Author: sgrobosky

How to Help the Stocker Grower Increase Profitability  

The stocker grower and backgrounder are smart but tough. They obviously love the challenge of raising freshly weaned calves to their next and final production stage, yet several significant challenges are associated with the stocker business.  

As with most in the livestock business, the stocker growers look to their peers and other trusted individuals in the industry for advice and counsel. As a BioZyme® dealer, we want to arm you with the information you need to help these producers grow their stocker cattle. 

Strategies to Help Your Stocker Grower Customer 

Every challenge a stocker grower faces is an opportunity for you to help them while growing your own business. Let’s explore some key strategies to overcome the biggest challenges the stocker grower faces in the cattle business 

  1. Managing Market Volatility 

While we are not market advisors, we can suggest that your stocker growers manage their operations wisely. Tools like futures contracts, options or Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) insurance to protect against price drops. Furthermore, your customers might consider running multiple enterprises, such as combining stocker operations with cow-calf or row crops to spread financial risk. 

Finally, stocker growers sometimes sell cattle at different weights or times of the year to take advantage of favorable market conditions. 

2. Adapting to Weather & Environmental Challenges  

Most stocker growers will use rotational grazing to optimize pasture utilization and maintain forage availability when they have available resources. Since it seems there is a drought every year in some parts of the country, it is key to have a backup plan. Stockpile forage, use cover crops or source alternative feedstuffs. 

Finally, be sure your customers provide windbreaks, shade and adequate water sources to protect cattle from extreme weather. 

3. Improving Health & Nutrition Management 

While we might not be market advisors, we do know a few things about animal health and nutrition. Be sure to recommend to your customers to use the Gain Smart® program featuring Gain Smart and VitaFerm® products.  

Furthermore, stocker growers can purchase preconditioned cattle. Calves vaccinated, weaned and properly managed before arrival are less prone to stress and sickness. Minimize disease introduction by quarantining new arrivals, maintaining clean water sources, and limiting exposure to outside cattle. 

The Gain Smart Difference 

Gain Smart® is a line of free-choice vitamin and mineral supplements for stocker cattle that promotes healthy, economical pounds. With four different formulas based on your management scenarios, this mineral is designed to maximize efficient gain.    

Gain Smart contains AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, organic copper, iodine and zinc for maximum bioavailability and hoof health. It also provides nutritional support for a healthy immune system. It can be fed as a loose mineral or mixed into a ration.    

The stocker grower strives for his or her stocker cattle to achieve moderate weight gain while maintaining lean muscle growth. Average daily gain (ADG) for stocker cattle typically ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 pounds per day, depending on forage quality, nutrition and management practices. Producers aim for an efficient cost-per-pound gain by utilizing high-quality forages and optimizing feeding strategies. 

One advantage of feeding the Gain Smart mineral is that it is research-proven to add at least .25 pound of gain per day to stocker cattle. Not only does Amaferm increase the immune response, but it also increases growth and performance. 

Gain Smart Provides Options  

Currently, Gain Smart is available in 4 formulas for various management scenarios. All of which can help your customers stay profitable, regardless of the cost of cattle. The 4 different free-choice vitamin and mineral supplement formulas for stocker cattle include:     

1. Gain Smart Stocker   

Gain Smart Stocker helps your herd maximize efficient gain.        

It is designed for those feeding a medium to high forage diet and works well for both cool- and warm-season grasses. It is the most versatile and can be fed in multiple places under multiple conditions.    

2. Gain Smart Stocker Wheat   

Gain Smart Stocker Wheat maximizes efficient gain on wheat or small grain pasture.        

This product supports a higher-quality forage diet rich in protein and nitrogen, such as wheat, small grains and legumes.   

3. Gain Smart Stocker HEAT®  

Gain Smart Stocker HEAT maximizes efficient gain when temperatures are above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. It contains HEAT technology, a combination of essential oils and garlic, to support animals when heat and insects are a challenge.        

Gain Smart Stocker HEAT is ideally suited for backgrounding and yearling cattle on grass. It contains plant extracts to help maintain circulation and support animal performance and gain in heat and fescue situations. The plant extracts are research-proven to support animals’ ability to maintain normal body temperature. This mineral is ideal in the hot summer months or any time when grazing fescue. It also includes garlic to deter insects.     

4. Gain Smart Stocker Balancer   

Gain Smart Stocker Balancer RU 1600 maximizes efficient gain and balance high-grain diets when mixing TMR rations. It includes rumensin for improved feed efficiency.        

Gain Smart Balancer RU 1600 is designed for calves being backgrounded or fed in a dry lot situation on a mixed grain ration. It complements the co-products, such as distiller’s grain and cereal byproducts, and works well with fermented feed like silage. It contains no phosphorus but does have rumensin. Gain Smart Balancer can be fed to heavier weights, and it is a good selection when trying to improve feed efficiency.     

Get Gain Smart in your Warehouse Today 

If you know you have stocker cattle operators in your area, make sure they know about Gain Smart mineral. Sometimes, our customers know BioZyme as the VitaFerm® or Sure Champ® brands. However, ensuring that your customers know all brands is vitally important.  

For more information, visit the Gain Smart blog or contact your Area Sales Manager today!  

An Overview of the Stocker Cattle Phase 

The stocker cattle phase is a key segment in the beef production cycle, bridging the gap between the cow-calf operation and the feedlot. This phase is characterized by the growth and development of weaned calves before they enter the feedlot for finishing.  

Stocker cattle programs emphasize forage-based growth, focusing on skeletal and muscle development rather than fat deposition. This period allows producers to add weight to the cattle cost-effectively while optimizing their health and conditioning before the final finishing stage. 

Some might consider stocker cattle the “middle child” of beef production. Stocker cattle don’t offer the glam and glitz of cow-calf production. Furthermore, they don’t hold the title of “feeding the world,” either. Stocker cattle are typically a higher-stressed group of calves. They have been weaned from their mamas, transported many miles and if not managed proactively, require more treatments than most cattle. 

