About Us
Established in 2023 based on years of experience gained at Edinburgh University, Ontrak Labs uses a unique description of feed and forages based on our proprietary in vitro gas production technique (IVGPT) that enables measuring the rate and extent of carbohydrates and protein degradation in the rumen. Using this unique description of the feedstuffs, diets can be formulated using our ration formulation software Ontrak Plus. This dynamic, mechanistic, whole animal model, simulates the ruminant digestion process which allows accurate feed intake prediction (+/- 0.5 kg DM) and animal performance. Furthermore, it will aid in reducing feed wastage and environmental discharge.
Mr Andrew Holland, Managing Director
Andrew Holland, as a farmer’s son, was raised on a Cheshire dairy farm through the 70’s & 80’s and became student of the year in 1991 having spent 6 years in further education after leaving school. He was then employed by the Co-Operative Wholesale Society on a 650 cow herd in Shropshire where his focus on feed, forage and nutrition was further developed. Returning home, a farming partnership with his parents was formed where, the 180 strong Holstein / Friesian herd achieved a 10,000 litre average which was managed alongside a strong potato retail business. Events evolved over a number of years which then moved him into a fully-employed position with a feed manufacturer where he became their ruminant product manager.
In 2005 Ontrak Nutrition was formed from the desire to form a truly, non-sales, independent consultancy business. Ontrak to this day specialises in ruminant nutrition dealing directly on farm with farmers, farm managers, estate managers and investors in order to provide their dairy businesses with the correct strategy in order to achieve the lowest cost of production. Understanding how forages are digested in the rumen and what feeds are required to balance these forages is the foundation of building consistency in any dairy business – and this is the focus. The thirst for knowledge and on-farm performance resulted in his recognition of analysing ingredients and forages via reliable methods such as the in vitro gas production technique developed at Edinburgh University.
In addition to this, his other passion, and interest, is that of milking parlour design, setup and efficiency.
Ontrak Nutrition has taken Andrew across the globe and whilst his core clients are based in the UK, specifically Lancashire, Cheshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, South Wales and the South West, he has, over the years, spent time advising and researching in Ireland, France, Italy, the U.S, Eastern Europe and Africa. Andrew is also Operations Director for a large farming business involving dairy, arable and potatoes in Poland.
Dr Virgilio Ambriz-Vilchis, Technical Manager
Virgilio is an experienced ruminant nutritionist with specialist expertise in evaluating and modelling feeding strategies for commercial dairy and beef cattle to ensure healthy, sustainable high performance.
His work in the livestock industry over 10 years has given him a wealth of knowledge, understanding and insight in ruminant nutrition, health, welfare, and animal production, in the UK, the USA and Mexico.
Virgilio’s particular areas of interest and research concern the role of ruminant nutrition on health, welfare, behaviour and performance, on wastage, and on the rumen environment, primarily in dairy and beef cattle. His modelling of biological systems focusses on aspects of physiology and nutrition in ruminants, and the development and application of new technologies. His work has led to the development of a highly effective ration formulation programme and rumen simulation model used as a decision support tool for ruminants in diverse productive settings.
Virgilio’s expertise also includes wide knowledge of laboratory techniques for feedstuff analysis, for the characterisation of novel ingredients and the use of NIRS technology for feed and forage evaluation.
Mr Loren Peterson
Loren is an Electrical and Computer/Software Engineer from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With over 35 years of experience, he has a wealth of knowledge and broad experience in Software development in agriculture, animal research and feed formulation, including US patented formulation software #6681717