What the Farmers Say

Ross and Dorothy Campbell operates Corwin Jerseys in the Tavistock/Hickson area of Ontario. Ross has used products from Bio-Ag in the feeding and nutritional program on farm and has the following comments about using Bio-Ag products:

"At Corwin Jerseys, over the last 10 years, we have used several Bio-Ag products-their minerals, Kelp, Redmond Natural Trace Mineral salt, as well as soft rock phosphate and we've also used their Protein Feed product, along with Vitamin C. In the last 2 years, we have gone organic and added Homeopathic remedies to replace antibiotics and hormones. We even have a neighbor who comes sometimes to get "some of that magic stuff' (protein Feed and Vitamin C) when he gets a case of E Coli Mastitis."

When asked about his contentment with Bio-Ag products, Ross replied, "We have been satisfied to the point that competing feed salesmen find us an interesting visit the first time but almost never return."

When asked to expand on this statement, he replied, "Bio-Ag service has been excellent from both my dealer and Head Office. Their understanding of nature and what it takes to keep a healthy herd is first rate even if sometimes we have to hear it several times before it sinks in."

His final comments? "Overall our cows and calves are healthy and productive, and we are very satisfied with our relationship with Murray Bast (President of Bio-Ag) and his Bio-Ag associates."

Calvin and Jennifer Jantzi, with their children Melissa, Ashley, Austin, and Christa operate Raymont Holsteins near Wellesley, Ontario. They are presently milking 50 cows, 46 Holsteins with a BCA 190 avg. and 6 Jerseys with a BCA 220 avg. and have used products from Bio-Ag in their feeding and nutritional program on farm for over 15 years. In a recent conversation with Bio-Ag, Calvin had the following comments about using Bio-Ag products:

"Our cows are doing better than ever. We have lots more production than quota requirements and herd health is very good, with little need for the veterinarian."

Calvin has made use of Bio-Ag's feed testing and ration balancing for premix customers and states, "Bio-Ag's program is excellent. Feed analysis done is money well spent and rations coming from the analysis are well balanced and really work well. The service provided by Bio-Ag nutritional staff has helped us achieve the success we are having today. My dealer over the years has provided me with excellent service, providing me with delivery, as well as advice when asked. I am impressed with the overall Bio-Ag commitment, as shown by all staff as well as Murray Bast (president of Bio-Ag) who has worked hard for the benefit and good of the farm community."

His final comments? "Farmers listen to too many experts and fail to focus on what is important - the "bottom line". With the Bio-Ag program, we are successful and we see no need for any change. We like things just like they are!"

Recently, a Broiler Grower sent in information on the farm's experiences in introducing our Probiotic, Enzolac in their Operation. The farm reported that for the first 5 days after receiving chicks, they used Neo-Chlor, then on to our Enzolac for the next three days. After this, a mix of 30 oz. of Enzolac in five gallons of water is put through the medicator once a week until market weight.

The following are the results coming from an analysis of "Broiler Performance Data Sheet", supplied by the farm. These figures look at six shipping periods before using Enzolac and then shipping periods after using Enzolac for the average results in the "Before" and "After" columns.

The farm owner's comments after starting and using this program:

Kerr Farms have used Bio-Ag products for many years in their progressive beef operation. They received four groups of incoming beef calves in the fall of 2000 in the 600 lb to 700 LB weight range.

Enzolac was fed to groups 3 & 4 for a total of 172 head. These calves did not receive the standard vaccinations associated with incoming calves.

They were fed 7 grams of Enzolac per day and the following observations were noted:

Conversely, the groups 1 & 2 that had not received Enzolac experienced:

This past summer, we had a significant pinkeye outbreak amongst our under three-year-old cattle. We tried a wide range of treatments, conventional and homeopathic, with, in many cases, limited success.

BIO-AG did some research on this condition and discovered that it is often related to a Vitamin A deficiency in pastures and cattle feed in drought regions and/or drought seasons. It was noted that Australians, who are constantly dealing with drought in their cattle ranges, have had great success in treating and controlling pinkeye with cod liver oil. Apparently, the organism does not survive in animals with sufficient Vitamin A stores.