Perhaps this phase can benefit from the BioZyme family of brands more so than other groups of animals. We know that 70% immune response for cattle starts in gut. As BioZyme dealers, if you reach out to your stocker cattle operators, with products that feature AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, those calves are more likely to stay healthy and grow faster. That seems like a win-win! But first, let’s explore more about the stocker cattle phase. 
  

Stocker Cattle Selection 

Selecting the right stocker cattle involves evaluating various factors, including breed, weight, frame size, health and genetic potential for growth. Generally, cattle with medium to large frames that exhibit good growth potential and skeletal development are preferred. 

According to John Jeffrey, BioZyme Director of National Sales, knowing the information on the calves you are about to buy is one of the most important management tools you can employ. Discovering their breed and genetic make-up and what kind of management they have had in the past will give you a better sense of how to care for them. Other history you might want to find out includes any vaccination or health protocol that was used and how long they have been weaned.  

“Knowing if you’re getting in high risk or low risk calves, and the overall history of a source of cattle can help a backgrounder out. This basic information helps you determine how you can best handle the cattle moving forward,” Jeffrey said.  

Stocker cattle are often sourced from cow-calf operations and purchased at livestock auctions or directly from producers. Healthy calves with minimal stress and low instances of disease are ideal for stocker programs. High-risk calves, such as those transported long distances or exposed to multiple stressors, may require additional management and health interventions. 

Nutrition & Grazing Management 

Nutrition plays a vital role in the stocker phase, with most programs relying heavily on pasture and forage-based diets. Common forages used include native grasses, improved pastures, wheat, rye, oats and other small grains. Depending on the geographic location and season, stocker cattle may graze on different types of forage to maximize growth rates. 

Supplemental feeding may be necessary in certain situations, particularly when forage quality is low. Protein and energy supplements, along with mineral and vitamin supplementation, help ensure optimal growth. Water availability and quality are also fundamental, as proper hydration supports digestion and overall health. 

Stocker operations may utilize rotational grazing systems to enhance pasture utilization and maintain forage productivity. Rotational grazing allows pastures to rest and recover, reducing overgrazing and improving long-term sustainability. 

Facilities are Key  

Having a facility that is calf-friendly is vitally important. We often think of stocker cattle out grazing on lush, wide, open pastures. While that is true most of the time, there are still some things to consider when preparing facilities for stockers.  

Stocker operators need to have a receiving pen with a loadout chute, where calves can unload from the semi and load up when it is time to go to the feed yard. The receiving pen should be large enough to hold calves for an adjustment period to get them used to their new environment. It should have a fresh water source and provide a quality vitamin and mineral supplement.  

Additionally, ensure that there is a fresh water source big enough to service the cattle in the pen. Access to clean, fresh water at this stage of their life is vitally important to their overall health and performance.  

Furthermore, the facilities should have a working chute, where you can process cattle upon receiving or if you need to treat a sick one. Jeffrey said one really nice processing perk is having a scale underneath your processing chute, which allows you to more accurately dose your antibiotics and vaccinations to weight.  

“When every penny counts, being able to provide dosage to the animal’s weight, and manage your medicine inventory are ways to provide yourself more income,” he said.  

Finally, make sure the fence line should be secure, and adequate bunk space is available if you are feeding your calves grain.  

Animal Health, Nutrition  

Animal health and nutrition work synergistically. They are a critical component to any producer’s cattle production and management resources. Jeffrey encourages every stocker operator to have animal health and animal nutrition protocols. Those start with building trusted relationships with livestock nutritionists and veterinarians who understand your production goals. Maintain records of every treatment and vaccination you give your animals and find a record-keeping system that works best for you.  

Perhaps the most important way to ensure that your animals stay healthy is to get them started right with the 3-step approach from Gain Smart.  

“If we can get Amaferm into their diet and keep it in their diet early on, it will help those calves maintain a healthy stomach. They will feel better, grow better, have overall better water intake and go to the feedlot growing and gaining more efficiently,” Jeffrey said.  

Promote Gain Smart Program as a Cattle Management Tool   

Step 1: VitaFerm® Cattle Drench    

VitaFerm® Cattle Drench is the first step to successfully receiving calves. This drench for cattle is designed to support digestive health before, during and after challenges. It contains AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, a prebiotic research-proven to enhance digestibility. Cattle Drench also contains MOS (mannan oligosaccharides) to help normalize the gut microflora and supports the immune system and enzymes to generate a more rapid digestive response.    

Using this drench as you process the calves at receiving helps keep their gut healthy and functioning. We know that 70% of the immune response starts within the digestive system, so a healthy gut will lead to a healthy animal.    

Step 2: VitaFerm® Stress Tubs   

VitaFerm Stress Tubs help eliminate stress of being in a new environment when offered to calves the first 14 to 21 days post-receiving. This tub for cattle is designed to support digestive health and intake and contains Vita Charge Technology including Amaferm and MOS. It also contains a probiotic to help restore the gut microbiome. The Stress Tubs are not minerals but can work along with your mineral program.  

The Vita Charge Technology, found in the Cattle Drench and Stress Tubs, is comprised of a unique blend of ingredients. These ingredients help support animal health before, during or after the stress. Every product with Vita Charge Technology contains an exact amount of B vitamins, vitamin E, potassium, zinc, MOS and Amaferm.    

In addition, a precisely defined salt-to-sugar ratio was developed and incorporated into the technology to support hydration. This combination provides an undeniable impact to livestock under stress    

Step 3: Gain Smart    

Gain Smart® is a line of free-choice vitamin and mineral supplements for stocker cattle that promotes healthy, economical pounds. With four different formulas based on your management scenarios, this mineral is designed to maximize efficient gain.    

Gain Smart contains Amaferm, organic copper, iodine and zinc for maximum bioavailability and hoof health. It also provides nutritional support for a healthy immune system. It can be fed as a loose mineral or mixed into a ration.    

