For about 6 years in my younger days, I worked as a hand at a Farm & Ranch store in a small rural north Missouri town. The F&R was loaded with livestock care products.
During my tenure at the store, I did just about every job there was… worked the floor/stock, repaired electric fencers, chainsaws, weed eaters, loaded and unloaded trucks, ran a forklift, and one of the areas I enjoyed the most was working in the vet supplies and livestock animal care areas.
I was poor at the time (not that I am rich now, but by comparison I was paycheck-to-paycheck) so I was always looking for shortcuts and ways to save money. One of my co-workers turned me on to three different livestock animal care products that I have used off-and-on since.
The first one, the one most directly related to prepping and the one that you are most likely to have heard of, is “Bag Balm”.
Bag Balm
Designed to protect and care for the udders of livestock, Bag Balm (also known as Udder Balm) is one of the greatest inventions of mankind for care and prevention of dry skin.
Forget all of those fancy skin care products at the drug store, just go to your local Farm & Ranch store (or vet supply store, or Amazon) and get yourself some. Heck, it’s available in most drug stores as well, since it’s no longer a “farm secret”.
For only a few dollars, it will cure your cracked skin/lips problems for good, and greatly in healing. It also is apparently very good for tattoo care, if that’s a concern for you.
Mane ‘n Tail Shampoo
Next up is one of the greatest products under the sun that you probably have never heard of, Mane ‘n Tail Shampoo.
This is the brand that we sold at the store that I worked at (and that they still sell 25 years later), it’s absolutely amazing. Smells great, lathers great and most importantly it gets a deep-down cleaning that other shampoos don’t seem to pull off.
A very little of it goes a long way, and it REALLY de-oils and de-greases hair. OK, other than getting you really clean, why is this important as a prep? Well, it also contains a “Skin-So-Soft” type perfume which not only makes it smell great, but it also serves as an insect repellent. Use this shampoo as a total body wash, and not only will it get you clean but it will save you from being bitten.
There is a downside to Mane ‘n Tail shampoo, however, as it really, really drys out hair if used alone.
Mane “n Tail Conditioner
Fortunately, it’s designed to be used with it’s partner, the equally amazing Mane “n Tail Conditioner. Not only does it condition hair, but being a protein based product it promotes further hair thickness.
I had a co-worker with thinning hair that swore that when he started using Mane ‘n Tail conditioner, his hair became longer and thicker. I have no reason to doubt him, but rather than it being a “miracle cure for baldness” I personally suspect that he just lost less hair because it what he had was better conditioned and therefore falling out less quickly.
Not verified, but…
None of this is scientifically verified, but it is a good shampoo and conditioner.
Now, to wrap it up, the disclaimer: We don’t sell ads, or accept freebies or endorse any product for compensation at 3BY, not in any way, shape or form. These are simply livestock products that I have used that I think you might get use of if you check them out.
