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Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1994-03-16, Page 56OP. Page 38 -Farm Progr.sa '94 , WM. HALLMAN A SONS CONSTRUCTION LTD. • Bulldozers •Scropers & Rippers •Earth moving •Roads & Streets * Golf Courses •Ponds •Erosion Control 523-9339 MO) Universa[ TRACTOR PARKERS FARM MACHINERY 3 Parker Street Elmwood 363-2731 "Serving The Area for 2 Generations" TEESWATER DISTRICT CO-OP Z-c-;LLI_N- / ce For All Your Feed, Crop And Farm Supplies. TEESWATER MILDMAY 392-6862 367-2652 BELGRAVE AUBURN 357-27 11 526-7262 Walkerton Crop Centre 881-2021 A "Gatorade" for your cattle A new feed supplement for cattle could wind up saving producers and packers millions of dollars a year, and improve travelling conditions for the animal in the process. It's called Nutri -Charge and it works on the same principle as Gatorade, restoring an animal's chemical balance or at least preven- ting it from going out of whack. The supplement was developed by Dr. Al Schaefer, a research scientist at Agriculture and Agri -Food's Lacombe Research Station, in cooperation with Dr. Rick Stanley, a veterinarian in nearby Red Deer. The collaboration has resulted in the first product of its kind on the market. A product that is making great inroads in the United States as well as at home. "When cattle are transported," explains Schaefer, "they can ex- perience a number of fundamental problems such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, thermal regulatory problems and low blood sugar, which collectively can contribute to if not cause meat quality and carcass yield problems." According to Schaefer, cattle can lose as much as seven per cent of their body weight in transportation, which in turn has a dramatic impact on the animals' chemical im- balance. This then results in a two- fold loss to industry. First, since the producer gets paid by the kilo, the weight loss translates directly into lost dollars. Second, the chemical imbalance has a negative effect of the quality of the meat, referred to as dark cutting, leading to further price discounts. The losses can add up: depending on the market scenario, carcass weight loss alone can amount to $30 a head. Industry -wide, carcass loss due to shrinkage is in excess of $50 -million a year in Canada. After more than three years of studying specific market conditions, and the physiological effects on the animals, Nutri -Charge was bom. The product can be dropped in a pasture, blended with feed rations or mixed with water. It can be administered before cattle are transported or after they've arrived at their destination. It then restores the chemical equilibrium and reduces bodyweight losses. Research has shown that quality losses from chemical imbalance are linked with specific times of the year and in specific niche markets. "In the Spring and Fall, particularly in the U.S., the incidence of dark cutting rises by about three per cent," explains Schaefer. "With this information, producers can ad- minister Nutri -Charge at very specific times and reduce its occur- rence." Each treatment of Nutri -Charge costs about $2, and can save about $30 a head -- offering a pretty good return on a small investment. Dan McKinnon, owner of Three Cross Cattle Ltd. in Airdrie, Alber- HSI Y LISTER MANUFACTURING, Inc ROCK-EZE The economical solution to windrowing and picking rocks. "For•Most,lnc. Preferred by Cattlemen Worldwide THE BETTER WAY WBR (1985) Inc. HENSALL, ONTARIO WM. B. Rowcliffe & family (519) 263-2580 Fax (519) 263-2630 ta, agrees, McKinnon was losing about $100 an animal for each dark cutting virgin bull. Caused by stress, the darker colored meat is difficult to market strictly due to appearances. And at about one -to - four per cent of his 900 animals a year, the losses were starting to add up. "We tried Nutri -Charge in two forms and found that while slightly inconvenient, the product that needed to be mixed with water worked the best for us," explains McKinnon. "While it didn't completely eliminate the problem, it reduced the occurrence of dark cutters by about three-quarters. With results like that, there's no doubt we will continue to use it." Nutri -Charge is now being marketed in Canada by . STS Agriventures, Ltd. of Red Deer, Alberta. STS has sublicensed manufacturing and distribution rights for the United States to Nutri -Search of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota and JBL, Inc. of Laramie, Wyoming. While it's still too early to project .sales figures, Schaefer is en- couraged by preliminary interest. And off -shore inquiries has Schaefer looking at expanding the market. "It's incredibly gratifying to have something go from the lab bench to market," says Schaefer. "In the field of science, sometimes it's easier just to stay in the rat lab." Aim to get organic dairy products on the market •from page 36 shelves. Andres sees the demand for organic food as "consumers express their support for a way of farming that is very easy on the environment". Andres, Poechman, Zettel, and several other experienced ecological farmers will be sharing their expertise at a two day meeting planned for Mar. 24 and 25, in Mitchell. "It's a big advantage" says Zettel, "that this method Is developed by farmers and passed along from one farmer to another. For a lot of farmers used to being bombarded with studies and salesman urging them to buy this and that, it's like a breath of fresh air." A safety tip How safe is your farming operation for children? A hole in a barn floor or a missing shield on a piece of equipment can be dangerous for both adults and kids. Make sure that children don't have access to dangerous equipment, guns and chemicals. And remember that when your children start to help with the farm work, they'll follow your example. If you work safely, so will they. (from the Farm Safety Association)