Animal feeds supplier Cotter & Keane Ltd have been at the forefront in their field of expertise for many decades as the company celebrated 100 years of business in 2013.
The Cork based company entered an elite group in this country by reaching such a landmark and the family run business is still going as strong today as it was a century ago.
Situated in Dunmanway, Co Cork, the Mill was moved to a place called West Mills in 1913 by Tim Cotter. However, his father James had been operating the business from a different location from the early 1900’s. Tim’s brother Andrew took over the running of the mill after Tim passed away in 1917.
Having initially scutched Flax, the company diversified into the compounding of animal feeds when Andrew was in charge. This continued right up to Andrew’s passing in 1966 at which time Denis Keane, Andrew’s son-in-law took over the running of the business and thus the name “Cotter & Keane” was formed.
Major changes were made and Denis put a lot of investment into the business in order to modernise the facilities. A major setback occurred in 1982 when a fire gutted the mill, but this did not deter Denis and his wife Mary who kept the business going through alternative arrangements and a full year later they were ready to move back into West Mills.
In 2003, Denis and Mary’s son Andrew was handed the reins of the business along with his wife Ann and they continue to run the company to this day. Denis still enjoys a stroll around the mill yard to chat with customers and mill workers. In his 81st year Denis’ knowledge, advice and wisdom are always at hand.
Andrew told Irish Tractor & Agri about the changes that have been made in recent times and the services they provide to a large customer base.
“Ann and I would have worked in the business for many years before we took over and that experience has helped us to this day.
We have continued to invest heavily in the business as the animal feed industry constantly evolves and thankfully business is going very well at the moment. We have a lot of new customers on board. We specialise in dairy, beef and sheep feeds mainly and we would cover a 50 mile radius around us here in Dunmanway.
“We have two of our own bulk blowing lorries and one curtainsider for our own bag and store trade. We use outside haulage contractors for delivering in raw materials and for delivering our own feed in peak season.
The company MD revealed, “We incorporate a maximum amount of native cereals in our feeds which most is sourced from local farmers at harvest time. All our protein sources such as soya and rapeseed are imported from approved suppliers. We have ten members of staff employed in the business and all are highly trained in their own area.
“We have continued to invest heavily in the business in order to move with the times and we have installed software and hardware that allows us to produce the best quality feeds possible.
“In recent years, we have installed a new high speed weighing and precision mixing line, a new pellet mill and a new bulk out loading facility.
“Everything is done to Department of Agriculture standards and this is from the buying of raw materials right through to when the product is delivered to the farmer, whom like ourselves is involved in the first stage of the food chain.
We source the highest quality raw material at the most economic price and out strict quality control procedures enable us to trace all the raw materials back to the place of origin. Our business has been built on sourcing the best raw materials and now we have the tools to do that even better than before.”
Andrew is confident that business will continue to flourish and he feels that the big changes in dairy quota where farmers will be able to increase their herds from next year should be a boost for their feed sales.
“The change in dairy quota should see extra business come our way. Winter is obviously our busy period and the early part of the year, but we are kept going all year round. The demand for our feed is certainly increasing.”
We are more than just a feed mill. Our large store stocks a variety of minerals and supplements, milk replacers, pet feeds, farm plastics, seeds and much, much more.
We have a large solid fuel trade for collection and delivery. We are hoping to expand in store sales, having a wider range of goods for the town and country customer.
Ann stressed the point…” We are always opened to new ideas and challenges. Unfortunately, there are an increasing number of restrictions and regulations imposed on small businesses today which makes the future daunting at times but, to our advantage the scale of our business and staff flexibility allows us to adapt quickly to change and to the demands and requests of our customers. “We are one of the last family owned feed mills in the country. We deal with farmers in their family business and we believe this link is important to build on. When you are employed in a family business, you become part of that business. Our staff’s years of service hold testament to this.
“We are determined, focused and truly believe with the support of our families, customers, staff and each other, we will drive on and weather any storm until the fifth generation decide what it is they want to do”!!!
Cotter & Keane Ltd
West Mills,
Dunmanway,
Co. Cork
Tel: 023-8845115
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 2 No 5, October 2014
