Author: sgrobosky

Changes Coming in August

UPDATED PACKAGING ALERT!

Be on the lookout for updated packaging on several of your favorite products. Featured products include VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® Protein Meal, Sure Champ® Cattle, Sure Champ® Ration Builder, VitaFerm® ONE, Gain Smart® Stocker, and Gain Smart® Wheat.

This transition will occur as current packaging inventory is depleted. Rest assured, the trusted formulas inside remain exactly the same. Only the packaging is getting a refreshed look.

Updated bottle labels for Vitalize® Hyaluronex® Joint will also begin appearing as current inventory is depleted.

COMING SOON: NEW VITALIZE® PRODUCT

Stay tuned for more information and details on the launch of the NEW Vitalize® EQ InflamEND—advanced support for horses needing help managing inflammation and occasional soreness.

Key Benefits:

  • Helps manage inflammation and occasional soreness using naturally derived ingredients
  • Plant-based blend featuring camelina oil, boswellia, and bromelain for both whole-body and targeted support
  • Includes AO-Biotics® Amaferm® to support digestibility and nutrient utilization
  • Helps keep horses comfortable and performing at their best

 Available in 1-gallon containers and 4 per case. Stay tuned for official launch details.

NEW MERCH ALERT

Show off your VitaFerm® pride with our brand-new VitaFerm® hat, now available in the SAMM Center!

Whether you’re in the barn, at a show, or on the road, this hat is the perfect way to represent the brand you trust.

Available now, while supplies last.

BUILDING MOMENTUM: STAY STRONG THROUGH SEASONAL LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT

As we move into the third quarter, it is time to help customers position their livestock operations for success into the fall and winter. Summer management decisions directly impact fall breeding performance, winter condition, and overall herd productivity. As dealers, you play an important role in helping livestock producers remain proactive rather than reactive.

Key Sales Opportunities

This time of year offers several opportunities to strengthen customer relationships and increase product usage during critical production periods.

For beef producers, conversations could go one of two ways. In some regions, producers are focused on preparing cows for fall calving followed by breeding. Therefore, they want to maintain body condition and maximize forage utilization. However, a majority of producers are likely focused on weaning, if they didn’t wean early due to drought.

Products that support digestive efficiency, reproduction, nutrient utilization, and ultimately performance can help cattle make the most of available forage resources. For sheep and goat producers, breeding season preparation could be the topic of conversation. Proper mineral nutrition, reproductive support, and body condition management are essential components of a successful breeding program.

Show livestock exhibitors are also preparing for fall jackpot shows and upcoming major shows, club calf and heifer sales. Nutritional products that support appetite, digestive health, bloom, and overall condition can help exhibitors keep animals performing at their best during periods of stress and travel.

Encourage customers to evaluate their current programs and identify any nutritional gaps before production demands increase.

Prepare for Fall & Winter Success

While weather patterns and forage conditions continue to vary across regions, one thing remains consistent: proactive producers are better equipped to manage challenges and capitalize on opportunities. In the fall, grazing conditions change and nutrient demands increase. Therefore, livestock require nutritional support to help maintain performance, reproductive efficiency, and overall health.

The transition from summer into fall presents an ideal opportunity to revisit nutrition programs and ensure producers are prepared for upcoming production cycles. Whether customers are managing beef cattle, sheep, goats, horses, or show livestock, strategic supplementation today can help support stronger results tomorrow.

Successful producers understand that fall and winter performance begins months before colder temperatures arrive. Help customers focus on three key areas:

  • Maintaining adequate body condition.
  • Supporting reproductive performance.
  • Maximizing forage and feed efficiency.

These conversations create opportunities to discuss comprehensive nutrition programs that provide consistent support throughout changing seasons. Early planning often results in fewer management challenges and improved performance when environmental conditions become more demanding.

Leverage Customer Relationships

The strongest sales opportunities often begin with a simple conversation. Reach out to existing customers and ask about their goals for the coming months. Are they preparing for breeding season? Managing forage shortages? Developing show livestock? Looking to improve overall herd or flock performance?

By understanding their specific challenges, dealers can provide targeted solutions that build trust and create long-term partnerships. Producers value advisors who help them solve problems and plan ahead. Nutrition and feed salespeople are among the most important advisors to livestock producers. Leverage your expertise, and if you need further advice, reach out to your ASM or one of our technical experts.

Customer Success Spotlight

Across the country, producers continue to recognize the value of proactive nutrition programs. Dealers report customers seeing improved body condition, stronger reproductive performance, and greater confidence heading into critical production periods when consistent nutrition strategies are implemented early.

