Micron Bio-Systems Partners in Progress

Published on Wed, 09/21/2016 - 2:55pm

By Maura Keller 

The dairy industry around the country is changing at a remarkable pace. Because of the downturn in the industry,

 competition remains at an all-time high for farmers, product distributors and industry-specific companies. But while some companies are focusing on their own bottom line and how to survive in a economically challenging time, Micron Bio-Systems has been focused on working closely with other partners in the industry, including farmers and distribution partners—in an effort to ensure they remain viable and needed entities for years to come.

Since its inception in 1993 by microbiologist, Dr. David Parfitt, Micron Bio-Systems has had one goal in mind: To support farmers and help them improve what they already have grown.

An international leader in biotechnology, Micron Bio-Systems utilizes its scientific expertise in microbiology, biochemistry, immunology, and enzymology to develop product-based solutions for the animal husbandry and environmental markets.

“We have spent a considerable amount of time this year, working closely with farmers dealing with financial constraints, helping them evaluate their forage preservation and silage issues,” says Robert Rhoades, vice president and general manager at Micron.

The company’s goal has always been to provide the market with product-based solutions and species-specific programs that improve animal health and performance. But in light of the hardships many within the dairy industry are facing today, Micron has shared its keen understanding of the role efficient production practices play in the health and improved performance of dairy cows.

“Focusing on each of our customer’s situations, addressing the forage and feed preservation issues, has been our focus this year,” Rhoades says. They have also addressed mycotoxin remediation and microbial-based supplementation to help struggling farmers overcome production-limiting issues that production facilities may face.

Recently Jim Zimmerman, Micron’s technical sales representative contacted John Olson, a beef farmer and customer of Krause Feeds of Hope, MN, to find out how much inoculant he needed for corn silage.

“John put in his order and proceeded to tell me how much he likes the Early Sile Plus product,” Zimmerman says. “He said he had some corn silage that was too high in moisture content last year and some that was two low in moisture content in two separate bunks. He said both bunks had beautiful silage in spite of not being harvested at ideal maturity. He had absolutely no heating in his feed all summer and the cattle are healthy and show what very good feed is capable of doing. For Olson, Early Sile Plus is worth every dollar and he will continue to always use it.”

Micron understands that there’s simply no better time to focus on maintaining and improving animal health and well being, than during an economic slowdown. At it’s core, Micron’s philosophy is to better understand the biological systems both in and around animals and how they impact their health and well-being. As such, Micron works closely with their customers and has built strong bonds with their distributing partners to address the influences from the external environment, such as molds, toxins, pathogens, stress—and how they influence the animal’s internal status and well being.

In fact, Micron has recently strengthened its relationship with a long time distributing partner with a formal agreement, giving Micron greater access and insight to the needs of today’s producers.

“This agreement provides Furst-McNess and Micron Bio-Systems the ability to drive advancements in technology that will result in improved livestock performance and sustained feed quality for our customers. We have worked with Micron for over 15 years, and their scientific technology is well researched and has proven itself time and time again,” says Dr. Fredrik Sandberg, director of research and development for Furst-McNess.  “Dr. Ralph Randall, our Southeast Area’s dairy nutritionist, and our newest dairy team member, Dr. Dave Casper, will be very involved in our product development efforts, as both companies have a passion for developing cutting edge technologies that will help improve our customers’ bottom line.”

Micron’s forage and feed preservation segment allows dairy farmers to achieve more milk from silage while maintaining better silage stability. In addition to helping ensure forage is properly preserved, the company’s forage and feed preservation products help maintain the highest possible feed value, while controlling spoilage yeasts and molds that can result in poor quality and waste.

Terry Berger, a standard nutrition consultant in West Central, WI says a farmer had used Micron silage inoculant in 2015. The farm treated 3,000 tons of corn silage with Early Sile Plus that had severe to moderate damage from Northern Corn Leaf Blight.

“When the corn was chopped, we had very hot temperatures in the upper 80s and during the winter the silage fed well and milk production was very good, however the silage seemed to stay slightly warm all winter, in the 70 degree range,” Berger says. “This silage went into a bunk silo with a large exposed face.”

Berger was concerned that possibly the inoculant had not done its job because it stayed moderately warm in spite of forage tests showing excellent fermentation and energy levels.