Growth Performance & Weight Gain 

The stocker operator strives for his or her stocker cattle to achieve moderate weight gain while maintaining lean muscle growth. Average daily gain (ADG) for stocker cattle typically ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 pounds per day, depending on forage quality, nutrition and management practices. Producers aim for an efficient cost-per-pound gain by utilizing high-quality forages and optimizing feeding strategies. 

One advantage of feeding the Gain Smart mineral is that it is research proven to add at least .25 pound of gain per day to stocker cattle. Not only does the Amaferm increase the immune response, but it increase the growth and performance. 

Cowboy Math to Help your Customers 

Here’s something you should walk through with your customers to help them see the value of Amaferm. 

With last fall, 5-weights were selling in the $3s, and even 7- and 8-weights brought in the mid $2 range -not an ideal time to buy stocker cattle. However, it was time to buy, and fall moisture meant pastures were ready. 

“The cost of cattle is always going to fluctuate. However, the price of Amaferm hasn’t changed in the 10 years I have worked for the company,” Jeffrey said. “At just 4 cents per head per day, Amaferm can magnify the value of your forages and feedstuffs. It will help your calves gain faster and more efficiently, adding at least an additional quarter of a pound of gain per day to your calves.”   

Let’s look at one example of cowboy math that Jeffrey likes to explain.   

If your calves gain .25 pounds per day extra, that is an extra 25 pounds after just 100 days. With Amaferm at just 4 cents per head per day, you just spent $4 for additional gain you wouldn’t have had before. That potentially leads to fewer total days on feed, for just $4. You can’t even get a soda and a candy bar for $4. Furthermore, the added pay weight of improved gain further amplifies the profitability  

.25 pounds x 100 days = 25 pounds of gain 

100 days x .04 = $4 for additional gain, saving days on feed/feed 

More Cowboy Math  

A backgrounder runs 2,000 calves in the Southern Plains while feeding a mineral from the local feedstore that costs $20/bag delivered. The average death loss is 2% or 40 calves.    

The local BioZyme dealer – YOU – convinces this backgrounder to feed Gain Smart at an investment of $32*/bag delivered, a difference of $12, with $4 of that the Amaferm advantage. Each bag has 200 servings, and the feeder plans to graze for about 110 days, so he or she will need 1,100 bags. Thus, he or she will spend about $13,200 more on the mineral program this year than in the past.    

Healthy, Efficient Pounds   

But wait. Calves are healthier, and the death loss is cut to 1% or 20 calves feeding Gain Smart mineral. Now, let’s look at where the feeder is financially. (*suggested retail price may vary due to freight)    

Initial investment: 1,100 bags x $12 more than previous mineral = $13,200 

Saved 20 calves due to increased health: $1600 each x 20 head = $32,000 

$32,000 – $13,200 = $18,800 profit in live calves 

Another way to look at it is if you save one live calf at $1600, at $32 per bag, that one calf pays for 50 bags of Gain Smart. With 200 servings per bag, that one more calf paid for 100 calves’ minerals over a 100-day backgrounding period—healthy, efficient pounds.    

Your customer’s initial investment has more than paid for itself, plus the Amaferm advantage helps calves gain potentially fewer days on grass. Calves should stay healthier, meaning fewer dollars spent on treatments. It’s an investment that will continue to offset the cost of gain in challenging times.     

“Gain Smart improves feed efficiency and health, which is more money in your customer’s pocket,” Jeffrey said.   

Gain Smart Provides Options  

Currently, Gain Smart is available in 4 formulas for a variety of management scenarios. All of which can help your customers stay profitable, regardless of the cost of cattle. The 4 different free-choice vitamin and mineral supplement formulas for stocker cattle include:     

1. Gain Smart Stocker   

Gain Smart Stocker helps your herd maximize efficient gain.        

It is designed for those feeding a medium to high forage diet and works well for both cool- and warm-season grasses. It is the most versatile and can be fed in multiple places under multiple conditions.    

2. Gain Smart Stocker Wheat   

Gain Smart Stocker Wheat maximizes efficient gain on wheat or small grain pasture.        

This product is formulated for a higher-quality forage diet rich in protein and nitrogen, such as wheat, small grains and legumes.   

3. Gain Smart Stocker HEAT®  

Gain Smart Stocker HEAT maximizes efficient gain when temperatures are above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. It contains HEAT technology, a combination of essential oils and garlic, to support animals when heat and insects are a challenge.        

Gain Smart Stocker HEAT is ideally suited for backgrounding and yearling cattle on grass. It contains plant extracts to help maintain circulation. That supports animal performance and gain in both heat and fescue situations. The plant extracts are research-proven to support animals’ ability to maintain normal body temperature. This mineral is ideal in the hot summer months or any time fescue is grazed. It also includes garlic to deter insects.     

4. Gain Smart Stocker Balancer   

Gain Smart Stocker Balancer RU 1600 maximizes efficient gain and balance high-grain diets when mixing TMR rations. It includes rumensin for improved feed efficiency.        

Gain Smart Balancer RU 1600 is designed for calves being backgrounded or fed in a dry lot situation on a mixed grain ration. It complements the co-products, such as distiller’s grain and cereal byproducts, and works well with fermented feed like silage. It contains no phosphorus but does have rumensin. Gain Smart Balancer can be fed to heavier weights, and it is a good selection when trying to improve feed efficiency.     

Get Gain Smart in your Warehouse Today 

If you know you have stocker cattle operators in your area, make sure they know about Gain Smart mineral. Sometimes, our customers know BioZyme as the VitaFerm® or Sure Champ® brands. However, it’s vitally important to ensure that your customers know all brands.  

For more information, visit the Gain Smart blog or contact your Area Sales Manager today!  

2024 is a Year to Remember for BioZyme® and its Dealers 

As the last weeks of the year wind down and we make plans for a new year, it is often fun to reflect on the year’s accomplishments. 2024 has definitely been a busy and successful year at BioZyme®, and we have much to be grateful for. 

Let’s stroll down memory lane to reflect on some of the exciting new products and partnerships that this year has brought to our team. 