These success stories reinforce an important message: preparation drives performance. The conversations you have today can help customers achieve stronger results tomorrow.

Iowa dealer Brian Bickel says when it comes to selling BioZyme mineral, “There’s no better feeling than hearing your customers’ reproduction success stories!”

As Q3 continues, focus on helping producers prepare for what comes next. By delivering solutions that support performance, efficiency, and profitability, you can build momentum with customers and drive strong results through the remainder of the year.

Full Circle Dealer Spotlight: Circle Z Farms 

Seeing is believing for one Northeastern Iowa BioZyme dealer. And for Ryan Zitelman of Circle Z Farms, seeing significantly tighter breeding and increased embryo production from his flushes is all the proof he needed from a nutrition program. 

Ryan, who runs about 120 Simmental cows, sells about 20 bulls each year, and does custom embryo transfer (ET) and artificial insemination (AI) work for others, was looking for a quality nutritional product to complement everything he was doing. He had been on a tour in the Western U.S. and had seen several producers who earn their livelihood from the cattle business using VitaFerm. He thought, if it works for them, it must work, noting that he knew he needed an organic mineral program.  

However, there was no readily available access to the VitaFerm mineral in his area, and the market was saturated with a product that Ryan said wasn’t doing the job. He tried VitaFerm, saw the results, and became a dealer so he’d have access. 

“Once I started my cows on VitaFerm, my donors doubled the amount of eggs produced per cow per flush. I knew I could confidently start recommending it to others,” Ryan said. “We sell 20 private-treaty bulls per year, and I feed it to them too. I rarely have one that doesn’t semen test.” 

Find the Right Customer 

Ryan recognizes that BioZyme offers numerous marketing tools and resources for its dealers. However, he has grown his business purely by word of mouth due to success stories. He said his customers are similar to him in the fact that they are performance-driven and trying to improve their own herds and therefore don’t mind investing in a premium mineral product. 

“I’m not looking for the customer who wants a ‘cheap’ mineral product,” he said. “I’m looking for the guys who track numbers and have plenty of information. We won’t be the biggest dealer in the area, but I will likely have the highest performing customer base.”  

He is proud that his customers continue to use the BioZyme products without fussing about price. They see the product as he does – an investment – and many of his customers continue to hit better than 70% first-service conception rates, year after year. 

Customer Satisfaction 

Not only does Ryan strive to find the right customer – one that will stay for the long term – he ensures that the service he provides is second to none. His warehouse is at his home, so he’s “basically open 24/7.” Furthermore, in a region where livestock are a byproduct of farmland, Ryan stays on top of his customers’ needs and orders, contacting them at least every 4-6 weeks and making sure they have the products they need when they need them. 

“I’ll get mineral on the truck and visit 6 or 7 guys in one day, making sure they have what they need for the next month, especially before the busy times,” Ryan said. “I keep track of everyone’s ordering schedule and make sure they have what they need when they need it. 

Final Words 

“Take the growth slowly because not everyone is an ideal customer,” Ryan advises new dealers. “Go for the right customer, because the right customer will stay for the long term.” 

Thanks for being a genuine, caring dealer who cares about your customers, Ryan! You definitely show care that comes full circle with your service and performance.

Changes Coming in July

PELLET PRODUCTS BEST IF USED BY DAY EXTENDED

Through rigorous shelf-life studies, BioZyme® has confidently extended the shelf life of all our pellets to one year, from the previous six months. The best-by date on products made after July 1 will reflect this change.

WATCH FOR NEW BACKYARD BOOST® DAILY ESSENTIALS LABEL

You’ve probably noticed a slight change to the Backyard Boost logo. We’ve also given the Daily Essentials label a facelift, which will hit shelves in the near future. Watch for this new label to appear as inventory of the former label is depleted.

VITALIZE® BLAZIN’ PELLETS ARE HERE

Have you ordered the new Vitalize® Blazin’ Pellets yet? Built on the same proven principles as the liquid formula, these new pellets are designed to:

  • Deliver enhanced palatability
  • Support normal recovery from heat stress and exertion
  • Provide a convenient, easy-to-feed option for customers

The pellet comes in a 10-lb bag and 4 per case. Order yours today in the Dealer Center.

CHECK OUT SUPPLIES IN SAMM CENTER

We have added new educational and promotional tools to the SAMM Center, such as the Drought Info Sheet, Proud to Feed Sure Champ banner, and more. Check out the SAMM Center for all your promotional needs!

NEW PRODUCTS COMING SOON

BioZyme is launching several new products this summer across brands. Watch the Dealer Facebook Page for exciting news about these products.

