The Source

Feeding Britain’s cattle and reducing waste – how one feed company is making the best of by-products from British food production.

Once harvested from fields within around 50 miles of the plant in Stratford-Upon-Avon, the tiny seeds are heated and pressed, removing 85% of the seeds’ oil.  Currently, the Red Tractor Assured rapeseed oil is used as an ingredient for the likes of food manufacturers and restaurants, and will also soon be on supermarket shelves. 

For the consumer, rapeseed oil has the lowest saturated fat levels of all vegetable oils, and is rich in vitamin E. It also contains high levels of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fats, which help the body to absorb vitamins and are an excellent source of energy.

Used in savoury and sweet recipes alike, it doesn’t burn when shallow or deep fried, baked, or roasted. Rapeseed oil can also be used in dips, sauces, and mayonnaise. 

Remember the 85% of the oil that was pressed out of the seeds to make rapeseed oil for the food industry?  Well, the leftovers are not wasted – they’re made into feed for beef and dairy cattle.

After pressing the rapeseed, the residual ‘cake’ still contains high levels of high-quality oil, which means high energy content for cattle feed.  This ‘cake’ is treated using a unique and safe patented process, which increases the level of protein and energy that cattle can use. The specially treated cake is then cooled and is sold to cattle farmers all year round under the trade name “Novapro”. 

This NovaPro cattle feed can significantly increase milk production, providing an additional 1.7 litres of milk per cow per day produced compared to a soya and rapemeal extract diet - that’s more lovely British milk from British feed!

The environment also feels the benefits of this alternative feed; NovaPro has a low environmental footprint, low feed miles, and can replace imported soymeal. And happily, it can also reduce feed costs for the farmer compared to soya-based feeds.  It’s a win-win-win for British farmers, British milk drinkers and the environment.



Alongside a wide range of other products, KW Feeds provides NovaPro to dairy farmers across the UK. These farmers turn what would otherwise have been waste into highly nutritious British dairy products, enjoyed by the great British public every day.

Not only is KW Feeds a sustainable business and proud partner of Love British Food – they are helping Britain’s farmers to produce food for our table more sustainably too.