Monday, March 28, 2016

Equine Disaster Preparedness


There are many disaster scenarios that horse owners may face.  Tornadoes, ice storms, fires, hurricanes, and flooding are just a few of the disasters that may possibly affect North Carolina.  It is critical to have a plan for dealing with disasters that might affect you in your area of the state in order to give yourself and your animals the best chance at survival.  When disaster strikes, horses will rely on two things:  owner readiness and their natural instinct.  Oftentimes an owner will have 20 minutes or less to prepare for a disaster;  are you ready?

Below is a link to an incredibly informative video hosted by My Horse University where Dr. Karen Waite, PhD of Michigan State University and Dr. Scott Cotton of the Extension Disaster Education Network discuss the ways in which we, as owners, can prepare for a disaster.  This particular video focuses on the steps that horse owners can take to become actively prepared to have the best chance of survival for their horses, including evacuation planning and procedures, how understanding horse behavior should influence your planning, and how to allow horses to have the best chance of survival based on their instincts.









Monday, March 21, 2016

Dealing with Winter Aftermath

Does your farm look like this right now?

  
This is a photo of a hay feeding area from this past winter.  In most of NC we received a
lot of rain so many of you are left with a similar situation coming out of the winter.

If so, you may want to keep reading.  We had a very wet fall which turned into a very wet winter that left our fields looking like the photo above.  Do not be discouraged, you can turn this mess into a productive grazing area in no time.  My first suggestion is to drag out any remaining hay residue so you do not create a fly breeding ground.  Next, PLANT SOMETHING!  It really doesn’t matter what you plant but you may want to choose a quick growing warm-season annual and then think about permanent cool-season grass in the fall when planting is more optimal for good establishment. 

Some of your warm-season annual options are: millet, crabgrass, sorghum-sudangrass hybrids, sudangrass, and teff grass.  The wonderful thing about an annual is how fast it germinates and grows so you minimize a weed invasion!  If you do not plant something, something WILL GROW!  I can promise you it will be weeds and you will be very unhappy. 

For planting recommendations, make sure you check out NCSU’s all new forage website: http://www.forages.ncsu.edu/production-info.html

For planting techniques, you can use a sod drill or in most cases (if the pasture is chewed up enough) you can broadcast and get great seed to soil contact.  You will need moisture and warm weather (which should not be a problem) before you plant.  Most warm-season annuals are planted in May and you can usually start grazing in June depending on the variety and actual planting date.

The photos below show one of our farm’s sacrifice lots where our horses are fed hay each winter.  The field always gets torn up and buttercups are to follow (remember to spray your buttercups NOW).  The April photo shows the field after the winter (not this year’s winter but the previous year) and the June photo shows the same field after being planted in crabgrass.  For those of you that are curious about the variety, we use Quick-N-Big®.  We then grazed feeder calves and horses on the crabgrass all summer off and on to allow rest and growth.  This is just one of many options!

April
June






Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Foal Weaning Management

Weaning can be a very stressful time in a young animal’s life. There are steps that can be taken before, during, and after weaning to help decrease the stress levels of the foal and mare. Having a plan for how and when to wean will aid in lessening the amount of stress they experience.

Pre-Weaning
Foals who are accustomed to eating grain generally will continue to eat during the weaning process. Creep feeding supplies a separate feed source for the nursing foal. Creep feeding can begin as early as two weeks after birth. During this time there will be little consumption; the foal will mainly nibble and play with the grain. As the foal gets older and its nutritional needs increase, it will increase its feed in-take. The amount of feed a foal will eat in a day can vary greatly, from one to five pounds. It is best to provide small amounts of feed throughout the day versus large single feedings. The grain the foal needs has a much higher nutrient content than what the mare needs. Because of this, it is important to restrict the mare from accessing this grain. Using a creep feeder is one way to accomplish this if there is a larger group of mares and foals. If there are only two or three mares with foals, tying the mare in a stall while she eats and feeding the foal in a separate feeder may be easiest. Creep feeders should be designed for easy and safe entry and exit by the foals. Creep feeders should be made to restrict the mares’ access and large enough to hold at least two to three foals. There should be multiple entry and exit points to reduce stress for the foals. Location is key, especially in larger pastures. The creep feeder should be put in an area that is frequented by the foals and mares, such as a loafing, feeding, or watering area. Most commercial creep feed rations will contain all the nutrients the foal needs in the correct amounts. The feed should be highly palatable. Using pelleted or extruded feed will decrease the amount of sorting of individual ingredients of a textured feed.