BIOZYME CLOSES JULY 3

In observance of Independence Day, BioZyme will close on Friday, July 3, so our employees can enjoy time with their families and celebrate the holiday. We will resume normal business hours on Monday, July 6. We wish everyone a safe, fun, and happy July 4 weekend!

Dealer Spotlight: Bickel Farms 

One Iowa BioZyme® dealer takes the “lead by example” approach to his marketing. And it is working just fine for him. Bickel Farms, located in Southwest Iowa, near Diagonal, became a BioZyme dealer just five short years ago, after selling another mineral for 30 years. 

Brian Bickel explained that he had sold and fed another mineral for three decades, but once it was bought by another company, customer service began to fail. He had heard of BioZyme, and was familiar with the products, as his family used Sure Champ® on its show projects. He did his homework, tried VitaFerm® on his own herd first, and the rest is history. 

“I wanted to see how the product worked for us first,” Brian recalls. “I was one of the last to be a believer in chelated minerals, but you do get a true bang for your buck with them. I definitely see the Amaferm advantage at work in our herd. Our cows are in better shape. Their conversion and consumption is better than ever.”  

Once Brian was convinced of the benefits of VitaFerm and other BioZyme products, he became a dealer. He relies on word-of-mouth and lets his herd do the primary promotion for him, rather than advertising. Leading by example comes easily. 

Following by Example 

Brian is currently the second of four generations living on Bickel Farms. One of the primary ways he and his family stay involved in the industry is through the Ringgold County Cattlemen’s Association – an organization his dad, Dale, helped form 50 years ago. Today, the 6th generation of Bickel family, Cauy and Brady are involved in the beef industry. Brian and his wife, Robyn, just welcomed their first grandchild and the seventh generation to the farm. 

The Ringgold County Cattlemen’s honored Dale and Marla as its 2024 Cattlemen of the Year. The multi-generation family and BioZyme dealership continues its involvement, donating VitaFerm products to its annual auction and volunteering for various functions throughout the year. Brian hopes that this new grandson will share the same passion for agriculture, the farm, and give back as the generations before him. 

Business Basics 

When it comes to selling mineral, Brian says, “There’s no better feeling than hearing your customers’ reproduction success stories!”  

He recommends getting to know and working with the BioZyme team, and keeping an inventory management system that works best for the individual.  

“We are in hole-hog. Sell products from the same company and believe in what you are selling. It’s hard to sell what you don’t have,” he adds. 

Brian is a shorter distance from the Saint Joseph headquarters than some, but he does keep a variety of inventory. He compliments the BioZyme team, saying his truck driver has never had to wait to be loaded, and he can count on anyone from his ASM, Troy Goretska, to the nutritionist, Chris Cassady, when he has a question. 

Leading by example. Involvement in local organizations. Bridging the generational gap. Those are great ways to show care that comes full circle, and we’re glad to have dealers like Bickel Farms. 

Changes Coming in June

VITALIZE® BLAZIN’ PELLETS ARE HERE

We’re excited to introduce Vitalize® Blazin’ Pellets this month just in time for the summer temperatures. Built on the same proven principles as the liquid formula, these new pellets are designed to:

  • Deliver enhanced palatability
  • Support normal recovery from heat stress and exertion
  • Provide a convenient, easy-to-feed option for customers

The pellet comes in a 10-lb bag and 4 per case. Order yours today in the Dealer Center.

NEW PRODUCTS COMING SOON

BioZyme is launching several new products this summer across brands. Watch the Dealer Center Dealer Facebook Page for exciting news about these products.

BIOZYME CLOSES JULY 3

In observance of Independence Day, BioZyme will close on Friday, July 3, so our employees can enjoy time with their families and celebrate the holiday. We will resume normal business hours on Monday, July 6. We wish everyone a safe, fun, and happy July 4 weekend!

Full Circle Spotlight: Landreth Livestock Products

Jenny Landreth, of Calhoun Falls, South Carolina, takes care that comes full circle to an entirely new level. And she uses the profits from her BioZyme® and Umbarger business to do so. 

“Our son (Austin) started showing commercial cattle about 9 or 10 years ago. We’d raised cattle but had never been involved in the show industry. He had some friends who wanted to get involved, too, but had no ag background or place to keep livestock, so my husband said, ‘just show for us.’ We provided the calf, the feed, the hay, the travel, the hotel, the meals, and never expected or wanted anything in return,” Jenny said.  

