Introducing a solution to your production problems

The FERTIMAX NUTRITIONAL PROGRAM……

Information

on

Digestit

A digestive aid

For

Achieving Healthier & Productive

Horses, Cows, Goats, Hogs & Poultry.

With The

Fertimax Nutritional Program

From

Agronics, Inc.

7100 – E 2^ND STREET N.W.

ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87107

(505) 761-1454 / FAX: (505) 341-0424 / e-mail: linvent@aol.com

Introduction to

AGRONICS, INC.

AGRONICS is a service company… totally devoted to the

Improvement and maintenance of healthy soil and everything that

Is grown on it.

Our humic materials come from our mine near Cuba, New Mexico. After 60 million years of composting of concentrated organic matter, it is ready to go to work for you. Our ore is like an unlimited vein of gold

…which produces GREEN FOR YOU!!!

AGRONICS was founded as Farm Guard Products in 1967 by Lt. Col. Leland B. Taylor – USAF-Ret. For several years he taught school and in the evening ran the company.

After several years, Farm Guard Products, as it was called back then, grew too large to be run from the Taylor home.

As the company grew, Mr. Taylor needed help and his son Leland Thomas Taylor joined. AGRONICS soon came to be known for developing FERTIMAX total Soil Management. The name was changed to AGRONICS in 1986 because of expansion into the lawn and garden field.

For a third of a Century, AGRONICS has been helping farmers, gardeners,

landscapers and tree specialists solve their growing problems.

You may hear from many companies new to the humic business...they call US for advice. Stick with the “old experts” , we have been experts in the soil technology and nutrient business since 1967.

We can also help you achieve healthy, strong lawns, gardens and crops that will be drought resistant and which stay strong and green throughout your growing season.

Please feel free to contact us for advice or

to analyze your situation. We will come up with

a custom made solution for your every need.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2

DIGESTIT

A Digestive Aid 3

DIGESTIT

The Solution To feeding problems 4

DIGESTIT

The unanswered question 5 & 6

DIGESTIT

Letters from Customers 7

WHAT CAN WE BELIEVE?

Letter from a Customer 8

AMOS MARTIN REPORT 9

University of Arkansas in-vitro study 10

Reduction of ammonia by 40%

DIGESTIT

A Digestive Aid

What is Digestit?

Digestit is a fully decomposed organic matter formed millions of years ago from freshwater swamp/vegetation remains. In the process of farming, bacterial and microfloral decomposition reduced cellulose and plant fibers to highly active carbon that acts to improve carbon nutrition and balancing nutrients to improve assimilability, like a large compost heap.

Being formed in freshwater swamp and having the biological activity to support organic decomposition results in a sporific microfloral residue, which when added to the nutrient rich digestive tract, promptly begins decomposition of cellulose and other fixed nutrients in ration. DIGESTIT is a specifically selected strata of mineral/carbon deposit which is carefully mined and prepared for animal usage, nothing is added. Pure natural materials make up Digestit.

How does Digestit Work?

Digestit, being an acid compound, adds to the natural acidity in the digestive tract and assists in decomposing organic compounds. This reduces the energy and digestive enzymes needed to break down and release trapped nutrients from cellulose.

In the high protein, high nitrogen, even nitrate toxic environs of a modern feed lot, excess nitrogen compounds abound and create a serious carbon:nitrogen ratio imbalance. Although carbon is a primary constituent of cellulosic compounds, it is not easily available for use by the animal for basic cellularly construction. By adding Digestit’s highly available carbon, the energy to convert fixed carbon to cellular carbon is greatly reduced. This in turn reduces the total amount of plant matter necessary for feeding. With an adequate formation, excess nitrogen can form nitrosamines, known cancer-causing agents. Additionally, the putrid stench of feed lots is largely excess amines or ammonia compounds, directly related to the high nitrogen input and limited capacity of animals to handle the high nitrogen input. By increasing the available carbon:nitrogen ratio, higher feed conversion is realized, and less feed is needed or faster weight gain is observed. Faster weight gain has reduced residence time in feed lots, by as much as 30% (See Goodnight feed report).

Adding the high cation exchange capacity colloids in Digestit enhances the ability to absord mineral nutrients. By having the mineral compounds unbound from each other and attached strongly to Digestit’s organic colloids, allowing assimilation. Potash is likewise maintained in a highly mobile available state for ready assimilation.

Benefits from Digestit:

*-increases conversion

*-shortens pen residence / increases gain rate

*-reduces other mineral / salt inputs

*-improves animal resistance to stress

*-reduces or stops cannibalism

*-Decreases nitrogen bypass, reduces ammonia in waste

*-Increases cellulos assimilation, increases nutrient uptake

DIGESTIT

The unanswered question

To paraphrase the old saying, “We are what we eat” by “We are what we assimilate”. Farmers have long identified herd health with efficient digestion, thus with lower vet bills, reduced feed costs and tremendous herd health improvement. Good digestion also means decreased cannibalism, increased milk production and faster weight gains. The top line is Digestit, and the bottom line is profit.