2024 Brings New Products, Exciting Collaborations 

A business simply can’t grow if it continues to do the same thing, day after day and year after year. With sales growth and diversification as two of BioZyme’s five goals, our team has been busy launching new products for you to share with customers this year.  

Remember, these products are formulated around our research-proven prebiotic, AO-Biotics® Amaferm®. Amaferm is the flagship prebiotic that BioZyme is known for. At BioZyme, we understand that digestion and absorption help all animals stay healthy and perform to their optimum. 

Transition Vita Charge® to a Technology 

The first thing we did in 2024, from a brand perspective, was transition Vita Charge from its own brand line to a technology. All Vita Charge products either transitioned into the popular VitaFerm® or Sure Champ® lines. 

The Vita Charge Technology is comprised of a unique blend of ingredients to help support animal health before, during or after the stress response. Every product with Vita Charge Technology contains an exact amount of B vitamins, vitamin E, potassium, zinc, MOS and Amaferm. In addition, a precisely defined salt-to-sugar ratio was developed and incorporated into the technology to support hydration. This combination provides an undeniable impact to livestock under stress, embodying BioZyme’s overall purpose to provide “care that comes full circle.” 

New product names include:  

VitaFerm One 

On February 1, we introduced the VitaFerm ONE line to the world at the Annual Cattle Industry Convention in Orlando. This “One Solution for All Seasons” mineral initially came as a loose mineral and a 35-pound mineral block. We have also added the following options:  

Mid-year, when we added VitaFerm ReproMaxx™, VitaFerm ONE became the first level of mineral in the VitaFerm line’s Good, Better, Best marketing structure we introduced at the Dealer Retreat.  

Good: VitaFerm ONE provides one solution to conveniently and consistently promote cattle performance in all seasons.  

Better: VitaFerm Concept•Aid® promotes effective, easy breeding when fed at least 60 days pre-calving through 60 days post-breeding.   

Best: VitaFerm ReproMaxx provides maximum performance within intensive reproductive systems.  

DuraFerm® ONE Sheep 

We understand that sheep producers are also looking for a simple year-round solution. That’s why we introduced DuraFerm ONE Sheep. DuraFerm ONE is a free-choice vitamin and mineral supplement for sheep that promotes performance year-round.  

This was our only new small ruminant product this year, but we have had several requests for other sheep and goat products, so stay tuned. 

VitaFerm® ReproMaxx™ 

This summer, we were able to announce our first exciting collaboration of 2024, with the launch of VitaFerm ReproMaxx. ReproMaxx is one of few minerals designated as Zinpro® Availa 4 Verified. 

VitaFerm ReproMaxx products provide high vitamin and mineral fortification and research-proven components. The new line of products maximizes reproductive success by leveraging the benefits of Amaferm and Zinpro Performance Minerals. 

“Zinpro is as committed to research and technology as we are,” said Lisa Norton, BioZyme President and CEO. “This is an exciting time for our company, our dealers and our customers.”    

In addition to the traditional formula, we also provide a formula to protect against anaplasmosis:  

ReproMaxx provides the “premium” mineral in the VitaFerm Good, Better, Best marketing model. Remember, the difference between the three minerals is the intensity of nutrition. ONE provides great nutrition, Concept•Aid provides better nutrition, and ReproMaxx provides the best nutrition.  

Partnership with Four Sixes Ranch™ Leads to Legendary Nutrition™ Product Line  


This line combines the best of both brands’ expertise to provide comprehensive nutritional solutions designed to enhance the health and productivity of resilient commercial cattle herds.  

“I wanted BioZyme to develop a product that works in the real world, not just on an improved small pasture. It has to work in a big pasture. It has got to work in big country. There are still a lot of places in the United States that have ranches that you can’t drive to every corner. You have to have something that works for that,” said Joe Leathers, General Manager at the Four Sixes Ranch. 

From One Legend To Another

“I have worked with BioZyme over the years and operated nine different ranches in five different states. The nutritional needs in every one of those states were different. I saw a need for a tub or a product that would work for normal ranchers in different areas to meet the nutritional needs in all those different states. The partnership we have with BioZyme to develop this product would do just that. Not just smaller ranchers, not just purebred operators, but day-in-day-out ranchers that make a living off the land.” 

Those words from Leathers summarize BioZyme’s partnership with the Four Sixes. The legendary ranch has been feeding BioZyme products fueled by Amaferm for years. They know the benefits Amaferm offers their 7,000-head cow herd in big country. They want others to get those same benefits when forage is the primary feed source. 

The Four Sixes Ranch has worked with the BioZyme Team for 16+ years to provide their herds with industry-leading nutrition. After all, you don’t become a legend by settling for anything less than the best products on the market. And at BioZyme, our relationship isn’t just a partnership— it’s a shared commitment to excellence. The Four Sixes’ trust in us is what ultimately led to our exciting new product collaboration. 

Introducing Four Sixes™ x VitaFerm® Legendary Nutrition Protein Tub  

The Four Sixes x VitaFerm Legendary Nutrition Protein Tub is a ranch-tested 20% all-natural protein tub with vitamins and minerals designed to support beef cattle health and productivity when grazing moderate to low-quality forage. Furthermore, it:  

  • Carefully crafted specifically for the legendary Four Sixes Ranch, Legendary Nutrition is now available for operations of all sizes. 
  • Provides quality nutrition and industry-leading organic copper and zinc proven to deliver real-world results on the ranch. 
  • Contains AO-Biotics Amaferm, a prebiotic research-proven to enhance digestibility. 

Ranch-Tested 

Forage utilization is vital to the ranch, which depends on the grasses to feed all 7,000 cows. Amaferm, the key ingredient in every VitaFerm product, helps cattle get the most out of the forage. Amaferm is a prebiotic research-proven to enhance digestibility and increase the energy available to the animal.  

“We’re grass farmers with a cow problem… This tub is another tool in our toolbox to give us the ability to take care of our country. To scatter our cows so we don’t overgraze any one area of our country. So, we don’t beat it out, so invasive species don’t come in, all the while maintaining the health and nutritional needs of our cattle,” Leathers said.  

