Feed Ingredients
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Forage for Horses in Australia and New Zealand
By KER Staff · May 19, 2013Horse owners in Australia and New Zealand use a variety of forages and forage forms to satisfy the nutritional requirements of horses and ponies.
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Feeding Concentrates to Horses in Australia and New Zealand
By KER Staff · May 8, 2013Horsemen in Australia and New Zealand feed many of the usual straight grains but also offer up some novel ingredients to their horses.
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Do Horses Need Magnesium Supplements?
By KER Staff · May 7, 2013Magnesium has an important role in muscle and nerve function, but giving a horse too much supplemental magnesium may have no effect at all on nervous behavior or muscle cramping, and may cause serious digestive and metabolic problems..
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Designing an Aflatoxin-Resistant Corn Strain
By KER Staff · May 2, 2013Plant scientists are closing in on a corn strain that would not be affected by a common fungus that grows on corn plants stressed by periods of hot, dry weather or sustained drought.
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Cobalt in Equine Diets
By KER Staff · April 30, 2013The micromineral cobalt is given little consideration by many but its importance lies in its use by the body to produce a vitamin important in energy production and red blood cell formation.
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Soaking Beet Pulp
By KER Staff · April 30, 2013Beet pulp has to be soaked before feeding, right?
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Vitamin D in Equine Diets
By KER Staff · April 11, 2013Exposure to sunlight and dietary supplementation usually take of care vitamin D needs in horses, but some modern management practices and poor diets can lead to a deficiency of this important nutrient.
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Trace Minerals for Horses: Zinc and Copper
By KER Staff · April 8, 2013Zinc and copper, two trace minerals found in all well-formulated feeds, are necessary nutrients for horses of all ages, but are especially important in broodmares and young horses.
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Differences in Feeding Horses in the U.S. and U.K.
By KER Staff · April 3, 2013Horses are fed essentially the same things—forages and grains—all over the world, but the forms in which these basics feedstuffs are found may vary quite a bit depending on where the horses live.
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Importance of Vitamin E for Horses
By KER Staff · March 27, 2013Vitamin E has numerous functions in the body, many of which are still not completely understood. Its action as a natural antioxidant is seen as the underlying factor of most vitamin E functions.
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Importance of Chromium in the Diet
By KER Staff · March 12, 2013Chromium is an important trace mineral in equine nutrition, and research has indicated an increased need for it among high-performance horses.
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Iodine: Essential Trace Mineral for Horses
By KER Staff · March 5, 2013The requirement for iodine in equine diets is not exactly a hot topic of conversation for most horse owners, but the relative obscurity of this trace mineral does not mean that it is unimportant.
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Vitamin E Deficient Myopathy
By KER Staff · March 4, 2013Vitamin E deficient myopathy is a newly recognized cause of muscle loss and weakness. Horses affected with vitamin E deficient myopathy have many of the same clinical signs as horses with equine motor neuron disease, and both conditions are related to vitamin E deficiency.
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Feeding Whiskey Grains to Horses
By KER Staff · March 1, 2013Are there any benefits to feeding whiskey grains to horses?
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A Close Look at Vitamin A in Equine Diets
By KER Staff · February 28, 2013Several chemical compounds known as retinoids are grouped together and known collectively as vitamin A. This vitamin is necessary for growth and overall health in horses, playing a key role in the development and maintenance of bones and connective tissue.
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Selenium Function in Horses
By KER Staff · February 27, 2013Selenium, an essential nutrient, is best known as a component of the cellular defense system and functions much as a biological antioxidant, but may have other duties within the body as well.
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Oats for Horses: What’s Old, What’s New
By KER Staff · February 22, 2013Because oats contain sufficient protein, calcium, and phosphorus to meet the requirements of mature horses, this grain has historically been an important ingredient in feeds for all types of equines. In fact, at one time oats made up almost one-third of all equine feed consumed.
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Use of Strontium for Bone Density Issues in Horses
By KER Staff · February 21, 2013Could you tell me if there has been any research regarding the use of strontium for bone density issues in horses?
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Appaloosa with Poor-Quality Hooves
By KER Staff · February 19, 2013My friend’s Appaloosa-cross gelding has poor-quality hooves. What can we do to increase their strength?
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Manganese Aids Skeletal Formation and Energy Use in Horses
By KER Staff · February 19, 2013Manganese may not be the first thing horse owners think of when they consider the minerals needed for growth and maintenance in their horses. However, this trace mineral has some important uses in skeletal and nervous system function.
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Figuring Potassium Content of a Ration
By KER Staff · February 8, 2013How can I figure the potassium content of my gelding’s ration?
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Preserving Winter Pastures
By KER Staff · February 6, 2013How can horse pastures survive the winter season in good condition? The best management is to keep horses off of wet winter fields, but if this is not practical, property owners can follow these steps to minimize damage.
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Feed or Supplement for Wry Tail
By KER Staff · January 31, 2013Are there any supplements or changes to feed that might help correct a wry tail?
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Selenium for Horses: History, Use, and Precautions
By KER Staff · January 18, 2013Selenium is an essential nutrient and performs countless functions. Like other minerals, too little or too much selenium can be a problem for horses and ponies.
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Omega-3 Fatty Acid and Insulin Sensitivity in Horses
By KER Staff · January 10, 2013A study that examined the effects of dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on insulin sensitivity in horses was recently published in a scientific journal.
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Determining Hay Quality for Horses
By KER Staff · December 18, 2012Forage is the foundation of equine diets. Therefore, selection of appropriate hay for the the class of horse being fed is paramount. Generally, hay should be fine-stemmed, green, and leafy, with a sweet smell and free of any mold.
