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Micronutrients
is a division of Heritage Technologies, LLC, one of twenty-eight
privately-owned businesses which comprise The Heritage Group
of companies, based in Indianapolis and having combined annual
revenues of greater than $1 billion.
Micronutrients
was founded on the belief that inorganic minerals could be
economically produced in a chemical form that would satisfy
the conflicting demands of improved food stability and excellent
bioavailability. This was achieved by crystallizing salts
with low water solubility but rapid reactivity in gastric
fluids, which inherently have a strong complexing capability.
Our pioneering work, demonstrating the advantages of basic
metal salts as nutritional sources of essential trace metals
resulted in issuance of several U.S. and international patents
covering the use of such compounds in food, feed and fertilizers.
Our first product was basic copper chloride (trademarked Micronutrients
TBCC®). Since being introduced in 1994, it
has been very well received by nutritionists in commercial
animal production. Benefits of using TBCC include reduced
handling costs, improved animal growth, high bioavailability,
less oxidative destruction of vitamins, superior blending
in feed mixtures and reduced environmental impact. Currently
it is being used in feed formulations for most species, including
chickens, turkeys, pigs, beef and dairy cattle, and horses.
More recently, we have been working on commercialization of
a zinc analog, called Micronutrients TBZC (for tetrabasic
zinc chloride). Animal studies have shown that, like copper,
its bioavailability is somewhat better than the corresponding
sulfate salt. It has also been found more effective than zinc
oxide as a growth promoter in baby pigs. Like TBCC, its low
reactivity and very low hygroscopicity are advantageous in
a feed mixture.
Our long-range goal is to design an entire family of essential
trace mineral salts (iron, manganese, zinc and copper) with
similar characteristics. We are pleased to play an active
role in the animal feed industry and to continually demonstrate
our commitment to this industry through investments in research
and our ISO 9002 quality assurance system. |
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