We treated each animal with 140ml of cod liver oiI, a squirt in each eye and the remainder given orally. This worked amazingly well, even on those young animals with severe involvement. Those animals treated very early in contracting the disease recovered, for the most part, after one treatment. Some with moderate eye involvement needed a couple of additional topical cod liver oil treatments to the eye. The more severe, though they did get some relief from cod liver oil, required a little more aggressive treatment.

We found, that if we added some short-acting tetracycline to cod liver oil for topical treatment to the eye, these very uncomfortable animals recovered, with virtually no corneal scaring.

We also gave two cod liver oil capsules to all who had not yet showed signs of the disease and this seemed to prevent further outbreaks; or in the few that did show signs of the disease later, the above noted topical cod liver oil to eye treatment worked very quickly. Not only a very effective treatment, the oily nature of the "medicine" seemed to have the added benefit of soothing the effected eye. This was most noted in three calves who had, prior to treatment, held their heads in a manner which made it obvious that they were in significant pain.

This method of treatment makes sense when one consider the following similar Vitamin A deficiency disease in humans. The single greatest cause of human blindness world-wide is caused by the trachoma organism. In regions of the world where vitamin A deficiency is a nutritional problem, human blindness resulting from tachina infection is pervasive. When vitamin A is added to the diet, blindness resulting from trachoma is completely preventable.

Considering the effectiveness of this treatment in our own herd, we are considering how we may continue to ensure our animals entering the grazing season with sufficient vitamin A stores. Older animals tend to have enough vitamin A stored in their livers to get over this when they may be temporarily grazing pastures low in vitamin A. Young animals, three years and under, would be at greatest risk. Considering the age of those affected in our herd, a couple of cod liver oil capsules or liquid added to a grain treat prior to going out on drier, July pastures, when flies are prevalent, may go a long way in pinkeye prevention.

Conventional treatment of animals with pinkeye does nothing but destroy any positive, trusting relationship one might have with one's animals; not to mention that this disease causes severe pain to those individual animals infected. Any way we, as caretakers of cattle, may be able to help protect our animals from this nasty, historically recurring, though often trivialized disease, should be happily received and tried.

This method of treatment prevention is well tolerated by the animals and relatively easy on the people giving the treatment as well. On the other hand, many old and new conventional treatments suggested to us were not well tolerated by either animals or people. More than once, I was told to do what the old-timers did, i.e., rub a handful of salt in the affected eye - a sure cure! Since I could not imagine having an eyeful of salt, I did not try this "cure".

Thanks to Bio-ag for efforts in helping us be better caretakers of our animals. - Marni, Paul and Tim

Rob, Mark and Dad Arthur Morbrook have worked hard to build a dairy herd that stresses genetic quality as well as longevity. The Morbrooks report many of their cows over the age of five have a production average of over 30,000 lb of milk

The Morbrooks indicate that they have worked with Bio-Ag Consultants for several years, incorporating Bio-Ag's minerals and vitamins in their TMR.

"Over two years ago we tried some Enzolac liquid for calves and found that there was a good response, calves had a much more aggressive appetite." They administer 10-20 cc to newborn calves and continue to give 2-3 cc two times a day until they are off milk. Calves also receive Liguid Enzolac in their grain ration.

They also include Enzolac in the TMR for the dairy cows. One Hundred and five milk cows receive the same TMR consisting of haylage, corn silage, rolled dry corn, roasted soy beans, averaging 20 lbs of grain per cow per day.

Cows also receive free choice alfalfa/grass hay. The Morbrooks have seen an improvement in feed efficiency. "We've reduced the grain portion of the ration by 10-12%, with no change in milk production."

"I wish we had known about Enzolac years ago"

As the Morbrooks see it, an important aspect of feeding Enzolac is its contribution to herd health. "We've had fewer herd health problems throughout the herd. I wish we had known about Enzolac years ago."

The Morbrooks also have been using Enzolac and report "there is less heating in the haylage and corn silage". The treated feed is extremely palatable and the cows have an increased appetite for the silage feeds due to the addition of Enzolac.