Research-Proven  

At BioZyme, research is a core value. It’s been this way for more than 7 decades. Why? Because of our motto: care that comes full circle. We believe that every animal we care for ultimately takes care of us in return. Doing what’s right for our animals, our land and our producers comes back around in the end.  

Developed using the latest research in animal nutrition, the Four Sixes x VitaFerm Legendary Nutrition product line provides quality nutrition to deliver real-world results. The flagship protein tub combines essential vitamins, minerals and organic trace minerals that are crucial for the overall health, growth and reproductive performance of cattle.   

“The collaboration makes perfect sense for cattle producers across the country and for the two companies, who have been doing business together for a long time. We are so pleased to partner with the Four Sixes on the Legendary Nutrition line,” said John Tucker, BioZyme Large Beef Accounts Manager. “With industry-leading organic trace minerals, 20% protein, and Amaferm, the tub is a great and convenient option for operations of all sizes.”  

The American Rancher 

A December 16 episode of The American Rancher on RFD-TV featured The Four Sixes and this new ranch-tested, research-proven protein tub. On a beautiful fall day, our team and the Sixes Crew filmed a great episode for you to learn more about their ranch philosophy and why the convenient nutrition of a tub is important to them. Tune in to YouTube to watch this episode of The American Rancher. 

“The thing about the tub is it’s a complete package. The nutritional needs of the cows shift throughout the year. This is a product you can put out year-round. It will regulate itself. We’ve seen it regulate itself. Therefore, you have a comfort level that is economically feasible. The cows will consume when they need it and won’t when they don’t,” Leathers said. 

BioZyme® Earns AFIA Feed Facility of the Year Honor 

New products and collaborations are exhilarating. However, the most exciting announcement of the year was that BioZyme’s Stockyards location earned the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and Feedstuffs 2024 Feed Facility of the Year.  

This prestigious award is presented annually to a feed facility demonstrating an outstanding commitment to quality, safety, productivity, regulatory compliance, employee development and customer relations. Additionally, BioZyme received the highest productivity and efficiency score.  

BioZyme hosted a special event with employees, customers and special guests on October 31 to celebrate the achievement.  

“I am very proud of our team’s shift to a data-minded, continuously improving production facility. We make continuous improvement for our customers a priority every single day,” said BioZyme president and CEO Lisa Norton.  

This has been more than a decade-long goal of Norton. She said AFIA positioned the program as a recognition as well as a benchmarking opportunity to enhance continuous improvement. 

 “We put in a lot of effort through the pandemic and over the last several years to change our culture and data use to be considered,” she said. 

A Point of Pride

One of the items that Norton is most proud of is that the entire production team is PCQI (preventative control qualified individual) certified. Although the requirements are that one team member receives this certification, the BioZyme leadership ensured everyone on the production team received certification. The team certification helps ensure the production of safe, accurate product that moves through the plant daily.  

“It is such an honor to be a part of this team! We hear all of the time how impressed visitors are with the cleanliness of our facilities. This award means so much more . . . In addition to cleanliness, this award encompasses our commitment to quality. This is only achievable with the quality culture we have created with all of our employees. It’s an honor to work with a team that makes every effort to achieve ‘Care that comes full circle.’ If we didn’t have this team, we wouldn’t be able to achieve this award,” said Robert Cortez, Director of Quality. 

BioZyme, an animal nutrition and fermentation company, has been driving innovation since 1951. Founded by Larry Ehlert, BioZyme began as Ehlert’s Guaranteed Feeds with just a $2,500 loan and a small feed store in the St. Joseph Stockyards.

Today, BioZyme’s product line includes high-quality vitamin, mineral and protein supplements enhanced with AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, a prebiotic. The Stockyards plant produces 31,000 tons of supplements annually.

Nationally Recognized

“We were extremely impressed with the BioZyme Stockyards facility, as it is evident that the company and its staff exemplify the core values of the Feed Facility of the Year program,” said Gary Huddleston, AFIA’s director of feed manufacturing and regulatory affairs. “The plant is a shining example of manufacturing excellence in the animal food industry.” 

The lengthy application of nearly 180 questions gave employees the opportunity to increase their already high standards in areas such as occupational and safety hazards, sustainability, and utility usage, according to Jill Vanover, Vice President of Quality and Regulatory. She recalls a previous FAMI-QS auditor commenting on BioZyme’s commitment to quality from the top down and noted it as the best he had ever seen. 

“This award is possible because of the tremendous pride that all our employees demonstrate throughout the company. They have a love for animals, a belief in the products and understand the importance in the roles they are playing to make safe, accurate products,” Vanover said. 

Looking Ahead to 2025 

As we reflect on 2024, we can’t help but be a little nostalgic. A lot of WOWing things happened to BioZyme. But the windshield is larger than the review mirror for a reason. We look forward with great anticipation and know that 2025 will also bring new excitement!  

Letter from Lisa

At about this point in the year we begin to say “oh well” to our new year’s resolutions. Many people find it difficult to stick to their goals, especially when they’re big and ambitious. But what if there was a way to make it easier to achieve these big lofty goals or challenges.  

That’s where the power of small wins comes in. Small wins are those little successes that you achieve along the way to a larger goal. They can be anything from walking for 5 minutes in the morning to finishing a difficult task when trying to close a big sell. Small wins are significant because they give you a sense of accomplishment. They boost your confidence and motivation, and they make it easier to stay on track to hit the big goal. 

In fact, research has shown that people who focus on small wins are more likely to achieve their goals than those who don’t. Business struggles are no different. If you’re struggling to achieve your business goals, try breaking them down into smaller, more manageable steps. Focus on making small wins by using the following tips: 

1. Break down big goals into smaller, more manageable tasks: Instead of focusing on a big, intimidating goal, break it down into smaller, more achievable tasks. This will make it easier to track progress and stay motivated.  

2. Use small wins to build momentum: Small wins can help build momentum toward bigger goals. As you achieve more small wins, you’ll feel more confident and motivated to tackle bigger challenges. 

