Patrick Lewis
Managing Director
Feed Stock Supply Chain Management and Trading
Gamber buys and sells a variety of feedstocks suitable for animals or AD plants (both conventional and organic) throughout the country including:
- Stock Feed potatoes
- Maize
- Beet – fodder and energy
- Straw
Potatoes
Anareobic Digestor
Stockfeed Potatoes
- These are surplus, damaged, or undersized potatoes not suitable for human consumption.
- Often sourced from farms, packhouses, or processors.
Use:
Animal feed: High-energy feed, especially for cattle and pigs. Usually chopped or mashed.
AD Plants: Easily digestible carbohydrate source for biogas production.
Benefits:
Animal feed:
High in energy (Starch) and palatability.
Can replace cereals in ruminant diets.
AD Feedstock:
High methane yield due to high sugar/starch content.
Readily available in certain regions like Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Cambridgeshire.
Organic Suitability:
Can be used if sourced from certified organic farms or processors, depending on regulations.
Maize
- Grown widely across the UK, especially in the South West, Midlands, and East Anglia.
- Harvested as whole-crop silage for animals or as a high-yield feedstock for AD
Use:
Animal feed: Staple for dairy and beef cattle; provides energy and supports high milk/meat yields.
AD Plants: One of the most consistent, high-energy substrates in the UK.
Benefits:
Animal feed:
High dry matter and starch content.
Improves rumen efficiency and feed conversion.
AD Feedstock:
Reliable crop with high biogas/methane yield per hetare.
Acts as a ‘basefeedstock’ in AD plant recipes.
Organic Suitability:
Must be grown without synthetic fertilisers or pesticides. Organic maize can be used in both organic feed and AD systems with regulatory compliance.
Beet - Fodder and Energy
- Includes fodder beet (for animals) and energy beet (a hybrid bred for high sugar yield for AD).
- Grown mainly in Eastern England, parts of Scotland, and Wales.
Use:
Animal Feed: High-energy root crop for cattle and sheep.
AD Plants: Excellent sugar-rich crop ideal for increasing gas yields.
Benefits:
Animal feed:
High sugar content boosts weight gain and milk yield.
Useful winter feed – stores well.
AD Feedstock:
High in soluble carbohydrates, resulting in very high gas output per tonne.
Can be ensiled or used fresh.
Organic Suitability:
Can be organically grown and used in both organic livestock systems and organic-certified AD plants.
Straw (Wheat, Barley, Oat, etc)
- A by-product of cereal production, available throughout the UK.
- Typically baled and stored dry.
Use:
Animal feed: Not nutritious but used as roughage or bedding.
AD Plants: Used in combination with high-moisture feedstocks; provides fibre and carbon.
Benefits:
Animal feed:
Useful as a fibre source in high-concentrate rations.
Essential for dry cow diets to prevent over-conditioning.
AD Feedstock:
High in lignocellulose – contributes to carbon content, balances nitrogen-rich inputs like slurry or food waste.
Can improve C:N ratio, critical for stable AD digestion.
Pre-treatment (e.g., chopping or alkaline treatment) improves biodegradability.
Organic Suitability:
Must be grown without synthetic fertilisers or pesticides. Organic maize can be used in both organic feed and AD systems with regulatory compliance.
Organic straw must come from organic cereal crops if used in organic systems (especially for bedding/feed).
Ready to Talk Feedstocks?
Get in touch today for pricing, logistics, or technical support. Whether you're looking to boost livestock performance or maximise gas yields from your digester, we can help. Enquire NowStrategic & Regional Value
- These feedstocks support regional circular economies, reduce waste, and integrate well into mixed-farming systems.
- Suitable for diversification – livestock, cropping, and AD plants can all use overlapping resources.
Summary Benefits
| Feedstock | Animal Feed Strength | AD Energy Yield | Organic Use Possible | Regional Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potatoes | ✱ High | ✱ High | ✔︎ if certified | Strong in root‑crop districts |
| Maize | ✱ High | ✱ Very High | ✔︎ with organic permit | Widespread |
| Beet | ✱ High | ✱ Top tier | ✔︎ if organically grown | East/Wales/Scotland |
| Straw | ✱ Low nutritive but essential | ✱ Low energy but key for balance | ✔︎ organic cereals | Every cereal farm |
scroll to see full table >>
OUR STORY OF GROWING POTATOES
A step by step guide to growing potatoes
This is a beautifully shot short film presented by Patrick Lewis (Managing Director) Gamber.
The film explains the intricate production process from Seed to customer.