Depending on where you live, the temperatures are probably starting to heat up, and the grass is starting to green up, sure signs that spring has arrived, and summer is right around the corner. No matter what your customers raise, we have products to help those animals fight heat stress and deter insects this summer. All HEAT® products help animals maintain normal body temperature at temperatures of 70 degrees or warmer and include garlic, a natural insect deterrent.
Alan Jackson might have claimed “there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues,” but that is probably because the VitaFerm® HEAT® mineral didn’t yet exist when he sang that number one hit back in 1994. With ingredients like Capsaicin, Amaferm® and garlic, the HEAT package found in many BioZyme products is the perfect solution to your company’s and your customers’ summertime blues.
The full line of HEAT products will help your customers’ animals thrive during the summer temperatures and while grazing on fescue. With the Amaferm advantage and Capsaicin, both research-proven to lower body temperature, which can improve conception rates by maintaining pregnancy, HEAT is an ideal supplement for both cows and ewes during the summer months. The included garlic helps deter insects. In addition, the HEAT package is available in Gain Smart® Stocker HEAT. It is also readily accessible for show livestock of all species during the summer months in products like Sure Champ® Extreme, Vita Charge® Climate Control Gel and the Vita Charge® Stress Tub with HEAT.
Often times, the results that others see with their BioZyme® products will help sell them to others. Like this testimonial from Steve Olson in New York:
“I’ve seen some great results since starting to use the BioZyme® products. The product I really like is the VitaFerm HEAT mineral. When Jack [Oattes] told me about the product with chili powder and garlic in it, I’m half-Italian, so I knew it would help repel insects. The HEAT definitely helps with fly control. I can go out and see my cows in the pasture and tell which ones are eating it based on the lack of flies on them compared to the cows that haven’t eaten it that are bunched up and have flies landing on them.”
Or this one from Carter Ward in Missouri:
“Prior to using Sure Champ® EXTREME, we exclusively used Climate Control Paste (transitioned to Vita Charge® Climate Control Gel July 2019) on our cattle to keep them cool through the summer. While at Hereford Junior Nationals, I got a bucket of Extreme to try out. I put our Angus cattle on it just prior to the Junior Nationals a week later and saw a HUGE difference before even leaving for the show. Despite the heat, our cattle were eating more, consuming more water and even their hair coat really came on in the last few days. We were huge advocates for Climate Control Paste and now even fans of Extreme. It’s a new staple in our feeding program.”
However, if you are looking for other ways to help promote the HEAT package to your customers, the Marketing Team is always prepared to help you. One very effective way to promote products seasonally is through the mailers that BioZyme sends each quarter. In Q2, the mailer will have a HEAT message to remind your customers to prepare for summer stressors and contact you for your mineral needs.
The quarterly mailer program is available to all dealers. You can simply opt-in by contacting Ashley Fitzsimmons, Regional Marketing Coordinator, and providing her with your most current customer mailing list. The deadline for the Q2 HEAT postcard is 5 p.m., CST on Friday, May 7. Fitzsimmons reminds dealers that there is no limit to the number of times you update your mailing list, and there is no limit to the number of quarters a dealer participates in the mailer program.
Other ways that you can promote HEAT products to your current and potential customers is with Promoboxx. The Marketing Team will have a plethora of campaign material on Promoboxx that you can add to your own social platforms, saving you the time of creating content. Of course, if you are looking for a unique advertisement, billboard or mailer, the Marketing Team has the creative talents to help you. Contact your ASM for more details.
With a little bit of marketing effort and some word-of-mouth success stories, the HEAT line up of products can help take away your summertime blues and get you over that summer slump!
Progress. We define progress “to grow or develop, advance,” and at BioZyme®, we work daily to progress in the products that we offer to the animals that we serve. That’s why you’ll likely notice a change in the feed-through pesticide that we are including in our cattle products. Instead of the traditional Altosid IGR that has been in the BioZyme brands, you will now notice ClariFly® is now included in several of our product names.
ClariFly is now found in the following products: VitaFerm® HEAT® with ClariFly®, VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® 5/S with ClariFly®, VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® 5/S HEAT® with ClariFly® and VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® 5/S CTC 3G with ClariFly®, Products with ClariFly are labeled for limited for sale in specific states.
ClariFly is a four-fly larvicide that prevents house flies, stable flies, face flies and horn flies from developing in and emerging from the manure of treated cattle. ClariFly interrupts the lifecycle of the fly through the active ingredient Diflubenzuron that inhibits the synthesis of chitin, according to Casey White, Director of Product Development at Central Life Sciences.