3. Track your progress: Keep track of your progress toward your goal. This will help you see the progress you’re making, even if it’s just small steps.  

4. Celebrate small wins: When you achieve a small win, take the time to celebrate and acknowledge progress. Every step you take toward your goal is progress. 

At BioZyme, we always default to action to help us to take those small steps, because we believe action = growth. It is something that we have proven repeatedly at BioZyme, growing 146% over one five-year period. We have accomplished a lot of big things thanks to many of you, but it has always been the small accomplishments that have created the momentum we could sustainably continue. 

In The Rise of Superman (New Harvest, 2014), Steven Kotler considers the sweet spot to be where the task is hard enough to make us stretch but not so tough that it causes us to snap, a value he ascribes numerically at four percent. This single-digit approach illustrates that a goal must be close enough that it can be achieved—but at least four percent more challenging. Four percent seems so small, but yet it is all it takes to accomplish those big goals. 

A Day in the Life of BioZyme® Employee Jennifer Miller 

This month, we got to know a little bit about a big-hearted lady – Jen Miller. She has two decades of experience in customer support, making her an invaluable team member.  

Jen has worked in several roles at BioZyme, but she shines when helping others, especially our dealers.  

Outside of the office, Jen is a wife, mom, grandma and outstanding lady who likes to have fun.  

Let’s learn a little more about a day in her life at BioZyme! 

Title: Dealer Recruitment and Retention Manager 

Number of Years at BioZyme: 6 years 

Describe a typical day in your job:  

Work on all dealer applications that come via BioZymeinc.com. I contact the interested potential customers and go over a few questions to let them know what our goal is for dealers to ensure they are the right type of dealer for BioZyme. 

I also work with the Action Team to ensure we are working on our goals and helping our new and existing customers meet their goals, not only by sales but also by action! This team is part of the Retention side- Yes, we do need new dealers to grow, but we also must help our existing customers with everything we have to help them grow as well. We focus on the tools we offer outside of sales to ensure they have all the help they need to be successful. 

We are working on a process for the recruitment side of this job. Our goal is to build a pipeline of leads to be able to convert into new customers. This is a big task, but I am super excited, as this is key to helping BioZyme grow in the future! 

What is the most interesting thing you have ever done at BioZyme?  

I was able to help get everything set up for our International Partners Meeting in 2019, which was hosted in St Joseph, Mo. It was very interesting getting to meet all the different nationalities and learn how they position Amaferm® and what a huge impact it makes! 

What has been one of the biggest challenges? 

Getting the dealers to buy-in to Dealer Center and use the tools we offer to take actions to help grow their business. But I believe in 2024 we will see a change in our dealers’ mindset on this with the Action Team helping to make awareness of what all we offer from Dealer Center, Marketing, Message Board and all the other great tools we offer.  

Why is care that comes full circle important to what you do? 

I believe what the Action Team and I do on a daily basis by working with our dealers to ensure their success not only through sales but through the great tools we offer is definitely “Care That Comes Full Circle!” I do not know too many companies that offer a great tool like the Dealer Center that just doesn’t focus on Sales but on Marketing, Training, Product Knowledge and so much more. We take care of our customers on every level! 

What is something you enjoy doing outside of the office? 

Well, I have a few: 

  1. Seeing my beautiful grandbabies. 
  1. Going on adventures with family and friends! 
  1. Watching all the birds eat the Songbird Balls! I go through about 2 packs of songbird balls every 3 days! It is becoming an expensive hobby, lol! 

Thank you, Jen, for your heart and compassion for others. We are glad to have you as part of the BioZyme family!  

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Innovating Animal Health: The Journey Beyond Nutrition

If you know much about BioZyme®, chances are you might have heard of Larry Ehlert. Ehlert, a former feed salesman founded BioZyme in the 1950s across the street from the Saint Joseph, Missouri Stockyards. He subsequently purchased a patent and marketing rights to an unheard-of direct fed microbial produced from a fungus called Aspergillus oryzae, the basis of Amaferm, or what today we call AO-Biotics® Amaferm.

Ehlert was a visionary. He started producing and selling supplements with Amaferm in them, one of the first was VitaFerm®, which still exists today. But he knew producers didn’t know about direct fed microbials and wanted to get them exposed to the emerging technology. He knew the best way to educate cattle producers about Amaferm was through the animal health sector. Who did they trust for advice in the 1970s? Their veterinarians.

“Larry’s instinct was to work with vets because they understood the stress that livestock endured at specific time periods of life. If Larry could bring Amaferm to the animal health business through veterinarians, their clients could see how fast it works in times of stress, and Larry would have the buy-in of the vet. Then, the producers might better understand what Amaferm could do in a mineral program,” explained Kevin Glaubius, long-time BioZyme employee and Area Sales Manager in Nebraska.

After establishing a mineral program, BioZyme later began introducing animal health or small pack products that helped manage the side effects of stress in situations like weaning, hauling, processing, illness, diet changes or environmental changes. These products were originally sold as powders and boluses made for all species and formed the basis for BioZyme’s Vita Charge® Technology.

“Vets didn’t always have the time or space to sell 50-pound bags of mineral. But they could recommend these smaller products that worked fast and helped build immunity or got calves to the bunk or water tank faster,” Glaubius said.

The Evolution of Vita Charge Technology

With Ehlert’s foresight, the Vita Charge products of the 1970s grew and evolved. Livestock and pet enthusiasts appreciated the rapid response of these products, and Vita Charge increased in popularity. As time and technology evolved, so did the product offering.

Powders and boluses transitioned to pastes, liquids and tubs. The pastes eventually evolved to easier to use water-based gels in 2018 when BioZyme purchased Cogent Solutions Group in Lexington, Kentucky.

This proved to be a pivotal point in the evolution of all Vita Charge products. Cogent, a trailblazer in the research, development and production of liquid and gel products in the human and equine industries, brought a wealth of manufacturing knowledge to BioZyme.

