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Revised: 05/22/2008 |
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Horse Owners Surprised
By Rutgers' Research Findings NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - Hay is more important than most people think and there's more to preventing West Nile virus than killing mosquitoes.
Visitors to the Cook College campus of Rutgers University here learned that and much more at the Dec. 7, 2004 Rutgers Equine Science Center Update.
Research Update
House sparrows carry West Nile too West Nile virus prevention has focused on getting rid of mosquito breeding grounds. While that is still important, horsemen should also be looking at the birds in their barn. House sparrows, common residents of horse barns, were found to be competent hosts for the virus in a study done by Lisa Reed from Rutgers Mosquito Research and Control. Other birds common to horse farms such as starlings and rock doves could carry the disease but not as efficiently as the sparrows.
Before developing a plan to eradicate the little brown birds, check with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to make sure nothing you do violates the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Killing a bird protected under the act could result in $15,000 fine and jail time, said Reed. There are non-lethal ways of chasing the birds away, such as putting noisemakers or Mylar streamers in areas they like to congregate. Or, try blocking access to nesting sites (usually on ledges) and horse feed.
Some mosquitoes bite all night In another study, Jennifer Gruener, also from Rutgers Mosquito Research and Control, studied which species of mosquitoes fed on horses and when. She found 12 different mosquitoes, most of which would also feed on birds. If the insect bites an infected bird and later a horse, it can pass the virus on. Most of the mosquitoes fed during dusk and dawn, but some bit during the night, she found. Keeping horses inside won't prevent exposure. Many mosquitoes had no problem coming inside for a meal although fewer fed indoors than out.
Even if barn owners get rid of mosquitoes or limit their horses' exposure, they should still vaccinate, said Gruener. She also said, despite the availability of a vaccine, research should still continue. Even though a vaccine is now available for West Nile, continuing mosquito research will make it easier to deal with the next illness that comes, she said.
New findings on forages Until recently, the focus on equine nutrition has been on grain. But Sarah Ralston is now turning her attention to forages. Hay is not just something for horses to chew on, "forages can be a major source of vitamins, minerals and energy," said Dr. Ralston. Most horses can live on hay and water if salt is provided, she said.
Not all hay is the same though. The nutritional value of hay depends on where it was grown and when and how it was harvested, she said. When harvested after being stressed, such as after a frost or drought, hay will have a higher sugar content. Some hays are very low in protein and don't meet the needs of adult horses, much less growing youngsters.
Sometimes hay is also much higher in sugar than previously thought. High sugar can cause problems in certain horses, such as those that are insulin resistant. Soaking the hay in water before feeding reduces the sugar content making it safer for these horses. Getting quality hay is not always easy. "There's a difficulty in harvesting hay at its prime in New Jersey," said Dr. Ralston. If you are not sure of the quality of your hay, have it analyzed, said Dr. Ralston.
Dr. Ralston said many young horses are overfed phosphorous. She said she did a consultation in Maryland in which the farm cleared out the clover in their pastures. After the clover was gone, the foals developed osteochondritis even though calcium was applied to the fields. Without the clover, which tends to bind calcium, the fertilizer just sank into the ground leaving a higher phosphorous content in the grass, said Dr. Ralston. Horses need the ratio of calcium to phosphorous to be higher than 1 to 1.
Having soil analysis done won't tell you if your pasture is good. "You need to check the grass," said Dr. Ralston. Grass can have different nutritional value depending on the time of the day it is eaten. Location is also a factor. If you have sandy soils, any fertilizer you apply is likely to run downhill. Therefore pastures in the low lying areas may be better than on the top of the hills.
Looking ahead, Dr. Ralston just started studying a mixed ration cube made of alfalfa and vitamins using weanlings purchased through the North American Equine Ranching Information Council. Half of the weanlings are getting the cubes, while the others are getting the traditional hay and pellets. Results will be presented at next year's update.
Exercise's role in appetite, ulcers Why do racehorses go off their feed? That is what Mary Beth Gordon, a graduate student, set out to discover. Her theory: Intense exercise will curb appetites.
In the study, one group of horses jogged about 5 miles per day while the other group was not exercised. In the exercising group some horses were also worked more intensely, including galloping. All got free choice hay cubes and the amount they ate was measured daily.
Feed intake decreased in both groups over the course of the study. The mares gained weight and as they did they began to eat less. The horses that underwent intense exercise did show a larger decrease in feed consumption after being worked. Seven of eight horses in the exercised group developed ulcers. None of the control horses got ulcers. All the mares received regular turnout.
Gordon was surprised to see that even the lightly-exercised horses developed ulcers. The exercise they did was similar to the work a dressage horse might do on a daily basis. Gordon concluded that intense exercise does decrease a horse's appetite, which means affected equine athletes may not get the nutrients they need for optimum performance. She also concluded that horses will adjust their feed intake after reaching a certain weight to maintain energy balance. Her next step is to factor the ulcer problem into the equation and look into the use of ghrelin, a hormone related to appetite control, to get equine athletes to eat better.
Center's future Karyn Malinowski, director of the Equine Science Center, outlined the progress the Equine Science Center has made and detailed some future projects.
Still forging ahead despite hearing recently about the state's budget cuts, Dr. Malinowski said they need unity to survive. "We need to show horses matter to the university." Equine programs run through the university, such as 4-H and the Equine Science Center, have been threatened as state aid has dwindled. Yet the university's equine department continues to grow, despite the cutbacks.
A demonstration farm is being constructed to study the best ways to handle manure disposal, and manage nutrients and pastures. New Jersey is working on new regulations regarding manure disposal that could impact property owners who only keep a few horses. The Rutgers Equine Science Web site, www.esc.rutgers.edu, has gotten worldwide attention with a recent query coming from a 12-year-old in Australia. Rutgers staff answered her question about feeding grass clippings to horses. "We told her it's not a good idea," said Dr. Malinowski. Such personal service is not reserved for children. Anyone can ask the experts a question via the Web site. Answers are usually sent within 24 hours.
Goals of a capital campaign for the near future include a $3 million Equine Learning Center; $2 million endowed directorship, plus other scholarships and fellowships; and a $1 million refurbishment of the Round House, a special building on the Cook College farm that allows large animals to be brought into class.
Reprinted with permission from Horse News, www.nj.com/horsenews |
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