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Bio-Enhancement Systems Corporation
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BESCORP Tailpinch
Animal Behaviour Modifier (ABM) Product
BESCORP's initial product lines will consist of the ABMTM, an acronym for Animal Behaviour Modifier, and the Super ABMTM, an expanded version of the ABM. Individually, each offers unique benefits to the beef and dairy producer. The primary action of the ABM devices is to increase eating behavior, resulting in improved daily weight gain and feed conversion in beef cattle and increased milk production as well as improvements in other desirable milk parameters in dairy cattle. This technology, which was evolved by working closely with professional experts in the field, represents the state-of-the-art improvement for beef and milk production.
The concept which supports the use of ABM devices, is based on the principle that mild stress induced by the application of a non-painful pressure will induce an animal to eat, even though the animal if fully sated (The Tail-Pinch behavior). Tail-Pinch behavior was discovered in 1973 by Seymour M. Antleman, Ph.D. (a company founder) and Henry Szechtman, Ph.D. This discovery led to the development of an animal model for stress induced overeating, which is recognized throughout the world as the standard in the field, and which has been cited in scientific literature more than 400 times. BESCORP has patented the application of this principle in 29 countries, including the U.S.
The initial tail-pinch study found that the application of a mild, non-painful pressure to the tail of a fully sated rat would induce the rat to eat. Tail-pinch induced eating was successfully demonstrated in greater than 95% of over 4,000 animals tested in numerous experiments by Dr. Antelman and colleagues. In a subsequent study, repeated application of a tail-pinch several times daily resulted in considerable obesity when applied over a number of days. This study demonstrated that the application of a tail-pinch 6 times a day for 10 minutes each, over a 4 to 5 day period, increased caloric intake 2 1/2 to 3 times the normal level and increased weight more than four-fold compared to control animals not exposed to the tail-pinch stimulation. Percentage weight gain in animals which received a tail-pinch averaged 22%, compared to 5% for unpinched control animals.
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The ABMTM and Super ABMTM
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BESCORP's Animal Behavior Modifiers (ABM and Super ABM), employ the scientific principle described to enhance eating behavior and milk production in cattle. The ABM's primary function results in a mild squeezing stimulation applied to the base of the animal's tail. The exact details of the strength and duration of the stimulation was based on extensive rigorous testing to obtain optimal results. The regular ABM provides a series of pulses operating between two pressure levels, and is referred to as the active cycle. The Super ABM, for use by Veterinarians, will be released as our first product, has this identical capability as the regular ABM, but in addition can also operate over a higher range of pressures. Either of the two operating modes is selectable by the Veterinarian. This higher level of pressure is required for several important additional applications.
The Animal Behaviour Modifier (ABMTM) is a battery operated, waterproof, high impact plastic device that hangs on the animal's tail by means of a harness, and is intended for use with Dairy and Beef Cattle. The device, which weighs one pound, contains a small internal motor and associated hardware that is actuated by an electronic controller. During the three minute active cycle, a belt alternatively cinches and relaxes around the animal's tail, creating a series of pressure pulses. At the end of the active cycle, the device goes into a "sleep" mode for 87 minutes, then repeats the active cycle, for a total of 16 active cycles per day.
An LED/membrane switch located on the top of the device is used to turn on the device, and to track its status, battery condition etc. In the Veterinarian version, referred to as the Super ABMTM a higher than normal tailpinch pressure which is not available in the normal device, is used for special applications. In the Dairy cow and Beef cattle versions, the pressure is the same for both, but somewhat lower than for the Veterinarian model. Both the Veterinarian and the Dairy cow versions use a special harness to support the ABMTM device. BESCORP is currently developing a direct mount for Beef cattle which will not require any harness.
A fail-safe mechanism is included in the device to prevent any injury to the animal in the event of loss of power or any other type of failure. Under either of these or other conditions, the belt would otherwise remain tight around the animal’s tail and could reduce circulation of blood. With the fail safe feature, at the end of a 10 second period the belt tension is automatically relaxed, thereby preventing injury to the tail.
Once attached, the device remains with the animal for 120 to 140 days, requiring no additional attention during its use. Since both the ABM systems are engineered to successfully perform for 3 successive feedlot turns (used on three animals), it is collected and either re-attached to the next animal user, or discarded if its useful lifetime has expired. ABM induced stimulation is mild, causing no discomfort or other negative effects to the animal. Its primary action results in behavior modification. It is non-invasive, that is, not injected, swallowed or absorbed. Therefore, no foreign chemical substances enter the animal's body and as a result there is no possible contamination of milk or beef with ABM use. The use of this device present no possibility of endangering food safety.
Extensive field trials were carried out to determine the effectiveness of the ABM device compared to alternative methods. These field trials have demonstrated equal or superior treatment results to those of currently used products. When used in combination with these older treatment modalities, it is thought that the products may work synergistically, producing even greater increases in production efficiency.
Dr. Stuart Fielding, CEO
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