With the purchase of Cogent, BioZyme could now make all Vita Charge products, with the exception of tubs, “in house,” utilizing cutting edge technology and automation.

What is the Vita Charge Technology?

According to Ignacio Ipharraguerre, Ph.D., Director of Research and Innovation, the primary focus in developing the Vita Charge Technology was to rapidly safeguard the gut from potential harm. The gut serves various vital functions, including a crucial role in maintaining animals in optimal health and well-being.

“Unfortunately, the inner layer of the gut, known as the mucosa, undergoes rapid renewal, rendering it highly susceptible to the impacts of stressful events. Simply put, any type of stress, even psychological stress, affects the gut mucosa, diminishing its protective barrier function. This protective function is crucial to prevent harmful inflammation and preserve the animal’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients,” he said.

The gut can become dysfunctional within minutes following exposure to stressful situations such as transportation, vaccination or negative interactions with other animals or caregivers. Although these adverse effects may be brief, they undoubtedly create a gateway for significant issues to arise. Consequently, Ipharraguerre and his team worked to create a rapid and effective solution to safeguard animal performance, health and overall well-being during and after stressful periods.

“This foundational work, which extended over several years, involved in-depth research and analysis to understand the intricate ways in which Amaferm and MOS interact with biological processes. The result is a comprehensive understanding of their synergistic effects, ensuring that Vita Charge is not just a product of development but a culmination of years of dedicated investigation and knowledge-building,” Ipharraguerre explains.

Stress also tends to deplete certain nutrients more than others. This is largely due to the “fight or flight” response prioritizing the support of the heart, lungs and muscles. During this physiological survival mode, the digestive process also ceases to be of high priority. The body will either immediately try to get rid of any undigested food (causing diarrhea) or will simply slow down.

The Vita Charge Technology is comprised of a unique blend of ingredients to help support animal health before, during or after the stress response. Every product with Vita Charge Technology contains an exact amount of B vitamins, vitamin E, potassium, zinc, MOS and Amaferm. In addition, a precisely defined salt to sugar ratio was developed and incorporated into the technology to support hydration. This combination provides undeniable impact to livestock under stress, embodying BioZyme’s overall purpose to provide “care that comes full circle.”

Vita Charge Technology in 2024 and Beyond

Although Ehlert had the foresight to position BioZyme as an animal health company nearly half a century ago, BioZyme has long been known for the many nutritional supplements found within the BioZyme family of brands. Brands like VitaFerm®, Sure Champ®, DuraFerm®, Gain Smart® and Vitalize® are becoming more familiar with livestock producers and equine enthusiasts.

In 2024, BioZyme will integrate the Vita Charge products into two of BioZyme’s more popular brand lines. The production cattle products like Stress Tubs and five-liter Cattle Drench will be marketed under the VitaFerm label. All gels, Liquid Boost® and the 32-ounce Cattle Drench will be marketed under the Sure Champ label.

“Both of the Sure Champ and VitaFerm names are really well-known brands within our industry. We feel that this transition will be a simple one with some good education, and perhaps less confusion with an extra brand,” said Lori Lawrence, Senior Manager of Commercial Marketing. “We have spent months working on this project, and we know we will continue to provide an undeniable impact to the livestock industry with our Vita Charge Technology, now found in our customer’s favorite BioZyme brands.”

All formulas will remain the same, only brand names will be slightly different, but the products will be marketed “with Vita Charge Technology” to help eliminate any confusion. For example, Liquid Boost will become Sure Champ Liquid Boost with Vita Charge technology. Same formula, same great results.

One product name will change. The Vita Charge Gel will become Sure Champ Appetite Plus®, indicating more of its direct impact to the animal.

Glaubius encourages livestock producers who haven’t used the products to find a dealer near them and try the products with Vita Charge Technology. He reminds users that the unique formulas work to support animals against a broad spectrum of unintended side effects from stress, something we often cannot control.

“The carefully crafted combination of Amaferm, MOS, B vitamins and other ingredients by BioZyme’s team of research scientists and nutritionists have been proven time and time again to help animals before, during and after stressful situations,” Glaubius said.

To learn more about the full range of products, visit VitaFerm or Sure Champ.

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Changes Coming in January

VITA CHARGE® TECHNOLOGY MOVES TO FLAGSHIP BRANDS

Starting in January, dealers and end-users will start to see some familiar products in the VitaFerm® and Sure Champ® brands. Although the products might have new names and labels, they are not necessarily new to the BioZyme family of brands. BioZyme is repositioning the Vita Charge products into either VitaFerm or Sure Champ to continue to provide undeniable impact to our customers.

The change comes after months of market and sales research, in an attempt to help increase efficiencies across all brands. All products will continue to be marketed “with the Vita Charge technology,” a fast-acting proprietary blend of ingredients that support animals during, before and after times of stress. All products will continue to have the same great formulas that customers have come to know and trust.

The production cattle products like Stress Tubs and 5L Cattle Drench will be marketed under the VitaFerm label.

All gels, Liquid Boost® and the 32 oz. Cattle Drench will be marketed under the Sure Champ label. Traditional Vita Charge Gel is being renamed Sure Champ Appetite Plus® with Vita Charge Technology, to better describe its function.

Both of the HydraBoost® products for swine become available only on special order, and no longer will be on the price list, once current inventory is depleted, much like HydraBoost AVX.

This will be a rolling change, as inventory of currently labeled products is depleted from inventory. Look for more information on the upcoming changes coming soon in the Online Dealer Center, Dealer Facebook Page and in your email.

How Dealers Can Work with ASMs to Plan their Growth

“The nature of life is to grow,” said Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. This famous quote suggests that growth is an inherent characteristic of life itself.

Long-time BioZyme® Area Sales Manager (ASM) Chris Kyle offers some advice when it comes to setting a growth goal for the approaching year. Kyle, who works with dealers in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas said he encourages his dealers to start thinking about the budgeting and planning process for the next year at the beginning of Quarter 4 the year prior.

