Meet the Expert Behind Your Feed: Interview with Senior Nutritionist Cameron Wright

This month, we had the pleasure of sitting down with our Senior Nutritionist, Cameron Wright. With over 25 years of experience in the stock feed industry and a deep well of knowledge in animal nutrition, Cameron is a cornerstone of our Nutrition Team.

Come along as we take a closer look at Cameron’s career, insights, and actionable advice about animal nutrition.

What is your background, and how has it shaped your approach to animal nutrition?

Growing up on a farm, I’ve always had an interest in livestock and farm animals. In the early 90s, I enrolled at the University of New England in Armidale, where I completed a Bachelor of Rural Science. The course covered a broad range of topics, encouraging a wide-based consideration of a system regarding farming and animal production. By the end of the course, I focused on animal production, science and nutrition.

The various roles I have had in my career have helped further develop my knowledge in animal nutrition.

What drew you to becoming a nutritionist, and what keeps you passionate about the industry?

My early interest in livestock, reinforced by my university education, naturally led me to animal nutrition. I enjoy contributing to the development of feeds that help farmers achieve their production goals. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the feed I’ve worked on directly impact the growth and performance of animals.

How do you continue learning and evolving in your role?

I like to stay on top of the latest research and developments in animal nutrition by attending seminars and conferences, and reading up on recent findings. I also find great value in learning from the experiences of others—whether it’s colleagues, fellow nutritionists, or farmers. These real-world insights are often just as valuable as academic research.

What do you enjoy about being a nutritionist?

One of the rewarding aspects of my role is formulating custom feeds to solve problems for our customers. We take the time to understand each customer’s goals and challenges. It’s fulfilling to apply my knowledge to solve problems and then see the tangible results, whether it’s improved growth, better production, or enhanced animal health.

Cameron at the 36th Annual Australian Poultry Science Symposium in Sydney.

Over the past year, what advancements in animal nutrition have stood out the most to you?

I’ve found the progress in feed-based additives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions particularly interesting. There’s a growing focus on understanding the broader farming system and how nutrition can be used to lower environmental impact.

How does nutrition influence on-farm productivity?

Nutrition, being the supply of nutrients, is an important aspect of the growth and production of farm animals. It needs to be considered along with other important aspects of the animal, such as health, management, digestion, reproduction, welfare and more. Furthermore, for the farm to be productive/profitable, the economics of the animals and the sustainability of the farm need to be considered.

How can farmers tell if their animals’ nutritional needs are being met?

A reliable way to assess whether an animal's nutritional needs are being met is by observing its growth, productivity, and overall health. Additional indicators include behaviour, visual appearance, and consistent feed and water intake, and don’t be afraid to get down and dirty by observing their manure.

What factors do you consider when building a custom ration?

The first thing to consider when we develop a custom ration is listening to the farmer’s request and their objectives. We also find out how the ration will be fed to the animal, and the likely intake of the ration. Afterwards, we match the nutrient levels in the ration to the expectations of the animals, along with the farmer’s expectation of the appearance of the ration. We also look at the production of the feed based on the ingredient levels, analysing whether the ingredients contribute favourably to the intended animal.

Cameron at the Herefords Northern NSW Youth Group.

Are there any innovations in animal nutrition that you’re excited about?

I’m particularly interested in the ongoing research into the digestive tract – specifically the interactions between microorganisms and nutrient absorption. A deeper understanding of this relationship between the microorganisms, digestion of feed and supply to the animal can lead to improvements in the health of the animal. This could possibly lead to a reduction in the use of medications, greenhouse gas emissions and more efficient use of nutrients from the feed.

What have been some memorable moments working at Riverina Stockfeeds?

Some memorable moments for me include collaborating with the Nutrition Team to look at the improvements that have been made in the products and providing that information to our customers. Another one is also seeing Riverina Stockfeeds grow as a company which has allowed us to improve on the services we can offer to our customers.

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