“When summer hit the silage, the temperature remained the same and it actually is cool to the touch,” Berger says. “We theorized that the heat the farmer was seeing during the winter was probably simply retaining the ambiant temperature because it was so hot when chopped and had no problem with the inoculant. I initially had apprehension but would not be afraid to recommend Micron inoculants anywhere based on the fact that so many producers with the NLB problem had very hot steaming silage all winter, sometimes even in upright silos.”

This is a key example of how, during financially challenging times, the issues of silage protection need to be addressed to save farmers from losing vital feed. What’s more, to protect cow health and production efficiency, dairy producers can implement Micron’s mycotoxin remediation program. Specifically, UltraSorb-R is designed for use in cattle feeding systems to counteract the effects of a wide range of mycotoxins that are typically found in ruminant feedstuffs. Micron uses a unique combination of technologies to effectively bind, transform and degrade the principal toxins.

Micron also has developed UltraCell, a unique yeast strain that can significantly stimulate the growth of populations of rumen bacteria responsible for fiber digestion and lactate utilization. The result? Improved milk production.

While feed protection and milk production are key, keeping a herd healthy is always paramount, and it is of particular importance during economically challenging times when the health and production of every animal matters. That’s where Micron’s probiotic feed supplements come in. Designed to improve cow health, stress response and performance, these supplements can improve the intestinal microbial balance by stimulating the normal bacterial flora or providing a replacement population of desired bacteria.

As Rhoades explains, Micron works hard for farmers to help identify the issues that may hinder their operations and provide targeted solutions. Improving animal efficiency, performance and overall health status, helps the animal and the farmer.

“Our products are designed to address specific needs,” Rhoades says. “We believe, however, if you don’t need it, don’t feed it. Desired results should be seen in a reasonable period of time related to the product being used. If results are not seen, then we need to be looking at a different approach to the situation.”

Based on significantly sound science, Micron’s products and technologies are applied where they are needed and in a way that is always in the best interest of the farm.

As part of its goal of providing the latest and greatest solutions for real-world farm applications, Micron continuously creates and evaluates new products and product enhancements in the laboratory. As the dairy industry continues to move away from the use of antibiotics in feed, Micron will continue to provide nutraceuticals to help animals maintain the internal microbial balance required to ensure performance and health.

“We are looking forward to introducing some innovative new products in the next three months,” Rhoades says. “We are always looking for ways to help our farmer customers succeed.”   

The dairy industry around the country is changing at a remarkable pace. Because of the downturn in the industry, competition remains at an all-time high for farmers, product distributors and industry-specific companies. But while some companies are focusing on their own bottom line and how to survive in a economically challenging time, Micron Bio-Systems has been focused on working closely with other partners in the industry, including farmers and distribution partners—in an effort to ensure they remain viable and needed entities for years to come.

Since its inception in 1993 by microbiologist, Dr. David Parfitt, Micron Bio-Systems has had one goal in mind: To support farmers and help them improve what they already have grown.

An international leader in biotechnology, Micron Bio-Systems utilizes its scientific expertise in microbiology, biochemistry, immunology, and enzymology to develop product-based solutions for the animal husbandry

 and environmental markets.

“We have spent a considerable amount of time this year, working closely with farmers dealing with financial constraints, helping them evaluate their forage preservation and silage issues,” says Robert Rhoades, vice president and general manager at Micron.

The company’s goal has always been to provide the market with product-based solutions and species-specific programs that improve animal health and performance. But in light of the hardships many within the dairy industry are facing today, Micron has shared its keen understanding of the role efficient production practices play in the health and improved performance of dairy cows.

“Focusing on each of our customer’s situations, addressing the forage and feed preservation issues, has been our focus this year,” Rhoades says. They have also addressed mycotoxin remediation and microbial-based supplementation to help struggling farmers overcome production-limiting issues that production facilities may face.

Recently Jim Zimmerman, Micron’s technical sales representative contacted John Olson, a beef farmer and customer of Krause Feeds of Hope, MN, to find out how much inoculant he needed for corn silage.

“John put in his order and proceeded to tell me how much he likes the Early Sile Plus product,” Zimmerman says. “He said he had some corn silage that was too high in moisture content last year and some that was two low in moisture content in two separate bunks. He said both bunks had beautiful silage in spite of not being harvested at ideal maturity. He had absolutely no heating in his feed all summer and the cattle are healthy and show what very good feed is capable of doing. For Olson, Early Sile Plus is worth every dollar and he will continue to always use it.”

