The past 40 years have been marked by the unrivalled growth of the Crystalyx feed block range, with the brand leading the way with research and development of low moisture feed licks. This success has been achieved on an international basis with parent company Caltech having invested significantly in manufacturing and distribution operations throughout Europe, North America, South America and Australasia.
Crystalyx products have been available in both the UK and Irish markets for 40 years and have been manufactured by Caltech for 25 years after the brand was purchased from Pfizer in 1993.
To mark the last 40 years of success, the Crystalyx range has been completely re-branded with the new look products being launched at today’s AgriScot event. Accompanying the launch Caltech announced two new Crystalyx products – Crystalyx Beet Balancer and Crystalyx Sheep Beet Balancer, both developed to reflect the growing use of brassicas as a grazing crop around the world.
Both of the new products are ‘brassica/beet balancers’: one for cattle and one for sheep. They represent the latest research and development commitment by Caltech, focussed on helping to secure greater levels of efficiency and profit margin for livestock farmers.
“Our research and industry analysis have shown a significant increase in the number of livestock farmers grazing livestock on brassica crops, with the new products being tailor made to balance the deficiencies associated with these practises,” confirmed Caltech technical director Dr Cliff Lister.
“Over the past quarter of a century we have committed £millions in developing a range of Crystalyx feed blocks, which offer innovative feeding solutions to cattle and sheep producers around the world.”
He added: “We are also committed to coming up with feeding solutions that allow livestock farmers to reduce the Carbon Footprint of their businesses. Significantly, our most recent feed trials confirm that offering Crystalyx can reduce methane output by up to 20% per kilogram of daily live weight gain.
“This is achieved as a result of cattle and sheep making improved use of all fodder crops, including grazed grass, silages and the growing range of other forage options now available in many regions of the world.
“Crystalyx feed blocks act to increase the rate of forage digestion by rumen bacteria and their overall digestibility, in many cases by up to 10%. In turn, this stimulates forage intakes due to a reduced gut fill effect, increasing forage intake rather than replacing it.”
The Crystalyx range of products is now available in over 20 counties around the world from the UK to Uruguay, Norway to New Zealand.
The new brand focuses on the Crystalyx name and its association with quality research and exceptional on-farm performance.
Dr Lister concluded: “The Crystalyx name has been associated with the highest possible levels of animal health and performance for the past 40 years. We now want to build on this for the future.”
