Over a quarter of a century providing solutions to producers in their quest to improve livestock performance and create quality protein to feed the world!
Welcome to the latest edition of the Agrarian Solutions newsletter. I am so glad you are joining us, and I trust you will find highly useful information on our solutions and testimonials from clients that stand by the results they’ve achieved.
First, I must share a heartfelt thank you to all our partners, customers, and colleagues from around the world. 2023 was an exciting year for us as we continue to build new relationships and forge deeper connections with our agricultural clients and the professionals that serve them.
We recognize that producers are under tremendous pressure to do more. Livestock need to perform at optimal levels with minimal challenges. We are finding many areas where toxin levels in feed are trending higher this year. Toxins can result in reduced reproductive success, production, and efficiency that all work against operational efficiencies. Our Agrarian product line continues to be the trusted and researched-backed solution for helping producers mitigate these negative impacts. If you haven’t already, please review the independent research on our market-leading DTX™ Concentrate product line. DTX is now the most researched product of its kind on the market and supports more than two decades of trusted usage and observations. Our professional technical team is ready to help you and work with your professional teams.
Another topic we must discuss is the current economics of the Beef on Dairy cross calves. These calves are bringing record returns for the dairy and ensuring the ability to sell that calf is too valuable to leave to chance. Convert™ Day-One Calf Gel has been the trusted go-to for producers to give that calf a boost of antibodies to promote appetite and immune function. In fact, we are hearing more often that calf buyers are giving preference to sourcing calves from herds that they know adopt such a protocol.
Agrarian continues to listen to our customers and partners to understand the challenges producers face. We are committed to research and product development based on the collaboration of expertise and real operational application. We look forward to helping to enhance the industry and producer success through innovative and effective solutions.
Thank you again for being part of our journey and trusting us to be part of yours. We could not succeed without you, and we look forward to many more successful years ahead.
If you have any questions, feedback, or ideas that you would like to share, please reach out to us.
Mark Carpenter Chief Executive Officer
Caroline Knoblock, MSc
Director of Nutrition
Caroline Knoblock was recently appointed to the role of Director of Nutrition for Agrarian Solutions. With her wealth of expertise in dairy nutrition, Caroline will play a crucial role in advancing the application of Agrarian Solutions’ cuttingedge direct-fed microbial products, including the flagship, research-proven Select DTX™.
In her role, Caroline will provide technical support and collaborate with nutrition consultants and feed mills to optimize the utilization of Agrarian Solutions’ family of products by their clients. Previously, she worked as a nutrition consultant, providing a comprehensive range of services to improve on-farm nutrition programs, including the evaluation of farm performance, feedstuff assessments, and the design and implementation of transition cow assessments and audits. Her experience also includes overseeing a 13-state territory for a major feed ingredient supplier, where she collaborated with nutrition consultants, feed mills, and distributors to drive business success.
Caroline graduated from Michigan State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. She furthered her academic studies at the University of Alberta, obtaining a Master of Science in Dairy Science with a focus on transition dairy cow management and nutrition for her thesis.
Caroline will concentrate her efforts across the Northeast and Midwest.
Chad Christensen
Business Development Manager-Western Region
Chad Christensen, formerly the Regional Sales Manager for the Midwest Plains Region, is stepping into the role of Business Development ManagerWestern Region. Chad will lead the charge in providing innovative products and specialized services to nutritionists and feed manufacturers. His focus areas include mycotoxin testing, drone services, and cutting-edge technology to enhance animal performance. Excellence at every step.
Dan Hoying
National Farm Program Manager
Dan Hoying has been our Midwestern Regional Sales Manager for 17 years and is now the National Farm Program Manager. Dan will work closely with all Select Sires member cooperatives across the United States, delivering topnotch training and sales support.
We are excited about the additions and changes to our team, which will continue to help us meet our mantra… “We exist to help others succeed.”
Tight heifer inventories and record-high dairy springer prices means the stakes are higher than ever to raise healthy calves. This winter when I attended the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in Frankenmuth, Mich., Dr. Paul Fricke with the University of Wisconsin showed data emphasizing the irrevocable consequences of compromising calf health early on, leading to reduced milk production. Like Dr. Larry Roth says, “Day 1, week 1, month 1” matters!
Including CONVERT™ BIG Calf in calf raising programs can help prevent health challenges and help them be productive, longlasting members of the herd. Mix BIG Calf into milk or milk replacer from birth through weaning to:
• promote digestive tract and whole animal health and calf weight gain pre-weaning, and
• foster starter feed intake.
Additionally, a case study (scan QR code) at a New York dairy also showed improved lung scores. At a cost of under 10 cents per day, BIG Calf is a great solution to include in calf programs to prevent and improve respiratory challenges and help calves grow into a productive lifetime.