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Aged Gelding Faces Wet, Cold Winter
By KER Staff · December 17, 2012Can you help me select a senior feed for my aged Quarter Horse gelding that is still worked about every other day?
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Feeding Fat for a Calmer Horse
By KER Staff · November 28, 2012Choosing a feed that is formulated to provide more energy from fat and less from the carbohydrate portion of the diet has been suggested as a way of producing “cool” energy in horses that seem to react to sugar-laden feeds.
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Insect Protein: Horse Feed Ingredient of the Future?
By KER Staff · November 22, 2012Insect larvae has been suggested as an alternative source of protein for horses. Insects are a sustainable resource that can produce high-quality protein, including essential amino acids lysine and threonine.
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Hay Intake Study Shows Horses’ Preferences
By KER Staff · November 7, 2012What kind of hay do horses prefer? Are preferences based on taste, texture, nutritional content, or other factors? Are there some types of hay that horses are reluctant to eat? These questions were addressed by a group of researchers.
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The Effect of Beet Pulp with Added Molasses on Glycemic Response
By KER Staff · September 26, 2012How does molasses in beet pulp affect glycemic response?
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Quantity of Fish Oil in the Daily Diet
By KER Staff · September 7, 2012How much fish oil should I feed my Morgan gelding?
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Effect of Adding Soybean Oil to a Horse’s Ration
By KER Staff · September 6, 2012Researchers designed a feeding trial to evaluate whether adding fat to a grain meal would affect glucose and insulin response to feeding when the level of grain intake remained the same.
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Cereal Grains and Byproducts in Horse Feeds
By KER Staff · September 5, 2012Nearly all cereal grains and any number of byproducts from the food and feed industry can be fed to horses to supply digestible energy and protein. Each type of grain or product has a unique nutrient composition.
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Lazy Easy Keeper Needs a Diet Overhaul
By KER Staff · September 4, 2012Can you suggest a diet that will give my gelding more energy but won’t make him fat?
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Phytoestrogens in Mare Plasma After Ingestion of Legume Products
By KER Staff · August 29, 2012Little is known about the reproductive effects of plant estrogens in the diet of horses, but it has been identified as a problem in humans. Researchers set out to determine absorption of phytoestrogens in mares fed certain leguminous feedstuffs.
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Forage Intake for Horses
By KER Staff · August 23, 2012To accurately calculate the contribution that forage makes to the horse’s overall feeding program, forage intake as well as composition must be known.
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Using Barley in Horse Feeds
By KER Staff · August 21, 2012Barley is used frequently in the production of high-quality horse feeds. It is relatively high in crude protein for a feed grain, ranging from 8 to 13%, but like oats, barley is relatively low in lysine and methionine.
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Measuring Digestible Energy in Horse Feeds
By KER Staff · August 16, 2012One of the most important measures of a horse feed’s value is its energy content. Energy density determines how much feed must be fed to meet an animal’s energy requirement. Level of intake in turn dictates the concentration of all other nutrients in the feed. Therefore, horse feeds cannot be properly formulated without knowledge of their energy contents.
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Understanding Analysis for Horse Forages
By KER Staff · August 15, 2012Two values that can be calculated from a forage analysis are especially useful in evaluating its quality for use by horses: soluble carbohydrate and digestible energy.
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Feeding Rice Bran Is Safe Year-Round
By KER Staff · July 20, 2012I’ve been told that rice bran causes problems in horses when fed in the heat. Is this true?
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Fish Oil Affects Glucose Clearance in Horses on High-Fat Diets
By KER Staff · July 18, 2012Results of this study conducted by Kentucky Equine Research suggest that supplementing with fish oil can improve glucose clearance in horses fed a high-fat diet.
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Starch Content in Feed
By KER Staff · July 17, 2012How can I tell if a gelding’s feed is providing too many nonstructural carbohydrates for his insulin resistance and associated laminitis?
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Practical Considerations of Feed Processing Effects
By KER Staff · July 16, 2012Processing choices include grinding, steam rolling, flaking, micronizing, pelleting, boiling, chaffing, silaging, extruding, and expelling, and there is a seemingly never-ending stream of blended complete mixes that use some combination of ingredients prepared in one or more of these ways.
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Oats: A Popular Ingredient in Horse Feeds
By KER Staff · July 10, 2012Because the average oat grain is about 30% hull (fiber), and oats contain sufficient protein, calcium, and phosphorus to meet the requirements of mature horses, oats have traditionally been the predominant grain used by horsemen.
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Using Corn in Horse Feeds
By KER Staff · July 2, 2012Corn is the leading crop in America in terms of volume and value, and as with most cereal grains used in horse rations, corn is used primarily for its energy content,
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Protein Levels and Environmental Impact of Equine Diets
By KER Staff · June 28, 2012Can your choice of feed for your horse have an effect on the environment? Theoretically, yes, according to the results of recent research.
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Using Molasses in Horse Feeds
By KER Staff · June 27, 2012Given the current trend of scrutinizing rations for nonstructural carbohydrate content, many owners are concerned about feeding their horses molasses.
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Beyond Bran: Other Wheat Byproducts for Horses
By KER Staff · June 22, 2012Wheat bran is often fed to horses in a warm mash, but horse owners may not be as familiar with other byproducts of wheat milling.
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Carbohydrates in Equine Nutrition
By KER Staff · June 21, 2012There are a number of different types of carbohydrates in horse feed, and they vary considerably as to how well horses digest and utilize each one.
