DSM Introduces Hy•D® for Swine in U.S. Market

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Animal Health, Nutrition, Swine

DSM has introduced Hy•D® to the U.S. marketing optimizing the genetic potential within in sow herds, and improving the overall nutrition status and profitability.

Hy•D is a proprietary metabolite of vitamin D, 25-OH-D3 that supplements vitamin D3. Adding 25-OH-D3 directly into the diet is highly beneficial to animal health and productivity. Hy•D is consistently and efficiently absorbed by the animal, eliminating the need for conversion in the liver, so optimal vitamin D levels are reached more quickly.

When combined with existing vitamin D sources in the diet, Hy•D helps overcome absorption issues frequently experienced by swine and results in higher 25-OH-D3 levels in the bloodstream. The 25-OH-D3 is critical for the utilization of calcium and phosphorus for stronger skeletal structures, improved immune system function, and optimized animal performance from birth to finishing. Field and experimental trials from around the world confirm these results. In addition, producers outside of the U.S. have been successfully using Hy•D for swine.

Research has also shown optimal vitamin D nutrition in modern swine production is essential for ideal sow health, reproductive longevity and skeletal maintenance, improved neonatal nutrition, and the development of unborn pigs.

“Feeding Hy•D provides swine with a fast track to a strong skeleton and better performance,” said Dr. Jeremiah Nemechek, Technical Support Manager, Swine, for DSM Nutritional Products. “When they are fed Hy•D, swine are more likely to produce more selected gilts and to experience fewer farrowing difficulties. For swine producers, this has a direct impact on production and profits.”

Learn more here.

Animal Bites 9/18

jamie johansenAgWired Animal, Animal Bites

  • Merck Animal Health and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) recently presented Dr. Dee Griffin with the Mentor of the Year Award as a result of his significant contributions to the bovine medicine industry and his commitment to mentoring the next generations of bovine veterinarians.
  • Vermeer introducing the world’s first self-propelled round baler. Unveiled at Husker Harvest Days, the prototype ZR5 self-propelled baler promises to make quick work of any field while offering unprecedented ride quality and maneuverability.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) released the second video in its media campaign to promote comprehensive tax reform. The video features Jay Wolf, a third-generation Nebraska rancher, who discusses the time, energy, and financial cost he’s forced to spend on estate planning due to the death tax.
  • Imagine using precision nutrition to meet the needs of individual animals. Imagine meeting the expectations of the new consumer, “the prosumer.” Imagine the farm of the future. How will technologies help to achieve greater transparency and safety? This is a new age in agriculture in which nutrigenomics and big data play an everyday role in revolutionizing the way food is produced. Join Alltech and moderator, Peabody Award-winning journalist Tom Martin, for a live webinar discussing the future of agriculture and technology with a panel of agribusiness experts on September 25th at 9:00am ET.

Beef Board CEO Search

Jamie JohansenBeef, Beef Board, Beef Checkoff, Cattle, CBB, Company Announcement

The Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board (CBB) has announced a national search to fill the position of Chief Executive Officer after accepting the resignation of current CEO Polly Ruhland in late August.

CBB’s primary function is to oversee and administrate the national beef checkoff through the management of programs that are proposed and carried out by various contractors. As part of the administration of the program, CBB oversees the collection of a mandatory assessment fee on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle and imported beef and beef products through a coordinated effort with qualified state beef councils.

Under the direction of the Board, the CEO manages all administrative and organizational affairs of CBB. The successful candidate will lead CBB operations, manage organizational strategy, financial and legal matters, and communications, as well as CBB’s relationships with the United States Department of Agriculture and beef community stakeholders.

Florida & Georgia Cattle Country Hit by Irma

jamie johansenAg Group, AgWired Animal, Audio, Beef, Dairy, Weather

Hurricane Irma traveled straight through Florida and Georgia cattle country. An assessment of damaged areas is still being tallied. Florida dairies are running on generators, still struggling to keep cows milked and forced to dump tons of milk for various reasons.

Less impacted appears to be the beef cattle industry, as most fences remained intact and kept cattle from getting out into roads. Southeast AgNet spoke with Jim Handley, Florida Cattlemen’s Association, who said, “Everybody is tough, resilient and just waiting for water to recede. Ag people are pretty darn tough and are dealing with it. However, we do need some dry weather.” He said he knows family farms are suffering, but has heard of no widespread loss of cattle.

Listen to sound bites provided by our friends at Southeast AgNet:
Jim Handley, Florida Cattlemen’s Association
Will Bentley, GA Cattlemen’s Association

Butler Oaks Farm located in Lorida, Florida shot this great drone video of damage on their farm. We continue to send our thoughts and prayers to those impacted by hurricanes, flood waters, and fire.

Deere Gives 3E Tractors a Facelift

jamie johansenAgribusiness, AgWired Animal, Audio, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, John Deere, Livestock

The John Deere 3E series tractors have received a makeover from head to toe or should we say tire. It’s one of the most popular tractors that comes off the line in Augusta, GA. The redesign was on display for attendees at the recent Farm Progress Show and there we spoke with Product Marketing Manager, Michelle Bentley to give us the details.

“It’s a really simple, easy to use machine a lot of folks really appreciate. What we are introducing is a new styling update with a few comfort and convenience features,” Bentley said.

Beyond the cosmetic facelift, Bentley said the 3E tractors are now equipped with new attachability features such as telescoping draft links at the rear and an updated loader. The fuel tank was also relocated keeping convenience in mind.

“The ideal customer for the 3E series is the large property owner who uses the tractor to maintain acres and move materials around. The most popular attachment is the rotary cutter and the loader basically comes standard for customers. Another segment this tractor reaches is our equine customers due to its tight turning radius,” Bentley said.