“Chitin is a major component of the exoskeleton of an insect, and as an insect grows and will molt, it will have to reform their exoskeleton. One component is that they deposit chitin to be able to form that exoskeleton. Without a properly formed exoskeleton, that insect immature or not fully mature, will die,” he explained.
The primary benefit of the ClariFly compared to the Altosid is the fourfly versus the one-fly claim for the two products. Altosid was labeled to protect only against horn flies and their larvae. White said it is not economically feasible to increase the dosage of Altosid to obtain a claim to control the other pest fly species. ClariFly includes added claims against face flies, stable files and house flies.
White explained that different fly species become pests in different management scenarios. Horn flies and face flies are typically bigger nuisances in the pasture because they seek out fresh, undisturbed manure piles to lay and hatch eggs in. Conversely, house and stable flies are peskier in confinement areas like pens, corrals or barns, where manure build up exists and wet organic matter like feed or hay is available to lay eggs in and hatch.
Feeding a supplement with ClariFly is very similar to feeding Altosid, from a timing approach, as you want to prevent the larvae from developing. White suggests the 30/30 approach to feeding the supplements with Clarifly. Start feeding the supplement in the spring 30 days before your last hard freeze before the temperatures warm up to the mid-60s. Continue to feed ClariFly all summer long and 30 days past the first freeze in the fall. Feeding to that end point in the fall will actually help with fly control in the spring of the following year.
Adding ClariFly to the VitaFerm HEAT and VitaFerm Concept•Aid 5/S HEAT makes two of our products even better for producers, eliminating even more stressors. Provide your customers the best vitamin and mineral supplements available this summer. Provide them with the HEAT package and ClariFly to take away their summer stress!
When it comes to nutrition, you don’t want your customers to cut any corners. Sure, everyone is trying to cut costs and reduce their inputs, but a quality nutrition program is an investment in health, and healthy animals lead to increased conception rates, more pounds of gain and more dollars at sale time.
Maximizing nutrition within the herd will maximize your customers’ bottom line. That is why it is important for you to market VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® as a program, not just a breeding time mineral.
You already know the benefits that Concept•Aid offers in addition to Amaferm®, which impacts intakes, feed digestibility and nutrient absorption for optimum health and performance:
2.5X NRC for quicker impact
High levels of Vitamin E for reproductive tract repair
Organic trace minerals for more stability and higher bioavailability.
With nutritional advantages like those and a variety of formulas to meet a multitude of management styles and feed resources, it only makes sense to encourage VitaFerm Concept•Aid be part of a year-round mineral program.
Enter VitaFerm Concept•Aid 5/S HEAT® and VitaFerm Concept•Aid 5/S HEAT® with ClariFly®. Now, cattle producers can get the same high-quality mineral package they have come to know and expect during breeding season during the heat of the summer. There is no more trying to “guess” when they should switch from Concept•Aid to HEAT, especially for those breeding for spring calving herds.
“I was so excited when they came out with VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® 5/S HEAT® because for us in the upper Midwest, you wanted to feed Concept•Aid and get your cows bred back up, so you couldn’t feed the HEAT mineral. It was like tugging strings, which one was going to be better for you? So, by being able to have the two in one, it really helped us out up here because we breed our cows in the heat in the summer. It is a very beneficial product. Concept•Aid 5/S is our staple mineral. I was pretty excited about the 5/S with the HEAT. We spent most of the summer months on the 5/S HEAT. You’re still going to have some flies, but it does reduce them drastically. It helps keep the cows spread out more and grazing more,” said Justin Maus, Maus Angus Ranch, North Dakota.
As Maus said, the primary advantages of the VitaFerm Concept•Aid 5/S HEAT and the new product with ClariFly is that producers will be confident that they are getting the best vitamins and minerals for their herds as a critical production time and still benefitting from the HEAT package. The new VitaFerm Concept•Aid 5/S HEAT with ClariFly should keep even more flies away from the cattle, with a four-fly claim, and keep those cattle more comfortable than ever before.
Take your marketing mindset from a product to a program. With the variety of Concept•Aid formulas including those with HEAT, your producers will be glad that they don’t have to make choices anymore when it comes to a summer grazing mineral. Sell them the mineral that helps get their cows bred, keeps them bred and keeps them cool while out in the summer heat. Then, watch your business grow.
Just because some beef producers think that green grass means less need for supplementation (this is totally not true), doesn’t mean your business needs to slow down in the summer. Here are some ideas to make the summer work for you instead of against you.
