Friday, 13 January 2012

To whom it may concern,

Temporary Suspension of Supply of MineralBoost

The MineralBoost range of stock feed supplements has been successfully used with PKE and other cattle feeds over the past two years. Our customers, with the use of our MineralBoost products, have achieved improved productivity and greater efficiencies due to accurate measurement of feed rates, balanced nutrient supply and ease of use of dispensing necessary minerals. This is evidenced by the significant increase in the use of our products over the past 2 years without any material health concerns.

However, there has recently been an unusual number of salmonella cases reported amongst cattle and there is currently speculation in the market place as to its cause. The scientific process to determine the exact cause is complicated as there are many variables and contributing factors which can trigger an increase in salmonella, which is a naturally existing and reoccurring bacterium in the environment.

To date based on scientific research, we know that our MineralBoost range of products is not a source of salmonella, and no definitive link has been established between cattle having contracted salmonella and the use of MineralBoost products.

Our primary concern however is the wellbeing of our customers and their herds, and we are ourselves working to establish the cause of these latest outbreaks of salmonella. We have been in lengthy consultation with MAF, Fonterra, the NZ Vet association and various leading ruminant nutritionists. The current advice we have received has been to simply reduce feeding rates, and that advice was communicated to the market and our customers in our previous communication dated 3 January 2012.

In the interests of our customers however, which we consider paramount, we have decided to take the additional and overly cautious step of temporarily suspending supply of the MineralBoost range of products while we investigate the situation further based on credible scientific research. We believe that this is the only prudent course of action for a responsible company to take while unhelpful speculation in the market place exists.

The advice we have received is for farmers currently using our MineralBoost products to gradually reduce rates of feed, as previously advised, until current supplies are utilised. The same advice suggests that it is not advantageous to immediately cease the use of mineral supplements as an abrupt change of diet could have other adverse and unforeseen consequences on stock health. Information on correct feed rates and best practice is available by calling our customer helpline on 0800 466 736.

We are currently engaging leading nutritionists and research institutions to fully understand the current situation. Collaborative trials and further investigation has already begun and we will advise our customers further once more is understood and the advice of our experts is more certain.

The MineralBoost range of products has been popular amongst farmers for its positive attributes and we intend to work with the industry to overcome these issues to ensure we are able strengthen the MineralBoost brand and continue to provide farmers with innovative cost effective solutions.