October, 2003

Performance Boost
Something no other supplements offer—expert advice from Southern States.

As a 20-year veteran with Southern States’ Allen County Farmers Service in Scottsville, Ky., Terry Trammel draws on a broad base of experience and years of training when he makes recommendations to customers. Trammel grew up with cattle and still has a small cow/calf operation. His customers trust his advice and depend on him for expertise.

Franklin Hogue (left) supplements with tubs based on Terry Tra mmel’s recommendations.

When Trammel recommended that Franklin Hogue integrate beef tubs into the management program on his purebred Angus operation, Hogue adopted the practice.

“We’ve used SweetCake™ tubs for several years,” notes Hogue, who along with his wife, Patty, runs a 60-cow purebred Angus operation on 227 acres. “We feel it helps cows better utilize forage and helps improve conception rates.”

That’s especially true during the hot summer months, when stress on forage and animals can take its toll. Hogue feeds the co-op’s 24% tubs in summer and 12% Hi-Mag tubs in winter and spring to help prevent grass tetany.

“I’ve tried higher priced competitors’ products, but these tubs from Southern States are unbeatable when comparing the price to cattle performance,” he says.

Supplying tubs is just a part of the co-op’s involvement in the Hogues’ operation. “We rely on Terry’s advice,” says Patty, noting that they use the co-op’s products for lawn and garden needs, as well as for their cattle and pastures.

Trammel says SweetCake tubs enhance fertility, providing the free-choice supplementation of protein, vitamins and trace minerals needed to maintain peak performance.

“These tubs are made and marketed by Southern States,” he notes. “They contain NPN [nonprotein nitrogen] in a regulated release form, which enables cattle to better utilize forage.”

Bill Barman says he depends on advice and products from Southern States.

Supplementation is also important to Bill Barman, but he feeds it in liquid form. Barman, who runs a cow/calf operation in addition to owning the franchise for several area Sonic restaurants, says convenience is a major reason he prefers to use liquids instead of tubs.

“I deal in beef, but it’s primarily in the form of prepared food,” he notes. “Liquid supplements give me more time to do what I most enjoy about this—be with my cattle.”

In the cattle business for just nine years, Barman says Trammel has been a primary source for what he’s learned about livestock.

Barman feeds a 32% liquid protein supplement with Bovatec® to help control and prevent coccidiosis. “The liquid form is ideal for me—they deliver it directly into my supplement tanks. You can’t beat that convenience.”