During this time, a deworming and vaccination program should be discussed with your veterinarian to ensure a healthy foal at weaning. Thirty to 45 days before you plan to wean, the mares and foals should be moved to the area where weaning will occur. This will allow the foal to become familiar with its environment and will help decrease stress levels.

Weaning
Most foals are weaned at four to six months of age. At four months the mare’s milk is no longer providing adequate nutrition, the foal should be eating grain and forages, and shouldn’t be as dependent on the mare for protection and emotional comfort. There are, however, certain circumstances where weaning would happen earlier or later.  If a mare has vices or temperament issues it may be beneficial to wean early so the foal does not learn that behavior. If the foal is in poor health around normal weaning time, it may be beneficial to wean later once the foal is healthy again. Your situation will dictate when will be the best time to wean.

There are a number of different weaning methods that can be used. Abrupt or complete weaning is when the mare and foal are completely separated from all contact (sight, sound, smell, touch). This method requires little labor and management, however is very stressful on the mare and foal. Incomplete or fence-line weaning separates the mare and foal with a common fence line. This method allows for visual and olfactory (smell) contact, but not physical contact (nursing). After several days to a week the mare and foal should be moved completely away from each other. Gradual separation is also an option, but requires more labor and management. With this system the mare and foal are separated for a certain amount of time each day, with the frequency and length of visits being shortened over five to ten days until finally the foal never returns.

No matter which system is used weaning multiple foals at the same time can help decrease stress. If there are no other foals to be weaned, using a companion animal like a goat can help provide comfort to the foal. During the weaning process, especially with in the first 12 to 24 hours, the foal should be monitored closely. They should be in an area that is free from protrusions to prevent possible injuries. Also keep in mind that any opening larger than the foal’s hoof has the potential to trap the whole leg.

Post-Weaning
Once the foal is weaned, it is important to keep it on a good nutrition, exercise, and health program and be handled regularly. Foals should be kept in a moderate body condition and should avoid extreme shifts in body weight and diet. This will allow the weanling to grow at a consistent rate and have less structural problems. Pasture turn-out with weanlings of similar ages has several advantages including exercise. Free access to regular exercise has been shown to be important for proper bone growth and strength and hoof development. How weanlings are handled will vary depending on the use of the weanlings. Weanlings should be taught how to accept their handlers and how to behave for routine experiences, like having their hooves trimmed and standing to be brushed. You should also talk with your veterinarian and come up with a health program, to include vaccinations and deworming.

Mare Care During Weaning
Weaning is also a stressful time for the mares. Most mares will calm down quicker than their foal, especially if they have had foals in the past. If a mare still has significant milk production at the time of weaning, you should decrease the amount of grain about five days before weaning. Increasing exercise can also help decrease the amount of milk production. If the udder becomes tight, a small amount of milk can be milked by hand. Repeated milking should be avoided because it will continue to stimulate milk production, and the goal of weaning is to stop milk production.

Weaning can be very stressful but by having a good weaning program in place, that stress can be minimized. Contact your County Extension Agent if you have more questions about foal weaning management.


Monday, March 7, 2016

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM)

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a central nervous system disease that is caused by the protozoal organism Soarcocystis neurona.  EPM can affect equines of any age, sex, and in any location in the United States.  The organism reproduces in the opossum and is passed out in the feces.  Horses pick up the organism by eating opossum feces dropped in feed or hay.  The horse is noncontagious, but can develop the disease.  Not all horses exposed to EPM will show clinical signs and some may develop an immunity and fight off the disease.

Soarcocystis  neurona can be located anywhere in the central nervous system, so a range of signs may be seen.  Sometimes these signs mimic other neurological diseases.  The disease can take from 2 weeks to 2 years from exposure time until symptoms are seen.

Clinical signs include:
  • Incoordination, stiff movements, abnormal gaits or lameness
  • Incoordination and weakness is worse when going up or down slopes or when the head is elevated
  • Muscle atrophy along topline and large muscles of the hindquarter
  • Facial paralysis
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Seizures or collapse
  • Abnormal sweating
  • Loss of sensation along the face, neck or body
  • Head tilt with poor balance

There are tests available to diagnose EPM.  There are pros and cons for each of them, so consult with your veterinarian to determine the best test for you and possible treatments.  There are two treatment options available.  About 60% of affected horses will improve and some will recover completely.  As with most diseases, earlier treatment is more effective.  There is not a vaccine for EPM.

Prevention of EPM includes controlling the contact between opossums and horses in and around the barn.  Keep all feed covered and out of reach (including cat feed).  Know the signs of the disease and involve your vet early if your horse starts having symptoms.

Here are two articles with more in-depth information: University of Minnesota Extension and Horse eXtension.