Non-Traditional Parasite Solutions
The original Early Bird product, a two-phase feed additive administered as a top dressing, was first developed in 2020 by two veterinarians. Their goal was to create a supportive supplement for goats, sheep, and alpacas struggling to recover from multi-drug resistant Haemonchus contortus.
Through clinical trials, published papers, formula improvements and customer feedback, this has proven to be a safe and effective supplement for many sheep, goat, and alpaca operations across the United States. Since then, we have developed several other formulas to address other conditions.
The Original "Early Bird": What is it?
Phase I: The Anti-Parasitic Phase
Ingredients: a proprietary blend of Quisqualis indica (Chinese honeysuckle), Prunus mume (Japanese apricot), Atractylodes macrocephala (perennial shrub root), Codonopsis (perennial bellflower root), Sophora flavescens (deciduous shrub root), Zingiber officinale (ginger root), Torreya grandis (Chinese evergreen nut), Raphanus sativus (radish seed), and omphalia lapidescens (bamboo root fungus).
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Instructions for Alpacas: Topdress grain with 1/4 tsp per head per day for 2 days, then increase to 1/2 tsp per head per day for 2 days, then increase to 1 tsp per head per day for 3 days for a full week's course. Then, follow up immediately with Phase 2.
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Instructions for Sheep and Goats: Topdress grain with 1/2 tsp per head per day for 3 days, then increase to 1tsp per head per day for 4 days for a full week's course. Then, follow up immediately with Phase 2.
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Phase II: The Gut Recovery Phase
Ingredients: a proprietary blend of Avena sativa (oat straw), Astragalus membranaceus (Mongolian milkvetch), Curcurbita pepo (pumpkin), Withania somnifera (winter cherry), Althaea officinalis (marshmallow root), Urtica dioica (nettle leaf), Medicago sativa (alfalfa), Centella asiatica (Indian pennywort), Foeniculum vulgare (fennel seed), Silybum marianum (milk thistle) and Calendula officinalis (marigold).
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Instructions for Alpacas: Topdress grain with 1/2 tsp per head per day for 3 days, then increase to 1 tsp per head per day for 4 days for a full week's course. Always precede with Phase 1.
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Instructions for Sheep and Goats: Topdress grain with 1 tsp per head per day for 7 days for a full week's course. Always precede with Phase 1.
How Does it Work?
Each ingredient was added to the formula only after it could fulfill certain criteria.
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Those criteria are:
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There was literature to support that the herb had demonstrated mechanisms to address the specific disease factor of Haemonchosis we were targeting
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There was literature to support a reasonable dosage of the herb for the species we were addressing
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There was literature to support which part of each herb (the different parts of a plant have different chemical compositions and pharmacological activities) should be selected for the application
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The pharmacological activity of the plant would not conflict with other ingredients selected for use
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Read more below for specific citations