A program was started with the Landreths – as long as the kids showed up and worked with their animals – there would be a calf to show, and someone to mentor them and provide them opportunities. Jenny and her late husband David, who passed unexpectedly in early 2025, used and continue to use the proceeds from their mineral and feed sales to pay for their show kids. Austin graduated from high school in 2024, thus aging out, and assuming many of David’s former responsibilities, but the Landreths still have two young exhibitors showing for them. They attend about 15 shows per year, and travel a four-state area, including the Carolinas, Tennessee and Georgia. 

“At one time I had six kids and nine calves,” Jenny said. “We proudly hang up our Sure Champ and Vita Charge banners wherever we go.” 

Outside of helping young exhibitors, Landreth Livestock Products also presents three scholarships at the South Carolina State Fair. One scholarship is presented to a college student pursuing an ag degree. Two other scholarships are given to young people who are interested in showing, but who don’t have direct ties to agriculture. Jenny feels it is important to encourage a “learn by doing” mentality to ensure an agricultural future for our country. 

A Rocky Start 

Jenny and David started out in the equine business but sold them to start a cow herd 21 years ago. About a decade ago, they preg-tested their fall-calving herd in May to find half the females were open. In the second trimester, another 25% aborted – something they attributed to their nutrition program at the time.  

One evening about that same time, they were watching RFD-TV, when a VitaFerm® commercial caught their attention. They discovered their nearest dealer was three hours away, but David made the trip and returned with a pallet of VitaFerm® HEAT®. 

“I just laughed when he handed me the bill. You drove six hours and spent what,” she said. “But the next year, we had 90% conception with A.I.; 100% conception with the clean up bull, a 100% calf crop, and the girls slicked off so nice.”  

Their good friend, Justin O’Flaherty, then BioZyme ASM, stopped by to visit one day, and noticed the VitaFerm and asked how far they had driven to get the product. She signed them up to be on-farm dealers, something that compliments their A.I. business, their 300-head cow-calf operation, and every other project they have. 

“It fell in my lap, and we ran with it,” she said. 

Advice to Others 

Jenny has a big heart – both for her “show kids” and for customers. Due to urban sprawl, she had to relocate her family about an hour south of their original location. However, her customers followed. She recommends running the numbers for customers to show them how the mineral does pay for itself and show them how it works for your operation if they have doubts. 

“Don’t get your feelings hurt if they say no. If they say they want to try another product, they will likely call you back in a year or so, and want to try ours,” Jenny said. “You don’t have to store everything. Get what works for your area and recommend those products. There are a lot of skus, and it can be confusing.” 

Thanks, Jenny for being an inspiration to young people and showing care that comes full circle!  

Changes Coming in May

LOOK FOR Vitalize® Blazin’ Pellets COMING LATER THIS MONTH

As part of our continued effort to expand and diversify our product lineup, we’re excited to introduce Vitalize® Blazin’ Pellets, launching this month. Built on the same proven principles as the liquid formula, these new pellets are designed to: deliver enhanced palatability, support normal recovery from heat stress and exertion, and provide a convenient, easy-to-feed option for customers. The pellet will be offered in a 10lb bag and 4 per case.

BACKYARD BOOST® MAKES LABEL CHANGES

As we enter into a time of raising spring chicks, look for new, trendier Backyard Boost® labels on both Daily Essentials and Defense. The same great products your customers have come to depend on contain the same great ingredients – we just made the package look more on-trend. This will be a rolling change as the original labels and inventory is depleted but watch for it soon.

BIOZYME UPDATES SMALL PARCEL SHIPPING

BioZyme is continually looking for ways to be more cost-efficient and pass those savings onto our customers. Therefore, we will transition our small parcel shipping to work with a third-party carrier who works more closely with FedEx and UPS and can offer significant savings while providing better tracking for small parcels.

BIOZYME IS CLOSED FOR MEMORIAL DAY

To allow our employees time for reflection and honor, BioZyme will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25. Normal business operations will resume on Tuesday, May 26.

Dealer Spotlight: Cow Poke Ranch Supply 

“Supporting 4-H is easy. The support always comes back to us from the 4-Hers parents and ranchers. Why wouldn’t we support them?”  

Jodi Pauley, store manager for Cow Poke Ranch Supply in Deer Lodge, Montana, understands the philosophy of care that comes full circle. At their store in Western Montana, they are accustomed to giving back to the young people both locally and to the surrounding counties. 

According to Pauley, she works to ensure Cow Poke Ranch Supply stocks a current inventory of show feed and supplies for young exhibitors. She also makes sure she has Sure Champ® Clench Gel, “to help keep their animals the healthiest they can be.”  