Find other ways to bring in revenue Your sales don’t have to grind to a complete halt during the off-season. Diversify your business offerings and see if you can sell related or complementary products and services. Determine the other needs of your customers and find ways to fulfill them even when your main business isn’t in season. May I note that most horse owners love to supplement their “pet” all year long, so please consider the Vitalize® brand. We’ve been through this diversification drill in these letters before; note, I won’t give up on helping us all remember to do this.
Build your community Social media gives you tons of opportunities to connect with people all year, so keep your blog and social accounts active. Keep publishing blog posts and posting updates on all of the channels your customers follow. Use your downtime to come up with great content that can educate your customers. Doing so helps you build authority, strengthens your community and ensures that people will remember you when it comes time to do business again in the fall.
Reach out to the media Publications usually plan their articles months in advance, so if you want to land a magazine feature just in time for the peak season, you’ll have to reach out NOW.
Attend networking and educational events Use the slow months to broaden your knowledge and network. Virtual conferences and even local business events can help you gain new partnerships and skills that you can use in your business, so don’t pass up the chance to attend them.
Get feedback The off-season could be the perfect time to get feedback and reviews from your customers. Consider getting in touch with people who purchased from you and ask them what they thought of your products.
Business may be seasonal, but your commitment to it shouldn’t be. Put these tips into action and find ways to thrive. I find summer to be one of the most inspiring times of year. It’s a great time to allow yourself to create things you might not normally create—or make progress in directions you wouldn’t otherwise prioritize. For me, summer has always been about picking goals that are less directly correlated with professional success, and more about self. It’s my way of maintaining some sort of connection to that child-like feeling of “summer vacation.”
You asked, we listened. The ultimate summer breeding mineral is here! VitaFerm Concept•Aid 5/S HEAT with ClariFly is now available and ready to order! This mineral package combines the benefits of Concept•Aid to get cows bred with the proven effectiveness of the HEAT package for summer grazing and NOW added 4-fly control with ClariFly! ClariFly helps control horn flies, face flies, stable flies and house flies in the larval stages.
On April 1, BioZyme® will launch VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® 5/S HEAT® with Clarifly®. This product will only be available in registered states. The states we have received approval for are: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. We will update the Product Center in the Online Dealer Center as we receive additional approvals.
On March 1, BioZyme® launched a DuraFerm® Goat Concept•Aid® Protein Tub:
A breeding mineral with 20% natural protein in a cooked tub for goats specifically designed to target cycling, embryo production and conception when fed 30 days prior to kidding through breeding. Especially beneficial in A.I. and E.T. breeding programs.
This product will be on the March 1 price list but will not start shipping out until March 15.
On February 1, BioZyme launched a new brand, Backyard Boost®. Backyard Boost is a line of natural products that are purposefully crafted to support the health, wellbeing and productivity of poultry. Backyard Boost uses only the highest quality components and proprietary ingredients proven to support a flourishing flock. Two products will be included in the initial launch:
Backyard Boost Daily Essentials is a pelleted, natural protein supplement fully fortified with a prebiotic, vitamins, minerals and organic trace minerals to maximize growth and egg production and support overall flock health. Available in 2.5# and 10#.
Backyard Boost Defense is a liquid supplement that promotes feed and water intake during times of stress and recovery to help support digestive health and a healthy inflammatory response. Available in 16 oz.
PRODUCT UPDATES
On January 1, 2021 we changed from Altosid (1-fly claim) to ClariFly (4-fly claim) in all of our IGR products. The registration process of the new ingredient requires product name changes to several products as well as new product numbers:
VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® 5/S IGR will now be 85317 VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® 5/S with Clarifly®
VitaFerm® HEAT® IGR will now be 10991 VitaFerm® HEAT® with Clarifly®
VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® 5/S CTC 3G IGR will now be 85001 VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® 5/S CTC 3G with Clarifly®
We have received approval and can begin selling these products in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. We will update the Product Center in the Online Dealer Center as we receive additional approvals.
PRODUCT CHANGES
Vitalize® Equine Digest More® Plus 10# will begin shipping in a slightly different bag once current bag inventory is depleted. This change is due to our current bag being discontinued by the supplier.
ORDERING UPDATES
When submitting Customer Pickup orders, instead of defaulting to “I want it as soon as possible,” the order system now requires you to select a date that the order will be picked up. Any orders that are not picked up within 5 business days of the requested pick up date will incur additional storage fees of $10 per pallet, per day.
