Innovation is in our DNA
Although we’re over a century old, we are a modern, dynamic and future-focused company, with a commitment to R&D and new product innovation – supported by some of the most technologically advanced plant and processes in the world.
Proof of our commitment to continuous innovation is the fact that we are one of the first feed manufacturers in the world to have an on-site laboratory to test for product quality and Naturally Occurring Prohibited Substances (NOPS).
NOPS occur naturally and can find their way to the animal via the food chain unless the most stringent of testing is in place. Something as innocent as poppy seeds, for example, when ingested by a horse will appear as morphine in the horse’s urine sample.
Olympic quality product testing
Our testing technologies are the same as those used by the Olympic Council and forensic bodies around the world. We screen samples for seven key NOPS: caffeine, theobromine, morphine, hordenine, atropine, scopolamine and lupinine.
We use Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LCMS) to ensure strict compliance with the regulations of leading sporting bodies such as the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the Jockey Club and the IHRB.
In addition, our Near Infra Red (NIR) machines are constantly calibrated and verified by using the “wet chemistry” side of our laboratory – so there’s a constant process of verification in progress, guaranteeing you the same quality product, every time.
We test all incoming raw materials and manufactured performance horse feeds using these methods, and our products are sold on a “positive release” basis only.
Alongside vigorous product testing, we also operate a very rigid computer-based batch tracking system, which lets us instantly check the manufacturing provenance of any RED MILLS products.
A world first for freshness
One of our latest and most exciting projects is our new “super fresh” NFMS™ nutrient fresh management system, which delivers even better product quality.
This is a world first and uses no less than seven tiers of natural preservation to maintain perfect freshness in horse feed products for up to 12 months. By vastly extending shelf life with NFMS™, our customers can now order and store bulk quantities – meaning no matter where in the world you are, when you open a bag of Connolly’s RED MILLS, it will be as fresh as the day it was made in Goresbridge.
Our ongoing R&D keeps Connolly’s RED MILLS to the forefront, constantly improving the product quality of our animal feeds, giving our customers the best value and performance that money can buy.
We’re never prepared to stand still, and our customers can look forward to many important new product and process innovations in the years to come.