CRYSTALYX^® brand supplements are relatively new at La Ferme Gillette, Inc., but are already making a difference in the dairy operation. CRYSTALYX^® was introduced to the dairy in September of 2004 to calves at weaning, and to cows used for egg flushing and embryo transfer.

All animals started with CRYSTALYX^® Brigade^® and the calves, once leaving the hutches at weaning and going to group pens, responded immediately. Alain Leduc, the dairy's herdsman, explained the calf and CRYSTALYX^® program. "All calves from 2-4 months of age will receive CRYSTALYX.^® We have noticed that calves on this program are much healthier, consume and convert feed better, and we have been able to reduce the amount of antibiotics fed at weaning." This has been a management advantage for the operation as well, as feeding calves CRYSTALYX^® Brigade^® in the 60-pound container is much more practical than hand delivering a medicated supplement.

La Ferme Gillette is one of the top Holstein breeding establishments in Canada and home to Gillette I Durham Jerecho, the number one Lifetime profit index cow in Canada. This cow, among others, has been receiving CRYSTALYX^® at freshening and through the flush period collecting eggs. The benefits have been cows eating better, thus fewer metabolic problems and better body condition. "The flush cows appear to be producing more eggs now, and just as important, we are happy with the quality of eggs produced," says Alain.

La Ferme Gillette is now expanding the application of CRYSTALYX^® by adding CRYSTALYX^® Fresh-Lyx^™ to all purebred fresh cows after calving. CRYSTALYX^® has proven itself an effective product for La Ferme Gillette. Owner Louis Patenaude says, "I don't mind letting others know what works," when discussing his operation. Good nutrition, management, and help from Masterfeeds, the local supplier of CRYSTALYX^® all aides in a successful dairy operation.

Paul and Sara Fischer milk 60 cows and raise all their calves. They use Brigade^® with the calves and Dry Cow^™ Formula in their dry cows. Bottle calves are housed in poly crates and after weaning they move through a series of small pens. CRYSTALYX^® helps them manage an economical and low input diet. Growth rates are excellent and they have been able to breed heifers earlier since using the CRYSTALYX^® program. The average age at first calving is 22-23 months.

“We prefer to use as little antibiotics as possible and Brigade^® really helps keep the calves from getting sick,” according to Sara. We feed a non-medicated milk replacer, Hubbard’s Calf Beginner with BioMos.^® We wean them after they are eating enough grain and then move them into the first pen. I put some grain on the Brigade^® to help the calves find the grain. Even with the severe cold, we did not lose any calves this winter. They have clean, bright coats and make the pen moves easily.

Paul states, “In general, CRYSTALYX^® is helping us have healthy animals. We have very few fresh cow problems and very little edema. We have tried getting by without Dry Cow^™ Formula, but each time retained placentas become a problem. It really helps manage the variable intake and small group size. It helps springing heifers when they are mixed with dry cows. Using CRYSTALYX^® is a real time saver. With the variable size of dry cow and calf pens, we would be going around the barn top dressing mineral to each group.”

Lower vet bills have been a benefit of using CRYSTALYX.^® “The only time we see the vet is during regular herd checks. I have to go back to last fall before there is a charge for anything else.”

Dan and Robert Biese own Biese Farm in Wisconsin and milk 185 cows. They work with Jerry Hillman of Henry Carstens and Sons, located in Brillion, WI.

We have been using CRYSTALYX^® Dry Cow Formula™ for several years. “The block gives us the confidence that all the cows are getting what they need. The barrels are easy and convenient for our group sizes. We would recommend CRYSTALYX^® to other farms.”

Dan Cummings, the owner of Nine Cees Dairy in Westfield, WI, milks 200 cows in two locations. He works with Hugh Jones of Larsen Coop.

