Presentation to NZ Feed Manufacturers Assn Industry Seminar 13 Nov 2013 Matt Ford, Acct Mgr, Dominion Salt Ltd

Dominion Salt History 1942 George Skellerup visited Lake Grassmere 1949 initial production of salt (~8T) 1973 Construction of vacuum salt refinery at Mt Maunganui 1974 Construction of vacuum refinery at Lake Grassmere 1976 Initial exports of salt 1977 Pharmaceutical salt production Summit Salt blocks around since 1940’s. George Waldemar Skellerup ( )

Salt Users in NZ Agriculture (Fertilizer and Animal Supplements, Feed mills) Skins and Hides Animal Licks Dairy (Cheese, Butter) Casings Water Treatment Fishing Pharmaceutical Pulp and Paper Food

Where Do We Produce and Manufacture our Salt? MOUNT MAUNGANUI Corporate Head Office Pharmaceutical PDV processing Solar processing Summit Salt Products LAKE GRASSMERE Natural Salt production PDV processing Solar processing Summit Salt Products Table Salt - C Skell Flaky Salt Production

AgSector Salt Sales Pacific Brand (Industrial) – Bulk Salt, 1000/1200Kg bulk bags, 25kg sacks – To fertilizer companies, mineral suppliers, stock food manufacturers, concentrate/premix suppliers – Mainly truck and trailer unit deliveries. Summit Brand (Retail) – Salt blocks, loose salt licks, salt in 25kg sacks – Only sold through rural retailers – Single pallet distribution

Bag Configuration / Grade Types 1.0 /1.2T bulk bags 25kg bags (1.2T/pallet) Solar salt varies little chemically, although have a wide range of crystal sizes available Pallets are returnable on a charge/credit basis

Salt in Agriculture Sodium (Na) is vital for animals but is not necessary for plant mineral nutrition Low sodium in the diet is production limiting The soil in many regions of NZ is naturally low in sodium Salt supplementation in low sodium environments pays: – In a dairy trial at Waikete Valley in 2000, $1 of salt returned $33 of additional milk, in $1:$70 (AgResearch - Ruakura Research Centre) – For sheep and beef on lucerne (1973/4), $1 of salt would return $10 of extra production in 2013 (Ag Research Wairaki)

Salt is critical to a nutritionally balanced diet: Sodium is required for absorption of glucose and most amino acids, and low Na can lead to reduced phosphorus and magnesium absorption Chloride is required for hydrochloric acid production Supplementing livestock rations with salt will encourage optimum weight gain, milk production and performance

Na Levels in animal diets on the farm – where do compound feeds and blends fit? Na ContentStatusFeed < 0.02%deficientPKE, maize, lucerne, kikuyu, grain… marginalClover ryegrass pastures across much of NZ +0.15%sufficientClover/ryegrass pastures in some coastal areas +0.15%sufficientClover/ryegrass pastures fertilised with salt % optimum for dairy "Dry matter intake and milk yield response over a range of dietary sodium concentrations were curvilinear, with maximum performance at % Na (dry basis)" - NRC

Head Office & N.I. Refinery Totara Street, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand PO Box 4249, Mount Maunganui South Phone: , Fax: Lake Grassmere & S.I. Refinery Marlborough, New Zealand PO Box 81, Seddon Phone: , Fax: