Jim Helfter
Jim Helfter on a horse
Jim Helfter saddled up and rode out on Sunday Oct 26, 2014 for an evening ride through the forest and around his farm. It was his last ride. A true horseman, an exceptional nutritional innovator, a friend too many with a sparkly soul, Jim Helfter transitioned the way most horsemen would want to go - he died on a horse. He died in nature among the trees and the earth he so loved.
Jim dedicated his life to helping animals through improving their well-being both physically and mentally. He was a unique scientist blending his brilliant mind with uncommon intuition to develop state-of-the-art animal feed products as well as ways to detox soil and water.
Jim Helfter, the founder, owner, and CEO of Advanced Biological Concepts®, has been dedicated to providing livestock producers with nutritional technology to achieve maximum animal health for the production of drug and hormone free meat and milk for over 45 years.
Jim’s evolution into holistic thought began when he was an aerospace researcher for the Martin Corporation, Aerospace Division in Colorado. Jim spent a lot of time studying animals in relation to his research on interplanetary travel and became concerned about the long-term effects of the widespread use of antibiotics in animals. He questioned the wisdom of injecting animals with antibiotics and hormones to treat the symptom or to make livestock grow faster. Jim’s experience as an owner and rider of long distance endurance horses added another dimension to his understanding of nutrition and mineral balance in performance animals as well as food producing livestock.
Jim’s years of hands-on experience taught him that animal health problems are due to nutritional deficiencies from single source diets and related environmental conditions such as confinement. He has dedicated his company to the prevention of disease through nutrition. The company’s mission to “Improve the quality of life for mankind by improving the quality of life for animals through nutrition” is a reflection of Jim’s total commitment to this concept.
Under Jim’s leadership, Advanced Biological Concepts produces natural and organic supplements and feeds for horses, ruminants (dairy and beef), swine, poultry, fish (aquaponics), and exotics. Advanced Biological Concepts® focuses on the cause of a disease or problem, not the symptom. No use of antibiotics or mega doses of a single nutrient is used to enhance performance or health.
Helfter Feeds, Inc. was the first organic company certified under the USDA/National Organic Program. Advanced Biological Concepts® Organic Division, formerly known as Helfter Feeds, Inc., offers a complete line of certified USDA/NOP organic livestock products and custom formulates based on the ever-changing needs for quality health for animals and mankind.
Jim was not afraid to take on the “giants” and he defended Nature and her creatures with his whole being continuing to fight for the right to have organic and wholesome non-GMO feeds for animals.
Advanced Biological Concepts® decided it was morally wrong to sell glyphosate-contaminated products because of the profound and consistent side-effects damage to animals and soil. Leading the way again, the company announced in August 2013, that all products would be Certified Organic or GMO-Free, and Wheat-Free.