Feed Ingredients: Big Names, Natural Benefits

"Mixing and balancing our organic feed at Reedy Fork Farm is a process we take seriously. Our feed mill is the place where we blend and balance grains, vitamins and minerals to maximize the results our customers seek for their livestock. While the names of some ingredients don’t exactly roll off our tongues, they do meet the standards of being certified organic and non-GMO. We thought you’d like to know about a few ingredients that merit details about their organic traits. Diatomaceous Earth is comprised of tiny, aquatic organisms called diatoms. It is not poisonous and does not have to be eaten to be effective. Diatomaceous Earth, when applied like dust around your animals and plants, acts as a kind of drying agent, absorbing the oils and fats from the cuticle of an insect’s exoskeleton. Its sharp edges are abrasive, which helps to speed up the process. It is effective against fleas, ticks and other pests. Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract is an ingredient that helps animals digest starches in their digestive tracts. It is designed to contain the highest levels of fungal alpha-amylase(another big phrase for the enzyme production) in animal feed applications and can survive the pelleting process of feeds. Menadione Dimethylpyrimidinol Bisulfite can be found primarily in feed for turkeys and chickens. The long name indicates it is in the Vitamin K family and is an active substance in food additives. Vitamin K is important in the clotting process of blood and in calcium metabolism. Poultry, such as broiler chickens and turkeys, are more likely to develop signs of vitamin K deficiency, which can be attributed to their short digest tract and fast rate of food passage."