Why should I buy products from Adam Henson's Smallholder Range?

Maintaining & improving both the health & vitality of my animals is a primary concern to me. This means that I have to provide them with the best nutrition I can. So as well as providing the best feed I can, I also address any nutritional imbalances with feed supplementation.

Sometimes this is for general health & wellbeing, other times it is to meet a certain need, such as fertility. To help you provide the best for your animals I have worked with the people I trust to provide you with a range of feed & feed supplements that will meet your animal's requirements.

Adam Henson

 

Why do animals need feed supplements?

Depending on how you feed your animals you may or may not be providing a complete diet to meet the animals need. Often when feeding a blend of grains or forage we provide all the main nutrients (protein, carbohydrate, fat) & energy, but we feed an incomplete source of micro nutrients (vitamins & minerals). To address this imbalance the use of feed supplements enhances the ration to make up for the shortfall in micro nutrients, allowing for the health & vitality of the animal to be maintained.

 

What is calcium important in a diet?

Calcium is a required as structural component of the skeleton & plays a major role in cellular metabolism (particularly in relation to nerves & muscle). If an animal is deficient in calcium it can suffer from, rickets, osteomalcia & milk fever.

 

Why is phosphorous important in a diet?

Like calcium, phosphorus is a required structural component of the skeleton. Phosphorus is present in all cells as a component of phospholipids, which are important in lipid transport, lipid metabolism, cell-membrane structure & phosphorus plays a key role in energy metabolism. If an animal is deficient in phosphorous it can suffer from reduced fertility, poor bone growth / formation & reduced weight.

 

Why is magnesium important in a diet?

Like calcium & phosphorus, magnesium is a required structural component of the skeleton. Magnesium is also found in blood, the liver & concentrated in cells where it is required for the activation of enzymes & for the utilisation of ATP. If an animal is deficient in magnesium it can suffer effects on its growth & vitality.

 

Why is sodium important in a diet?

Sodium is an electrolyte that is important for maintaining balance within an animal's metabolic system. Without it protein & energy utilisation are depressed.

 

What are trace elements?

Minerals are described as either macrominerals or trace minerals. Macro means "large" in Greek & an animal requires larger amounts of macrominerals compared to trace minerals. The macromineral group contains calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride & sulphur.

As the animal requires less of certain minerals these are referred to as trace (a little of something) minerals. Trace minerals function as activators of enzyme systems & / or as components of organic compounds. Trace minerals include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, selenium, etc.

 

What is a chelated trace element?

The ability for a trace mineral to be absorbed by an animal & utilised within the animal's metabolism is key to healthy performance. By combining the trace mineral with organic compounds its availability for use by the animal can be increased. Producing trace minerals bound to organic compounds is referred to as chelation (derived from the Greek - chelate, meaning claw) as it protects the trace mineral until it finds the correct area for absorption within the animal. So a chelated trace element is a protected, more bio-available trace mineral.

 

Where can I buy your products?

Available from reputable country stores & agricultural merchants. See online list for further details.

 

How long is the shelf life of these products?

Most products should be used within 2 years of manufacture but check each product label for specific details relating to that particular product

 

When do my animals need mineral supplements?

See 'Why do animals need feed supplements'