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Good-Quality Forage Important for Horses
By KER Staff · June 20, 2012During times when pasture is not available, the selection and purchase of hay or other forage sources becomes a vital decision for horse owners.
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Choose Quality Protein for Horse Diets
By KER Staff · June 13, 2012Several considerations should be evaluated when selecting a ration for a particular phase of a horse’s life, and one of these is protein quality.
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Different Forms of Vitamin E Have Varying Potency and Absorption Rates
By KER Staff · June 8, 2012Do different forms of vitamin E have the same potency and absorption?
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The Story of B Vitamins in Horse Nutrition
By KER Staff · June 5, 2012The B vitamins are a group of water-soluble vitamins, each with its own distinct use and chemical properties, that are required by the horse for optimal health and well-being.
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Soybean Meal in Horse Feeds
By KER Staff · May 31, 2012Soybean meal was once merely the by-product of the soybean oil processing industry, but today it is a major protein source in horse feeding.
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Feeding Forage: Choosing Which Hay or Chaff to Feed Your Horse
By KER Staff · May 28, 2012If you are fortunate enough to have a choice of forages, the decision of which to feed should be based on what you are trying to achieve with the horse.
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Alternative Hays for Horses
By KER Staff · May 22, 2012If traditional hays are not available, horse owners may have to choose other hay types. While these other forages are usually suitable for horses, some have associated risks.
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Processing Improves Grain Digestibility in Horse Feeds
By KER Staff · May 21, 2012The grains in most of today’s feeds are processed in some manner before being fed. Although some grains can be fed whole, processing usually makes the nutrients more available to the animal, thus improving digestibility and feed efficiency.
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Grazing Horses on Wheat
By KER Staff · May 7, 2012Can I graze my horses on green wheat?
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Protein Supplements for Horses Grazing Poor Pastures
By KER Staff · April 30, 2012Most classes of horse will need a protein supplement at any time when poor-quality, low-protein forage is the only grazing available, such as when pastures are overgrazed or during a drought.
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Effect of Feed Management and Probiotics on Horses
By KER Staff · April 17, 2012Psychological and behavioral responses to various feeding practices vary among horses, and researchers set out to record these responses in horses fed a different number of meals daily.
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The Lowdown on Smutting in Horses of Certain Colors
By KER Staff · April 9, 2012Smutting is a term used to describe dark or sooty patches in the coat of a palomino, dun, or buckskin horse.
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Ionophore Toxicity in Horses
By KER Staff · April 5, 2012Ionophores are a specific type of antibiotic that are sometimes added to cattle and chicken feed to promote growth and to prevent coccidial infections. The doses of ionophores normally used in feed for other animals can be highly toxic to horses.
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Vitamins Discovered 100 Years Ago
By KER Staff · April 4, 2012Vitamins have been around for a long time, but the term “vitamin” and an appreciation of the importance of these substances dates back only about a hundred years.
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Lush Grass: Good or Bad?
By KER Staff · March 6, 2012Horse owners and farm managers frequently use the word “lush” to describe the state of pasture forage as it begins to grow rapidly in the spring. Just exactly what does “lush” mean? Is this new grass good for horses, or dangerous for them to graze?
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Pregnant Hanoverian at Risk of Oversupplementation
By KER Staff · March 5, 2012Is my pregnant Hanoverian getting sufficient minerals?
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Round Bale Feeder Design Affects Hay Waste and Economics
By KER Staff · February 13, 2012Drawbacks of feed round-baled hay are hay waste, overconsumption, and weight gain among horses that are already in good body condition. Researchers conducted a study to measure hay wastage from several different round-bale feeders.
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Soaking Hay: How Effective Is it at Lowering Carbohydrates?
By KER Staff · February 3, 2012If your horse needs a low-carbohydrate diet, you can reduce the sugar concentration in hay by soaking it in water prior to feeding. While this has nearly become common knowledge, there is a lot of confusion about the best procedure follow.
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Psyllium and Probiotics Combination for Prevention of Sand Colic
By KER Staff · January 31, 2012Researchers investigated the usefulness of combining psyllium, probiotics, and prebiotics to increase fecal sand output.
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Beyond Hay: Chaff and Haylage for Horses
By KER Staff · January 23, 2012High-quality chaff and haylage are appropriate forage sources for horses, though they are less popular than pasture and traditional long-stemmed hay.
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Selenium Deficiency in Horses
By KER Staff · January 13, 2012How can I tell if my horse is deficient in selenium?
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Feeding Fat Not Related to Stomach Cancer
By KER Staff · January 11, 2012Is there any relationship between feeding fat and gastric cancer in horses? If so, what is the mechanism?
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Some Hulls Are Super Feeds for Horses
By KER Staff · January 10, 2012Horse owners who read feed tags may be surprised to find the hulls of soybeans, rice, peanuts, or almonds as constituents of the horse feed they are buying, but some seed hulls are valuable ingredients in feed.
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Pasture Quality and Abundance Affects Contribution to Horse Diets
By KER Staff · January 2, 2012Forage should be of primary importance when considering the equine diet, but it may be difficult to determine how much that forage contributes to the the nutritional and caloric requirements of the horse.
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Zearalenone Poisoning in Horses
By KER Staff · December 23, 2011Zearalenone, a toxic mycotoxin produced by specific fungi, is sometimes found in low-quality cereal grains and less frequently in forages.
