“Stalosan F is not overly expensive for what it does” says Calving Manager Nicole Woodford. She’s used the product in her calf sheds since 2014. Read more >
For farmers managing herd homes or rearing lambs, calves, and goat kids, it’s important to provide an environment that protects the animal’s skin – which is their natural barrier against infection.
Neutralising ammonia and adjusting the pH of litter from alkaline to neutral helps keep skin healthy and resistant to infection. Also, pathogenic (or potentially harmful) bacteria generally don't perform well in acidic environments.
Did you know that animals excrete a sticky acidic substance (sebum) to cover their skin as protection from bacteria? Sebum consists of wax, fatty acids and beneficial bacteria.
Keeping the skin moist and flexible and creating antimicrobial activity through acidity, enzyme activity and symbiosis with beneficial bacteria, sebum is regarded as an important first line of defence against disease-causing bacteria.
Ammonia from animal waste has a pH-value of 13.
This creates an alkaline environment that breaks down sebum and skin, compromising an animal’s defence system and increasing the risk of infection.
What most people don’t realise is that many of the common powder hygiene agents for animal housing are alkaline with a pH-value of 9-13.
Products such as ammonia, limestone, hydrated lime, or oxone – added to bedding – will further increase the pH of the bedding and accelerate the production of ammonia from urine. Increased ammonia concentration further increases the pH of the bedding. And this high alkaline environment leads to the breakdown of the protective sebum layer, making animals more susceptible to infection.
Increased ammonia in the environment can also increase the risk of pneumonia.
It’s crucial to counteract the high pH-value in these areas by using a powder bedding product with a low-pH value, like Stalosan F.
With a unique composition, Stalosan F is a blend of naturally acidic minerals including phosphates and specialist clays. These ingredients act in different ways to help keep bedding dry, absorb ammonia, and inhibit bacterial growth. Essential oils help act as a repellent for bugs (like flies) and provide a pleasant smell.
By improving the overall environment, Stalosan F helps support skin integrity and protects animals against infection.
StalosanF
Unlike a neutral drying agent with limited absorption capacity for both water and ammonia, Stalosan F will hold up to 400% of its weight in moisture, with increased water holding capacity in the presence of ammonia, making it ideal for use in animal housing.
With this unique mode of action, Stalosan F remains active for several days, even in the presence of manure. It is the ideal desiccant to minimise the proliferation of bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and fly larvae – improving the quality of the animal environment and helping to prolong bedding life too.
And, with a recommended application rate of only 50g/sqm weekly (costing 25c/sqm*), Stalosan F is the most cost-effective powdered bedding conditioner available in New Zealand.
* Stalosan F price based on bag price of $75/15kg bag, excl GST.