WHY HORSES BITE.

Possible reasons horses bite;Fear-induced,Pain-induced, irritation, dominance, playful bite, protection,self mutilation and as an act of sex.All of these act of biting can be described both in terms of horse-horse aggression and horse-human aggression. If we can understand why a horse is biting we’re better equipped to stop the behavior. The most sustained horse-on-horse aggression that include a lot of biting are the inter-male interactions.Probably the worst nippers and biters toward people are stallions. This might be the testosterone talking, but it also might be complicated by other factors. We sometimes see redirected aggression when a stallion can't get to another stallion or to a mare. Read more http://www.thehorse.com/articles/35863/why-does-a-horse-bite?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=06-02-2015

HYDROPONICS FOR EQUINE FEED.

Hydroponics for horse diet, with the develoment and availability of products called fodder systems. Fodder refers to food grown for and fed in a living state to livestock. Rising feed prices are also responsible for the growing interest in fodder systems. Different varieties or combinations of grains or legumes , to cereal grains such as barley, oats, and wheat are available for different animal species, but the most common crops grown for horses are wheat and barley. The seeds germinate and grow rapidly, and in approximately six days a “crop” is ready to feed to livestock. The 6- to 8-inch-tall sprouts grow in a thick layer called a mat. You can remove the mat from the tray and feed it to horses in its entirety—roots and all. The idea is to have fresh, live, natural food that you’ve grown yourself within mere days. Sprouting grain is 80% digestible, and some of its vitamins are more readily available in this fresh crop than in dry hay. Proponents claim that benefits include a quick crop yield in a very small area that offers horses increased hydration (the sprout mats are very lush—think early spring grass). Two pounds of seeds equals 15 pounds of fodder. Manufacturers claim that horses consuming fodder recover more quickly from competition due to the increased hydration and to a more efficient uptake of nutrients and highly digestible fiber the fodder affords. They also purport that this natural feed is compatible with the equine digestive system, reducing ulcers, laminitis, tying-up, and impactions and other types of colic, along with increasing growth in young animals. read more here; http://www.thehorse.com/articles/35871/is-hydroponic-feed-in-your-horses-future?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=06-02-2015

STARCH AND HORSE 'S DIET.

Starch is a highly digestible energy form and can provide energy needed for exercise, growth, metabolism, and other equine life functions. However, when fed improperly, this nonstructural carbohydrate can be detrimental to your horse's health.Most of the energy contained in grains, such as corn and oats, and a percentage of the energy from forage is starch. During digestion, starch is broken down primarily in the horse's small intestine by an enzyme called amylase. This process efficiently produces glucose, a type of simple sugar essential for fueling some bodily functions. Horse health problems tend to arise when the large intestine is overloaded with undigested starch. Several studies have reported the negative effects of excess starch in the large intestine, such as decreased colon and/ or cecal pH level. This can lead to dangerous problems such as colic, founder, or laminitis. Read more http://www.thehorse.com/articles/29677/starch-in-horse-diets?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=07-21-2015

ATOPIC DERMATITIS.

Atopic dermatitis, defined as an allergic reaction to environmental allergens (such as pollens, barn dust, molds, etc.), is more common in horses. It can be seasonal or precipitated by allergens. The common signs are urticaria (“hives”), urticaria with pruritus (itching), and pruritus alone. Pruritus most commonly affects the face and trunk. Seasonal signs would be most consistent with allergy to pollens and year-round signs would be more consistent with an allergy to molds or barn dust. Urticaria, secondary to atopic dermatitis, could be a familial problem in some horses. Treatment;Medical therapy can include corticosteroids; prednisolone or dexamethasone are the most commonly used. Prednisolone seems to be better absorbed orally in horses than prednisone. The injectable dexamethasone solution can be used orally. Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis is based on clinical signs and the exclusion of other diagnoses . Horses can have a secondary bacterial skin infection (pyoderma), typified by excess scale, particularly in the shape of a circle.. Read more here;http://www.thehorse.com/articles/36122/atopic-dermatitis-in-horses?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=07-21-2015

ANTIBIOTIC MISUSE IN ANIMALS AND EFFECT ON MAN.

The world organisation for animal health aims to reduce misuse of antibiotics, because of growing threat of antibiotic resistance bacterial.

An awareness week has been organized in collaboration with world health organization, read details here;http://www.globalmeatnews.com/Industry-Markets/Animal-health-body-targets-misuse-of-antibiotics?utm_source=copyright&utm_medium=OnSite&utm_campaign=copyright

FEEDING ORPHANED FOALS.

Orphaned foals are a breeding reality that all caretakers should consider and learn how to manage.The mare milk (colostrum) is what a foal needs, there are 2 options that we can consider.The owner can get from a colostrum bank or a milk replacement can be purchased or formulated. The colostrum usually is 1 to 1.5 liters total--divided into multiple 8 to 12 ounce feedings is needed to achieve an (acceptable antibody level), but colostral quality greatly affects this, and adequate (antibody levels) can be achieved with less. When colostrum is not immediately available, the foal can be fed with milk or milk replacer within two hours of birth. The foal is fed about 15% of the body weight on the first day, and increasing that amount to 18-22% over the next weeks. Foals should not consume more than 25% of their body weight daily. Read more here;http://www.thehorse.com/articles/29123/how-to-feed-an-orphan-foal

VITAMIN E AND HORSE METABOLISM.

Vitamin E it benefits all horses, but will green grass and sunshine be enough? Would a high level performance horse benefit from additional vitamin E? What does vitamin E do in the horse? Vitamin E is a term used to describe a group of compounds known as tocopherols and tocotrienols. In equine nutrition most attention is paid to alpha-tocopherol. Alpha-tocopherol plays an important role in something called the glutathione pathway, which protects cells from oxidative damage, as well as reacting with free radicals produced by processes such as the lipid peroxidation chain reaction. Free radicals cause damage in cells because they have an odd number of electrons, which gives them an unstable electrical charge. In an attempt to become stable they “steal” electrons from other molecules. This causes a new molecule to be unstable, and it might not be able to perform its function within the body. A chain of oxidative destruction can result within the cell, which can negatively impact cell function and potentially cause cell death. Free radical formation is a natural consequence of various molecular processes within the cell, and we often hear it referred to as “oxidative stress.” It’s easy to label free radicals as “bad,” but they are in fact a perfectly natural consequence of the body using fats and carbohydrates for energy.Read more here;http://www.thehorse.com/articles/36737/when-do-horses-need-vitamin-e?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=nutrition&utm_campaign=11-16-2015