Pregnant Mares: Mare and Foal Nutrition

The natural breeding season for horses is normally May-August and foaling will occur the following spring. Many horse owners may have mares that are pregnant now. According to Dr. Robert Mowrey, "Nutrition is one of the more important factors affecting reproductive efficiency. A well managed feeding program is key to reducing production cost, increasing conception rates, and improving foaling rates." Please use the link to read about feeding strategies for pregnant mares.

http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/livestock/horse/documents/AG491-1FeedingManagementoftheBroodmare.pdf

Understanding and Preventing Sleeping Sickness

Eileen Coite, Sampson County Cooperative Extension

Since we have seen several cases of Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE) in the area this summer, I thought it may be helpful to spend a few minutes reviewing the disease, how it affects horses, and how it can be prevented.

Encephalomyelitis, or commonly known as sleeping sickness, is a disease of the nervous system in horses, but can also be a threat to humans.  There are three strains of the disease, Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan.  Horses are the last host in the Eastern and Western strain, so disease will not spread from them.  The Venezuelan strain can spread from horse to horse, or horse to human.  Mosquitos are the primary vector which transmit the disease, while birds and wild animals can carry the disease and act as a reservoir.

Possible symptoms of the disease are fever, neurological problems, such as wandering, staggering, vision problems, droopy lip, and teeth grinding.  Paralysis may occur with disease progression.  Slow recovery may occur over several weeks, but each strain of encephalomyelitis may be fatal.  Unfortunately, over 90% with EEE will die, 25-50% with WEE, and 75% with VEE.  There is no treatment for the disease, other than supportive veterinary care. 

What’s most important to remember is that Encephalomyelitis is preventable, through vaccination.  It is recommended to vaccinate twice a year (spring and fall) for EEE in our region of the US.  Vaccines are highly effective, affordable, and may be combined with other vaccines.  Vaccines are readily available at many feed and animal health supply stores, and are certainly available through large animal or equine veterinarians.  Please make sure to schedule a fall and spring vaccination for your equines, every year, and follow your veterinarian’s advice. 

EEE Alert!

With the onset of the sixth confirmed Eastern Equine Encephalitis case in NC this year, we hope everyone has their equines vaccinated!  Please help us spread the word across North Carolina, particularly in the east with the rainy weather we have had, and hurricane season upon us.   The following update was recently sent by NCDA&CS regarding recent, unfortunate cases of EEE:  

http://www.ncagr.gov/paffairs/release/2018/EEEcasesontherise.htm

NC Cooperative Extension Forage Resources

If you are considering planting a new pasture, doing pasture renovation or overseeding existing pasture you might need a little guidance.  Did you know that NC Cooperative Extension has free publications on almost every aspect of getting pasture established?  Here are some of my favorite forage related publications, but make sure you check out what else NC Cooperative Extension has to offer!

NC Forage Planting Guide

NC Forages-General Guidelines and Concepts

Forage Fertilization in NC

Forage Quality

Forage Economics

Managing Pastures to Feed Your Horse

Drylots Preserve Pastures

As always if you need any help with your forages, call your local Extension Agent!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, AUG. 9, 2018 CONTACT: Dr. Michael Neault, director of livestock health programs NCDA&CS Veterinary Division 919-707-3250 Troxler encourages horse owners to vaccinate against EEE Cases on the rise; mosquito-borne disease usually deadly to equine RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently confirmed a sixth positive case of  Eastern Equine Encephalitis for 2018. In the last month there have been confirmed cases in Richmond, Onslow,  Duplin, Craven and Carteret counties. In all cases, the equines had no records of vaccinations or were not vaccinated  by a licensed veterinarian. “Last year we didn’t reach six cases of EEE in the state until October,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “The  excess rain this year, or just an increase in mosquito population, could be attributing to the early onset of cases.  “EEE is a mosquito-borne disease that causes inflammation or swelling of the brain and spinal cord in equine and is  usually fatal,” he said. “The disease is preventable by vaccination. If you haven’t already vaccinated your horses,  mules and donkeys, contact your veterinarian to make sure your animals are protected.” Symptoms of EEE include impaired vision, aimless wandering, head pressing, circling, inability to swallow, irregular  staggering gait, paralysis, convulsions and death. Once a horse has been bitten by an infected mosquito, it may take  three to10 days for symptoms to appear.If your horses or other equine animals exhibit any symptoms of EEE,  contact your veterinarian immediately. Troxler recommends that equine owners talk to their veterinarians about an effective vaccination protocol to protect  horses from EEE and another mosquito-borne disease, West Nile virus. There is a combination vaccine for these two  diseases that initially requires two doses, 30 days apart, for horses, mules and donkeys that have no prior vaccination  history. Troxler recommends equine owners work with their veterinarian to develop an appropriate plan for booster  vaccinations. People, horses and birds can become infected from a bite by a mosquito carrying the diseases, but there is no evidence that  horses can transmit the viruses to other horses, birds or people through direct contact.

NCDA&CS Public Affairs Division, Andrea Ashby, Director Mailing Address:1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1001 Physical Address: 2 West Edenton Street, Raleigh NC 27601 Phone: (919) 707-3001; FAX: (919) 733-5047

To Graze or Not to Graze

For most horses, spending time grazing in the pasture is natural.  However, for some horses that is not what the doctor ordered.  Some metabolic disorders can be made worse by grazing.  Here are some articles that may help you determine what is best for your horse. 

http://www.midwestforage.org/pdf/387.pdf.pdf

https://extension.umn.edu/horse-nutrition/grazing-horses-prone-laminitis

A study was done a few years back in England to determine the efficacy of grazing muzzles.  The study used four ponies as opposed to full size horses.  Pasture intake was allowed on four, three-hour occasions.  Results indicated that grazing muzzles reduced the forage intake by 83% over the three hour grazing event.  This suggests that forage intake by ponies can be reduced through the use of grazing muzzles.