08/13/2025
Nutrient Nugget:
Ascophyllum Nodosum - Nature's Heat Stress Fighter
As August temperatures soar, your customers' animals face their toughest challenge of the year. While most feeds focus on basic nutrition, Total Feeds delivers something extraordinary: Ascophyllum nodosum, a North Atlantic cold-water seaweed that acts as nature's own heat stress defense system.
What Makes This Ingredient Special?
Ascophyllum nodosum (listed as "dried kelp meal" on our tags) isn't just any seaweed. This unique species contains high levels of sulfated short-chain polysaccharides, specifically fucose sugar molecules, that trigger remarkable physiological responses in animals.
The Science Behind the Benefits
University of Missouri Research demonstrated that animals fed Ascophyllum nodosum maintained lower body temperatures in heat chambers—a game-changer for August performance. University of Alabama confirmed this effect in real-world conditions, observing cooler body temperatures in cattle even during peak summer heat.
But temperature regulation is just the beginning. Texas Tech University research revealed that animals consuming Ascophyllum nodosum traveled better, experienced fewer health problems, and showed improved overall resilience—exactly what your customers need when hauling livestock or horses during sweltering summer months.
How It Works: The Blood Flow Connection
Virginia Tech University discovered that Ascophyllum nodosum reopens blood vessels, dramatically improving circulation throughout the body. Better blood flow means:
Enhanced nutrient delivery to cells when animals need it most
Improved heat dissipation through better peripheral circulation
Faster recovery from heat stress and physical exertion
Better hydration as improved circulation supports kidney function
Real-World August Advantages
Your customers will notice these heat stress benefits:
Cooler Running Animals: Approximately one degree Fahrenheit cooler body temperature translates to increased stamina and comfort during hot days.
Better Travel Performance: Horses and cattle fed Total Feeds arrive at destinations ready to perform, not depleted from heat stress during transport.
Maintained Appetite: While other animals go off feed in extreme heat, those receiving Ascophyllum nodosum continue eating well, maintaining condition when others lose weight.
Stronger Immune Function: Heat stress typically suppresses immunity, but improved blood flow and reduced body temperature help maintain natural defenses.
The Total Feeds Advantage
Every Total Feeds formula contains this premium ingredient because we understand that nutrition isn't just about meeting basic requirements—it's about optimizing performance under real-world stress conditions. While competitors may add electrolytes or fans to combat heat, we've engineered heat tolerance directly into our nutrition.
When your customers ask how Total Feeds animals stay strong through August's brutal temperatures, the answer lies in this remarkable seaweed that's been working behind the scenes, keeping their animals naturally cooler, stronger, and more resilient.
Bottom Line: Ascophyllum nodosum isn't just an ingredient—it's your customers' secret weapon against summer's toughest challenges