Experiences of supplementing animal diets with Digestit have provided positive reports on digestion of feed and improved animal health. There are several ways to enhance nutritional status of animals or poultry. A supplement should either contain a balance of amino acids (as soybean meal in combination with corn), enhance utilization of energy or protein (as B vitamins stimulate metabolism), or provide a synergistic effect with common feedstuffs (as molasses with low-quality hay).

Beef producers have experienced great improvements. Lee Shepard, of Hemlock, Michigan, raises beef cattle on alfalfa hay and shelled corn with oats. He says he gets much greater feed efficiency and microbial boost in the rumen. He ends up with better grade cattle and more money when sale time comes. Swine also benefit from improved feed efficiency. Lawson of Clovis, New Mexico, reported improvements in feed efficiency on his hog farm which lead to shorter finishing times and heavier finished weights.

Reproductive efficiency is enhanced with herd health. Herd health levels are raised by assimilable minerals, cobalt, zinc, manganese, and phosphorus and the huge assortment of organic compounds in Digestit, all important to functions.

One young farming and hog-raiser at Jamesport, Indiana accepted “eight to ten” per litter, as normal. The first “go around” with Digestit, of this 65 brood sows, 64 produced litters of 14. Their tests of Digestit and of Fertimax fertilizer were so impressive, that they used a semi-truck load of Fertimax and Digestit. “Essentially, the only piglets we lost were those that the sows accidentally mashed: I’m looking for sows with more than 14 teats”

If you want bigger litters like these, feed Digestit livestock supplement. “I no longer have room for them even though they reach 130 pounds in 2 weeks sooner than others can do, my 65 brood sows are making money!!”

DIGESTIT

Letters from Customers

Dear Colonel and Tom,

I just wanted to give you my preliminary report on our results with feeding Digestit to our 3 Nubian Milk goats for over 9 months now. We were at first concerned because you had said that goats were the only animals that would not eat this product. Well, persistence paid off and they all eat it now, though some find it more enjoyable than others. We had great milk, cream, butter and cheese from these animals throughout the summer, fall, and part of the winter, but we had nothing to compare them to since we have fed them all Digestit from the beginning. Our first indication of the difference, however, came about 2 months ago when we started drying up our does so that they would be ready to give birth to their new kids. We started buying fresh goat milk from a friend who had one Alpine and one Nubian goat at the time. Although pure Nubian Milk tends to be about 25% higher in butterfat content and higher in protein, we were not prepared for the dramatic difference. Even though the new milk was part Nubian, we found ourselves consistently getting about half the amount of cheese, cream and butter from her milk as we had from exactly the same amount of our own. We also noticed a big difference in the yogurt we make. Our milk had always made a very thick product, something like a cross between pudding and jello. Our friend’s milk however, makes a watery or soupy yogurt, indicating a low amount of protein. We plan to do more “on farm” research this summer by taking 1 or more goats (once they are in milk again) off the Digestit for a while and then comparing their cream and protein output. This would help us control for other variables, such as diet and genetic makeup. We’ll keep you posted.

Sincerely,

Steve Plog

Farmington, NM

April 27, 2000

Brief comments from Poultry users:

Poultry Production improved when Lea Rickey, of Alexandria, Minnesota ran out of Digestit Livestock Supplement. Egg production from his 4,000 layers dropped almost immediately by 400 eggs per day. He drove the 125 miles each way to Flandreau, South Dakota to get – pickup load of Digestit from Walter Hobbie.

Within a week after again blending only 50# of Digestit into each ton of feed, egg production recovered.

A middle-aged couple drove from Eagle River, Minnesota to attend a Digestit and Fertimax seminar near Minneapolis. “My husband stole my Digestit to feed his sick calves. Within two weeks without Digestit, that chicken house smelled so bad, I almost vomited every time I had to go into it! Egg production dropped and the fryer – quit their previous fast gaining. We’ve finally agreed to get – pup load of Digestit and Fertimax, so please get it to us as soon as possible.

Another Minnesota operation - - a turkey hatchery - - experienced only “under 60%” egg fertility. It’s first year of supplementing with Digestit, the fertility rate eased “over 90%”.

A duck egg producer at Berne, Indiana was getting “low 60% fertile eggs”. Soon after supplementing with Digestit, his fertility rate was “nearly 90%”.

Scores of Amish added to the dairying incomes by raising “pasture run” fryers - - and by keeping Digestit accessible. The flavor and tenderness of those huge, long-legged birds attracted freezer-filling buyers from miles around. During times when cut-up chicken was bringing 33 cents in supermarkets, those Amish women were gladly paid $1.50/pound for their plucked and eviscerated five and six-pound fryers.