We’ve seen and heard a lot of positive results about the inclusion of BIG Calf in heifer raising programs.
I’ve received consistent reports that BIG Calf Powder gives calves an extra gear of appetite and overall health. Calves come bouncing out of the hutches and want to eat the bottom out of the bucket.”
Derek Lease Premier Select Sires Area Sales Manager
Larry Roth, Ph.D., PAS, Vice President of Nutrition
Caroline Knoblock, MSc, Director of Nutrition
Enhancing reproductive success may be one of the most crucial factors for improving dairy profitability. A recent third-party study (scan QR code) with over 920 cows, proved supplementing DTX™ Concentrate to early-lactation Holstein cows challenged by mycotoxins improved the first-service pregnancy/service by 28.6% for artificial insemination (A.I.) and 15.6% for embryo transfer (ET) services at the first pregnancy check (28-34 d post-service). Why did DTX Concentrate supplementation improve reproductive success?
The mycotoxin TMR contamination levels (approximately 1.56 ppm DON and 147 ppb ZEA) experienced by cows in this study were not excessive. Even moderate levels of mycotoxins disrupt the intestinal lining, causing reduced nutrient absorption and increased nutrient demand from the subsequent immune response. Improving nutrient absorption and efficiency enables the cow to use nutrients for productive purposes that can result in reproductive success.
Researchers have repeatedly demonstrated that achieving less severe negative energy balance post-fresh significantly enhances reproductive success. Further, glucose is a key carbon source for rapidly developing cells, such as follicles, and a glucose shortage due to nutrient re-partitioning and deprivation due to mycotoxin exposure would also negatively impact first service conception rate. In addition, glucose and other nutrients are necessary for milk production.
The enhanced pregnancy success per service observed in cows supplemented with DTX in the recent study could be attributed to heightened mycotoxin defense, which facilitated better nutrient absorption, efficient nutrient allocation, and increased availability of glucose for the rapid development of follicles. Consequently, this led to a higher number of cows conceiving and maintaining pregnancy.
The cow prioritizes nutrient allocation to maintenance, growth (depending upon age), milk production, and lastly reproduction. Nutrient shortages and re-partitioning due to mycotoxin exposure, even at medium risk levels, could have profound negative reproductive effects due to the cow’s hierarchy of nutrient utilization. Defend and protect your cows with DTX.
Controlled, third-party research confirms 25 years of experience.
Feeding DTX to mycotoxin-challenged, lactating cows:
DAILY MILK PRODUCTION INCREASED 2.5 lb/cow for the first 150 DIM
28.6% IMPROVEMENT
Artificial insemination pregnancy rates from Control 36.7% to DTX 47.2%
15.6% IMPROVEMENT
Embryo transfer pregnancy rates from Control 27.6% to DTX 31.9%
GREATER THAN 3.5:1 ROI
Scan QR Code View Third-Party Study
Following our core principle of “helping others succeed” we are excited to announce the launch of the Ruminate This (Scan QR Code) podcast, along with changes to ALL IN.
Ruminate This is the best resource for all things mycotoxins that you can share with the world! Share it with your clients, nutritionists, veterinarians...anyone interested in cattle nutrition. Each episode we will discuss what mycotoxins are, how they affect livestock, and the impact they have on producers. When you listen, you will hear the latest research and learn from the best experts in the industry about how mycotoxins impact the health and performance of livestock.
A new episode will be available the first, third and fifth Monday of each month beginning April 1. Look for Ruminate This on your favorite podcast and hit subscribe!
With the addition of Ruminate This, the frequency of ALL IN has changed. Beginning in April, we will go live with training on the second and fourth Monday of each month. Designed specifically for Select Sires federation professionals, ALL IN is a great place to network and learn from likeminded people, expanding your knowledge and skills to best serve your clients.
Join ALL IN live the second and fourth Mondays of each month, or watch the replays in the Agrarian Hub (Scan QR Code).
• April 22 - Long live the dairy cow. Just one case of scours, respiratory disease, mastitis, lameness, milk fever, or ketosis can derail a cow’s career, leading her to add to the average (2.8 lactations) rather than the goal (3.6 lactations). Now is a crucial time to help your clients defend, protect, and enhance their genetic investment. This is your opportunity to be the “bovine longevity advisor” that your clients desperately need!
Where will Agrarian be during the next few months?
June 5-6th
Larry Roth & Chad Christensen will be attendance
Excellence - (…in all things)
• Each interaction/presentation/ project/response/solution is done with excellence.
• We quickly, easily, and positively respond:
• and adapt to changing markets and product opportunities.
• to customer’s needs and issues offering solutions that will ultimately satisfy the customer.