SHIPPING UPDATES
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: Due to consistent service delays, high damage rates and a change to their freight claim reimbursement policy, BioZyme, Inc is no longer shipping products with Dohrn Transfer Company. Customers and Area Sales Managers [ASM] can still choose to use Dohrn Transfer Company for shipping LTL orders. However, both the Customer and the ASM must sign a Release of Liability for each order for which Dohrn Transfer Company will be used.
FREIGHT CLAIM REMINDER: Please remember that you MUST notate what was damaged and sign the DRIVER’S copy of the delivery receipt in order to submit a freight claim. The freight companies deny our claims when the delivery receipt is not signed, and we cannot provide a credit on denied claims.
EMPLOYEE UPDATES
Ryan Hoefling has joined BioZyme as the new Lab Manager.
CHANGES COMING IN MAY 2021
NEW PRODUCTS
Starting May 1, two new Vitalize products will be available for purchase. Vitalize Blazin’ is product developed for horses to support normal recovery from heat stress and exertion. Additionally, Vitalize JumpStart will be added to the price list and serve as a nutritional boost to support the immune system of foals, weanlings, and young horses. Blazin’ and JumpStart will be offered in a liquid form, designed to be used as a top dress and drench, respectively.
Have you had a chance to show your customers our new Gain Smart product quiz? This interactive quiz will help your customers find the right products for their operation. Check it out now: https://gainsmart.com/product-quiz/
This month we shine the spotlight on two individuals who represent themselves and their respective dealerships as outstanding ambassadors for the Vitalize® line. Later in March, you will have the opportunity to hear from these men as they share their passion for the Vitalize products, how they position the products to their customers and some of the benefits their customers like too.
James Smith has been involved in agriculture his entire life, starting from a very young age. He grew up in Washington state, Oklahoma and Texas, where he graduated from high school.
Horses have always been a part of his life, and he started roping calves and team roping when he was 15. He learned to shoe horses as a way to pay his rodeo entry fees and to help finance his way through college. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1984 with a bachelor’s in Agriculture. He was a member of the OSU rodeo team and was the team captain his senior year.
After graduation, he began his start in the feed business, working as a salesman in central Oklahoma for ACCO Feeds, selling equine, swine, cow-calf and stocker feed; however, his emphasis was working with dealers and the dairy industry. He started his career with Shawnee Milling in 1994 as territory manager, covering Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle and still sells dairy, cow-calf, stocker and equine nutritional products.
Horses remain a passion for James. His wife Dawn’s parents are heavily involved in the Quarter horse breeding business with Belle Mere Farm in Norman, Oklahoma, standing great stallions like Easy Jet, Bully Bullion, Mr. Eye Opener, Marthas Six Moon and many more. They often breed as many as 1,200 mares a year.
James and Dawn live in Dibble, Oklahoma, where he still sells feed and enjoys team roping. He says he has three of the best horses he has ever ridden. They also own a commercial cow-calf operation, using Angus, SimAngus and Hereford Bulls. Their family includes two grown and married daughters, one granddaughter and one more on the way.
Jason Brooks is the Vice President of Marketing for the National Roper Supply, headquartered in Decatur, Texas. A Texas native, Jason attended Texas Tech University where he received his Master’s of Business Administration and bachelor’s in Finance and Business Economics.
Jason started working at NRS in 2007 as the Head of the NRS Buying Team before moving into his role as VP of Marketing.
Growing up, his family ran a purebred cow-calf operation in Texas where he developed his passion not only for the cattle industry but the equine industry as well. While at Texas Tech, Jason trained saddle horses and team roped; to this day he is currently still a competitive team roper.
Jason and his family reside in Krum, Texas, where they are actively involved in all aspects of the animal agricultural industry. He is a proud stock show dad and thinks there is no better place to raise his family than on the back of a horse and in the showring.
Be sure to tune in, March 18 to learn more about Jason and James, their enthusiasm for the equine industry and how they market and position the Vitalize products to their customers. We are blessed to have industry professionals that use and understand the products that work as dealers in our network, providing care that comes full circle.
By now you are probably aware of the variety of products that Vitalize® offers in the equine line for that good gut feeling. If not, we encourage you to review the November issue of VISION, visit the Product Center on the Online Dealer Center or go to www.vitalizeeq.com. Currently, eight great Vitalize and Hyaluronex® products available to you and your customers that can benefit the digestive and joint health of a horse.
Greatness doesn’t always happen inside the arena. Greatness happens in the horse, in the barn, on the long haul. Greatness happens where you make it happen, and that is why we have rounded up some folks to share their stories about the great things that Vitalize has done for them.
