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2821 SOUTH U.S. HWY. 51
JANESVILLE, WI 53546-8945
800.345.8348 ¥
www.pheasant.com
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I traveled with Brad Lillie this past January to
attend the World Poultry Exposition in Atlanta.
One of our most valuable stops we made was
when we visited the Charm Sciences, Inc.
booth. Charm Sciences provided information
on rapid testing equipment for identifying the
presence of individual myco-toxins in our
feed. Over the last few years we have (as all
gamebird raisers have) experienced the
negative affect of myco-toxins, especially in
our chicks and breeding flocks. Pheasants
and chukar partridge are very susceptible to
myco-toxins, even at very minute levels.
After quite a discussion here at our farm, the
decision was made to spend the $4,000 to
purchase a Charm myco-toxin testing machine.
In March we began testing all feeds “on the
spot” that enter our system for Aflatoxin,
which is a common myco-toxin often found in
moldy corn. The presence of Aflatoxin in our
feed at a level of 5 parts per billion will lead to
increased death loss and reduction of egg
production and fertility. To put this in
perspective, 5 parts per billion is equivalent to
5 grains of sand in a 50 pound bag. Aflatoxin
is some pretty toxic
stuff!
Working with our
feed suppliers, we
have been able to
reduce, or in most
cases eliminate the
presence of
Aflatoxin in our
feeds. On our farm
this season we’ve
seen better
livability in our
chicks and improvements with health and
productivity in our breeder flock. The goal is to
provide our birds with the best possible feed
quality, and ultimately provide our customers
with the healthiest birds possible.
The $4,000 expenditure basically is an
insurance policy to make sure we are using
good feed for our pheasants.
Our Charm Science
Mycotoxin Machine
Brad Lillie testing a feed sample
Our Feed Insurance Policy
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Bill MacFarlane -