Vulkamin®: The naturally active 'Antiseptic' cubicle bedding powder is rapidly becoming the preferred cubicle bedding powder used in animal husbandry. In both cubicles and loose housing systems the beneficial properties of Vulkamin® are quickly noticed.

How Vulkamin® Works:

Vulkamin® facilitates a rapid rise in the pH. Microbes cannot tolerate fast changes in pH and most of them will die off. This is the case with the mastitis causing microbes, Streptococcus uberis. The pH rise of 2 points in the cubicle means the acidity is reduced by 100x in less than 10 minutes. Other pathogenic bacteria which may be present in the cubicles will also be prohibited in multiplying.

Properties of Vulkamin®:

• Fast drying capacity
• Disinfectant to prevent cross- contamination and infection (mastitis)
• Improves and maintains the hygiene of the cubicles.
  
• Kill time less than 15 minutes
  
• The pH rises by 2 points in 10 minutes.
  
• Soft texture of the powder is non-abrasive for the teats.
  
• Reduces the loss of nitrogen
  
• Natural richness in nutrients and trace elements
  
• Extraordinarily high content of zeolites and soluble silicic acid
  
• Reduction of flies

Application:

Spread a thin layer of Vulkamin® where the cows lay especially the area which comes into contact with the udders and on moist and damp areas. In calving boxes Vulkamin® should be spread all over the floor.

A daily application ensures optimal cubicle hygiene contributing to a prevention of cross contamination and mastitis. An extended benefit of using Vulkamin® in animal housing is it’s rich source of nutrients, trace elements and soluble silicic acids. These components feed the soil when the slurry is spread.

Vulkamin is part of the EM Agriton System for sustainable agriculture.

How does Vulkamin® cut costs:

When lime is used in animal husbandry in the cubicles most of the lime ends up in the slurry. Lime reacts with ammonium nitrogen (NH4+) whereby ammonia (NH3) is formed and evaporates. The valuable nitrogen is lost through this evaporation process thus causing a direct loss of organic nitrogen from the slurry. This means the farmer will have less available nitrogen in his slurry to feed the soil.

Calculation of Nitrogen loss:

For every kilo of lime used (with 96% calcium carbonate), a loss of 180 grams ammonium can be expected.
The finer the lime the greater the loss.
This totals a loss of 180 kg ammonium nitrogen for every 1000 kg (big bag) of lime used. This calculation is the worst case scenario but at best a loss of half that amount, 90 kg will occur. With nitrogen costing 1.40 GBP a kilo the loss is 90x 1.40 =126.00 GBP and may be as much as 252.00 GBP when the whole 180 kg is lost. With the price of nitrogen ever increasing the slurry is a most valuable product for the dairy farmer.

Taking this into consideration lime is more expensive than we think due to the reactions it causes leading to loss of nitrogen.

High yield crops depend on the soil. Soil demineralization can cause bad cropping and can be prevented by feeding the soil with deficient minerals and spoor elements. In potato cultivation a deficiency in boron can cause scab. Carrots are known to split when the soil lacks boron.

A deficiency in potassium and titanium can cause infertility in cows. Virus infections are more likely when the soil is deficient in Zinc. In the formation of amino acids Zinc is essential. A lack of cobalt can also cause disease in cows. It is a costly and complicated task to have the soil analysed at regular intervals. Nature provides all mineral spoor elements the soil needs by application of Vulkamin®, Ostrea Crushed Sea shells and Edasil clay minerals.

Application on pasture: 500kg per hectare.
Vulkamin® Can be applied throughout the year. It consists of finely ground silicate rock of volcanic origin. Vulkamin® is naturally rich in nutrients, trace elements and soluble silicic acids and its mineralogical peculiarity gives it natural antiseptic qualities required to help prevent mastitis.

Available in big-bags 1000 kg & 25 kg bags

Frits v/d Ham - founder of our parent company EM Agriton BV

Technical Information:

Consists of finely ground phonolite, a silicate rock of volcanic origin which is alkali-rich. Naturally rich in nutrients, trace elements and soluble silicic acids and its mineralogical peculiarity is that it contains zeolites*, which are special hollow part minerals. Thanks to the very finely ground elements Vulkamin® has large active surfaces and is thus effective even in small quantities.

Used as a bedding powder the benefits of Vulkamin® go far further in enriching the soil with nutrients, trace elements and other useful elements in a well balanced proportion which is fundamental to healthy balanced plant nutrition. Contributing to the farm sustainability by reducing fertiliser costs. It balances the "loss of calcium" by its alkaline effect and stabilizes the soil at a favourable pH level - an important condition for good availability of nutrients, intact soil life and a good soil structure. It is rich in soluble silicic acid which is directly absorbable for plants and strengthens their resistance to fungal disease and other harmful organisms - the use of chemical-synthetic fungicides can thus be reduced.

• Activates available reserves of phosphates in the soil by adding silicic acid - large unused deposits of phosphates can be better used.
• Increases the quantity of available sodium, which has the same regulating effect as potassium in the water balance of plants and activation of enzymes - the quantity of potassium needed by plants will thus be reduced and the yield of certain useful plants (such as cabbage, barley) will be increased.
• Potassium also helps to give grazing animals a healthy diet.
• It Is dissolved gradually, providing nutrients and trace elements evenly over a long period of time - the result is a mild effect and a long-lasting improvement of available nutritive elements in the soil.
• Erosion is reduced to a minimum.
• Improves conditions for micro-organisms living in the soil, especially for nitrogen-binding bacteria.
• Using Vulkamin® is the best way of producing fertile soils over a long period of time.

Download Vulkamin®: Product Information

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