Micron understands that there’s simply no better time to focus on maintaining and improving animal health and well being, than during an economic slowdown. At it’s core, Micron’s philosophy is to better understand the biological systems both in and around animals and how they impact their health and well-being. As such, Micron works closely with their customers and has built strong bonds with their distributing partners to address the influences from the external environment, such as molds, toxins, pathogens, stress—and how they influence the animal’s internal status and well being.

In fact, Micron has recently strengthened its relationship with a long time distributing partner with a formal agreement, giving Micron greater access and insight to the needs of today’s producers.

“This agreement provides Furst-McNess and Micron Bio-Systems the ability to drive advancements in technology that will result in improved livestock performance and sustained feed quality for our customers. We have worked with Micron for over 15 years, and their scientific technology is well researched and has proven itself time and time again,” says Dr. Fredrik Sandberg, director of research and development for Furst-McNess.  “Dr. Ralph Randall, our Southeast Area’s dairy nutritionist, and our newest dairy team member, Dr. Dave Casper, will be very involved in our product development efforts, as both companies have a passion for developing cutting edge technologies that will help improve our customers’ bottom line.”

Micron’s forage and feed preservation segment allows dairy farmers to achieve more milk from silage while maintaining better silage stability. In addition to helping ensure forage is properly preserved, the company’s forage and feed preservation products help maintain the highest possible feed value, while controlling spoilage yeasts and molds that can result in poor quality and waste.

Terry Berger, a standard nutrition consultant in West Central, WI says a farmer had used Micron silage inoculant in 2015. The farm treated 3,000 tons of corn silage with Early Sile Plus that had severe to moderate damage from Northern Corn Leaf Blight.

“When the corn was chopped, we had very hot temperatures in the upper 80s and during the winter the silage fed well and milk production was very good, however the silage seemed to stay slightly warm all winter, in the 70 degree range,” Berger says. “This silage went into a bunk silo with a large exposed face.”

Berger was concerned that possibly the inoculant had not done its job because it stayed moderately warm in spite of forage tests showing excellent fermentation and energy levels.

“When summer hit the silage, the temperature remained the same and it actually is cool to the touch,” Berger says. “We theorized that the heat the farmer was seeing during the winter was probably simply retaining the ambiant temperature because it was so hot when chopped and had no problem with the inoculant. I initially had apprehension but would not be afraid to recommend Micron inoculants anywhere based on the fact that so many producers with the NLB problem had very hot steaming silage all winter, sometimes even in upright silos.”

This is a key example of how, during financially challenging times, the issues of silage protection need to be addressed to save farmers from losing vital feed. What’s more, to protect cow health and production efficiency, dairy producers can implement Micron’s mycotoxin remediation program. Specifically, UltraSorb-R is designed for use in cattle feeding systems to counteract the effects of a wide range of mycotoxins that are typically found in ruminant feedstuffs. Micron uses a unique combination of technologies to effectively bind, transform and degrade the principal toxins.

Micron also has developed UltraCell, a unique yeast strain that can significantly stimulate the growth of populations of rumen bacteria responsible for fiber digestion and lactate utilization. The result? Improved milk production.

While feed protection and milk production are key, keeping a herd healthy is always paramount, and it is of particular importance during economically challenging times when the health and production of every animal matters. That’s where Micron’s probiotic feed supplements come in. Designed to improve cow health, stress response and performance, these supplements can improve the intestinal microbial balance by stimulating the normal bacterial flora or providing a replacement population of desired bacteria.

As Rhoades explains, Micron works hard for farmers to help identify the issues that may hinder their operations and provide targeted solutions. Improving animal efficiency, performance and overall health status, helps the animal and the farmer.

“Our products are designed to address specific needs,” Rhoades says. “We believe, however, if you don’t need it, don’t feed it. Desired results should be seen in a reasonable period of time related to the product being used. If results are not seen, then we need to be looking at a different approach to the situation.”

Based on significantly sound science, Micron’s products and technologies are applied where they are needed and in a way that is always in the best interest of the farm.

As part of its goal of providing the latest and greatest solutions for real-world farm applications, Micron continuously creates and evaluates new products and product enhancements in the laboratory. As the dairy industry continues to move away from the use of antibiotics in feed, Micron will continue to provide nutraceuticals to help animals maintain the internal microbial balance required to ensure performance and health.

“We are looking forward to introducing some innovative new products in the next three months,” Rhoades says. “We are always looking for ways to help our farmer customers succeed.”