Mineral deficiencies are often not visible but can contribute to poor or sub-optimal performance and, as a result, can affect beef producers’ profitability. A sub-optimal trace mineral status can affect an animal’s reproductive health and efficiency, metabolism, growth and development, and response to stress and disease challenges, all of which can directly impact the herd’s pregnancy rates, calving percentages, birth and weaning weights, calf mortality numbers and gains.
2022 in Review and CattleFax Outlook
While we will surely face challenges in the year ahead, there is a lot to look forward to, as the CattleFax Meeting indicated. Each of us at CRYSTALYX® Brand Supplements thank you for your business, and we look forward to continuing to work together to achieve your goals in the upcoming year and beyond.
Why are organic sources of trace minerals important for cattle producers?
Many commercial mineral supplements contain both types of trace minerals. However, the percentage of inorganic vs. organic minerals in each product is often a mystery to the consumer. With the Crystalyx Blueprint® line of low-moisture blocks, the answer to that question is simple: Blueprint products use 100% Bioplex® organic trace minerals. The greater bioavailability of Bioplex® minerals means that Crystalyx Blueprint products are formulated with lower levels of trace minerals. Research has shown that Crystalyx Blueprint programs can improve a producer’s bottom line by producing more calves that are also heavier and healthier.
Consistent mineral delivery pays
The old adage, “you get what you pay for,” is true for mineral supplements. The quality of the mineral source can vary due to differences in the availability of the individual ingredients and the overall fortification level of the trace minerals. Cheap and often less bioavailable ingredients can lower the cost but decrease the value of a mineral supplement.
Lowering feed costs while improving weight gain
This year looks to be an excellent time to be in the cow/calf business, assuming drought has not already disrupted your farm or ranch operation. With strong demand for beef around the world and a smaller supply of cattle than we have seen in a few years, prices for calves have been growing over the past several months. Better prices mean potential high profits if you can quickly get your feeder cattle to the finishing stage and start on the next group. Improving efficiency on-farm has been a mantra for years to enhance profitability, as well as help reduce the carbon footprint of our cattle industry.
The dog days of summer are here — but we can fight back!
While growing up on a dairy farm, I always loved this time of year because of the heightened activity and the new growth of crops — but we will also soon face the “dog days” of summer, which comes on the heels of the long, cool spring we experienced this year.
Performance is served — digitally: Apps, blogs, podcasts and social media
One of my most senior customers started texting this week, which confirms that we have reached the digital age. All jokes aside, it is a digital world. The cell phones we all carry have more capacity than the computers aboard Apollo 13 did when it landed on the moon. One benefit of the digital world is being more connected to our family and friends, as well as to our customers — and not just to customers of CRYSTALYX® Brand Supplements, but to the ultimate customer: the beef consumer.
Is CRYSTALYX convenient?
We recently received some information back from readers of a particular beef industry magazine that carried one of our CRYSTALYX “Performance is Served” advertisements. This information included candid comments from the readers on the specific advertisements.
CRYSTALYX Blueprint dairy products: Continual improvement
For over 40 years, dairy farms and dairy nutritionists have used CRYSTALYX dairy formulas to improve animal performance with consistent nutrient delivery regardless of the many variations that exist on every dairy. We are excited to announce that these core dairy products will be moving to a Blueprint fortification. This is part of our commitment to our customers to provide — and continually improve — the highest-quality nutrition through innovation.
The long history of CRYSTALYX Brand Supplements
The history of CRYSTALYX low-moisture blocks goes back more than 44 years, to a patent originally obtained by Carl O. McKenzie. Legend has it that he got the idea while observing how hard candy was made at Knott’s Berry Farm. The patent was submitted in 1974 and was approved on June 1, 1976. This patent describes the batch process by which we still make CRYSTALYX today.
