Horned Ruminant Nutrition

Horned Wildlife Nutrition

Global studies have found insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) plays a significant role in bovine (ruminant) horn growth, acting as a key regulator of cellular growth and the development of bone tissue.

IGF-1 mediates the effects of growth hormone (GH) and is crucial for bone formation, horn growth and overall skeletal development. All horned species of ruminants cattle, buffalo, bison, sheep, goats and antelope are poly seasonal animals, experiencing a annually reoccurring constructive metamorphosis of overall body transformations, especially horn growth, regulated by IGF-1 or insulin growth factor, experiencing an accelerated growth period during the spring and summer season.

Nature’s Formula IGF-1 feed additive provides the building materials and internal workforce for maximizing your wildlife’s horn output potential.

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Hormonal Regulation of
Insulin Like Growth Factors.

Insulin Like Growth Factor or IGF-1 is a polypeptide hormone or naturally occurring metabolic steroid, derived from carotenoids (vitamin a) found in green vegetation, that mediates the effects of growth hormone (GH) on various tissues, including bone. The growth hormone GH stimulates the liver to produce IGF-1, which then acts on targeting cellular growth and development throughout the body.

Bone Growth:

Insulin like Growth Factor 1 or IGF-1 is a major regulator of bone growth, particularly during puberty and throughout life. It promotes bone formation by stimulating osteoblast activity (cells that build bone) and inhibiting osteoclast activity (cells that break down bone).

Other Interesting Factors:

While IGF-1 is the key regulator for growth, other factors also influence horn growth, including superior or inferior genetics, age, breed, optimum or poor nutrition, therefore fortifying your genetics with Nature’s Formula IGF-1 feed additive will increase your chances of successfully accomplishing your goals.

Horn Development:

Bovine horns are primarily composed of bone tissue (specifically, a bony core covered by keratinized epidermis). Therefore, the growth of horns is influenced by the same hormonal factors that regulate overall skeletal growth, influenced by IGF-1.

Clinical Relevance:

IGF-1 levels can be measured in blood samples, and these measurements can provide insights into an animal's growth status and potential for horn development.

Scientific Research of IGF-1 and Horn Size:

Studies have shown a correlation between IGF-1 levels and horn size in cattle and other biological groups of horned ruminants. For example, in a study comparing different IGF-1 genotypes in dairy cows, those with higher IGF-1 concentrations (particularly those with the CC genotype) had significantly larger horns.

Success Story

Nature’s Formula IGF-1 feed additive has been tested and found extremely beneficial in several breeding programs for horned ruminants with specific horn characteristics.

Seasonally Adjusted
Wildlife Feed Formulas

Mode of Action
Nature’s Formula IGF-1 feed additive is beneficial for Horned Ruminates (Bovidae) in breeding facilities for genetic improvement, game parks and commercial hunting properties. 

Nature’s Formula IGF-1 feed additive, high concentrations of vitamins and micronutrients provide the dietary needs of:

  • Cape Buffalo 

  • Congo Buffalo 

  • Dwarf Forest Buffalo 

  • American Bison,

  • Guar

  • Gayal 

  • Banteng

  • Anoa

  • Asian Water Buffalo

  • Watusi cattle 

  • Longhorn cattle

  • Barbary sheep

  • Mouflon sheep

  • Urial Sheep

  • Red Sheep 

  • Jacobs 4 Horned Sheep

  • Ibexes

  • Tur Goats

  • Chamois

  • Himalayan Tar

  • Bongo 

  • Bushbuck

  • Livingstone Eland

  • Giant Eland 

  • Greater Kudu 

  • Lesser Kudu 

  • Mountain Nyala

  • Lowland Nyala

  • Sitatunga

  • Bohor Reedbuck

  • Kafue Lechwe

  • Red Lechwe

  • Vaal Reedbuck 

  • Mountain Reedbuck

  • Nile Lechwe

  • Puku Kob

  • Uganda Kob

  • Southern Reedbuck

  • Lady Grey Waterbuck

  • Defassa

  • Waterbuck

  • Ellipsis Waterbuck

  • Grey Rhebok

  • Black Wildebeest

  • Blue Wildebeest

  • White-bearded Wildebeest

  • Bontebok, Blesbok

  • Common Hartebeest

  • Hirola

  • Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest

  • Tsessebe and Topi

  • Addax

  • Beisa

  • Fringe-eared Oryx

  • Arabian Oryx

  • Bluebuck

  • Gemsbok

  • Roan Antelope

  • Sable Antelope

  • Scimitar-horned Oryx

  • Impala

  • Persian Gazelle

  • Dama Gazelle

  • Dorcas Gazelle

  • Gerenuk 

  • Grant’s Gazelle

  • Red-fronted

  • Gazelle

  • Slender-horned Gazelle

  • Soemmerring’s Gazelle

  • Speke’s Gazelle

  • Springbok

  • Thomson’s Gazelle

  • Atlas Gazelle

  • Kirk’s Dikdik

  • Klipspringer

  • Cape Grysbok

  • Steenbok

  • Nilgai antelope

Insulin like growth factors are naturally produced anabolic steroid derived from carotenoids found in green vegetation, tissue growth and development is controlled by increasing daylight exposure, during the spring and summer months with visual change in the phenotypic physical appearance of each individual animals body shape and size, especially horn growth, whenever its fortified with optimum vitamins and nutrients

The science behind the product comes from 20 years of studies focusing on horn growth, formulated to duplicate the key components found in green vegetation and compounded into a feed additive with high concentrations of vitamin A (carotenoids), organic selenium, biotin, folic acid, organic trace minerals found in natural and cultivated plants.

Horn Grower #12 (Spring/Summer)

Formula: HG-12

12 pounds or 5.44 kilograms of Nature’s Formula IGF-1, infused into a 16% Protein and 3% fat for optimum fortification in pelleted, textured or liquid feeds during the spring and summer growth season with a guaranteed analysis of 

  • 33,000 international units

  • Vitamin A

  • 350 international units Vitamin D

  • 90,000 international units Vitamin E

  • 5 mg Biotin Vitamin B7

  • 100 Mg Folic Acid Vitamin B9

  • 100 ppm (Min) Cobalt Carbonate

  • 360,000 ppm Organic Selenium

  • 8% Zin-Pro Organic Manganese

  • 8% Organic Zinc.

Formulated in cubed, pelleted or textured feeds for free ranging horned ruminants on game ranches, game parks and captive bred wildlife facilities during the seasonal growth period for optimum horn growth.

Horn Trophic #8
(Fall/Winter)

Formula: HT-8

Definition of Trophic: promoting cellular growth, differentiation, and survival, of or relating to nutrition

20% Protein | 4-6% Fat

8 pounds or 3.63 kilograms of Nature’s Formula IGF-1, in cubed, pelleted, textured or liquid feeds formulated for the stabilizing muscle mass and body fat during breeding season and the environmental impact during the fall and winter months with key nutrients for increased conception rates, offspring numbers, optimum herd health at the beginning springtime, whenever horn growth is triggered by increasing daylight hours and throughout the horn growing season that ends in the fall.

The ruminant's body naturally stores the essential minerals and nutrients in the fat tissue during the winter months, providing an overwhelming supply of nutrients focused on horn growth at the beginning of spring.

Guarantee Analysis:

  • 22,000 international units of vitamin A

  • 161.28 international units of Vitamin D 60,000 international units of Vitamin E 3.3328 mg

  • Biotin Vitamin B7

  • 66.664 Mg Folic Acid B9

  • 66.664 ppm Cobalt Carbonate

  • 240,000 ppm Organic Selenium

  • 8% Zin-Pro Organic Manganese

  • 8% Zin-Pro Organic Zinc

Success Stories

Nature’s Formula IGF-1 feed additive has been tested and found extremely beneficial in several breeding programs for horned ruminants with specific horn characteristics.

Designed to Fortify from Conception to Consumption

Nature’s Formula IGF-1 is manufactured and distributed by Nutra Blend LLC, and is readily available to any independent feed manufacturer in America. It is supported by the scientific focus on green vegetative components that stimulate growth factors in ruminants, optimizing fortification to the DNA blueprint of each animal.

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