Hoof Abscess

Due to the wet weather we have had, there is an increased potential for some hoof problems.  An earlier blog discussed thrush.  This article will discuss abscess in hooves.  Abscess is an infection of the sensitive structures of the horse’s foot.  It is seen most commonly in the sole or white line area. Abscesses can cause lameness and can be severe causing the horse to become lame overnight.  Abscesses occur when bacteria enter the sensitive structures of the hoof through a wound, thrush, poor hoof quality due to genetics or unfavorable environmental conditions, and other factors.  Some of the symptoms include pain, swelling, hot hoof wall and increased pulse in the hoof and pastern area.

                             

        Photo from Hoof Abscess – University of Minnesota Horse Extension           
     

                                                        

                                        Parts of the hoof

Picture from Care of Your Horse’s Feet - University of Missouri Extension

An abscess will take the path of least resistance and may move and break out at the coronary band.  Once the abscess begins to drain, lameness and pain will usually decrease.  Contact your veterinarian or farrier for their advice and help in reliving and treating the abscess.  Use a hoof tester to determine the area of the sole where the abscess is located.  Recommendations are to open and drain the abscess by using a paring knife to thin the sole over the abscess.  The less hoof removed, the quicker the horse will recover and be active.  Soaking the hoof in warm water with epsom salt may encourage drainage.  Thoroughly clean the hoof and flush the abscess with a germicide (iodine or betadine) and use an antiseptic dressing to clean and pack the abscess.  Horses should be kept in a clean, dry area while healing.  In some cases, waterproof bandages may be used to cover the area. Mutiple days of soaking the hoof is not recommended because of the potential to weaken the hoof.

Some tips to prevent future problems include keeping a clean, dry environment for the horse, routine farrier care, remove sharp objects from the area to minimize risk of wounds, and to talk to your vet or farrier about ways to protect the hoof wall in wet conditions.

Body Condition and Reproductive Performance in Mares

A lot of research has been done on the nutrition requirements of mares.  There are recommendations for proper nutrition for maintenance, for early gestation, mid-gestation, late gestation, early lactation, mid-lactation, late lactation, and for levels of activity or work.  Since this article focuses on reproduction and breeding, we won’t discuss the needs for a working horse.

A tool that horse breeders can use when making nutrition decisions is Body Condition Scoring (BCS).  A nine-point scale is used in horses that ranges from a very thin, walking sack of bones that would score 1 on the scale to a roly-poly, extremely fat horse scored a 9 that can roll downhill faster than she can run.  Extremely fat horses have other problems, including physiological disorders resulting from hormonal imbalances and abnormal endocrine function.  Body condition scores give a clear picture of just where a horse fits on that scale, and give a good indication of whether a mare will re-breed on schedule, or will be delayed.

Consider these points.  In a study done at Texas A&M University:

·  Mares foaling in thin condition had poor reproductive performance during rebreeding, even when the ration was balanced to meet early lactation needs.

·  Increasing the energy fed to thin mares during lactation improved rebreeding efficiency, but increases the risk of colic and costs a lot more.

·  Fat mares that foaled used stored body fat for efficient reproduction and lactation even if they lost weight after foaling. They did not have problems during foaling and had high rebreeding efficiency.

·  Open mares, maiden mares, and foaling mares entering the breeding season in moderate or higher condition achieved or maintained higher reproductive efficiency than mares scored as thin.

·  Increasing body condition above moderate levels before the breeding season did not impair reproductive performance, but was generally of no benefit unless the mares were losing weight during the breeding season.

In general, mares with moderate or higher energy stores cycled earlier, had higher pregnancy rates, had fewer cycles per conception, and sustained more pregnancies than thin mares.  With that in mind, mares should enter the breeding season in a moderate condition (BCS 5), be maintained in moderate to fleshy condition (BCS 6 to 7), and foal in fleshy condition ( BCS 7).  Don’t let the mare get to a BCS over 8 at any time.

