North Atlantic Organics Ltd (NAO) was established in 2007 to produce and distribute natural storm-tossed sea plants harvested from the cold-clean waters surrounding the shores of Prince Edward Island.
Sea plants, more commonly known as seaweeds, are marine macro algae that live in the sea or brackish water. Scientists refer to them as "benthic marine algae"; in other words "attached (to the bottom) algae that live in the sea". Sea plants have been used as animal feed supplements and soil conditioners for centuries – long before inorganic minerals and nutrients were discovered and made readily available.
The inspiration for this business came from Joe Dorgan, part owner in NAO. He converted his dairy cow herd to organic a number of years ago, but struggled to find a natural source of dietary mineral supplement. Joe began experimenting and found that locally harvested sea plants were a fairly complete natural mineral supplement in the dairy ration. As a result, overall herd health and milk production increased substantially and animal health costs decreased by a third.
The biggest benefit was in the strength and duration of
estrous or, as Joe would say in his colourful rural
vernacular, “rip-roaring heats”. He attributes the increase in production and improvement in the overall health of his organic herd to the
natural sea plant supplements that he harvested and dried from the local shoreline.
NAO has invested a considerable amount of time, energy and resources in product research and development. The production process of sea plants has been perfected and we have received regulatory approval for commercial distribution of our mineral supplements under the Atlantic-Gro® label. Visit Our Products for more information about our sea plant products, and where to buy them.
Sea plants, more commonly known as seaweeds, are marine macro algae that live in the sea or brackish water. Scientists refer to them as "benthic marine algae"; in other words "attached (to the bottom) algae that live in the sea". Sea plants have been used as animal feed supplements and soil conditioners for centuries – long before inorganic minerals and nutrients were discovered and made readily available.
The inspiration for this business came from Joe Dorgan, part owner in NAO. He converted his dairy cow herd to organic a number of years ago, but struggled to find a natural source of dietary mineral supplement. Joe began experimenting and found that locally harvested sea plants were a fairly complete natural mineral supplement in the dairy ration. As a result, overall herd health and milk production increased substantially and animal health costs decreased by a third.
The biggest benefit was in the strength and duration of
estrous or, as Joe would say in his colourful rural
vernacular, “rip-roaring heats”. He attributes the increase in production and improvement in the overall health of his organic herd to the
natural sea plant supplements that he harvested and dried from the local shoreline. NAO has invested a considerable amount of time, energy and resources in product research and development. The production process of sea plants has been perfected and we have received regulatory approval for commercial distribution of our mineral supplements under the Atlantic-Gro® label. Visit Our Products for more information about our sea plant products, and where to buy them.
My interest in sea plants (marine macroalgaes or seaweeds) and their benefits for animal and soil health comes from my own personal experience. Eight years ago I converted my 160 head commercial dairy herd to organic. During the transition process I struggled to find quality sources of organic mineral to supplement the organic diet. So my nutritionist and I began experimenting with sea plants from the shores of Prince Edward Island.From lab analysis we found the seaweeds to be a fairly complete source of natural mineral supplement in the dairy ration - so we tried them out. Cattle loved the taste and the results were impressive - overall herd health and milk production increased substantially and animal health costs decreased by a third. The biggest benefit I noticed almost right away was in the strength and duration of “heats” and improved conception rates. I produced all my own organic feed inputs on-farm and found seaweed to be an excellent natural soil amendment which improved soil structure and fertility, and produced terrific forage and cereal crops.
My interest in sea plants (marine macroalgaes or seaweeds) and their benefits for animal and soil health comes from my own personal experience. Eight years ago I converted my 160 head commercial dairy herd to organic. During the transition process I struggled to find quality sources of organic mineral to supplement the organic diet. So my nutritionist and I began experimenting with sea plants from the shores of Prince Edward Island.
North Atlantic Organics
20983 Route 12
Seacow Pond, Tignish, PE
Canada C0B 2B0
902.393.8147