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Use of Cereal Grains in Horse Feeds
By KER Staff · December 22, 2011Cereal grains are an important ingredient in traditional horse feeds. A typical sweet feed, for example, might contain a medley of grains such as oats, corn, and barley.
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Feeding Beet Pulp Pellets
By KER Staff · December 21, 2011Can you tell me the best way to feed beet pulp, especially if shredded is not available?
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Importance of Dietary Protein in Horses
By KER Staff · December 15, 2011Protein is important for rebuilding damaged and growing tissues, transporting nutrients in the blood, making blood-clotting factors, and a host of other functions.
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Fat-Soluble Vitamins in Equine Diets
By KER Staff · December 12, 2011Fat-soluble vitamins all have important purposes in the horse’s body, but they should not be supplemented to excess.
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Effect of Lipoic Acid Supplementation in Horses
By KER Staff · December 6, 2011Lipoic acid has improved glucose utilization and insulin activity in humans and certain animals, so researchers tested its effectiveness on horses.
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Beet Pulp: The Ultimate Fibre for Horses
By KER Staff · November 30, 2011One of the most commonly fed super fibres is beet pulp, which is more digestible than traditional fibre sources.
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What Grasses Do Horses Prefer?
By KER Staff · November 29, 2011Hungry horses will try a bite of just about anything green, but given their choice, what type of grass do they find most appealing?
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How Much Water Does My Horse Need?
By KER Staff · November 28, 2011Season of the year, workload, reproductive status, diet, and climate factor into the volume of water needed by a particular horse on a specific day.
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Acidity of Water Affects Palatability for Horses
By KER Staff · November 23, 2011How different does the strange taste, smell, or level of acidity have to be before horses will back off from a bucket of water?
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Vitamins Are Important in Horse Nutrition
By KER Staff · November 21, 2011Vitamins are required by the horse for growth, tissue maintenance, body function, and optimum athletic performance.
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Antioxidants for Horses: Just the Basics
By KER Staff · November 17, 2011When a horse is exercising strenuously, natural stores of antioxidants have difficulty providing sufficient protection against the cascade of free radicals generated from aerobic metabolism.
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The Use of Copra in Horse Feeds
By KER Staff · November 16, 2011Copra is rarely a main ingredient in horse feed, and it is primarily fed as a supplement in regions where coconuts are grown and processed or where the product is easily available.
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Vitamin E Indicated for Horses Having Colic Surgery
By KER Staff · November 16, 2011High doses of antioxidants, including natural vitamin E, should be part of the treatment regimen for horses having colic surgery.
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Some Horses Like Pumpkin Treats
By KER Staff · November 15, 2011For a treat or a sweet mealtime addition, consider giving your horse some cut-up pumpkin.
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Ration Balancers for Horses: Just the Basics
By KER Staff · November 11, 2011Balancer pellets pack a punch, with protein content between 25 and 35%, as well as concentrated minerals and vitamins.
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Copper Deficiency and Coat Color Changes
By KER Staff · November 9, 2011My mare is normally black, but she is getting white hair around her eyes and on her muzzle. I read that coat color changes could be a sign of copper deficiency. Your thoughts?
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Pasture Adequacy: Are Your Fields Doing Their Job?
By KER Staff · November 8, 2011As herbivores, horses require large volumes of forages for optimal well-being. Just how much forage do horses require, though?
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Supplementing Trace Minerals in Horse Rations
By KER Staff · November 3, 2011Trace minerals—those needed in only small amounts for proper nutrition—can be supplied in either a mineral supplement or a premixed feed.
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Storing Hay for Horses
By KER Staff · November 2, 2011Follow these tips to keep stored hay dry and clean.
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Providing Dietary Calcium and Phosphorus to Horses
By KER Staff · November 1, 2011Calcium and phosphorus comprise most of the mineral matter in the horse’s body.
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Starch and Fat Provide Extra Energy to Horses
By KER Staff · October 28, 2011Additional digestible energy (DE) is commonly provided by adding dietary starch, fat, or both to the horse’s ration.
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Hay Cubes and Pellets for Horses
By KER Staff · October 27, 2011Hay pellets and cubes made from good-quality forage can help satisfy a horse's nutritional requirements, providing adequate fiber to keep the gastrointestinal tract fully functioning.
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Fibre: The Basis of Feeding Horses
By KER Staff · October 26, 2011Roughage contains fibre, which aids digestion, satisfies hunger, and meets basic energy requirements.
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Feeding Horses in Drought Conditions
By KER Staff · October 25, 2011Horse owners with dusty, brown pastures can take simple steps to keep their horses healthy and preserve their land for when rain does finally fall.
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Feeding Ear Corn and Corn Stalks to Horses
By KER Staff · October 24, 2011Is there any harm in giving horses corn stalks or ear corn?
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Strange Tastes: Pica in Horses
By KER Staff · October 21, 2011While traditional lore holds that horses with strange appetites are seeking to make up for a nutritional imbalance, studies have shown that’s not the case.
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Corn and Other Agricultural Products Used in Bioplastics Manufacture
By KER Staff · October 19, 2011Corn, a traditional component of horse feed, has found a wider use in the manufacture of bioplastics.
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Feeding Bran and Pollard to Horses
By KER Staff · October 6, 2011Wheat bran, wheat pollard, and rice bran are common ingredients in pelleted feeds for horses, but are also used by horse owners as separate feedstuffs.
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Maintaining Broodmares on High-Forage Diets
By KER Staff · October 5, 2011Researchers studied whether gestating mares would be able to maintain weight with free-choice intake of alfalfa or timothy hay, and whether lactating mares could maintain weight with free-choice alfalfa hay.