Since mares in early lactation are using more energy to produce a high volume of milk than they can metabolize from feed, it makes sense that a mare that has some energy reserves will recover from parturition more quickly and have fewer problems than a thin mare that has to provide milk for a foal, then rebuild body tissues and reserves to reach the point where she is physiologically ready to rebreed.

There are six places on a mare to evaluate body condition.  These are the neck, withers, loin, tailhead, ribs, and shoulder.  The BCS evaluation is a blend of visual cues and light palpation of fat deposits in these areas.  To use an example of what a moderate condition score (BCS 5) is, consider the following descriptions of the six areas:

·  Neck – Blends smoothly into the body

·  Withers – Are rounded over the spinous processes

·  Loin – Back is level

·  Tailhead – Fat around the tailhead is beginning to feel spongy

·  Ribs – Cannot be visually distinguished but can easily be felt

·  Shoulder – Blends smoothly into the body

For a more complete description of the Body Condition Scoring System for horses, the NCSU factsheet ”Body Condition Scoring: A Management Tool for the Broodmare Owner” give a complete description of what a horse owner should look for in each of the six areas of evaluation for body condition.  It can be downloaded from http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/an_sci/extension/horse/PDF Files/Mare and Foal Nutrition BCS FACT SHEET.pdf.

Body Condition Scoring is not just for use on broodmares.  Any horse owner can learn to use this tool to decide when adjustments to the ration should be made.  Keeping the horse in moderate condition – remember that is a BCS 5 – helps the owner or manager reduce or avoid nutrition-related problems.

Impaction Colic in Horses

 One of the most worrisome diseases in horses can be colic.  Colic can be unpredictable in some animals and can go from mild to emergency surgery very quickly.  The article below summarizes the main causes of impaction colic and some of the actions you can take as a horse owner to minimize the risk to your animals.

 Click on the link below for the article:
Michigan State University CVM- Impaction Colic in Horses

Water Tips for Traveling

If you have ever traveled with your horse you may have experienced your horse refusing to drink water. Horses that weigh 1,000 pounds need to drink 8-10 gallons of water each day.  When horses are traveling they may become stressed and not drink enough water for their daily requirements.  This can lead to poor performance, dehydration, and even colic.  Here are some helpful tips to encourage your horse to drink that the University of Minnesota Extension put together:

• Take water with you from home.
• Add 20 ounces of clear soda to new water.
• Add electrolytes to new water.
• Carry electrolyte gel/paste and administer as needed.
• Add a small amount of salt to grain.
• Wash buckets with a little added Listerine; horses like the minty taste!

When adding soda to water, it needs to be soda that does NOT contain caffeine. Caffeine is illegal, and can possibly trigger a positive drug test under AQHA & USEF drug testing programs and in racing jurisdictions.

Link to original article: http://www1.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/horse/care/water-tips-for-traveling/

Management of the Broodmare

Adapted and shortened from “MARE AND FOAL NUTRITION. Feeding Management of the Broodmare” by Dr. Bob Mowrey, North Carolina State University.

One of the most important parts of managing a mare so she can produce a foal is nutrition. Mares can be broken down into three management groups: 1- open mares pre-breeding 2- pregnant / gestating mares and 3-lactating mares. In this article, we will discuss several different nutritional points on how to properly feed your broodmare.

Open and Maiden Mares

An open mare is a mare that has foaled in years past but did not conceive during the current season. A maiden mare is a mare that has never been bred. Horse owners should not feed open and maiden mares together; their nutrient requirements are totally different. For example, the maiden mare’s requirements are much higher (than an open mare) because she is still growing. An incorrect feeding program for either open or maiden mares can cause decreased growth, decreased pregnancy rates, and decreased fertility in maiden mares. Make sure you have a way to separate the two groups of mares in your pastures.

Open Mares – Horse owners can feed maiden mares the same diet they would feed a mature horse at a maintenance level. Good quality pastures need to be present and will likely meet the nutrient requirements for a mature open mare’s nutrient requirements.

Maiden Mares – They require a more nutrient-dense diet based on their body weight. Their diets must be supplemented with concentrates to meet protein, vitamin, mineral and energy requirements. Since maiden mares are still growing, calcium and phosphorus (minerals) are very important. Typically, good-quality pastures and high-quality hays are not enough to satisfy their nutrient requirements.

