In the modern landscape of animal nutrition, it is easy to find feeds boasting added ingredients. This makes it all the more important to understand what truly distinguishes a superior feed – a well-balanced formula, quality ingredients, and a synchronized blend of research-backed additives. Dwayne and Edison’s Eggery counts on Elk Grove Milling’s Coop Mix for this very reason. Coop Mix is a cornerstone of their feeding program that delivers complete, supportive nutrition, tailored to the needs of their hens.
Why Feed Matters
An exceptional laying hen diet is backed by research to be high-quality and health-focused, specifically formulated to support long-term vitality of the hen, and maximize the nutritional and structural quality of the eggs she produces. While egg production is important, it is equally important to focus on the hen.
This requires egg producers (from backyard stewards to large farms) to look beyond the upfront cost of a feed, and focus on total nutritional value. Investing in premium nutrition promotes superior long-term hen health and results in a more consistently enriched egg.
Moreover, food safety starts before the egg is laid. It is important that a hen is not challenged by pathogens, or it may be possible for those pathogens to make it into the egg. For this reason, some of the same ingredients offered in Coop Mix are fed by egg producers around the globe, to reduce pathogens within the hen’s system that may cause foodborne illness.
The most important factor for a delicious, nutritious egg is a healthy, nourished hen. Coop Mix was designed with that principle at its core—supporting the hen, the egg, the farmer, and the consumer.
What Makes Coop Mix Different?
Coop Mix was developed as a multi-faceted approach to wellness, gut health, immunity, productivity and vitality. The Coop Mix formula was crafted by a skilled team of poultry nutrition specialists, to ensure a balanced base diet enriched with natural additives that work synergistically, to benefit flocks of all types and sizes.
In addition to the additive lineup, Coop Mix contains 100% organic minerals, meaning they are chelated—attached to amino acids and proteins— giving them superior stability and bioavailability. This allows hens to absorb and metabolize the nutrients in their feed more effectively, supporting everything from immune function and gut health to eggshell quality.
Ingredient Breakdown: What’s Inside and Why It Matters
Coop Mix is corn and soy-based, a pairing that delivers optimal energy and a robust amino acid profile. Soy provides highly digestible protein, while corn offers sustained energy—together forming a well-rounded nutritional foundation. Whole wheat is also included to enhance the energy balance of the diet – and is very palatable for chickens! The naturally occurring xanthophylls in these base ingredients are used by the hens to create eggs with yolks rich in color.
The formulation also includes:
- Enzymes to boost nutrient extraction and uptake.
- Specific amino acids to fine-tune the protein balance.
- Organic minerals (as proteinates and selenium yeast), which are more stable and more bioavailable than inorganic forms, and in some cases have lower risk of toxicity. The organic minerals in Coop Mix support immune health, shell strength, egg production and size, and longevity.
- A unique bioactive hydrolyzed yeast which serves as a prebiotic; this specialized portion of the yeast cell wall has been shown to reduce pathogens (harmful microbes) in the gut, as well as support gut health, enhance immunity, and improve overall health. Prebiotics help feed the beneficial microbes in the intestinal tract, encouraging them to proliferate; in turn, this can help reduce the number of harmful microbes via competitive exclusion and bolstering the hen’s natural defenses.
- A blend of a second, specialized, hydrolyzed yeast and algae, which helps to protect against the damaging effects of any toxins that may naturally (and commonly) occur in the base ingredients/grains.
- Yucca schidigera extract, which reduces ammonia excretion and odor.
Feed Integrity and Sourcing
While Coop Mix is not certified non-GMO, it is certified weed-free and produced in a 100% medication-free facility. Elk Grove Milling prioritizes ingredient integrity and sources non-GMO commodities whenever geographically and economically viable. They also maintain a strong commitment to regional partnership by collaborating with local grain terminals for primary ingredients. Furthermore, they actively seek out and prioritize agreements with local farmers for specific commodities, such as the whole wheat used in Coop Mix, strengthening the regional supply chain.
Freshness and Sustainability
Coop Mix is milled on a demand-driven basis, ensuring freshness and preserving nutritional content. Sustainability practices include:
- Use of organic minerals to reduce environmental impact.
- Low-waste production.
- Pelleted and coarse crumble formats to minimize feed waste.
- A barrel program that upcycles durable containers from human food uses, reducing packaging waste.
Local Support and Versatility
Elk Grove Milling is a regional mill with a strong reputation, defined by their commitment to partnership. They are dedicated to providing comprehensive support, offering not only feed but also access to an extensive network of expert nutritional and animal health resources. They are just a short drive off the interstate near Sacramento, and when customers call, they will reach a real person.
Alltech’s Role in the Formula
Alltech is a manufacturer of high-quality, natural feed additives. Furthermore, Alltech is a global company with a diverse array of resources, including a team of talented poultry nutrition specialists with extensive experience serving the poultry industry. Feed companies who work with Alltech are able to lean on that nutritional expertise to help with formulation, and using Alltech ingredients to their optimal effect.
In the case of Coop Mix, Elk Grove Milling recognized an opportunity to elevate the standard layer blend available on the market. They combined their meticulous ingredient sourcing and manufacturing practices with Alltech’s ingredients and nutritional support, as they developed and perfected this feed. The result is a product that meets the highest standards of quality and efficacy.
Dwayne and Edison’s Eggery, Elk Grove Milling, and Alltech are proud to work together to provide high quality, nutritious eggs, and optimal health and wellness for the hens who produce them.
Questions? We would be happy to answer!
Dwayne and Edison’s Eggery
https://dwayneedisoneggery.com/pages/contact
Elk Grove Milling
Customerservice@elkgrovemilling.com
Alltech
