EnSoil Algae™: Improving Herd Health from the Source

Dillon, MT.  Bryan and Marcia Mussard own and operate Reminisce Angus Ranch with a clear vision for regenerating and stewarding the land, raising exceptional animals, and making profit to support their family and community. In 2019 the Mussard’s purchased several hundred acres near Dillon to grow their operation. The land had been managed with heavy chemical fertilizer for years to produce native grass hay. The soil biology and ecosystem were very depleted and dependent on chemical fertilizer to produce feed.  Unfortunately, the sterile soil was producing a low quality grass and the impact was clear in the degraded health of his cattle.

With almost 50 years in ranching, Bryan has a keen eye and understanding of his cattle and closely observes changes in their health.  Bryan and Marcia made the difficult decision to stop using chemical fertilizer on their ground to give the soil a chance to recover, hoping it would result in better nutrition for their animals.

The transition was far from easy. Bryan faced significant losses. “Yields went so far down,” he recalls. This period wasn’t just about enduring losses though; it was a choice to give the land time to heal from chemical dependency and rebuild natural biological function. He knew he needed to help the soil produce a better crop for his cattle – one with higher protein and better yields.

Discovering EnSoil Algae™

It was during that third year of biological recovery that Bryan discovered EnSoil Algae™. He began applying in 2022 and the results were almost immediate. “My yields and animal performance didn’t recover until I started using EnSoil,” he says. Now in his fourth year, the results continue to amaze him.

What makes Bryan’s story particularly compelling is that EnSoil Algae™ is the only input he applies. The direct comparison, with and without EnSoil Algae™, provides a clear and powerful testament to the efficacy of integrating living algae as a key component of a regenerative ranch. 

The initial improvements were visual and observational: “The color was so green and the feed was more tender,” Bryan noted. And his cattle responded enthusiastically: “The cows did so much better on the EnSoil Algae™-treated pasture and hay… We’ve never seen a cow eat the hay the way they do with EnSoil Algae™ on it." It was clear his cattle not only benefitted from the EnSoil Algae™-treated forage but genuinely preferred it.

But Bryan knew there was more to this story. He wanted to know the “why” behind his cattle’s strong response and he knew that customers choosing whether to buy his bulls would be better convinced with hard evidence. This led him to invest in detailed vitamin testing, the true turning point of his journey.

The Turning Point: “Mind-Blowing” Vitamin A and E Increases

Bryan sent two feed samples - one untreated and one treated with EnSoil Algae™ - to be analyzed for Vitamin A (beta-carotene) and Vitamin E, two critical factors of cattle health and productivity, often supplemented by ranchers at a significant cost

• Vitamin A (beta-carotene): A key component in supporting optimum fertility and enhancing colostrum quality in cows. It helps boost pregnancy rates and reduce pregnancy losses. Vitamin A deficiency is often the silent culprit in late-term weak calves or stillborn issues (source). Learn more about Vitamin A here.
• Vitamin E: The primary fat-soluble antioxidant in the body. Very important for pre-calving and newborn calf success. It works hand in hand with Vitamin A to boost the immune system and plays a big role in successful conception, placental health, and preparing calves for a healthy life. It’s critical for muscle function, everything from movement to a strong heartbeat, preventing muscular dystrophy in young calves. Calves with sufficient levels of Vitamin E also cope with stress better. Learn more here. 

The results were, in Bryan’s own words, “mind-blowing”. The Vitamin A levels jumped from 42,000 IU/kg to 110,000 IU/kg – a 162% increase in the EnSoil-treated hay. Similarly, Vitamin E jumped from 41.2 IU/kg to 69.2 IU/kg – a 68% increase.

He stated, “I was blown away by how much more Vitamin A and E was in grass and hay treated with EnSoil Algae™. That’s why these cows eat it like a swarm of bees!”

These numbers lined up with the hard data Bryan had collected himself over the years including mineral intake, conception rates, and death rates:

“In the past, the cattle needed supplemental minerals due to nutrient deficiencies in pasture grass. In the EnSoil-treated pasture, mineral intake in summer pasture for yearlings dropped from 19 bags (each weighing 50 lbs) to 1 bag over a 90 day period. In a fall pasture, the mineral-protein intake reduced from 9 bags per week to 1.5 bags per week. Meanwhile, conception rates increased 7-9% and we had significantly fewer cattle deaths. It is obvious in the health and performance of our animals that they are getting better nutrition from the pasture.”

Why This Data is So Impactful for Ranchers

This hard, quantifiable evidence is a paradigm shift for the ranching community with profound benefits that directly impact their bottom line. 

• Reduction in Input Costs: Cattle are naturally getting higher levels of Vitamin A and E from forage leading to drastic reductions in mineral consumption - 19 bags to 1 in Bryan's case. This is a huge cost savings.
• Healthier Calves and Reduced Losses: Sufficient Vitamin A and E in cattle reduces death and scour rates in calves, leading to substantial savings on medicine and vet bills. “Ranchers spend copious amounts of money on medicine, vet bills, etc for baby calves. Plus when you’re feeding cows minerals that contain Vitamin A and E, depending on the source, it may or may not be effective.” Building stronger immunity in baby calves, especially for the cold weather, is a true game-changer that sets them up for lifelong health. 
• Improved Reproductive Performance: Healthy calves contribute directly to a mama cow's ability to breed back on time. Losing a calf, whether to a predator or a critical vitamin deficiency, has a devastating ripple effect on herd productivity and the cow's reproductive cycle for the entire season. Investing in this foundational nutrition prevents costly setbacks.
• Enhanced Consumer Confidence & Market Advantage: Bryan understands that "observations are valuable but the hard numbers are what people want to see." This data allows him to confidently showcase the superior nutritional quality of beef from his ranch compared to others.

A Call to Action for Every Rancher

Bryan Mussard’s journey is a testament to the power of prioritizing soil health and reaping the benefits in herd health. His vitamin test results prove that using EnSoil Algae™ will directly nourish your animals with essential vitamins. "Try something different," he urges. "Start at the root cause. Focus on your soil health and everything will follow."

His experience demonstrates that investing in your soil with EnSoil Algae™ isn’t an added expense; it’s a strategic investment that all ranchers can benefit from, that helps replace other costly inputs leading to healthier animals, reduced operational costs, and a more profitable future. Integrating living biology below ground with livestock management above ground truly demonstrates a systems approach to regeneration. 

As Bryan explains it, “You spend on the soil and the soil feeds your cows rather than spending on external inputs to feed your cows. EnSoil Algae™ isn’t an add-on - it eliminates the need for other inputs.”

Dig Deeper!

Bryan Mussard will be on the LaneCast Ag Podcast TODAY at 11am MT / 1pm EST for 3 hours talking about animal nutrition and EnSoil Algae™. Make sure you tune in!