The History of Zinpro Corporation

1965

• Mr. Dean R. Anderson originally founded Zinpro Corporation in 1965 in the state of Iowa (USA). His experiences in selling zinc bacitracin prompted his interest in zinc in animal nutrition. He believed that some zinc compounds present as a result of fermentation were responsible for improved responses in animals. Unable to succeed commercially at that time, Mr. Anderson continued to work in spare time to develop a successful zinc product.

1971

• Mr. Anderson once again started Zinpro Corporation, now headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA. The company’s first product was ZINPRO^® 40 (ZINPRO zinc methionine). Research trials showed that this product was effective in improving the health of livestock. Although Zinpro Corporation remained tiny for the first several years, as ZINPRO zinc methionine gained popularity, the company began to grow rapidly. A significant breakthrough occurred around 1980 with the discovery that ZINPRO zinc methionine improved hoof conditions in cattle.

1976

• ZINPRO 200 zinc methionine and METH-IRON 65 ferric methionine joined ZINPRO 40 in Zinpro's original line of trace mineral complexes. Both were water-soluble products.

1982

• ZINPRO 100 was introduced, completing the zinc methionine line of products.

1983

• ZINPRO 180 replaced ZINPRO 200.

1987

• Zinpro's first manganese product, MANPRO^® manganese methionine, was introduced in two concentrations: MANPRO 80 and MANPRO 160.

1988

• COPRO^® 25 cobalt glucoheptonate joined the company’s growing original product line.

1991

• Zinpro's first copper product, CuPLEX^® copper lysine, was introduced. It rounded out the company's original line of trace mineral products. Also available in two concentrations, CuPLEX 50 and CuPLEX 100, CuPLEX was the first Zinpro complex to use lysine rather than methionine as its amino acid source.

1992

• 4-Plex^®, a combination of four of the company's individually manufactured complexes, was introduced. 4-Plex is a convenient way to provide animals with ZINPRO, MANPRO, CuPLEX and COPRO in one package. Benefits of these trace minerals in animal diets include improved reproduction performance, disease resistance, somatic cell count, milk production, feed conversion, bone growth and fiber digestion.

1993

• The company completed construction of its first manufacturing plant near Garner, IA. The 16,000 square foot facility began operation early that year. Just four years later, in 1997, Zinpro more than doubled the plant's size and tripled its production capacity.

1994

• Zinpro Animal Nutrition, Inc.(ZAN), was originally formed by Zinpro Corporation as a sister company, and a regional sales office was established in Boxmeer, The Netherlands. Since that time, additional regional sales offices have been added in Brazil, Japan, Thailand and Australia. Zinpro’s international sales group is responsible for all sales and marketing activities for Zinpro outside of North America. Today, ZAN is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zinpro Corporation, operating in more than 50 countries around the world.
• Zinpro attends the International Conference on Lameness in Cattle for the first time. Today, Zinpro is the major sponsor of the International Conference on Lameness in Ruminants and has been present at every conference since 1994.

1996

• In its 25th year, Zinpro Corporation introduced Availa^®Mins amino acid complexes, an entire new line of products. The first product of its type ever produced, AvailaMins uses Zinpro's patented Amino Acid Extraction Process. This process breaks down an extremely pure source of protein to yield an intermediate product containing free amino acids. These amino acids then are bonded with specific trace minerals, using Zinpro's patented complexing technology.
• As with Zinpro Corporation's original line of trace mineral complexes, AvailaMins are always the same: A 1:1 ratio of one amino acid molecule bound to one metal ion. A quarter-century of extensive university and commercial research continues to demonstrate the superior, predictable results that Zinpro's customers have come to expect.
• Zinpro introduces Illustrated Handbook on Cattle Lameness, a book co-developed with Dr. Paul Greenough from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. The book outlines basic anatomy and different claw lesions including risk factors, treatment and control information and recommendations. This book provides exposure for Zinpro around the globe in the area of cattle lameness.

1997

• Zinpro started conducting claw clinics to help producers, nutritionists and feed industry personnel better understand causes, implications and corrective actions for lameness.

1998

• Zinpro earned ISO 9002 certification, culminating more than a year of preparation efforts by manufacturing personnel, customer service representatives and managers. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies, one from each of some 120 countries. ISO standards focus on quality management systems, setting out requirements for all aspects of product manufacturing and customer service. Zinpro's efforts involved development of written policies, procedures and work instructions covering 17 different elements, as well as training and internal quality audits. Those 17 elements range from management responsibilities through purchasing, manufacturing and quality control to packaging and delivery. Periodic audits by third-party registrars are required to ensure continued compliance with the standards.