Listen to our complete chat with Michelle here: Interview with Michelle Bentley, John Deere

View John Deere photos here: John Deere at #FPS17 Photo Album

View all our photos from FPS here: 2017 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience

Phibro Animal Health Corporation to Acquire Biotay

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Animal Health, Nutrition

Phibro Animal Health has purchased Biotay S.A., a developer, manufacturer and marketer of animal health and nutritional products based in Argentina. Acquiring the Biotay will provide new opportunities in a key and growing segment of the animal health industry in South America.

“This transaction strengthens our focus and capabilities in the animal health market in Argentina. Biotay’s field sales and technical service organization and local manufacturing will help Phibro reach new customers, particularly in the cattle segment,” said Larry Miller, Phibro’s Chief Operating Officer. “Adding our products to Biotay’s in-depth local knowledge will allow us to better meet our customers’ needs in this key geography.”

“We are delighted to become part of such a world-class organization as Phibro. We are excited and looking forward to leveraging the strengths of both organizations and resources to better serve our customers,” said Juan Carlos Repetto, Biotay’s Chief Executive Officer. “Phibro’s proven expertise and innovative platforms will provide strategic resources to maximize Biotay’s customer service capabilities, providing our customers with increased animal health, productivity and nutrition quality while improving animal welfare.”

NPPC Seeks Waiver From ELD Mandate

Jamie JohansenAg Group, Livestock, NPPC, Pork, Transportation

The National Pork Producers Council (NNP) have asked for a waiver and exemption for livestock haulers from U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations that could have negative effects on animal well-being.

The petition was sent on behalf of the U.S. pork industry and other livestock sectors, requesting the waiver and exemption because of concerns about the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Rule’s effects on animal well-being and incompatibilities between the transportation of livestock and DOT’s Hours of Service rules.

“The ELD Rule presents some serious challenges for livestock haulers and the animals in their care,” said NPPC President Ken Maschhoff, a pork producer from Carlyle, Ill. “We’re asking the secretary to exempt truckers transporting hogs, cattle and other livestock from this regulation because they have a moral obligation to care for the animals they’re hauling regardless of what some bureaucratic rule says.”

More information from NPPC can be found here.

John Deere 5R Series Utility Tractor – Power & Versatility

jamie johansenAgribusiness, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, Forage, Hay, John Deere, Livestock

Offering tractors from 90 to 125 engine hp, the John Deere 5R series tractors were on display at the 2017 Farm Progress Show. Attendees saw first-hand the advanced technology to the utility tractor provides, meeting many farming demands. John Doyle, product marketing manager, took us through key product specs and the ideal customer of this new product offering.

“The 5R is the highest horsepower tractor we have made out of the Augusta, GA factory, with up to 125 engine horsepower. One of the key aspects of utility tractors is maneuverability. Our 5R tractors have best in class turning radius which is key for customers turning in tight spaces,” Doyle said.

The 5R series comes in four models, all with an easy-to-use transmission, AutoClutch and the list goes on and on. Doyle said this series is perfect for the livestock producer and anyone focused on forage production. Listen to my complete interview with John here: Interview with John Doyle, John Deere

View John Deere photos here: John Deere at #FPS17 Photo Album

View all our photos from FPS here: 2017 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience

Animal Ag Bites 9/11

kelly marshallAgWired Animal, Animal Bites

  • Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 10 requests for export assistance from member cooperatives that have contracts to sell 793,664 pounds cheese to Asia. Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share and expands the demand for U.S. dairy.
  • The National Pork Board is pleased to announce this year’s four finalists for 2017 America’s Pig Farmer of the Year.  You can vote once a day per email at AmericasPigFarmer.com.
  • The International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) is in their sixth year hosting the Young Leaders “30 under 30” program.   The goal is to engage the next generation of professionals who work in the production and processing of poultry and meat or in production of animal or poultry feed.
  • Member of the National Pork Producers Council are headed to Washington D.C. this week. More than 125 pork producers will lobby congressional lawmakers on issues affecting the industry, as well as asking the Trump administration to purse bilateral trade agreements.

Cattlemen Launch Campaign for Comprehensive Tax Reform

Jamie JohansenAg Group, Beef, Government, NCBA

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) kicked off a media and advertising campaign that will shine a spotlight on how various federal tax provisions impact America’s cattle and beef producers. The campaign, which will focus heavily on the death tax, aims to build support in Washington for comprehensive tax reform that makes our tax code fair for agricultural producers. The campaign will be centered around a new website, CattlemenForTaxReform.com, and will run through September.

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enact truly comprehensive tax reform, and we can’t afford to let this opportunity pass or to get it wrong,” said NCBA President and Nebraska cattleman Craig Uden. “Family ranchers and farmers deserve a full and permanent repeal of the onerous death tax, which charges them in cash on the often-inflated appraised value of their property and equipment. This campaign will shine a spotlight on the stories of real ranchers who have had to deal with this issue, and it will also highlight current tax provisions that we need to maintain, such as stepped-up basis, cash accounting, and deductibility of interest payments.”

A two-minute video also kicked off the campaign social media platforms. it features fifth-generation California rancher Kevin Kester, whose family struggled for a decade to pay a large death-tax bill after his grandfather passed away.

“Without a doubt the biggest challenge that keeps me up at night is trying to figure out how to pass the ranching operation – our family operation on to the next generation,” Kester says in the video as he drives across his Bear Valley Ranch near Parkfield, Calif. “The current tax code is…leading toward more fragmentation of farms and ranches, which is not good for the environment or our ranchers and farmers.”