FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LOOMIX®
What is Loomix®?
Loomix® is a well-researched line of liquid feed supplements produced by Quality Liquid Feeds, Inc.
What is in Loomix?
Loomix is made up of by-products from the sugar industry (both beet & cane), by-products from various fermentation processes in which molasses is used as a substrate, urea solution in small amounts, ammonium polyphosphate, phosphoric acid, the source of the most readily available phosphorous obtainable, at times limestone flour, trace minerals and vitamins. Also, it’s made up of by-products from wet corn milling and cheese production.
How do you control consumption?
Loomix consumption is controlled by palatability. There are two basic types of Loomix; one is palatable to encourage consumption, and the other is unpalatable to limit consumption. These two products are blended to increase or decrease rate of consumption as requested by the livestock owner.
What is the protein content in Loomix?
The protein content of free-choice Loomix products range from 12% to 25%. In custom products designed for metered or force-fed use, protein levels can be custom designed at a much higher level.
How does fiber digestion work?
The rumen is populated by various species of microorganisms, which have specific abilities to ferment feed consumed by the host animal. The combinations of protein and protein fractions in Loomix products have a beneficial effect on those organisms that ferment fiber. This attribute of Loomix has been demonstrated numerous times utilizing in vitro (artificial rumen) investigation. This testing was duplicated more than 100 times in the fall of 1997 and the spring of 1998. Results of much improved fiber digestion were once again established.
Explain “natural” protein.
“Natural” protein is that which occurs in nature before the host animal consumes it. Unlike NPN protein, it is complete in itself, and does not require energy (Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen) for rumen synthesis, as does NPN.
Where does NPN come from?
There are three major sources of NPN (Non-Protein Nitrogen). Urea, ammoniated compounds such as Ammonium Polyphosphate and incomplete protein, including amines and amids. Loomix products may contain all of these products, but the use of urea or ammoniated compounds is limited to its efficiency and safety level. The incomplete protein products are directly available to rumen organisms, since the process of fermentation yields these incomplete protein fractions, whether the fermentation takes place in a brewery or other factory, or in the rumen.
What about rain, snow and freezing temperatures—how will these affect Loomix?
Because Loomix products have a different density than rainwater, the rain will not mix with Loomix, and cattle can drink it off the top of the trough to reach the Loomix beneath. Snow, if it melts, is no different than rain. Freezing weather will cause Loomix to become thicker than it is at higher temperatures, but it does not freeze into ice.
How should I feed Loomix?
Loomix should be fed in open troughs located where all animals in any group will be able to find it. It should be offered to cattle before they have noticeably lost weight or the forage available to them has deteriorated in nutrient quality.
How much urea is there in Loomix?
In free choice Loomix products, the maximum Urea is approximately 3.5%. Protein has 16% nitrogen, so urea at 46% Nitrogen has a protein equivalent of 287.5%. Recent research has indicated that the optimum amounts of urea added to a range diet can enhance the performance of the cattle. Loomix products are designed to contain the optimum amount.
Can feeding Loomix improve the daily rate of gain?
Gain improvement through the use of Loomix depends on the quality of the ration without Loomix. In pasture programs, protein and phosphorus are the two primary limiting nutrients. Loomix fed as directed (1/10 of 3% of body weight) will, on the average, produce an extra ¼ pound of gain per day. This gain is made possible in three ways; (a) added nutrients (b) improved appetite for available feed (c) improved digestibility of available feed. Many factors other than nutrition can influence rate of gain, and all these must be taken into account when evaluating the effect of Loomix on daily gain.
Will feed intake be reduced while feeding Loomix?
It has been observed that cattle fed good quality roughage will limit their roughage intake when Loomix is fed and that cattle fed poor quality, unpalatable roughage will increase their intake when Loomix is added to the program. It is not recommended that cattle be limit fed when Loomix is used, because one of its attributes is its ability to encourage greater consumption of unpalatable, low-quality roughage.
How do you get as much protein as you say Loomix has without a lot of urea?
Loomix ingredients range from 3% to 22% formed protein, so it isn’t necessary to add large amounts of urea to reach 25% total protein.
Can cattle eat enough Loomix to be harmful?
Cattle can eat enough Loomix to harm them, just as they can eat enough corn to harm them, if no other feed is available. Unlike common liquid feeds, Loomix has built-in safeguards against overconsumption of urea, so when Loomix is over consumed the result is more apt to be Enterotoxemia than ammonia toxicity from excess Urea consumption.