A Bourbon, Missouri retired plumber reported: “Just to get facts, I fed one steer separately. Grass pasture, corn and Digestit was all he got. He gained 3# plus per day. I did the same with 50chicks. In only 39 days, the cocks in that flock dressed out at 4.5 pounds. The corn fed steer cost $44.

At Hamilton, Montana, retired West Coast Logger and Alaskan pulp mill “peeler”, “Fuzz” Manicke kept a steer calf with which to fill his own freezer. Both Fuzz and the neighbor who hauled that animal to the slaughter house estimated its weight at 1800 pounds. It scaled at 2225 pounds. Tender? Tasty? “I’ve killed deer, elk, and moose - - all are good, but that grass-hay-fed beef was absolutely the best”, Manicke reported.

Environmental benefits from Digestit use:

With the ongoing concerns about nitrate accumulations in the environment, ammonia production in the animal’s digestive tract from incomplete conversion or assimilation of protein in the feed leads to formation of ammonia in the digestive tract which is then converted to nitrates in the animal’s wastes and these can leach into ground water or runoff into surface water. Many operations have suffered severe expense or been forced out of business from environmental problems arising from the nitrogen contamination. Pressure continues to mount to address these problems and reduce the spread of contamination. With Digestit, this concern can be greatly reduced or eliminated. If a feeder is willing to modify his program with a lower protein ration and proper nutritional balance, free nitrogen compounds can be severely reduced in the waste. Digestit can be the nucleus of this approach. Proper nutrient use includes micronutrients such as copper, manganese, and other microbial and nutritional supporting nutrients which assist in assimilation of proteins and nitrogen.

Reduced cost of feeding with lowered protein input will occur with lowered protein rations. Reproductive improvements will likewise be seen.

Some counties in California press the feeder to reduce or eliminate the fly and odor problems. These arise from undigested proteins passing through the animal which attract flies and when reduced, the fly and odor problem will be reduced or eliminated. Other areas of the country are moving in the same direction. Some large CAFO’s are under severe environmental group and governmental pressure to control these problems. Digestit represents a very inexpensive and successful manner of dealing with the problem. The secondary benefits are more significant that just the feeding benefits.

A related benefit is lagoon reduction in nitrogen contamination. Reduced nitrates, ammonia, TDS, TSS result from the conversion of these contaminants to microbially stabilized compounds which reduces the cost of lagoon maintenance and monitoring. Application to the lagoon feedwater will see this reduction in a reasonably short order.

Contact Agronics for more specific information, technical, application, and other support to assist in this approach.

Nutritionist’s objections to Digestit use:

The majority of users of Digestit do not rely upon their nutritionists for their recommendations for feed rations makeup. They have a higher herd health and lowered consulting fees by managing the nutritional program on their own. Nutritionists have virtually universally denied the benefits from Digestit’s use and have refused to support incorporating it into the ration. The reasons for this have been blatantly stated as either the nutritionist has an ownership interest in a mineral which they recommend, or they are concerned that if this product does as much good as stated, that their position would be compromised with the operator, or that the other aspects of the program are designed to do the same thing. However, this does not seem to be the case as nitrates are still a problem and most feed rations are high in protein to support the production needed for economic operations.

If you as an animal feeder want your nutritionist’s support of the use of Digestit prior to use, and are not willing to add it without your nutritionist’s concurrence, then do not go further. This has to be a conscientious decision to improve your operation and followed through for a period of time to see the benefits, at least one breeding cycle.

Other feeding materials modification on Digestit program:

Use of balancing nutrients is recommended for optimum animal performance with Digestit as is the case with any nutritional supplement. Mineral supplements should include copper, manganese, and a good mineral composition of the feed used. Use of the FERTIMAX program on crops results in the increased NDF or digestibility of the feed and the mineral uptake by the plants, up to 40% increase in potash as an example with no potash applied to the soil. Reduced protein is typically seen with higher conversion efficiency, typically a 30% reduction in protein is needed for comparable production.

Controlled tests of Digestit:

The following reports are results of two controlled tests of Digestit, one is a feedlot test of culled beef which were controlled as best under typical commercial feedlot operations. The results showed faster weight gain, turn around (97 vs. 132 days), lowered cost per lb. of gain ($57.42 vs. $60.06), less mineral and salt and better health. Considering that culled animals were used, it was a substantially valuable program to the animal raiser. Some were in such bad shape when begun on the program, that they had to have serious medical intervention to keep alive.

Increased choice quality in the treated vs. control is a very significant improvement and was even more income to the feeder, but was not reported in the profit sheet. The University of Arkansas in-vitro test on dairy rumen has significantly reduced ammonia in the ration after a period of feeding and this is important for conversion consideration and environmental control of nitrogen from confined animal feeding operations.