“Dry Cow Formula™ and Transition Stress™ Formula are two products I really believe in! They are products that the more the animal licks, the better they do. They are convenient and I know the cows are getting what they need. With having cows at two locations, CRYSTALYX^® gives me piece of mind. I have fewer problems when I use CRYSTALYX^®. I feed outside in fence line bunks. When it is hot, I know the cows don’t eat during the hottest part of the day. Last year I used Buffer-lyx^®, and my milk and butterfat stayed up where they should. I have not used Buffer-lyx^® yet this summer, but plan to, because milk and components are starting to slip. I plan on trying CRYSTALYX^® on my weaned calves to help them through the stress of pen moves and feed changes.”

Ben and Micheal Hughs of Pickett, WI milk 300 cows. They work with Hugh Jones of Larsen Coop. They use Transition Stress™ Formula for the fresh cows, close-up dry cows, and embryo transfer (flush) cows.

“After using CRYSTALYX^®, we had fewer displaced abomasums and fresh cow ketosis. We have also had better results in embryos for cows that we flushed. CRYSTALYX^® has been part of the improvement, in addition to providing higher fat and vitamin E levels in the flushed cow ration. Cows start stronger and get going faster. CRYSTALYX^® gives the heifers an extra chance to get the minerals and vitamins they need. We have some big, older cows and heifers have to compete with them at the feed bunk. The close up pen has 20-30 cows most of the time, but there are times of the year when we have 40 head in there. Even though we are more crowded during those times, cows come through fine.

We have been using CRYSTALYX^® in the BioBarrel^®; it is great! The cows don’t waste any thing and there is not a pile of empty barrels to worry about. In cooler times of the year we may put out two days worth of feed to the dry cows, and being able to feed over top of the CRYSTALYX^® BioBarrel^® is nice. I like the fact that all cows utilize the blocks. While we have been talking, I have counted six different cows that have been licking.

We would recommend CRYSTALYX^® products to others. We have a new barn for the transition cows with very good cow comfort and CRYSTALYX^® is an important part of the transition cow program.”

Klink Dairy is a family operated farm, ran by 3 brothers. Phil and his wife Janice, Steve and his wife Denise and Keith. They milk around 180 cows.

They use Transition Stress™ Formula with the pre and post fresh cows as well as Brigade^® and Replacement Heifer™ on the calves.

“We use the heifer barrels in the smaller calf groups, that way we know they are getting the nutrients they need.” Convenience and consistency of intakes were important factors in knowing the products work. “The barrels last like they are supposed to and the calves do better with them.”

They have been using the barrels for 3 years. They really like the BioBarrel^®. “It is simple and automatic. The animals just chomp away and it’s gone. You can push it around and not worry about denting it up.”

“We started using Transition Stress™ Formula in the pre-fresh and fresh groups because we were having more ketosis and displacement than we wanted. I don’t know what’s in them or how it does it, but it sure works. Even the vet noticed we were having fewer problems. Intakes were up and cows are healthier. Meaning we are spending less money on vet bills.”

Level Acres Dairy of Hartford, WI is owned by Jim Becker and Jim Webber and milks 180 cows. They have been using Transition Stress™ Formula and Buffer-lyx^® for the last five years.

Jim Webber says, “The Transition Stress™ Formula block is something we would not go without. When we started, we saw less ketosis and fewer displaced abomasums right away. It helps us keep the vet bill down. When we are using the blocks we don’t see huge swings in the way cows perform. There is a more steady increase in milk and the cows production is very persistent. They peak higher right away and don’t lose too much weight.”

Jim uses the Transition Cow Index (TCI) on the DHIA records to track fresh cow performance. They consistently run a strong positive TCI with butterfat to protein ratios indicating that ketosis risk and weight loss are very low.

“Buffer-lyx^® does some amazing things in the summer. We started Buffer-lyx^® because butterfat was dropping and we were loosing peaks. Now we hold the peaks and maintain weight better in the summer.” He noticed that as the cows are more heat stressed, the intake of the barrel goes up, but not the vet bill. They like the BioBarrel^® due to the convenience and how it handles in the free stall barn. “You can push the straw barrel around with the skid steer and not worry about it.”

