NZ Dairy Summer 2020

34 | nz dairy Alltech is proud to support Sgt Dan Stockfoods with a range of well proven solutions FEEDSAFENZ » Sgt Dan Stockfoods S gt Dan Stockfoods is an unusual name for a company making premium pellets and nuts for stock, but not in Gore where ‘Sgt Dan’ is synonymous with Southland’s grain industry going back generations. ‘Sgt Dan’ is an iconic figure on the side of the town’s historic mill, where Fleming’s Creamota was once made. The boy with the rifle over his shoulder originally served as Creamota’s trademark. When three Southland investors took over the mill 15 years ago for stockfood production, they decided it was only fitting to adopt Sgt Dan who has now been part of the mill for 105 years! The historic mill is still the biggest building in town and the production lines are busier than ever today, producing stockfoods from premium South- land grains.FeedSafe accredited, Sgt Dan Stock- foodsmanufactures a large range of high quality feeds for calves, dairy, sheep and deer, goats, pigs, poultry and equine. “We’re passionate about what we do and sup- porting our local farmers,” says Sgt Dan Stockfoods Managing Direct Daryl Moyes. “Flemings built this mill on the quality of Southland grain. While they used oats and we use mostly barley and wheat, the quality of the grain we purchase from Southland is still as good as any in Australasia.” At any one time, some 3500 tonnes of grain is stored on site, equivalent to one month’s supply of raw material. Around two-thirds of the mill’s feed production relies on grain sourced from the region. Since Sgt Dan Stockfoods’ inception in 2005, production has expanded considerablyand the team has grown from three to a staff of 14. The company was launched to fill a need for quality stockfeed following liquidation of previous mill operators, Southern Grain and Seed. With the lines running again under Sgt Dan, demand has soared. “Initially the business was based on making calf, sheep and deer feed but now the core of the busi- ness is dairy feed,” Daryl says. “Fifteen years ago, we never envisaged how dairying would become so big in Southland. We had the goal of making 5000 Sgt Dan still keeping watch over Kim Newth tonnes of feed in our first year but we did that in two years and are now making 25,000 tonnes a year. Things have dramatically changed on the back of dairying.” A new pellet press, installed eight years ago, has enabled the company to keep up with demand but this is now starting to come under pressure at peak months of the year, (October/November). Another big upgrade is in the pipeline for next year. “We plan to put in another press so that we can run two, side by side. We can make 10 tonnes an hour at the moment but hope to boost that to 14 or 15 tonnes an hour next year.” Sgt Dan Stockfoods’ processes are stringently audited by AsureQuality, and meet the Feed- Safe Code of Good Manufacturing Practice. Raw materials are of a high standard and equipment is routinely cleaned between production batches. Sgt Dan Stockfoods was one of the first producers to gain FeedSafe certification when this guarantee of quality was introduced in 2015. Meanwhile, innovation is set to drive further growth in demand. Just launched – and with a separate dedicated website, www.oldmillfreerange. co.nz/ - is an exciting new product line called the Old Mill Free Range of GMO-free feed in 20kg recy- clable bags. Two years in the making, Old Mill Free Range is generating considerable interest in the market. Four products are currently available: layer pellets, multi nuts, layer mix and calf pellets. “We’re looking at developing another couple of lines for this boutique range – we think it could end up being a big part of our business. It’s doing very well. People love having this guaranteed GMO-free option and the choice of recyclable packaging.” “Initially the business was based on making calf, sheep and deer feed but now the core of the business is dairy feed.” Around 3500 tonnes of grain is stored on site and two-thirds of the mill’s feed production relies on grain sourced from the Southland region. Sgt Dan’s Old Mill Free Range line of GMO-free feed in 20kg recyclable bags includes calf pellets and layer mix.