New Centenary Mineral Range –  ‘Designed for Wales

In 2005 CCF launched the Centenary Range; initially the range only contained 4 products and was well received by customers.
For 2007, after an extensive mineral review CCF are pleased to introduce a complete new range of 11 minerals.

The New Centenary Mineral range has been developed by Richard Lewis. Richard Joined CCF as Trading and Specialist Products Manager in August. He has 16 years experience in mineral and animal nutrition and has developed the new range to maximise animal health and performance taking into account forage mineral profiles from all over Wales.

Using the Minlink system from Trouw Nutrition, Richard has looked at bio-availability and raw material selection to ensure the new Centenary range has been formulated to give maximum nutrient absorption.

The new Centenary Range now contains Copper Cuprex as standard across all its cattle minerals. Cuprex is a unique blend of 5 copper sources designed to maximise copper absorption and overcome the challenges posed by Molybdenum , iron, sulphur and other antagonists found in welsh forages.

The Centenary Range takes no short cuts, with that in mind it has reduced the levels of Manganese in the whole range . Manganese is typically high in welsh forages and waters, being very unavailable it has a tendency to increase the iron oxidative loading in the diet further affecting copper absorption

Also what is apparent from the increased use of un mineralised feeds on farm , maize silages, whole crops, crimped grain and moist feeds, is that they all have low levels of vitamins and trace elements, typically 50% that of  grass forage . To Balance this shortfall the New Centenary range has elevated levels of Vitamin E and trace elements needed to boost the animals immune system.  

“Additional vitamin E in the dry cow diet had a major impact on reducing  retained cleansings “        Roger Lewis Poyerston Farm Pembroke

One concept being pioneered by CCF staff is that incorrect mineral selection leads to poor performance and waste, to ensure correct advice CCF has full use of the Minlink system. Minlink is a unique computer prediction system, its aim is simple, to match the diet with the correct mineral.

“Using the Minlink system to check diets , has saved both mineral Volume and Cost whilst optimising performance”     Francis Morris  Church Hill farm Wiston  Pembrokeshire  

Richard’s Challenge to all customers is simple. Over 90% of all diets currently being fed are incorrectly balanced in Mineral and Trace element supply this has significant cost implications, let us check your diet and optimise your requirements.  Contact Richard Lewis on 01437 563 441 to arrange your free mineral appraisal

As the lambing season is under way we have noticed a trend on some farms to use more straight feeds or even reduce the level of concentrate intake. Care must be taken to ensure correct vitamin E supplementation in the Pre lambing diet so with that in mind the New Centenary Pre lamb mineral has elevated levels of 4000 iu /kg.

Trials conducted by research farms, highlighted that by ensuring sufficient vitamin E in the pre-lambing diet, it was possible to improve colostrums quality and  lamb vigour , halving the time taken for lambs to stand and drink . Centenary Pre Lamb is designed to be fed at 25 grams per ewe per day.

To ensure correct mineral supplementation contact your local branch to arrange a free mineral and diet appraisal.