• We are perceived as a leader in the industry in the field of mycotoxins and how they affect livestock.
• We are here to provide solutions to livestock growers and make their lives easier.
Ph.D., PAS, Vice President of Nutrition
Mycotoxin assays of TMR and corn silage samples indicate regional variations in mycotoxin contamination levels across the US. The summary of the 452 TMR samples and 232 corn silage samples collected between October 1, 2023, and February 29, 2024 are displayed in Tables 1 and 2 and Figures 1 and 2 for TMR and corn silage, respectively.
Consistent with the past several years, the TMR assays suggest DON contamination is the greatest concern in the northeastern third of the country with nine states averaging high risk results and another three states almost making that list. Although state-wide WI TMR samples averaged 980 ppb DON, a wide range existed between extreme contamination in eastern WI near Lake Michigan and clean TMR samples in western WI next to the Mississippi River.
Zearalenone (ZEA) contamination averaged medium risk in only six states; however, each of those states were also high risk for DON, which compounds the negative effects of each individual mycotoxin. Interestingly, fumonisin contamination has been trending up over the last several years and TMR assays from IL, OH and MI averaged in the medium risk level during the sampling period.
Corn silage assay results continue to implicate this important feed ingredient as the major mycotoxin source. As previously mentioned for TMR samples, WI showed a tremendous east-to-west variation in DON contamination of corn silage, and in fact was the second-highest state for corn silage DON levels. Although the GA corn silage sampling was limited in scope, with only 9 submittals, the assays results averaged in the high-risk level for DON, ZEA, fumonisin and in the medium risk category for T-2. University research evaluating fungicides, application timing and hybrid susceptibility to mycotoxin contamination of corn silage should be closely followed.
Agrarian Solutions encourages nutritionists and livestock producers to submit TMR and feed ingredients for mycotoxin evaluation to determine correct protection strategies. Please contact your regional Agrarian representative for assistance with sample submittal and result evaluation.
nd = none detected = low risk = medium risk = high risk
ppb = parts per billion
nd = none detected = low risk = medium risk = high risk
ppb = parts per billion
“The Agrarian Hub is key to all things you need to know about Agrarian Solutions products. If you have a question, if you just want to know anything about the products, the Agrarian Hub is going to give you that information.
Also, the Agrarian Hub is going to have all kinds of chats on there, ALL IN calls, and everything that is currently being discussed. The Agrarian Hub is going to be your key to success.”
Chad Walker COBA Select Sires
Product Tech Data Sheets
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Articles
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Agrarianhub.com
Despite being in the early stages of the year, Agrarian Solutions has made significant strides internationally. Our recent participation at the International Poultry and Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta facilitated fruitful discussions with distributors from around the globe, representing countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, Brazil, Kenya, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and The Netherlands. These interactions reaffirmed the unique value proposition offered by Agrarian Solutions, positioning us as innovators in addressing mycotoxin and livestock challenges worldwide.
Following our presence at IPPE, Dr. Larry Roth and Cody Cline embarked on a trip to Bogota, Colombia, where they engaged with local distributors and gained invaluable insights into the South American market dynamics. With imports totaling $112 million in feed products in 2023, Colombia demonstrates a robust demand for imported solutions to bolster their livestock production efforts. Considering this, we met with a diverse range of companies including vertically integrated suppliers, pharmaceutical laboratories, and product distributors that all had the universal demand for unique feed solutions. We were enthusiastic about cultivating relationships with such a diverse array of companies and are eager to explore the myriad of applications our distinctive L-Form bacteria products can have in addressing various livestock challenges throughout Colombia and South America.
Even with the exciting prospects on the horizon, we also remain committed to nurturing existing relationships with our loyal distributors worldwide, including IFT, Sinotrade, Jing Yu International, and Grand Valley Fortifiers. Their unwavering dedication to promoting our products in their respective markets is deeply appreciated, and we look forward to continued collaboration.
In our ongoing efforts to enhance support for our international distributors, we are excited to introduce several initiatives aimed at furthering our partnerships:
International Agrarian Hub – Coming Soon!
The establishment of the International Agrarian Hub, a centralized online resource hub offering comprehensive information about our products, including mode of action, translated materials, and technical data sheets. This resource has proven to be indispensable for our domestic distributors, empowering them not only with enhanced product knowledge but also with the ability to sell and market our offerings more proficiently.
Translated Marketing Materials and Technical Documents – Coming Soon!
We are currently in the process of creating translated marketing materials and technical documents tailored to the diverse needs of our international customers. Recognizing the preference for individuals to engage with documents in their native language, we are confident that the provision of translated resources will enhance the effectiveness of our distributor’s marketing and sales initiatives. We have already commenced translating key
