Forget the lions, tigers, and bears, we support so much more than that! At Dairy One, we help many animal caretakers and universities build diets for their animals or study different aspects of care. From the milk they produce to the food they eat, we’re here to provide answers on what is in it.
Mammal Milk
Whales, dolphins, pigs, cows, and goats, all produce milk. All of this milk has been tested in a laboratory at Dairy One at some point. There are a variety of reasons that mammal milk is tested but a few reasons include:
- Component & Quality Test: For dairy cows and goats, seeing the component levels is important for the sale of milk. In addition, the quality of the milk is the reflection of milking protocols and feeding programs which can be adjusted to improve it. All of this information is drawn from only a vial of milk, which causes minimal disruption to the animal. However, the data pulled helps owners make better decisions.
- Pregnancy Confirmation: Milk samples can also confirm the pregnancy of an animal. Currently, the Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory can run tests for cows, goats, sheep, and water buffalo. Regular pregnancy for these animals helps keep milk production running. A milk pregnancy test is a minimally invasive way of confirming that an animal is pregnant. The lab has also worked on other special instances to check other mammals for pregnancy.
- University Studies: Scientists often want to know the nutrient makeup of an item to understand it. That’s where some of the less-than-normal mammal milk has shown up to Dairy One. Pigs, whales, dolphins, horses, and so much more have had their milk studied for various reasons, and we’ve been happy to accommodate them!
While mammals produce milk, they consume a variety of feed to help make it and keep their bodies running. And that’s the second part of the services that Dairy One offers.
Animal Feed
Feed is fuel for humans and animals, and both also need formulated diets to keep everything running. Proper nutrients in an animal’s diet are key for overall longevity and health. That’s why Dairy One started their Forage Lab. In the beginning, the focus was analyzing feed for dairy cows. And while that continues to be a key focus area, the laboratory has since branched out into other avenues. Customers have a wide range of analysis packages to choose from to help them see what is actually in the things being fed to animals.
- Equi-Analytical: This subsidiary focuses on helping equines. From performance horses to ones with metabolic issues, customers of this lab want to know what’s in their horse’s feed. From hay and pasture to supplements and water, whatever is sent in can be tested and reported on. Many customers state how the reports they get back are easy to read and have made a big difference in caring for their equines.
- Zooquarius: A big group that has to formulate animal diets regularly are zoos and aquariums. These locations have a wide range of animals under their care that have many types of feeds necessary for them. From fish to banana leaves, there are all sorts of samples that have made their way to the lab.
The main goal for any analysis of course is to maintain a healthy animal whether it’s a koala, gorilla, horse, lion, shark, or fish. Working with veterinarians and nutritionists, customers use the results from the Forage Lab to address the needs of their particular animal.
For more information about any of the services mentioned in this post, visit any of the pages below.