Pauley collaborates with vendors such as BioZyme® ASM Justin Doubet to conduct educational clinics at the store.  These clinics vary over time but cover topics ranging from feeding and selection to daily care, and they cover multiple species. Furthermore, Cow Poke offers specials for 4-H members, such as buying 10 bags of feed and getting 1 for free, and often recognizes its customers with an appreciation gift certificate at the end of the show season. 

County Fair Fun 

For the young Cow Poke Ranch Supply customers, much of their work culminates at the Tri-County Fair. Pauley said in 2025, she and Doubet hosted an ice cream social for the exhibitors and their families after check-in, where they also handed out some shirts and caps.  

“We also like to purchase one or two animals in the 4-H auction each year, depending on our budget,” Pauley said. “Our sister store in Corvallis also participates in the 4-H activities.” 

Education Beyond the Youth 

In addition to the youth education and support that Cow Poke Ranch Supply provides, Pauley said they have offered different producer educational opportunities. The most recent – Calving Day – proved some long-term success. 

The store invited several vendors to set up displays that promoted calving time supplies. Doubet promoted the VitaFerm® Sure Start Gel. Customers received a sign-in card and were required to get signatures from each vendor to enter into a drawing. The customers also received 10% off calving supplies purchased that day and a complimentary lunch. 

“It was a great way to expose our customers to everything we have to offer in-store and enjoy a good, hearty stew lunch. If they had not been in for a while, they could look around and learn more about the products we carry,” Pauley said. “They went home, thought about what they saw and what they wanted, and came back and made their purchases, so the Calving Day did pay off later.”  

Cow Poke Ranch Supply has been a BioZyme dealer since 2021. It carries every supplement line that BioZyme offers, ensuring that its customers’ animals are getting the best nutrition possible. 

“Jodi and her team always have the customer’s best interest in mind,” Doubet said.  

From 4-H exhibitors to the cow-calf producer, Cow Poke Ranch Supply knows how to show care that comes full circle. 

Dealer Spotlight: Timmons Feed & Farm Supply  

For some young livestock exhibitors, success is defined by a shiny belt buckle or a big purple banner. However, the owner and CEO of Timmons Feed & Farm Supply, Chad Timmons, encourages each young exhibitor to define success for their own project, their own way. 

“We want people to be able to take two goats to the county fair, have them behave for the exhibitors, and have them feel they have succeeded, just as much as the family who travels to Louisville and captures that purple banner,” Timmons said. “It’s okay for each family to define success for your family and celebrate your own wins, both big and small.” 

Something for Everyone 

Timmons said his family-owned and operated business offers feed and show supplies for every level of livestock exhibitor, from first-year novices to experienced showmen. He and his wife started Timmons Feed & Farm Supply in Lebanon, Indiana,  in 2010 and became BioZyme® dealers shortly after to offer high-quality nutritional products to their customers. Not only do they sell feed and other show supplies, but Timmons said it is important to offer advice and help their customers succeed every step of the way. 

“We don’t care if you are feeding and showing a $15 rabbit or $15,000 steer, if a family wants and needs help, we want to be there for them, every step of the way,” Timmons said.  

Timmons, who is passionate that livestock is a great tool to raise kids with, has a special place in his heart for the less experienced kids, who are still learning the ropes, but can “define their own success.”  He knows the hours and dedication it takes to hang a banner, and he appreciates the business that he receives from those customers. However, he knows the majority of young people are still learning the ropes, and he hopes their ultimate rewards are the networking, responsibility, work ethic, and ability to handle the ups and downs that life hands them. 

A Business Built on Relationships 

Most would think of a feed and farm supply store as a place to purchase feed and farm supplies. Yet, Timmons wants to be known as the place where values are held high, relationships are important, and a customer can come for help or advice. 

Kaylee Tepe, the office manager, tells about the initiatives Timmons Feed & Farm Supply has taken to encourage community involvement within their business.  

“Brock (Timmons) has encouraged people to grow their own food. We even sell local milk and dairy products from a farmer in the store because we believe in the local food movement. We also have a chicken plucker that our customers can borrow if they raise their own chickens,” Tepe said. 

Regardless of if its local food or working with customers, the Timmons’ hearts always come back to the youth. They started a Feed Success Essay program for young people to write a small essay to explain what they learn from their project.  They were also one of the title sponsors for the inaugural 2025 Indiana Youth Expo, giving area youth one more chance to showcase their livestock each summer. 

Timmons Feed and Farm Supply might not define its true success with a purple banner. However, in our books, they are the epitome of care that comes full circle, and that’s a success for BioZyme!