fastest way to get Min from every column in a matrix?

Question

What is the fastest way to extract the min from each column in a matrix?

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EDIT:

Moved all the benchmarks to the answer below.

Using

Answer 1

Below is a collection of the answers thus far. This will be updated as more answers are contributed.

BENCHMARKS

  library(rbenchmark)
  library(matrixStats)  # for colMins


  list.of.tests <- list (
        ## Method 1: apply()  [original]
        apl =expression(apply(mat, 2, min, na.rm=T)),

        ## Method 2:  matrixStats::colMins [contributed by @Ben Bolker ]
        cmin = expression(colMins(mat)),

        ## Method 3: lapply() + split()  [contributed by @DWin ]
        lapl = expression(lapply( split(mat, rep(1:dim(mat)[1], each=dim(mat)[2])), min)),

        ## Method 4: pmin() / pmin.int()  [contributed by @flodel ]
        pmn = expression(do.call(pmin, lapply(1:nrow(mat), function(i)mat[i,]))),
        pmn.int = expression(do.call(pmin.int, lapply(1:nrow(mat), function(i)mat[i,]))) #,

        ## Method 5: ????
        #  e5 = expression(  ???  ),
        )  


  (times <- 
        lapply(matrix.inputs, function(mat)
            do.call(benchmark, args=c(list.of.tests, replications=500, order="relative"))[, c("test", "elapsed", "relative")]
  ))



  ############################# 
  #$         RESULTS         $#
  #$_________________________$#
  #############################

  # $`Square Matrix`
  #      test elapsed relative
  # 5 pmn.int   2.842    1.000
  # 4     pmn   3.622    1.274
  # 1     apl   3.670    1.291
  # 2    cmin   5.826    2.050
  # 3    lapl  41.817   14.714  

  # $`Tall Matrix`
  #      test elapsed relative
  # 1     apl   2.622    1.000
  # 2    cmin   5.561    2.121
  # 5 pmn.int  11.264    4.296
  # 4     pmn  18.142    6.919
  # 3    lapl  48.637   18.550  

  # $`Wide-short Matrix`
  #      test elapsed relative
  # 5 pmn.int   2.909    1.000
  # 4     pmn   3.018    1.037
  # 2    cmin   6.361    2.187
  # 1     apl  15.765    5.419
  # 3    lapl  41.479   14.259  

  # $`Wide-tall Matrix`
  #      test elapsed relative
  # 5 pmn.int  20.917    1.000
  # 4     pmn  26.188    1.252
  # 1     apl  38.635    1.847
  # 2    cmin  64.557    3.086
  # 3    lapl 434.761   20.785  

  # $`Tiny Sq Matrix`
  #      test elapsed relative
  # 5 pmn.int   0.112    1.000
  # 2    cmin   0.149    1.330
  # 4     pmn   0.174    1.554
  # 1     apl   0.180    1.607
  # 3    lapl   0.509    4.545