Vyta Corp is Pleased to Announce Successful Product Trials and Sales of All-Natural AGRASTIM(R) as an Effective Animal Antibiotic Replacement
Sponsored by: VYTC, 50% joint owner of BIOAGRA, LLC, today announced the current status of sales and commercial testing of BIOAGRA's proprietary all-natural yeast Beta-1,3/1,6-D-glucan feed supplement, AGRASTIM(R). "We are pleased to provide to our shareholders, the following report of BIOAGRA's successful testing and marketing efforts," said Paul H. Metzinger, President and CEO of Vyta Corp.
With the sharply rising price of grain, the cost of fuel and other related logistics costs, AGRASTIM(R)'s health and performance benefits are being taken very seriously by the production markets, especially the poultry and dairy industries, resulting in many trials and new sales.
Maple Leaf Farms, America's premier producer of quality duck products, has been using all-natural AGRASTIM(R) in its breeding operations, and the results have been very successful.
Maple Leaf Farms, a family-owned company headquartered near Milford, Indiana, is now expanding its regular use of AGRASTIM(R) to all of its breeding stock in multiple locations nation-wide. According to C. Michael Turk, Vice President of Live Production, Maple Leaf Farms is also currently using AGRASTIM(R) in trials with its production animals. Maple Leaf Farms does not feed antibiotics to its ducks; it uses natural health promoters such as AGRASTIM(R) and probiotics to maintain duck health. Maple Leaf Farms is the largest processor of ducks in the United States.
Two all-natural growers of broilers using AGRASTIM(R) have experienced outstanding results. Feed conversion (ratio of feed consumed to weight gained) has improved between 5 points to as much as 10 points. Total live weight gain has improved, mortality has decreased as much as 30% to 40% and condemnations (birds unfit for consumption) have decreased as much as 60%.
According to BIOAGRA's sales personnel, over 35 trials involving AGRASTIM(R) are either about to begin, are currently in process, or have recently been concluded. Some of those concluded trials have currently led to new product sales. BIOAGRA has customers from multiple markets, including dairy, equine, aquaculture, swine, and especially the poultry industry. Over 15 specific poultry trials are at various stages in the U.S. and abroad with some of the world's largest integrators.
Several successful research trials of AGRASTIM(R) have included two that were extremely significant to the entire poultry industry. The first, conducted at the University of Georgia, Athens, GA, in collaboration with the Southern Poultry Research Institute under the direction of Dr. Chuck Hofacre and Greg Mathis, demonstrated that Agrastim(R) can safely and effectively replace antibiotics in the feed of broilers for the treatment of necrotic enteritis. Necrotic enteritis is a disease that causes acute losses to the poultry industry.
The second study was conducted on the recommendation of one of the largest poultry processors in the U.S. This study was conducted by Dr. Stephen W. Davis of Colorado Quality Research, Inc., Wellington, Colorado. The study demonstrates that AGRASTIM(R) can safely and effectively replace antibiotics in the feed of turkeys that have been severely challenged by Clostridium septicum, the bacterium most commonly responsible for the condition known as gangrenous dermatitis or cellulitis.
Gangrenous dermatitis is one of the most severe diseases currently afflicting the turkey, as well as the duck and broiler industries. "It was expected that this severe and excessive challenge in this study would overwhelm and negate any measurable benefit to the AGRASTIM(R) treatment," reported Dr. Davis, but, "even with the excessive challenge, the results show obvious treatment effects (of AGRASTIM(R))."
This acute trial was designed to end before the turkeys reached market maturity. Dr. Davis has pointed out that if the trial had gone forward to market age for the turkeys, the vast majority of the Agrastim(R) treated birds would have been market-ready and the symptoms of cellulitis abated. However, the birds treated traditionally with antibiotics would have mostly been unmarketable, resulting in condemnation.
Bacterial related condemnations also contribute to major losses for chicken producers. Dr. Davis said, "Research may find that AGRASTIM(R) will be helpful, as well, in the prevention and treatment of infectious process (IP) a condition that is causing great economic loss to the broiler industry." Skin scratches, cuts, or abrasions frequently lead to IP, a condition that is on the increase in the broiler industry and is caused by bacterial infection (frequently E. coli, the most common bacterial pathogen of poultry). IP often results in extensive and costly processing plant condemnation. Dr. Davis and BIOAGRA are working together toward forthcoming trials of AGRASTIM(R) for treatment of infectious process in cooperation with some of the top ten broiler integrators in the U.S.
BIOAGRA has also had successful test and marketing results in the dairy industry. AGRASTIM(R) use has resulted in reduction in somatic cell count (indication of infection found in milk) of 30%-40% in the first 30 days of treatment, and in most cases, a decrease of another 20% in the next 30 days. Increase in milk production has been closely linked to the reduction in somatic cell count, and milk with low somatic cell count often commands a price premium. Rockingham Feed Coop, an AGRASTIM(R) distributor in Harrisonburg, Virginia, reports that in first phase trials, almost every one of its dairy customers has seen similar results with AGRASTIM(R). Additionally, Rockingham sees AGRASTIM(R) as having potential application for improved health benefits in dairy replacement heifers. AGRASTIM(R) has been shown to increase disease resistance and survival rates for newborn calves. Rockingham is planning a major AGRASTIM(R) marketing promotion over the next 6-12 months, aimed at their large Mid-Atlantic market base. Keith Turner, Rockingham's Feed Division Manager has stated that he is extremely enthusiastic about an all-natural product that produces these results and that also qualifies for use in certified organic programs.
AGRASTIM(R) has been listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) as "approved" for use in USDA Certified Organic systems. AGRASTIM(R) is manufactured, marketed, and distributed by BIOAGRA, LLC.
Vyta Corp owns a 50% interest in BIOAGRA, LLC, a joint venture to manufacture, market and sell AGRASTIM(R), a purified yeast Beta 1,3/1,6-D glucan product with a high bioactivity level of 90% or greater.
Vyta Corp owns various patents and intellectual properties related to NCS(R) (NanoPierce Connection System). This advanced system is designed to provide significant improvement over conventional electrical and mechanical interconnection methods for high density circuit boards, components, sockets, connectors, semiconductor packaging and electronic systems. For more information on Vyta Corp, please visit its website at vytacorp.com.
About BIOAGRA, LLC
BIOAGRA, LLC is based in Hinesville, Georgia, where it produces, markets and sells AGRASTIM(R), which is a purified yeast Beta 1,3/1,6-D glucan product with a high bioactivity function that improves the immune systems of animals and humans. AGRASTIM(R) is an all natural, organic, non-toxic natural Beta glucan feed supplement derived from spent brewer's and distillery yeast. It is also used to replace fast growth promotion antibiotics that are currently used in the feed of the livestock (beef & dairy cattle), equine, swine, poultry, turkey, duck and aquaculture industries. For more information on BIOAGRA, LLC, please browse its website at bioagra.net.
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