CALF_News_December_2018_January_2019

44 CALF News • December 2018 | January 2019 • www.calfnews.net O ne of the beef industry’s most respected partners – Diamond V – celebrated its 75th year in 2018. The business has been a pioneer in develop- ing unique, microbial fermentates for the health and performance of cattle and other species. One of its newest products is help- ing producers and feeders strengthen an animal’s immune system and ulti- mately improve performance without antibiotics. rumen health and gastrointestinal integ- rity, supports the immune system and optimizes energy partitioning.” Non-antibiotic technology NaturSafe was initially available in certain parts of the U.S. starting in 2016. Diamond V introduced it as a new standard for responsible beef produc- tion, knowing that people in the cattle business needed a good reason to change what has worked well in the past. It’s probably in their genes. While new technologies like smart- phones, tablets and social media are virtually embedded in many ranch and feedyard operations, producers and feed- ers still trust well-established methods of managing animal health and improving gain. If it ain’t broke … But if consumers and retailers – rang- ing from fast-food kings to supermar- kets – want beef they believe is safer and more sustainable for their families, customers and the environment, then changing how beef is produced is inevitable. More major food companies and manufacturers are calling for beef and other meats produced without the aid of antibiotics. The recently implemented federal Veterinary Feed Directive eliminates the use of many antibiotics for production purposes such as growth promotion and feed efficiency, and brings their use in feed and water under veterinary supervision. There is concern that some of the industry’s most dependable animal health products may be lost due to out- side pressure. However, Gwartney says research and field experience show that NaturSafe provides effective, non-antibi- otic technology for growth promotion in fed-cattle operations. NaturSafe became available in all U.S. markets in 2017.“Antibiotic stewardship is vital to the beef industry,” Gwartney says.“NaturSafe addresses concerns about the safety of beef products, the use of antibiotics in animal production and the preservation of antibiotic effective- ness, both in animals and humans.” Fewer pulls, better performance Even though a natural feed additive is non-antibiotic, it must more than pay for itself. It must still support good animal Diamond V Addresses Consumer Concerns Over Antibiotics That product is NaturSafe®, a natural, immune support product designed to promote beef cattle health, performance and food safety. It consists of a unique combination of hundreds of bioactive compounds derived from Diamond V’s precision microbial fermentation pro- cesses. NaturSafe supports the animal’s immune system, including the innate immune system calves are born with. “The bioactive compounds in Natur- Safe optimize the gut microbiome in beef cattle,” says Dr. Bucky Gwartney, director of protein food safety research at Diamond V’s home office in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.“NaturSafe promotes LEFT: NaturSafe can help promote animal health and growth. ABOVE: All types of beef cattle can benefit from NaturSafe. ANIMAL HEALTH FOCUS By Larry Stalcup Contributing Editor