Body Condition

Mares that are a moderate to fleshy body condition score have been found to have reproductive efficiency similar to those in thrifty condition and actually rebreed more efficiently. Mares that have a higher body condition score do not need as much feed during lactation. This reduces feed costs as well as colic and founder. It is less of a health problem for maiden and open mares to have excessive fat deposition than it is for them to have a nutrient deficiency. Thin mares will supply their own nutrient requirements before their body will meet the needs of their foal. If there is a severe nutrient deficiency, the mare could possibly abort and have breeding problems in the future.

 

Preparing Open mares for Breeding

Mares that have an adequate body condition are able to have better conception rates. Body condition of a mare can be altered by changing their energy intake. For an excessively obese mare you can exercise the mare, reduce grain intake, increase levels of protein, vitamins and minerals in grain, or try a dry lot.

Feeding the Pregnant Mare

These mares are typically grouped into two categories: 1- mares in their first two trimesters and 2- mares in their last trimester of pregnancy. The foal does not grow rapidly during the first eight months. However, during the last trimester, the foal is rapidly growing and needs additional nutrients from the mare. Be careful with the amount of copper found in the mare’s diet in late pregnancy. Research has shown mares in late pregnancy whose diet contains copper may have an affect on foal bone development.

Fescue Toxicosis

During the mare’s last semester, they should be removed from areas that contain fungus-infected fescue hay and pasture. When mares are in their last trimester and are allowed to graze this type of pasture, they will likely have severe complications during foaling. If you are concerned your fescue pasture contains endophyte-infected fescue, you can sample your forage and send it to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture to be sampled. There is a small fee for this.

Nutritionally Managing a Lactating Mare

Their nutrient requirements are already elevated and will increase during lactation. The mare must consume additional nutrients to make up for this increase. Also, during the first 30 days of lactation, the foal’s nutrient requirements drastically increase. It is important to reduce as much stress on the mare as possible during this time, as they are experiencing nutritional stress as well as psychological stress. Make sure to take equally as good of care with your foal’s nutrient requirements and health once it’s born!

For more information on feeding management of broodmares, contact Margaret A. Bell at the Craven or Jones Counties Cooperative Extension Office at (252) 633.1477. 

Rotational Grazing for Horses

Livestock producers have long utilized rotational grazing to more efficiently utilize forages by dividing their larger pastures into smaller paddocks.  Rotational grazing can also be an effective tool for equine owners to more effectively utilize pasture because horses tend to be selective grazers.  Rotational grazing improves pasture utilization, therefore allowing for a greater stocking rate and/or a longer grazing season.  Temporary electric fencing can be utilized to divide pastures for rotational grazing and keeping horses off of overgrazed areas or recently renovated pasture.

Temporary electric fencing can be utilized to divide an existing strong perimeter fence, it’s easy to install, and later move if needed.  Horses should be trained to electric fencing by first introducing them into a small fenced area, but not too small that they cannot get away from the fence.  Electric fencing works as a psychological barrier, so the fence must remain charged at all times.  White polytape that is 3/4-inch wide and contains at least five steel strands is the best option for horses because it is easily visible.  Heavyweight plastic step-in posts are the best option for posts and you should avoid metal T-posts.

Using an example farm with a six acre pasture and water tank in one corner with three horses permitted to continuously graze, we will typically observe the grass being grazed lower in the area closest to the water source.  By dividing this six acre pasture into three smaller paddocks and rotating the horses through each paddock, the horses will more efficiently utilize the grass.  This allows you to lengthen the grazing season. The location of the water source will typically dictate how you design your rotational grazing system and install your temporary fencing. In our example, a second water tank could be placed in the pasture, filled with a hose, and shared by two of the paddocks.