The skid steer is used to push up feed. They use the BioBarrel^® Buffer-lyx^® on the milk cows and don’t have to worry about damaging the steel barrels.

Rick Salber of Marathon, WI is the longest CRYSTALYX^® customer for Larsen Coop. He has been using CRYSTALYX^® since 1988. He milks 65 cows and raises all the heifers and a few steers each year. Convenience and time saving products are very important to him. His main focus is getting quality forage and working with the herd.

“I use CRYSTALYX^® Dry Cow Formula™ because it works! It is easy and convenient, especially in the summer when I am busy with field work. CRYSTALYX^® Dry Cow Formula™ is a year round way to get minerals and vitamins into the dry cows. I do not have much for fresh cow problems. Cows calve, clean and start strong. The springing heifers and dry cows are together. I know that is not the best, but having the barrels out there helps the heifers a lot.

I really like that there is no waste with the product. The dry cows are out on a dirt lot and the tubs are right there with them. I don’t have to worry about the product spoiling or not being used.” Replacement Heifer Formula™ is used in the summer months. Intakes vary depending on the quality of feed they are getting.

Bruce Vande Hey owns Vande Hey Farms and has 400 milking cows. He works with Bart Collins at Henry Carstens and Sons in Brillion, WI.

Bruce Vande Hey has been using CRYSTALYX^® Dry Cow Formula™. He uses this as a TMR safety net. The 250 lb. barrel of Dry Cow Formula™ is placed in the dry cow lot and the 60 lb. tub is used in the calving and fresh pens.

The dry and fresh cows are on a TMR with a protein/mineral. “It is not that I don’t think the mineral is mixed in well, but with CRYSTALYX^®, I know all the animals are getting the nutrients they need,” says Bruce.

“The real benefit is for the fresh cows that are not feeling good. They lick on the block and it helps them get back on feed. Cows are only in the fresh pen 5-6 days at most, and having CRYSTALYX^® in there is a real benefit.”

Ken Wilson of Hammond, NY works with Don Upton of Feed Commodities International and Jim Batz of Hubbard Feeds. Ken attended a feeder meeting and after a follow up call by Don, started using CRYSTALYX^® in 2008. He is using Transition Stress™ Formula in pre and post calving pens and Buffer-lyx^® in the milking cows. He also uses Crystal Phos^® as a mineral program in the older heifer groups. Ken is milking 200 cows and raising all the heifers. Time savings, convenience and consistent nutrient delivery of the CRYSTALYX^® products were factors in using them for the heifers. He credits CRYSTALYX^® for the improved cull rates over the past year. He uses the BioBarrel^® in all formulas.

Ken decided to try the products because he was having ketosis problems with his fresh cows. This was resulting in higher vet cost and losing milk production in early lactation. He has a high producing herd, but realized there were times when maintaining a stable rumen pH was a problem due to the carbohydrate loads in the diets. Ken was using a competitors product and then switched to CRYSTALYX^® due to the BioBarrel^® and Buffer-lyx^® formulas.

Ken observed, “There has been a 90% reduction in ketosis and less visits from the vet. There are less retained placentas also. I either spend the money on preventing the problem by using CRYSTALYX^® or spend about the same amount on the vet and risk losing milk or the cow.”

Cull rate was running 26% prior to using CRYSTALYX^®. Currently it is at 17%. He is convinced the blocks are the reason. Ken determined he was saving about $35,000 in reduced animal loss, resulting in a 3 to 1 return on his investment when considering just the reduced cull rate. The lower vet cost, healthier cows and improved milk production are areas where Ken sees CRYSTALYX^® products helping his operation.

Larry Wilterdink milks 80 cows with his family. They work with Barb Grzywinski of Adell Cooperative. They use CRYSTALYX^® Dry Cow Formula™ with the dry cows. They have been using CRYSTALYX^® for 10 years. “The convenience of putting CRYSTALYX^® out to balance the mineral and vitamin needs of the dry cows is a big factor for using the product. We feed a blend of corn silage and haylage with some baled hay. The cows clean well and take off milking.”