The Marketing Team utilizes 37 industry experts that use and promote the Vitalize to help position products through the Vitalize Ambassador program. People like to hear from their peers, and they develop a certain level of trust. According to one Nielsen report, a 92% level of trust exists among peers, much more than with any other group. Although it is generally fairly simple to get product testimonials, the equine industry is much more visible with the variety and number of competitions both in the English and Western disciplines. The ambassadors are not only passionate about the products, successful at what they do, but are respected within the industry and are usually active on at least one social media platform where they can share their thoughts and ideas with the masses.
Professionals like 10-time Olympic show jumper Ian Millar, his son Jonathan and his daughter, Amy, also an Olympic show jumper, use the products. So do two former World-champion tie-down ropers, Marcos Costa and Haven Meged. Laura Kraut, Olympic Gold Medalist, and Jenni McAlister, Three-Time FEI Show Jumping World Cup Qualifier, are two of the ladies who use Vitalize and travel the international circuit. In addition to two-time NFR qualifying barrel racer Emily Miller-Beisel, other barrel racers like Megan Lyerly and Bobbi Grann use the products. Shaun Strickland, the manager at Poison Spider Ranch uses it on his ranch horses and his champion cutting horses. Eventer and equine blogger Lauren Drew and Derek Braun, the Owner/Trainer at Split Rock Farm and President and Founder of the Split Rock Jumping Tour also use and promote Vitalize.
Why?
Because they believe in the products! They have had positive experiences, and they are willing to share to share their experiences with others. See what they say.
“The Vitalize® products allow my horses to better utilize their feed and reach their full ability. I like my horses’ hair coat and their consistent performance they are giving me. The Vitalize Recovery Gel is a must! It keeps my horses eating and drinking properly while on the road. They then perform to their full potential!” – MARCOS COSTA, World Champion Tie-down Roper
“In early 2019, my #1 competition horse Quantico was struggling to come back into competition shape and generally didn’t seem comfortable in work. My vets couldn’t find anything seemingly wrong, but I felt in my gut that he just wasn’t 100%. In the summer of ‘19 I put Quantico on Vitalize® Digest More® Plus and his comfort in work started to improve over the following weeks, the discomfort in his hindgut had been overlooked for months but was finally under control! Vitalize Digest More Plus helped Quantico go from a very light workout schedule to full fitness work and competing again over the first 6 months he was on it made a huge positive change in his work ethic under saddle and truly helped him get back to the competition ring! I will continue to feed the Vitalize supplements to all of my training and competition horses to keep them feeling good from the inside out! – COTI HAUSMAN, 2017 USEA American Eventing Championships Preliminary Rider Champion
“Vitalize® Alimend® is a vital part of our horses’ daily program. With the added stomach and gastric support, I have seen a complete transformation in the consistency of my horses’ overall health, happiness and performance while using Alimend.” – DEREK BRAUN, Owner/Trainer at Split Rock Farm and President and Founder of the Split Rock Jumping Tour
“The Vitalize® products are user-friendly, as there isn’t a lot of mixing, and my horses look great. All three of my horses look better. They are staying filled out, and they are staying chilled out, which is the Amaferm® working to make their gut feel better. I can tell when my mare’s stomach is bothering her, and she doesn’t want to perform, but I haven’t had those problems since I started her on Vitalize. I’ve had my horses on the Vitalize® High Performance pellet for almost 3 years now. It’s a necessity while I’m going up and down the road! It keeps my horses looking great and feeling even better. What I’m most excited about this year is the new Vitalize Alimend®! My good mare stresses and it really doesn’t take much for her to get ulcers. I can’t tell you the last time she’s had gut trouble since I started the Alimend! It’s definitely a must-have in your feed program.” – WHITNEY DESALVO, Three-time WPRA World Champion Heeler
DeSalvo is really good about sharing the Vitalize message with young roping students. She offers a couple roping clinics throughout the year and will typically give students swag bags that include Vitalize caps and/or products. Some of the ambassadors will do giveaways on their social media or partner with another company such as a horse photographer to offer a package. These are all creative ways to spread the Vitalize message among peers.
While these ambassadors are always on the go, we like to see what your customers are doing too! Do you have loyal customers that you could deem as your local ambassadors? Do you have someone that shares the Vitalize message (or any brand message) on social media? Be sure to share that on your social media and tag us in it or share it to the Dealer Facebook page. Some of the best ideas and marketing messages come from our peers.
Using ambassadors, testimonials and word of mouth is a great way to position a product. Ask one of your loyal customers for a testimonial. Chances are, he or she will be glad to talk about the benefits of the product and if the neighbors know that person has success with it, that success will help you gain some other customers as well.