1999

• Zinpro upgraded its ISO certification from ISO 9002 (see 1998 above) to ISO 9001. The ISO 9001 quality system standard adds requirements for all aspects of product design and development controls to 19 other elements, ranging from management responsibilities through purchasing, manufacturing and quality control to packaging and delivery to customers.
• Research shows that the combination of trace minerals found in 4-Plex is more effective than zinc from ZINPRO zinc methionine in reducing claw lesions.

2000

• Zinpro begins production at its second manufacturing plant, located near North Branch, MN. Zinpro invested significant capital in upgrading the 10-year old facility, purchased late in 1999. Included were installation of a new amino acid extraction and mineral-amino acid complexing system, a new computerized process control system and new thermal oxidizer. Zinpro also upgraded the plant's rotary dryer, materials handling and packaging systems, and installed additional bulk storage capacity.
• Zinpro relocates its headquarters offices to 10400 Viking Drive, Eden Prairie, MN. The move was necessary because of the need for more office space as the company continues to grow.

2001

• The Dairy Cattle Locomotion Scoring System is introduced (brochure and economic calculator). Zinpro lead development of this effort with university and industry experts to help producers, nutritionists and feed industry personnel better identify lame cows.

2002

• Zinpro introduces Building the Equine Hoof, an educational book co-developed with Dr. David Hood from Texas A&M University. This guide addresses building the foundation of a normal functional foot. Information in this guide includes: hoof care, anatomy, growth, nutrition and hoof disorder and diseases.
• Dairy Locomotion Scoring video for grazing dairies was introduced in international markets.

2003

• Zinpro Corporation again upgraded its ISO certification during 2003, when it received ISO 9001:2000 certification. The certification covers all aspects of quality, from product design to customer service, and includes manufacturing plants, research and development activities and administrative functions. Zinpro originally earned ISO 9002 certification in 1998, and upgraded its ISO certification from version 9002 to version 9001:1994 two years later.

2005

• Dairy Locomotion Scoring video (confinement version) was introduced.

2006

• Dairy Locomotion Scoring PDA software program introduced.
• Zinpro Introduces Beef Cattle Lameness poster, co-developed with Dr. Dee Griffin from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Dr. Tom Edwards.

2007

• The Feet First^® team, spear-headed by Zinpro, was formed to investigate the prevalence of lameness in swine. The mission of this international collaboration of researchers, veterinarians and nutritionists is to further advance the swine industry through the identification and prevention of lameness.
• Zinpro introduces the Best of Show: Equine Mineral Nutrition CD. This interactive CD-ROM provides users with the tools necessary to better understand and evaluate a mineral nutrition program for horses.

2008

• Zinpro Corporation completes its third manufacturing facility, located in Garner, Iowa, USA. The new facility was constructed adjacent to the original Garner manufacturing facility which opened in 1993. The new facility doubles the company’s overall production capabilities and provides additional warehouse space.
• Poultry Footpad Dermatitis Lesion Scoring System introduced. Zinpro teamed up with experts from Auburn University to develop this innovative system to improve poultry welfare.
• Zinpro and the Feet First team host the World’s First Sow Lameness Symposium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Additional regional symposiums are held in Brazil, Europe and Thailand.
• Feet First Lesion Identification Guide, Locomotion Scoring System and Claw Trimming Guide are introduced to the swine industry. These easy-to-use reference materials are designed to help commercial swine producer’s decrease the impact that lameness has on the performance and profitability of their operation.
• Zinpro Corporation and the International Lameness Committee co-developed the Dairy Claw Lesion Identification poster. Twenty-five years after the original Hoof Atlas was developed by Dr. Paul Greenough, this poster represents the first global consensus on claw lesion identification, naming convention and record keeping practices.

2009

• Zinpro Corporation launched the First Step^® Lameness Assessment and Prevention program. Developed by Zinpro Corporation and the University of Wisconsin’s noted lameness expert Dr. Nigel Cook, First Step provides the industry’s first comprehensive assessment of overall lameness risk factors on a dairy.
• The First Step Lameness Library was introduced. It serves as the authoritative resource for lameness diagnosis and treatment in dairy cattle.

2010

• Zinpro introduces Building The Equine Hoof poster. This educational poster outlines key roles that various nutrients play in building the equine hoof.
• Zinpro introduces Sow Lameness, Claw Lesions and Pathogenesis Theories. This educational book was co-developed with the late Dr. Pete Ossent from the University of Switzerland – Zurich.
• Zinpro and the Feet First team host the Sow Lameness Symposium II in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. This three-day event featured discussion on leading swine industry topics covering lameness prevalence, risk factors, anatomy and pathology, sow fertility and longevity, economics and possible solutions. More than 125 swine industry experts were in attendance at this global event.