Member News

A second generation company, Kauffman’s Animal Health Inc. was founded by Dave and Tom Kauffman’s parents, Leon and Pauline, in 1978 to manufacture, package, and sell high-quality animal health products. Their father had worked for Whitmoyer Laboratories located in Myerstown, PA, until he decided to start his own business. Their first building opened in the old Bargaintown USA complex located on North Seventh Street.
   Leon managed the Barker, Moore and Mein division of Whitmoyer Laboratories which produced and sold products similar to which Kauffman’s was founded upon. The roots of Kauffman’s Animal Health Inc. were in the horse racing industry. Kauffman’s made vitamin and mineral premixes fed to race horses, even though the Kauffman family itself never initially owned horses. Later, in his 60s, Leon purchased and bred horses of his own.  
   Over the years, the business grew to include private label production of supplements and mixes. Today, Kauffman’s ships its products worldwide. In fact, the United Arab Emirates is currently its biggest consumer of equine products. Kauffman’s has also expanded its product line to include products for species other than horses, such as livestock, poultry and canine.
   In 1998, Kauffman’s began manufacturing LIRA GOLD® for a client. LIRA GOLD® is a direct-fed, microbial product containing live bacterial cultures (similar to live and active cultures in yogurt) and enzymes designed for all classes of dairy and beef cattle feeds. The LIRA GOLD® line includes nutritional solutions designed to improve digestive health, improve milk production, support immune function, and more.
   The demand for LIRA GOLD® grew quickly, and Kauffman’s Animal Health had to look for a bigger building in order to keep up with production. They moved to their current location at 21 Keystone Drive in Lebanon in December of 1999, from which all of its products are produced in a climate-controlled facility and shipped. In 2004, Kauffman’s purchased the LIRA GOLD® brand name and marketing rights from their client.
   All of Kauffman’s Animal Health products are natural solutions. They never have any medicated products in their manufacturing facility, but rather strive to find all-natural alternatives. Next to the equine products, the LIRA GOLD® line of products is Kauffman’s next bestseller. Products for the laying hen industry account for approximately 20 percent of their business as well and canine supplements are a profitable, but small portion of Kauffman’s sales.
   Another of Kauffman’s brand name products is KA-HI, a cold-pelleted, vitamin, protein and mineral supplement that helps to insure against nutritional deficiencies in equine diets. In addition, they produce a variety of other equine nutritional supplements including Integri-Hoof, Flex Steps, several electrolyte supplements, and single nutrient supplements.
   “If you walk into any tack shop, I guarantee that you’ll see stuff we’ve made,” Tom said.
   In 1995, Leon and Pauline sold Kauffman’s Animal Health Inc. to Tom and his brother, Dave. Dave serves as the company’s president, and Tom serves as its vice president.
   One of the biggest challenges facing Kauffman’s is the recent Food Safety Modernization Act. This act was signed into law in January 2011 and provides the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new authorities and requirements. The rules surrounding the act are just now being released and businesses are given one to three years to comply, depending on the size of their company. The new rules focus on documentation of compliance with Current Good Manufacturing Practice in order to identify and minimize hazards, and forward and backward traceability of ingredients and finished products in the event of a recall.
   Kauffman’s began moving toward compliance in 2011 right after the act was introduced. They began utilizing their computer system to a greater extent in order to maintain documentation. However, Tom said that these added steps in their process have led to increased man hours for not just his company, but others as well. This increase in required manpower will result in prices increasing for consumers.
   “People don’t realize how safe and inexpensive our food supply is in the United States,” Tom stated. He also said that with these new FDA regulations, “Food and feed production facilities with tighter margins will have bigger challenges, and smaller companies without computerized process systems will struggle.”
   Kauffman’s Animal Health has 20 total employees. Fourteen of them are full-time, two are off-site salespeople, two are retired, part-time employees, and the remaining two are Tom and Dave’s parents who still work part-time at the facility.
   Kauffman’s Animal Health took an active role in the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce through sponsorship of the Farm-City Committee events in the early 2000’s. The Farm-City Committee plans and organizes the annual Farm Tour program, Farm-City Exchange Days, and Farm-City Banquet to promote greater appreciation for the importance of both the agricultural and business communities in the Lebanon Valley.
   “It’s so important for the Farm-City Committee to exist and do what we do, which is educating the public,” Tom explained. “It’s our vision for the Chamber. It’s the events we choose to support which tie to our business.”
   Anyone interested in learning more about Kauffman’s can visit their website at www.ka-hi.com, email them at info@KA-HI.com, or call them at 717-274-3676.