Missouri Producer Improves Breed Back Rate Thanks to CRYSTALYX®
Kennard Strickland
MO
July, 2004
Kennard Strickland raises cattle and horses in southwest Missouri, where most pastures have a high content of Fescue grass. He's been using Fescue-lyx® and Hi-Mag Fescue-lyx® for over 5 years on a year-round program with his cows and fall calves.
The results have been significant, especially when it comes to the ease of getting his cow's bred back in a short period of time. Since he began supplementing with CRYSTALYX® he's had cows in standing heat 10 days after calving. That has resulted in a reduction in the breeding time period from 70 days to 60 days. The shorter breeding period means his calves will be heavier and more uniform when he sells them.
Strickland tried several other supplement brands, but found them to be more expensive to use than FESCUE-LYX®.
"The cows tended to over eat on the other barrels, and that made them more expensive to feed to fall calving cows," Strickland said. "CRYSTALYX® has been a real labor saver, and it's safer to feed the barrels than trying to feed grain & supplement daily and take a chance of being run over by my cows. We also had a problem with the meal feed because the boss cows got more than their share and the timid cows get left out. I don't like to feed cubes, because the cows tend to step on them."
Strickland's cows get FESCUE-LYX® and hay during the winter months, and that keeps them in good body condition with their fall calves beside them.
Strickland's cattle aren't the only animals enjoying the benefits of CRYSTALYX® supplementation. He uses STABLE-LYX® for his quarter horses and likes the condition they maintain on the product. His colts start consuming STABLE-LYX® at a very young age.
"It's an easy way to feed my mares on grass in the summer time when I'm busy putting up hay," Strickland said. "We put up over 15, 000 small bales of brome grass hay to supply our commercial hay business, and most of the hay goes to the local horse market."
Strickland is happy with the service he receives from Farmers Supply and Service in Gravette, Arkansas. He recommends CRYSTALYX® to his fellow cattle producers.
"I use it year-round and my cows have better hair coats and the cows breed back quicker. It's as simple as that. I'm going to keep using CRYSTALYX®."
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