Today’s horse is exposed to a fairly uniform diet, with hay or pasture lacking in diversity. Hay or pasture (forage) is the backbone of this unvaried diet, and the purpose of dietary supplementation should be to complement the diet for different situ
The Morris Animal Foundation is pleased to report the realization of a goal to fund $2 million in health studies by the year 2000. The Foundation also has added a variety of animal health studies to its growing list of vital investigations
Man might not live by bread alone, but horses can live on forage just fine. As grazing, herbivorous animals, forage (grasses and plants that grow on pastureland) is what they’re designed to eat. Other components of the equine diet–grains, fats,
Dr. Sue McDonnell addresses readers’ questions about an older pony’s grumpy behavior and why horses might eat dirt.
Administration of hematinics (also known as blood builders) to horses, either in the form of dietary supplements or as injectable compounds, is commonly practiced by owners, trainers, and veterinarians.
When it comes to small horse pastures, pasturettes, or ranchettes, less equals more. More stress on pasture grasses, more likelihood of overgrazing, more pressure on fencing, more routine maintenance. But with proper management, pasturettes can
Accepted wisdom in the horse world tells us that an average light horse weighs about 1,000 pounds, or 450 kg. A draft horse, upwards of double that. But does that rather arbitrary figure really mean anything? After all, what is an “average” horse?
Fed in the recommended amounts, the vast majority of hoof supplements will do no harm to your horse, but beware of feeding higher levels than suggested on the label, or doubling up with multiple supplements.
When tall fescue first arrived in the United States during the 1940s, it was considered a wonder grass. It was easy to establish, it yielded a good amount of forage, it was tolerant of a wide range of management regimens, and it could handle a
With the summer months approaching, it is time for a refresher on the impact of the warmer environmental conditions on your horse. Warmer temperatures and high relative humidity place added stress on horses during exercise because of their
Prompt diagnosis and treatment can ensure that a mild colic doesn’t become a fatal colic.
If you have a veterinary textbook somewhere on your shelves, chances are you’ve seen one of those photos of a sick horse’s innards-miles and miles of wet, purplish loops of intestine, spilling out in all directions. The poor equine posing for
(From NAHMS Equine ’98 Study)
Percent of Operations that Fed the Following Grain/Concentrate Sources (Feed Type), 1997
A very favorable summer growing season over much of Michigan has produced a tremendous supply of surplus hay for many farms. According to Jerry Lindquist, the coordinator of the Michigan Hay Seller’s List and Michigan State University (MSU)
How do certain forage plants coax cattle, sheep and goats into coming back for more? Scientists at the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service are sleuthing the secrets of how to tempt the palates of these ruminants.
Knowing more about the
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