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Watermelon for Horses
By KER Staff · October 4, 2011Can I feed my horses watermelon?
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Feeding Chaff to Horses
By KER Staff · September 23, 2011Chaff is a suitable alternative forage for horses when hay is in short supply.
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Vitamin K Supplementation for Horses
By KER Staff · September 19, 2011New research has shown that the most effective way to supplement horses with vitamin K is in the form of K3, or menadione.
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Drylots for Horses
By KER Staff · September 15, 2011As understanding of laminitis and metabolic issues increases among horse owners, drylots are becoming more commonplace on farms.
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Feeding Horses During Travel
By KER Staff · September 9, 2011Careful management of horses’ nutrition while on the road can help to alleviate some potential causes of stress.
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Sprouts for Horses
By KER Staff · September 8, 2011With the beginning of growth, the starches and proteins of the grain are broken down in a process that is similar to the digestion of normal grains occurring inside the horse.
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Suitable Diet for a Thin Thoroughbred
By KER Staff · August 30, 2011What is a suitable diet for an underweight Thoroughbred?
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Linseed or Flax in Equine Diets
By KER Staff · August 22, 2011How is linseed or flax used in equine diets?
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Bioengineered Crops Increase Globally
By KER Staff · August 12, 2011Bioengineered crops used in feeds for horses and other animals are currently grown on over one billion hectares (2.5 billion acres) around the world.
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Magnesium Deficiency and Use of Magnesium Injections
By KER Staff · August 11, 2011<p> Is there any harm in giving magnesium injections occasionally to offset nervous behavior?</p>
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Can Psyllium Influence Blood Glucose Level?
By KER Staff · July 28, 2011Horses supplemented with psyllium had lower blood glucose levels, both post-feeding and average, than control horses.
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Omega-9 Fatty Acids for Horses
By KER Staff · July 26, 2011Many horse owners and managers know that omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids play important roles as precursors in the production of local hormones known as eicosanoids. But what about omega-9 fatty acids?
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The Basics of Protein in Horse Nutrition
By KER Staff · July 21, 2011Protein is the predominant component of all tissues in the body as well as enzymes, hormones, and antibodies, and it is a critical part of the horse's diet throughout its life.
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Watermelon: Summer Treat for Horses
By KER Staff · July 13, 2011Next time you're enjoying watermelon on a hot summer day, consider dicing up some of the pulp and offering it to your horses.
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Preventing Equine Motor Neuron Disease
By KER Staff · July 11, 2011Prevent equine motor neuron disease through a proper balanced diet with less confinement and greater exposure to green pasture.
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Horse Feed Management and EPM Prevention
By KER Staff · July 7, 2011To prevent EPM, opossums should be kept out of the barn and especially away from sources of hay, feed, and water.
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Water Quality for Horses
By KER Staff · July 5, 2011Drinking water for livestock should be tested periodically for various contaminants even if horses and other livestock do not show signs of disease or toxicity.
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Lupins in Horse Feeds
By KER Staff · June 30, 2011Lupins are a relatively new addition to the list of feeds deemed suitable for horses. Considered a legume, lupins are similar to peas or beans, having a hard, tough outer coating.
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Prohibited Substances, Feed, and the Performance Horse
By KER Staff · June 22, 2011A list of common sources of inadvertent contamination of performance horse diets with substances that may produce a positive drug test, and tips to to avoid or minimise the risk of contamination.
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Record Soybean Harvest Predicted in Brazil
By KER Staff · June 20, 2011Brazil is expected to produce around 70 million metric tons of soybeans this year.
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Feeding Vinegar to Horses
By KER Staff · June 17, 2011The taste of cider vinegar is appealing to some horses, and in small quantities, it can be used in a variety of ways to aid feed management.
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Thoughts on an Easy Keeper and a Retired Gelding
By KER Staff · June 8, 2011<p> I feed a balancer pellet and a well-known commercial hoof supplement to my retired gelding? Could I be oversupplementing certain nutrients?</p>
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Tips for Handling Horse Feed in Hot Weather
By KER Staff · June 7, 2011Tips on handling and storing horse feed during the hot and muggy summer months.
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Horse Feed Bumper Crop: South Africa Exports Corn
By KER Staff · June 6, 2011The South African Grain Information Service reported that the country's 2010-2011 exports of yellow corn were the largest in 14 years.
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Most Horses Tolerate Carbohydrates Well
By KER Staff · June 6, 2011Horses with specific metabolic issues may benefit from diets low in nonstructural carbohydrates, but these types of "super-low-carb" diets are not necessary for normal sedentary or exercised horses.
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Evaluation of Hay for Horses
By KER Staff · June 1, 2011While chemical analysis of hay represents the gold-standard for forage evaluation, horse owners can tell plenty about a hay's quality by a thorough visual examination.
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Don’t Risk Poisoning Your Horses with Cattle Feed
By KER Staff · May 26, 2011Despite often looking and smelling similar, not all livestock feeds are the same. In fact, feeding cattle feed to horses can be fatal.
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Yeast Supplementation and Fiber Digestion in Horses
By KER Staff · May 19, 2011Better digestion of fiber has been reported in horses that were supplemented with yeast.