Time savings and piece of mind are factors in choosing CRYSTALYX^®. The smaller dry cow group would be hard to get a mineral mixed well into the ration; and with CRYSTALYX^® there is no waste. “We don’t have a lot of extra time here, so something that works and is not wasted makes sense.”

They house the milk cows in a compost barn with very good cow comfort. CRYSTALYX^® products give them a TMR safety net since they feed a “1 group” TMR. “Fresh cows are the ones that seem to use the block the most. I like to see cows that need it going to the block.”

Wayne and Sue Gerlach have a farm near Cascade WI, and milk 90 cows. They work with Barb Grzywinski of Adell Cooperative. They use CRYSTALYX^® Dry Cow Formula™ in dry cows, as well as Replacement Heifer™, Iono-lyx^® and Mineral-lyx^® for the heifers. “It works; it is convenient and the heifers look good and the cows clean well. I use several different blocks with the heifers depending on the age and what forage they are getting.

For smaller groups I don’t have to do a separate TMR for each group and they get their minerals from CRYSTALYX^®. Convenience is a big factor. If I was using a dry mineral, I would be getting on and off the loader several more times. My knees are not getting any younger.

We use CRYSTALYX^® products with the milking cows. We put mineral in the TMR mix, but cows use CRYSTALYX^® and it helps fill in the holes for the cows. Cows that are just fresh seem to be the ones using the block the most.”

Daryl Woldt is the owner of Woldt Farms LLC in Brillion, WI where he milks 600 cows. Doug Lemke is the herdsman and a strong believer in CRYSTALYX^® products. He works with Bart Collins of Henry Carstens and Sons in Brillion, WI for his nutrition needs.

“On the dairy we had some ketosis problems with a group of springers, so we gave Transition Stress™ Formula a try. We have it in the pre-fresh pens, calving stalls and fresh pens. Cows stayed on feed better and came up on full feed better after calving. It also helped with reducing the number of cows with retained placenta. We go through a lot of feed and ration changes with this many cows, and having the barrels gives us some consistency in the rations. I know the cows are going to the tubs and getting what they need. The cows that have some trouble really seem to hit them more and this helps keep them going. Bart Collins, our Farm Consultant, has his work cut out. He has to keep up with the forage and diet changes. He does a good job with the rations. Transition Stress™ Formula is an important part of our fresh cow program.

We have used Brigade^® for several years. Brigade^® helps the calves get through the weaning stress. We have three different farms that raise heifers. By having Brigade^® at those farms, it helps with preventing health issues related to the stress of moving. We have eliminated having three teated heifers due to sucking each other after weaning. I give Brigade^® credit for that. The calves would rather lick on the barrel than suck each other.

Brigade^® is an excellent product that I would recommend to anyone working with dairy or beef calves. I bought some backward beef calves and brought them into my farm. They were thin, long haired, rough looking animals that needed some help. I put them on Brigade^® and some good hay. After 2 months on the program, they were looking great! They did not look like the same animals. I use HE-20%™ on my beef cows and beef heifers. It keeps them in great condition and helps with keeping the breeding going well.”

Doug uses Brigade Stress Fighting Formula^® and HE-20%™ on his own beef cattle.

In the fall of 2003, Ridley Block Operations introduced a new dairy product, Buffer-lyx™ to their family of CRYSTALYX^® brand livestock supplements. Soon after, Bill Armbrustmacher a St. Johns, MI producer put it to work at his dairy. CRYSTALYX^® products are not new to the Armbrustmacher Dairy, they have used CRYSTALYX^® Close-Up™ and Replacement Heifer™ formulas for nearly 10 years.

