimated 24 million cattle represent a significant opportunity for improving food security and livestock-sector growth.

He said low animal productivity remains a challenge, partly because of poor feeding practices and inconsistent availability and quality of feed ingredients.

The company said it had worked with farmers and industry stakeholders to understand constraints affecting cattle production before developing the Tru Value range.

The launch comes as Nigeria seeks to increase the productivity of its livestock sector and strengthen domestic meat and milk supply.

The government’s National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy targets increasing the livestock sector’s output value from US$32 billion to US$74 billion by 2035.

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