Oldtimer said:
Yep-- and some folks peddle "cowcandy"- Loomix-- which I also tried for a couple of years and wouldn't recommend to anyone either... Tough enough watching that overly expensive stuff drip off the cows face onto the ground-- but really bad when they suck down a whole tub in a day or two because the salesman mixed it too sweet (ignorance- or more commission :???: ) - or they stand their crapping in it for a week or two because it was mixed too sour and you can't get the salesman back to sweeten it...
Personally I agree with several on the other thread that much of this mineral/supplements is overrated- and overused.... And I'm not going to lie to folks about my opinions/experiences with it....
But some folks like stuffing dollars down a rathole too... Each to their own...I just watched a steer sell for $185,000 at the Fort Worth Stock Show too ... :shock: :roll:
You had a problem with the service end of things, NOT the product. You ask questions and use your own best judgment as to what blend to start the cattle on...sometimes you are right on the money with the blend, and sometimes you miss it by a mile. The product works, and has worked since 1952. It has a patent from the US Patent Office for fiber digestion...we digest 34% more fiber than any other product out there...which means they can get more out of junkier forages, and if they are being fed higher quality forages, they will need less of it to get their NRC requirements.
As far as overly expensive, I just checked my new ADM pricesheet that came this morning, and allowing for a comparable margin per ton, I am $100/ton cheaper than ADM's cheapest tubs, $150/ton cheaper than their middle of the road tubs, and $300/ton cheaper than their top of the line tubs. As for cubes, I am $30/ton cheaper than ADM's middle of the road cubes. You don't have to go to town and get LOOMIX, there are no fines to deal with, and the dealer provides the troughs it is fed in, so you don't need a cake feeder on your truck or to buy your own lick wheel tank or pay rent on one. A good dealer will move the troughs as the cattle are moved, and does not charge for that service, nor do any dealers I know of bill a "stop charge" when they service a trough. Delivered cost is fed cost. Not everyone is cut out to be a LOOMIX dealer, though, because the customer service factor is so demanding.
A poor dealer or dealer network does not necessarily mean a poor product, but it appears the Ancient One cannot differentiate between the two. Don't worry, Ancient One, I wouldn't lie to another feed company/dealer about my opinion of you, either. :wink: