Degradability. Durability. Weatherability.
- Feed it, and forget it — the Single-Trip Container (STC®) technology biodegrades naturally in the field. The end result is environmentally friendly and labor friendly; with virtually no cleanup or disposal issues. Eliminate labor and costs associated with collecting and returning steel barrels or disposing of plastic containers.
- Because the barrel disappears with the CRYSTALYX® it's easy to see how much is left as you check pastures.
- At 200 lbs. per barrel, BioBarrel® is lighter than 250-lb. CRYSTALYX returnable steel barrels, yet won't blow around your pasture like empty plastic containers.
- BioBarrel is thicker and stronger than other fiber or cardboard containers. It won't "wick" through in normal humidity and rainy conditions. However, BioBarrel is not recommended for use in standing water or in areas that are excessively muddy.
The CRYSTALYX BioBarrel is made from a proprietary blend of ground cereal straw and wood fiber, coated with a soy flour solution that is pressed and molded. It is made of 100% renewable materials. There are no chemicals or adhesives used to make the container, and is designed to degrade as livestock consume the CRYSTALYX low-moisture block. BioBarrel is thicker and stronger than cardboard or fiber containers and will maintain its integrity in prolonged storage. Now, with the addition of WeatherAll® Protection, the BioBarrel offers added weatherability in extended wet conditions.
What is WeatherAll Protection?
WeatherAll is a protective coating applied to the BioBarrel as a final step in the manufacturing process. It is composed of a patented process that helps protect and slow down BioBarrel degradation when encountering wet conditions. The protective coating also helps reduce the attraction that some cattle have to the BioBarrel container once it is softened under extreme wet conditions, thus reducing the incidence of cattle consuming the container faster than the CRYSTALYX product. WeatherAll Protective Technology broadens the application and effectiveness of the BioBarrel container to all geographies within North America.
A formidable challenge with developing a degradable container is to match the degradation rate to that of supplement consumption. The WeatherAll Technology provides a more uniform degradation and disappearance rate over a much wider range in environments and feeding conditions.
Economic Advantages of BioBarrel
The BioBarrel Single Trip Container eliminates concerns, labor and costs associated with collecting and returning barrels or disposing of other containers. Once it is placed in your free stall barn, pasture, or bunk line, it does not need to be handled again. You can feed it and forget it.
Research-Proven Effective Results
Extensive field-testing and research done at the Ridley Block Operations Technology Center was critical in the development of the WeatherAll Protection Technology. The RBO Technology Center, located in Worthington, Minnesota, includes an R&D laboratory and a pilot plant facility providing a reliable testing environment. Research and development associated with modifying and improving acquired know-how to suit current market demands is a major priority of the RBO Technology Center.