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Digestibility of Different Grains
By KER Staff · May 17, 2011<p> Can you please provide information on the digestibility of the most popular cereal grains?</p>
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How Much to Feed Bulk Biotin
By KER Staff · May 17, 2011<p> I purchase straight biotin from the same place I get flax in bulk. How much should I feed?</p>
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How Much Flax Meal to Feed
By KER Staff · May 11, 2011<p> How much flax meal should I be feeding my horses?</p>
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Laying to Rest Five Horse-Feeding Myths
By KER Staff · May 3, 2011Five widespread feeding misconceptions are refuted in this article featuring equine nutritionist Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D.
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Iodine Supplementation in a Broodmare with Hypothyroidism
By KER Staff · May 3, 2011<p> Is it safe to give a broodmare supplemental iodine such as kelp or seaweed?</p>
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Genetic Improvements for Corn Plants
By KER Staff · May 3, 2011Controlling transport of carbohydrates could also improve the conversion of corn plants to biofuels.
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Provision of Vitamins Important in Convalescing Horses
By KER Staff · April 28, 2011Vitamins are especially important when a breakdown in tissue occurs due to injury or illness.
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Mycotoxins in Feed and Component Samples
By KER Staff · April 20, 2011Mycotoxins are harmful substances produced by molds that contaminate grain.
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Lucerne Hay in Equine Diets
By KER Staff · April 15, 2011There are some differences between lucerne (alfalfa) and grass hay or oat chaff, but they all serve the same purpose of being vital energy sources for horses.
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Food Allergies in Horses
By KER Staff · April 8, 2011Food allergy is an uncommon and poorly understood disease in the horse.
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Acorn Poisoning in Horses
By KER Staff · April 8, 2011<p> Is a deer salt lick suitable for horses?</p>
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Supplements for the Endurance Horse
By KER Staff · March 31, 2011Supplements may help to fill in the gaps by providing certain nutrients required by the endurance horse.
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Hay: The Favorite Lunch Munch for Horses
By KER Staff · March 30, 2011A stalled horse's chewing instinct apparently remains strong even if the horse's nutritional needs are fully met by various feed products other than hay.
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Feed and Food Supply
By KER Staff · March 16, 2011A predicted doubling of the world's human food needs by 2050 will mean increased competition for grains used in animal feeds.
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Is Cow Hay the Same as Horse Hay?
By KER Staff · March 10, 2011The best way to determine if hay is appropriate for horses is by conducting a thorough visual inspection and sending samples for laboratory testing.
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Best Source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
By KER Staff · March 4, 2011<p> Aside from flaxseed, are there any other sources of omega-3 fatty acids?</p>
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Chelated Minerals Enhance Nutrient Bioavailability
By KER Staff · February 24, 2011Why do the big words on the feed tag mean a slightly higher cost for the feed?
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Ready-Made Mash is a Tasty Treat
By KER Staff · February 23, 2011A ready-mixed dry mash is a popular meal for European horses, but is virtually unheard of in the United States.
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Horses Show Grass Preferences
By KER Staff · February 22, 2011Horses used in a study performed at the University of Kentucky showed a marked preference for one particular type of grass.
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Corn Oil in Equine Diets
By KER Staff · February 21, 2011Corn oil has been a staple in the diets of many horses for years, but has this much-loved additive fallen out of favor?
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Diluting Horse Feeds with Oats
By KER Staff · February 17, 2011One common cost-cutting measure used by horse owners involves diluting a commercial feed with oats. If you're tempted to do this, proceed with caution.
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Cereal Grains in Horse Feed
By KER Staff · February 11, 2011Grains such as oats, corn, barley, and grain byproducts such as wheat bran, wheat middlings, and wheat mill run are used primarily as energy sources in horse feeds.
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Manna Pro Horse Feed Recalled
By KER Staff · February 7, 2011Manna Pro Family Farm Complete Horse 10 horse feed is being recalled by the FDA because certain lots contain monensin sodium or Rumensin.
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Testing Equine Supplements
By KER Staff · February 3, 2011The most common issue seen in product marketing is reliance on anecdotal information gleaned from testimonials.
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Just Vitamins and Minerals with No Soy or Flax
By KER Staff · February 2, 2011<p> Is there a vitamin/mineral supplement without soy or flax?</p>
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Salt for Horses: Form Affects Water Intake
By KER Staff · February 1, 2011The form of salt offered to horses could impact its effectiveness in encouraging the horse to drink.
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Horses Show Preference for Cherry Flavor in Study
By KER Staff · February 1, 2011Flavors are often added to equine feed supplements and medications in order to make them more palatable. But which flavors do horses prefer?
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Feed Storage Tips
By KER Staff · January 19, 2011Proper storage of horse hay and grain can save time and money.
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Feeding Old Hay
By KER Staff · January 7, 2011Hay that is stored properly retains most of its nutrients fairly well.
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Mycotoxins
By KER Staff · January 7, 2011The impact of molds and mycotoxins on the animal industry can be seen in several areas.
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Dandelions Turn Skin a Harmless Yellow
By KER Staff · December 20, 2010Horses that eat dandelions may develop a noticeable yellow tinge in areas where the skin is bare.
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Antioxidants for Tip-Top Performance
By KER Staff · December 14, 2010In instances of strenuous exercise, natural stores of antioxidants have difficulty providing sufficient protection against the cascade of free radicals generated from aerobic metabolism. Supplementation of antioxidants is therefore necessary to help ward off the ill effects of mass-produced free radicals associated with intense exercise.
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Electrolytes and the Endurance Horse
By KER Staff · December 14, 2010Every endurance competitor appreciates that electrolytes are a critical component of a horse's nutritional program. Electrolytes are mineral salts that play an important role in maintaining osmotic pressure, fluid balance, and nerve and muscle activity.