Will Loomix help heifers and cows breed?
Because females use nutrients in an unalterable sequence, Loomix can improve the reproductive efficiency of almost any heifer or cow. Sequence of nutrient utilization is: (a) used for maintenance (b) nutrients not needed for maintenance are used for milk production or growth, depending on whether it is a heifer or a cow (c) after the female has reached her genetic potential for milk production, nutrients are available for ovulation and conception. Therefore, Loomix added to almost any feeding program will increase intake of critical nutrients, and move females from one phase of nutrient utilization to the next.
Why do cattle stop consuming Loomix during green grass periods?
Cattle reduce Loomix consumption during periods of green grass, primarily because the grass is more palatable to them. One reason for this is that unpalatable Loomix is usually fed in the time period just before the green grass season, and this is what is in the trough when the grass becomes green. By sweetening, the feed in the trough consumption can be increased.
Will calves and yearlings consume enough Loomix to improve production?
Calves and yearlings especially benefit from Loomix supplementation, because of their small physical capacity for feed. Experience has shown that even baby calves still with their mothers will consume significant amounts of Loomix.
What is in Loomix that makes it sweet or sour?
Sweet Loomix blends are higher in molasses that sour blends of Loomix, which contain less molasses and more of the less palatable fermentation products. Years of experience have taught us how to formulate Loomix optimizing performance with the right nutrient density for the right season. These formulas also are designed with the taste of the animals in mind.
How much energy is there in Loomix?
Although Loomix is a supplement and is not designed to be an energy feed alone, on the average it supplies approximately 70% as much energy as corn or barley. However, by encouraging consumption of other feeds, and improving the digestibility of fiber and all other nutrients, its use increases total energy intake compared to similar rations without Loomix. If you are interested in a higher energy product, check out Loomix HF!
Can Loomix stretch my grass or hay?
Claims that supplements can “stretch” grassor hay supplies have been known to result in early depletion of pasture or the haystack, because cattlemen tried to feed more animals on the same acreage or hay tonnage. Loomix will improve utilization of grass or hay for improved profitability, but should not be expected to take the place of grass or hay.
Is there enough NPN in Loomix to cause urea (ammonia) poisoning?
Ammonia is a natural product of protein degradation in the rumen. It only becomes toxic when there is a sudden release of large quantities of it, and the ration does not contain sufficient carbohydrates to provide for protein synthesis. If Loomix is the only feed, it is possible that the NPN (from any source-Ammonium Polyphosphate, etc.) could lead to ammonia toxicity. Ammonia toxicity is a function of body weight, so cattle have to grossly overeat Loomix to approach the toxic level of ammonia.
Why should a rancher feed Loomix to heifers?
Beef heifers can be fed mainly roughage, if Loomix is used to supply deficient nutrients. This will increase rate of gain (and consequently sexual maturity) for early breeding. Not only will heifers properly supplemented breed early, they will recover from calving promptly and be in condition to breed the second time, if Loomix is fed before breeding and calving, and after calving until time to be bred again.
Why should a rancher feed Loomix to his steers?
Steers can be said to gain an additional ¼ to ½ pound daily on most pasture programs, if Loomix is properly used. Loomix can supply an efficient method to supplement growing and finishing rations. If Loomix is not self fed, but mixed in the ration, it can be formulated to an infinite number of specifications to fit available feeds.
Why should a rancher feed Loomix to his mother cows?
Loomix fed to mother cows the last 50 to 60 days before calving will insure that calves are vigorous and have adequate disease resistance. It also will allow cows to overcome the stress of calving to breed back as early as possible for larger calves the following season.
What Loomix formulation should be used to start cattle?
The reason Loomix products are made in different levels of palatability is to insure that cattle will eat enough to be beneficial, but not to eat enough to be uneconomical. There is no hard and fast rule for starting cattle; each lot of cattle must be evaluated individually when deciding how to start them on Loomix. This versatility is also what makes Loomix perform economically.
What if I have questions?
Do feed proposals to learn how Loomix works! This is a feed program custom designed for your customer. To learn more about feed proposals or for any questions call Alliance Liquid Feeds, LLC. at 800-236-2345 or email info@qlf.com!
