Cambridge Technologies quietly broke ground on a $15 million Iowa facility upgrade to ramp up production of ionophore additives, aiming to stop BRD incidents by 10-15% in high-risk feedlots. With mycoplasma cases spiking in the humid Midwest, this could risk over-reliance on Big Ag inputs.
The biotech company based in Des Moines, Iowa, broke ground in September 2025 and focuses on scaling production ionophore additives designed to enhance ruminant health for confined feeding. These are primarily incorporating monensin (branded as Rumensin) and lasalocid (Bovatec), and aim to lower the incidence of BRD by 10-15% in feedlots, according to modeling. This will increase output by 40%, targeting a 2026 rollout to align with peak calf seasons.
Studies indicate ionophores can decrease respiratory episodes by up to 15% in stressed calves, with some showing a 6.4% feed efficiency boost across 64 trials. The targeted 10-15% BRD reduction in Cambridge's formulas stems from blends that combine ionophores with prebiotics.
BRD remains the costliest disease in U.S. beef production, affecting 15-30% of feedlot cattle annually and contributing to 40-60% of deaths.
For small operators, the expansion could stabilize margins by curbing BRD pullouts and easing re-treatments, which consume 20-30% of vet budgets. Regional co-ops caution against "Big Ag lock-in," as proprietary blends may hike input costs squeezing independents if generics lag.
Cambridge is not the first additive firm to expand. August 2025, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced $152 million across 19 projects statewide, funding everything from broadband in rural co-ops to ag processing upgrades. Also Kemin Industries has a $4.5M R&D expansion. Acquired Hennessy Research Associates (vaccine R&D firm) in 2025. Merk, Agri-Pro, & Cargill have all expanded in past few years in this arena.
https://www.agri-pulse.com/articles/14001-a-changing-ag-marketplace-provides-new-challenges-for-farmer-owned-co-ops
https://www.beefcentral.com/production/producer-cooperatives-pros-and-cons/
https://www.agproud.com/articles/54073-5-ways-ineffective-brd-treatment-can-cost-you-more
https://cambridgetechnologies.com/
<a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/wood-pellets-background_21064873.htm">Image by fabrikasimf on Freepik</a>
https://www.linkedin.com/company/cambridge-technologies-biotech
https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/iowa-state-receives-14-million-for-feed-mill-facility
https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/08/10/agriculture-secretary-brooke-rollins-announces-new-rural-development-investments-at-iowa-state-fair/
https://www.businessrecord.com/from-sheep-barn-to-1-4b-global-innovator-how-iowas-kemin-industries-built-a-multigenerational-science-business/