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Nutrition of the Breeding Stallion
By KER Staff · December 14, 2010During the breeding season, the addition of energy-dense feeds, usually grains may be necessary to satisfy calorie requirements for the increased workload of breeding. No more than 0.75 pounds of grain per 100 pounds of body weight should be fed to a stallion per day, and no single meal should weigh more than five pounds.
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Does My Horse Need a Vitamin E Supplement?
By KER Staff · December 14, 2010A superior nutritional plan is one key to turning that dream into reality, and natural vitamin E is one of the crucial elements in the equine athlete's dietary regimen. Whether a horse's work involves racing, eventing, endurance, trail riding, or reproduction, vitamin E plays a huge role in both overall health and specific performance.
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Food for Thought: Details of the Equine Digestive Tract
By KER Staff · December 14, 2010The horse's digestive system is made up of the foregut (stomach and small intestine) and the hindgut (cecum and colon). Each part has an important function, and each can also be the site of problems ranging from the slightly troublesome to the deadly serious.
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Feed to Succeed: Supplements to Help the Endurance Horse
By KER Staff · December 14, 2010Keeping an endurance horse fit and healthy involves more than just putting in a large number of miles on trails. The work required of these horses is quite different than that of any other equine athlete. The challenge is to provide the correct combination of nutrients that will support the special needs of these athletes during both training and competition.
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Dirt an Important Source of Iron for Horses
By KER Staff · December 14, 2010Horses constantly ingest dirt when they graze. Excessive consumption of dirt, especially when pastures become short, sometimes causes potential problems such as sand accumulation in the large intestine. However, the dirt that horses normally consume while grazing supplies some essential nutrients, notably iron.
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Clean Up Mold on Barley
By KER Staff · December 13, 2010Barley contaminated with deoxynivalenol (DON) can have the level of mycotoxin significantly reduced by pearling.
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Natural Plant Extracts Fight Fungi
By KER Staff · December 7, 2010The use of natural plant extracts as a fungicide might delay the development of resistant molds and fungi.
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Hay Selection for Horses
By KER Staff · November 8, 2010Hay can be classified into three general types: legume, grass, and mixed. Mixed hay is usually defined as a blend of grass and legume plants, though some hay producers and horse owners may define it as a combination of several grasses.
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Future Hunters Require Balanced Nutrition
By KER Staff · November 8, 2010For those patient, forward-thinking individuals that seek satisfaction in creating the next generation of hunters, regardless of their future use, there exists the hunter breeding division at shows sanctioned by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). Entries are judged on conformation, way of moving, quality, substance, soundness, and suitability to become hunters, according to USEF rules.
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Selenium Webinar Available On Demand
By KER Staff · November 2, 2010For those who couldn't attend the recent live online seminar and Q&A on selenium in equine nutrition hosted by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), the archived version of the presentation is now available online.
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Ration Balancer Pellets
By KER Staff · October 22, 2010A ration balancer pellet is a useful yet little understood type of horse feed. Though the pellet might look no different than other pelleted feeds, it can be a dynamic addition to any feeding program and a surefire solution to many feeding dilemmas.
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Nutritionist Q&A: Cottonseed Protein for Horses
By KER Staff · October 21, 2010<p> Would there be any issues with feeding cottonseed meal by itself as a protein supplement or as an ingredient in a ration balancer?</p>
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Moldy Corn a Risky Ingredient for Horses
By KER Staff · October 11, 2010Farmers across the Midwest struggled last year to harvest their crops in what turned out to be an unseasonably wet autumn.
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Nutritionist Q&A: Cottonseed Protein for Horses
By KER Staff · October 4, 2010<p> Would there be any issues with feeding cottonseed meal by itself as a protein supplement or as an ingredient in a ration balancer?</p>
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Forages the Foundation for Equine Gastrointestinal Health
By KER Staff · May 21, 2010Horses have evolved over millions of years as grazers, with specialized digestive tracts adapted to digest and utilize diets containing high levels of plant fiber.
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Storing Hay Safely
By KER Staff · February 17, 2010Storing hay before it has dried thoroughly is a risky practice because of the danger of spontaneous combustion.
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Storing Hay Safely
By KER Staff · February 17, 2010Storing hay before it has dried thoroughly is a risky practice because of the danger of spontaneous combustion.
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Colic caused by Persimmons
By KER Staff · February 15, 2010Severe discomfort may not be noticed until several months after ingestion of persimmons, so if horses with access to persimmons develop colic signs at any time, owners need to mention this possibility to an attending veterinarian.
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New Uses for Grains Discovered
By KER Staff · February 8, 2010Besides feeding humans and livestock, grains are being put to new uses.
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New Uses for Grains Discovered
By KER Staff · February 8, 2010Besides feeding humans and livestock, grains are being put to new uses.
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Broodmare Weight Gain
By KER Staff · February 8, 2010A study conducted on a Thoroughbred breeding farm showed that initial broodmare body weight averaged 1,272 pounds (577 kilograms), with an average weight of 1,448 pounds (657 kilograms) at the end of gestation.
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PSSM: Feed Management Provides Relief
By KER Staff · February 8, 2010Low-starch, high-fat feeds seem to help many horses suffering from polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), a condition that causes painful muscle cramping known as tying-up.
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Feeding Laminitic Horses
By KER Staff · February 8, 2010Horses recovering from an acute case of laminitis must have a carefully designed feed management plan in order to avoid a recurrence of the problem.
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Hay: How Much is Enough?