At this dairy where they milk 140 cows, like so many others, they experience the challenges associated with changing forage conditions, and other variables that contribute to rumen acidosis. Sub Acute Ruminal Acidosis (SARA) is a common problem in most dairy herds. Although often unrecognized in the past, increased knowledge gained from research, now indicates that SARA is the underlying cause of numerous health, reproductive and production problems.

As soon as cows freshen, they are introduced to Buffer-lyx™, fed from a durable, returnable steel CRYSTALYX^® barrel. “We are certain the Buffer-lyx™ helps to get the fresh cows off to a good start which then helps our entire milk string,” says Bill. Overall herd health; in the areas of feet problems and acidosis, have been reduced since using Buffer-lyx™. Armbrustmacher said, “We have had hardly any problems with the milking and fresh cows, fewer feet problems, and culling has not been as hard; we can be more selective thus our cull rates have improved.”

While milk production is an excellent performance indicator, the Armbrustmacher Dairy is feeding Buffer-lyx™ for better herd health. However, they have realized steady dry matter intakes since using the Buffer-lyx™ and Armbrustmacher noted that milk cows have peaked sooner.

Bill Armbrustmacher recommends CRYSTALYX^® to other dairy farmers. “It helps with real world problems”, says Bill. The Armbrustmacher Dairy has confidence in CRYSTALYX^® and the nutritional service support provided by Hubbard Feeds.

Henry Schmiesing’s dairy farm near Minster, OH has been a user of Crystalyx^® off and on for many years. In the spring of 2004, the farm was undergoing some feeding changes and problems where Crystalyx^® proved very beneficial. At this time, Crystalyx^® was not being used but by reintroducing the Crystalyx^® Dry Cow™ formula and Dairy-lyx^® into their management, many metabolic problems were reduced.

Just prior to reintroducing Dry Cow™ formula, the dairy was experiencing a large number of retained placentas at calving and freshening. “Other feed suppliers told me that I didn’t need Crystalyx^® as everything we needed was already in our feed mix,” said Henry. “It was when we went away from using Crystalyx^® when we started seeing more problems. Since using Crystalyx^® Dry Cow™ formula again, during the dry period, there have been hardly any retained placentas at freshening. “They calve, and they clean within a half hour; the licking of the Crystalyx^® keeps our dry cows eating well and helps keep the digestive system in good tone.”

Reduced metabolic problems don’t only help the cows; it helps in keeping veterinary expenses low. Henry said, “My veterinarian told me this is probably the best my dry cows have ever looked, and we’ve reduced our veterinary and medicine cost by nearly 70%. I have a good vet but he wondered if I had switched to another vet because I was doing less business with him.”

Crystalyx^® Dairy-lyx^® is another product that has helped recently at this dairy. “We use Dairy-lyx^® in the entire milk string and the cows are now breeding better and utilizing feed better. We have changed our entire feed program to Hubbard and Crystalyx^® in the past few months and have watched our production climb ever since,” says Schmiesing. Henry Schmiesing has been happy with the good service from Hubbard feed products and would recommend that other dairy producers use Crystalyx^®.

Dwight Raber of Raber Dairy Farms noticed that their cows coming fresh were developing milk fever and ketosis. Raber had tried other products and even purchased outside forages to help eliminate the potassium problem, but nothing was working.

Dwight, who operates the 300-cow Raber Dairy Farms with his brother Bruce, learned of other herds in the Louisville, Ohio, area that were using CRYSTALYX^® Brand Supplements and having success. He got some advice from Brian Beck, his nutritionist at Witmer's Feed and Grain in Louisville, and decided to give CRYSTALYX^® DRY COW FORMULA™ a try. In mid-October of 2003, the first CRYSTALYX^® supplements were placed with the pre-fresh and post-fresh cows. Within two weeks the milk fevers were starting to decline and the ketosis cases were responding much more quickly to treatment of a propylene glycol drench.

One week before Thanksgiving they ran out of CRYSTALYX®. Milk fevers and ketosis problems started up almost immediately. So CRYSTALYX^® DRY COW FORMULA™ went back on duty right away and the problems decreased again. Dwight Raber is convinced.