In this example, the estimated cost to install the temporary fence and set up the entire rotational grazing system would be approximately $1,067.30. The estimated cost includes the fence charger, ground rods for the charger, lightning arrestor, 3/4-inch polytape (three strands per dividing fence totaling 3,066 feet), heavyweight plastic step-in posts (69 posts when placed every fifteen feet), 60 gallon portable water tank, heavy duty 150 foot hose, and portable mineral feeder.  Spread out over five years, the annual cost is $213.46. The horse owner would need to get one extra month per year of grazing to decrease the feed costs enough to recoup the rotational grazing costs in this example.  In a boarding scenario, the farm owner may choose to board one extra horse thereby providing greater income. Costs will depend on your local area and could be higher or even lower than these estimates.

Pasture should be managed so that horses do not overgraze the paddocks.  Horses should not graze below three inches.  During periods of fast growth, such as in the spring, paddocks may need to be mowed so the grass does not produce seed heads which will keep the forage actively growing and of better quality.  The temporary fencing can also be utilized to keep your horses off of newly seeded areas until the grass is at least three inches tall.  Even at this height, it may be necessary to move the horses faster to prevent them from pulling out the seedlings and causing damage.

For more in depth information, please refer to: http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id165/id165.pdf

Source: Temporary Fencing for Horse Pastures by Dr. Kenny Burdine, Dr. Bob Coleman, and Traci Missun.

By: Chris Jeffcoat, Forsyth and Stokes County Area Agent for Livestock

Feeding and Care Tips for Foals

You have waited. From the time you poured through the magazines and flyers agonizing over your choice of stallion, waited anxiously through the breeding process and gestation, waited up all night for that first sign that your foal’s arrival was eminent, you have waited. Now you have that little beauty to play with, love, and FEED. For the most part the mare takes care of this but……….

Now it’s three months later and the little darling is growing like a weed. During the third month, the mare is at her peak lactation, and can produce 2-3% of her body weight in milk or 20 – 40 pounds of milk daily, and needs about double her normal feeding requirement.  As for the foal, the mare is providing 50% of the daily requirements, but it’s up to you to provide the other 50%. Special attention to nutrition sets the foal up for success in the future of its growth. Having a balanced diet for your foal of vitamins and minerals, as well as protein, can help to ensure healthy growth patterns for strong bones, joints and connective tissues.

While the nutritional needs of each mare and foal need to be catered to, the following are some basics to start out your foal feeding program.

1. Provide high-quality roughage (hay and pasture) free choice.

2. Supplement with a high-quality, properly-balanced grain concentrate at weaning, or earlier if more rapid rates of gain are desired.

3. Start by feeding one percent of a foal's body weight per day, (i.e. one pound of feed for each 100 pounds of body weight), or one pound of feed per month of age.

4. Weigh and adjust the feed ration based on growth and fitness. A weight tape can help you approximate a foal's size.

5. Foals have small stomach’s, so divide the daily ration into two to three feedings.

6. Make sure feeds contain the proper balance of vitamins, minerals, energy and protein.

7. Use a creep feeder or feed the foal separate from the mare so it can eat its own ration. Try to avoid group creep feeding situations.

8. Remove uneaten portions between feedings.

9. Do not overfeed. Overweight foals are more prone to developmental orthopedic disease (DOD).

10. Provide unlimited fresh, clean water.

11. Provide opportunity for abundant exercise.

As you consider each item listed, remember that with any changes, make them gradually. When feeding your mare and foal, try to be consistent with portions, adding or subtracting in increments. Watch your mare and foal eat occasionally to make sure that the food is getting eaten as you think it should be, and adjust as needed. Keep an eye out for structure changes that are effected by nutrition such as contracted tendons, Epiphysitis, angular limb deformities, Osteochondrosis. If you see something that is out of sorts bring it to your veterinarian’s attention and monitor it. Since the foal is growing very fast it is possible to treat issues with non-invasive methods with great success if addressed when the issue starts.

For more in depth specifics about foal nutrition, you can refer to the following articles:  http://www.aaep.org/health_articles_view.php?id=63 and http://americashorsedaily.com/nutritional-support-for-the-lactating-mare-and-growing-foal/.

By: Anne Wicke, Sampson County REINS Volunteer