“I usually start putting that reminder out there by the first of October. Then around the end of October or first of November, I like to sit down with my dealers to talk through how they see their sales going for the next year,” he said.

Be Strategic to Grow

Kyle offers advice to dealers as they think through and establish their sales goals for the next year.

First, they look at the current year’s sales. Now, it is time to set the bar a little higher and forecast growth. Kyle said individual dealers’ goals will vary and should align with their action plan and what level of BioZyme dealer they strive to become.

Sales growth can come in a variety of different forms. Revenue can be created by introducing new BioZyme products or brands, obtaining new customers within the same markets serviced in the past or selling more products to existing customers.

The BioZyme family of brands offers ample opportunities to introduce new products into a dealership. In addition, BioZyme’s new product development team works diligently to add new products to its lineup each year, ensuring you always have new opportunities for growth.

These products can be sold to new customers or even existing customers. With the recent Vita Charge® Cattle Drench campaign, several dealers increased sales by offering this product to existing VitaFerm® or Gain Smart® customers.

Finally, consider new business opportunities that you might have. Did you have a new producer move to your sales area? Will you have a producer meeting and invite prospective customers? Kyle’s experience shows that both these help his dealers increase sales, especially in the spring and fall.

Want to grow in 2024? Ask your ASM to schedule a time to help plan your action.

A Day in the Life of BioZyme Employee Shane Schaake

Shane Schaake is a Kansas native who has extensive knowledge of the cattle business. He grew up on his family’s Simmental operation north of Manhattan, Kansas, where they still raise about 100 purebred and percentage Simmental cows. Since he married his wife, Melissa, they have started building their own herd of very prestigious Hereford cows. Melissa and Shane are back-to-back American Royal Hereford Premier Breeder Award winners. 

Shane and his brother showed heifers across the country while growing up. Today, the Schaake family hosts an annual heifer sale with a focus on selling junior show heifer prospects. They also conduct a spring bull sale.  

Schaake attended Kansas State University, where he earned his bachelor’s in Animal Science in December 2015. After college, he managed a 700-head commercial cow-calf ranch on the edge of the Sandhills in Eastern Colorado. Prior to joining the BioZyme team in January 2020, he worked for Genex. Although he said cattle are his first passion, he also enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time with family. 

Shane Schaake Is Our Kansas Area Sales Manager 

Let’s learn more about a day in the life of the Kansas Area Sales Manager. 

Title: Kansas ASM 

Number of Years at BioZyme: almost 4 

Describe a “typical” day in your job:  

A typical day for Kansas is traveling around and working with our dealers throughout the state, providing marketing materials, delivering product knowledge, setting up producer meetings and doing customer visits with those dealers.  

In the spring is our big producer meeting time for most dealers so when that rolls around making sure we have our presentation prepared for what we are going to talk about that year as well as making sure we have all of our marketing material we need for it. We also stay in close contact with our distributor reps to help them help our dealers as well.  

What is the most interesting thing you ever have done at BioZyme:   

Attending NCBA twice now and talking with producers from all over the U.S. It’s very interesting to me how everyone has the same goal in an industry but can do it completely differently from coast to coast.  

Share a funny story about one of your days at work:    

Not sure if I really have any funny stories, but some of the most memorable times I have had at BioZyme is meeting, working with and learning about our dealers. My dealers in Kansas seem to be more like family than friends anymore! 

What has been one of the biggest challenges:   

Working with producers that are “old school” and are hesitant about changing their ways.  

Why is care that comes full circle important to what you do?   

This is extremely important to me and something I think about every morning when I start my day. This is honestly what drives me day in and day out. I think of this a lot of different directions to look at this from working with the producer to them helping get their stock to perform for them then returning it back the ground. Another example of this is everything we do for outreach with Jr Nationals and developing the youth to prepare them to take over the ag industry in the future.  

What is something you enjoy doing outside of the office?  

I really enjoy spending time with my wife on our ranch and taking care of our Hereford and Simmental cows, from calving to weaning, then into the show barn with them, it takes a group effort. I also really like artificially inseminating (AI-ing) cattle for different producers that are on Concept•Aid®. In fact, I really won’t breed for anyone who isn’t using Concept•Aid on their cattle anymore! 

Thanks for being part of the BioZyme family, and showing care that comes full circle in everything you do, Shane!

Product Quizzes & Calculators

Part of the care that comes full circle is taking the guess work out what our customers’ animals need to thrive and help them achieve the most profit. That is why nearly every brand we offer has online tools in the form of product quizzes and various calculators so customers can easily select the product that is best for their situation.

Product Navigator Quizzes

Many of BioZyme’s brand websites feature product quizzes, including:

  • VitaFerm® Concept•Aid®
  • Sure Champ®
  • Gain Smart®
  • Vitalize® Equine

Product quizzes allow you to help your customers determine the proper product(s) for their animals given the time of year, production phase they are currently in or the best way they need to help their animal.

Gestation Calculators

Most producers know gestation length for the species they raise. However, it isn’t always simple to figure 283 days in your head, or figure when you should breed if you want mid-March calves. BioZyme offers online gestation calculators for cattle, sheep and goats on the VitaFerm and DuraFerm websites. Online gestation calculators are available to enter your breeding date to populate a birthing date. Printable tables for each species are also online and are based on the following:

  • Cattle – 283 days
  • Sheep – 145 days
  • Goats – 150 days

Value Calculators

Because we know that saving money is important to our customers, we have also created several online value calculators. For VitaFerm and Gain Smart, you can access these calculators under the Resources Tab on their respective websites.

Gain Calculator allows producers to enter their own information to determine the additional gain advantage when feeding VitaFerm or Gain Smart products.

Forage Savings Calculator calculates the hay savings per pair from incorporating VitaFerm or Gain Smart into the diet.

Amaferm Value Calculator helps determine the advantages of per head per day of feeding AO-Biotics® Amaferm®.

These are also in a downloadable PDF version that you can easily have accessible anytime you are talking to a customer.

We strive to help you make the sale, while helping your customers understand that a premium vitamin and mineral program is an investment, not a cost.