"They give the cows what they need when they need it," he says. "All the cows have slightly different needs, and supplementing with CRYSTALYX^® lets them take care of their own needs at their own pace. These supplements are a safety net."

Chad Wienke, along with his father and brother, milk 225 cows near Adrian, MN. He’s relied on DAIRY-LYX^® and CLOSE UP FORMULA™ to supplement his nutrition program.

The Wienkes experienced a significant decrease in milk butterfat and protein content during a prolonged period of extreme heat and humidity.

“We put DAIRY-LYX^® in the loafing barn and brought our butterfat to 3.5, and it held steady throughout the rest of that very hot summer. Since then we use it year ‘round in the barn,” Chad explained.

They feed CLOSE UP FORMULA™ to dry cows in outside lots. Chad indicates he’s found an easy way to control milk fever. “I’ve tried to feed anionic salts straight out and had a lot of trouble with losing intakes. The CLOSE UP FORMULA™ CRYSTALYX^® is a big boost in controlling my milk fevers,” he said.

Dale Carter milks 150 cows near Mountain Grove, MO, and utilizes an intensive rotational grazing system on fescue pastures. He’s used FESCUE-LYX™ and CLOSE UP FORMULA™ for six years.

“The FESCUE-LYX™ has really helped us overcome our fescue toxicity problem,” he said. “And the CLOSE UP™ product has minimized retained placentas and milk fever. It’s an easy way to get anionic salts in them.”

According to this Missouri dairyman, “The quality is there. The products are very consistent. I’m real pleased.”

The Aschenbrenner’s, owners of Aschland Farms in Milladore, WI have been using CRYSTALYX^® Brand Supplements for nearly 20 years. When they first began using CRYSTALYX^®, they started with only basic formulas that were available at the time. Since then, more options became available and Aschenbrenner’s took advantage of these options. “We have always liked to try new things to improve our operation, and feel you got to try new things at times,” says Brian Aschenbrenner, “New things don’t always turn out but with CRYSTALYX^®, things did turn out.” Today with more advanced CRYSTALYX^® dairy formulations available, Aschenbrenner’s have incorporated CRYSTALYX^® Dry Cow Formula™, Brigade^®, and Rolyx™ Pro for fly control in the summer time on pasture. The 250 pound, 125 pound and 60 pound containers have all been used with success in their operation.

CRYSTALYX^® Brigade^® is offered to all lactating cows for the entire 305 day lactation period. “We feel that when cows are licking, consuming the supplement, it’s doing them some good,” says Jerry Aschenbrenner. “We have noted herd health improvements, better feed intakes, and better milk production. We currently have some first lactation heifers milking nearly 100 pounds per day.” This outstanding milk production has boosted the farms herd annual average to nearly 27,500 pounds.

CRYSTALYX^® Dry Cow Formula™ is used in the entire dry period. “It saves us labor by not having to feed a free choice or mixing mineral and there’s no waste,” says Brian. “We feel the cows are getting a more thorough and predictable amount of minerals and vitamins with the Dry Cow™ barrels than with other supplements; the Dry Cows and transition cows are coming through with minimal health and metabolic problems.”

As mentioned earlier, new things are worth a look to the Aschenbrenner’s. In 2002, the Aschland Dairy was introduced to CRYSTALYX^® Rolyx™ Pro. It is fed to Replacement Heifers on pasture at a location away from the dairy. “We noted that after the first year of use, the flies are less and the heifers performed and looked good too,” said Brian.

Overall, CRYSTALYX^® has stood the test of time at Aschland Dairy. The Farm has been in the same family for 120 years and the last 20 of these years have included CRYSTALYX^®. The years to come will also include the use of CRYSTALYX^® Brand Supplements. “We would definitely recommend CRYSTALYX^® to other Dairy Farms,” says Jerry. “It has helped us work towards reaching our goals for success now and into the future.”