While it may not show up on the ingredient tag of your Co-op feed bag, the work of Cooperative Research Farms (CRF) benefits every bag, container, and ton of animal nutrition that leaves a ProTrition Feed mill.
CRF is one of the world’s largest animal nutrition and management research associations, and serves producers across five continents. Since its inception in 1954, CRF has conducted thousands of trials and provided technical advances to allow its members to formulate and manufacture industry-leading feeds.
“Animal agriculture continues to evolve at a rapid pace,” says Dave Ott, general manager of CRF. “For 68 years, CRF scientists and our members’ nutritionists have led the way in the continuing search for more efficient ways to produce meat, milk, and eggs.”
Over the years, CRF has received multiple patent and trademark approvals in the U.S. and Canada for their research innovations, and some of these industry-changing breakthroughs are for the exclusive use of CRF members.
“Tennessee Farmers Cooperative (TFC) has been a member of CRF since 1965,” says Todd Steen, CRF Board of Directors Chairman and ProTrition Feed nutritionist. “We have been able to take advantage of the research from the farms.”
CRF research is largely responsible for one of Co-op’s latest equine feeds — GastroTech®. With novel dietary feed ingredients for reduction of equine gastric ulcer syndrome in performance horses, GastroTech® has seen success with horses across our trade area.
“Shortly after this feed hit the shelves, one of our own horses was showing signs of colic regularly and we were struggling to find out what was causing the animal so much pain after eating,” says TFC Retail Development Manager Douglas Adcock. “After discussing with Todd and our veterinarian, we decided that it could be gastric ulcers, so we gave GastroTech® a try. Since we made that switch, the horse hasn’t suffered from the pain or discomfort it was having before.”
In addition to equine studies, CRF also conducts regular research on swine, poultry, dairy, and beef cattle.
“CRF dairy research programs have been going on since 1962,” says Steen. “The dairy program has involved research in all stages of production – calves, growing heifers, transition, and lactation – resulting in over 690 proprietary research trials. Many of those have resulted in the information we use in Co-op feeds today.”
CRF has directed much focus on the development of carbohydrate formulations to optimize both ruminal and total tract digestibility. That work led to their findings on structural (SC) & non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), which CRF patented & industry adopted worldwide. Further research has been able to define the specific components of NSC.
“When CRF came out with that research, it really changed how we balanced a cow’s diet,” says dairyman and Ag Central Farmers Outside Sales Manager Rick Barham. “It was effective in increasing milk production and cow health and was a true game changer for us in the industry.”
In addition to research on dairy cows, CRF calf research has produced the Total Calf Ration. It is a complete, nutritionally balanced, pelleted ration designed specifically for the newborn calf, and provides the highest-quality proteins formulated to precise levels of amino acids to ensure proper growth. The ration is formulated with multiple, highly digestible fiber sources to provide appropriate substrate to aid the development of the calf’s digestive system.
“The Total Calf Ration is just one
example of a feed that is making a
difference in animal health thanks
to CRF,” says Barham. “The fact that there
is research data behind every bag of feed we put out as a system is something I
think we should truly be proud of. I wish everyone could see the on-the-farm
research firsthand.”
Members of CRF apply its research
to 700,000 metric tons of dairy feed
each year, and the CRF dairy research team is currently conducting research on lactation, transition period, and growing heifers and calves across North America and Europe.
“What makes this relationship so special is that in almost every line of feed we create, we implement research that has come from these CRF committees,” says Steen. “CRF allows Co-op feeds to stay relevant with cutting-edge technology and research that we gain from the partnership.”
For more information on CRF, visit
www.crfarms.org or talk with your local
Co-op feed or livestock specialist.