By KER Staff · February 3, 2010Buying hay for the winter? Here's an easy way to decide how much hay to purchase.
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Omega-3 Benefits in Horses
By KER Staff · February 3, 2010In a presentation at the recent Veterinary Sport Horse Symposium, Dr. Kyle Newman indicated supplementing horses with omega-3 fatty acids could have a positive effect on their health and endurance during exercise.
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Grazing Multiple Species
By KER Staff · February 3, 2010As selective grazers, horses tend to eat some pasture plants and avoid others, leading to fields with some overgrazed and some undergrazed areas.
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Poisoning by Common Pasture Plants
By KER Staff · February 3, 2010Reports of horses poisoned by pasture plants tend to increase in late fall and early winter, possibly because pasture grasses are less available due to dry conditions and the beginning of dormancy.
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Managing Horses with Airway Disease
By KER Staff · January 27, 2010A common name for the problem is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is also known as recurrent airway disease, recurrent airway obstruction, or inflammatory airway disease. The descriptions of the gelding and mare seem to discuss very different conditions because the disease can result from reactions to varying environmental stimuli.
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Hay Storage and Use
By KER Staff · January 27, 2010Nationwide, improper hay storage and wasteful feeding methods cause losses of around three billion dollars a year. It is estimated that up to 10% of a farm's livestock production costs can be traced to inefficient hay management.
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Fish Oil Supplements for Horses
By KER Staff · January 24, 2010<p> Can supplementing 60 ml of fish oil a day give a horse diarrhea? </p>
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Nutrients without Calories
By KER Staff · January 24, 2010<p> Can you suggest a feed or supplement that I can give my horse so I can be sure she's getting all the vitamins and minerals she needs?</p>
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Nutritional Support of Kidney Disease in Horses
By KER Staff · January 24, 2010Serious kidney (renal) disease in horses is fairly uncommon. Clinical signs of kidney disease can be difficult to differentiate from other conditions but include lethargy, depression, inappetence, ulcers on the mouth or tongue, and edema or swelling of the legs and lower abdomen.
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Nutritional Support of Horses with Liver Disease
By KER Staff · January 24, 2010The power of targeted equine nutrition programs is unquestionable. Take, for instance, the feeding management practices that almost entirely relieve horses of the crippling signs associated with tying-up. By reducing starch intake and filling the caloric void with fat and fiber, many racehorses genetically predisposed to the disease have become successful athletes.
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Equine Protein Requirements
By KER Staff · January 21, 2010Horse owners want to provide their horses with adequate nourishment, but they may be confused about the best way to meet the protein requirements of animals with different workloads or ages.
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Researchers Take a Closer Look at Teff
By KER Staff · January 21, 2010Teff hay is a warm-season grass that thrives in a variety of climates and soil types. Despite low resistance to frost and pests, researchers have recently tested teff to see how the grass stacks up against cool-season standbys, timothy and orchardgrass.
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Balancer Pellet for Growing Foals
By KER Staff · January 21, 2010<p> What is the recommended amount of CPI Equi-Balancer for a young foal?</p>
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Nutrition for Horses with Small Intestinal Colic
By KER Staff · January 21, 2010Small intestinal colic can result from gas or fluid distension, obstruction of the small intestine (ileal impaction or roundworms), or twisting of the gut (small intestinal volvulus or pedunculated lipoma in old horses).
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Yeast Culture: Value-Added Ingredient in Horse Feeds
By KER Staff · October 28, 2009Researching the effects of yeast culture supplementation in animals began with ruminant nutritionists. As these scientists uncovered the positive effects of yeast culture supplementation in cattle and other ruminants, equine nutritionists began to measure the effects of supplementation in horses.
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Source of Omegas May Matter
By KER Staff · October 27, 2009Each type of omega-3 has distinct functional properties. Seafood/algal omega-3s, also known as long-chain omega-3s, are more potent than terrestrial plant sources of omega-3s and boast certain functions that terrestrial plant based omega-3s simply cannot perform.
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AAEP Workshop Focuses on Equine Nutrition
By KER Staff · October 26, 2009At the 2008 convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, horse owners were allowed to attend a seminar on the subject of equine nutrition. The workshop identified nine keys to understanding horse nutrition. Keeping these points in mind should help horse owner's work out the best feed management plan for their horses.
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Water: The Overlooked Nutrient
By KER Staff · October 21, 2009The most important nutrient in the horse's diet is one that is rarely added to feeds: water. The amount of water required by the horse is determined by the magnitude of water losses from its body. These losses occur through feces, urine, respiratory gases, and sweat and, in the case of lactating mares, milk.
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Yeast Culture: Value-Added Ingredient
By KER Staff · September 17, 2009Feeds are more than a composite of cereal grains, soybean meal, and a dash of vitamins and minerals.
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Forage Buffering Capacity Relevant in Gastric Ulcer Prevention
By KER Staff · October 28, 2008Gastric ulcers are very common in performance horses, affecting more than 90% of racehorses and 60% of show horses. There is growing evidence that the type of hay fed to horses has a significant impact on acid neutralization and the incidence of gastric ulcers.
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Horse Feed Prices
By KER Staff · October 27, 2008If you've paid careful attention to your receipts from the feed store, you certainly have noticed that the price of horse feed has crept up to unheard-of levels. And while it might be tempting to assign blame to your local feed manufacturer, larger forces are at work.
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Supplement Resources
By KER Staff · October 27, 2008<p> Who should I go to for advice when it comes to providing supplements to my gelding?</p>
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Feeding Horses: Just the Basics
By KER Staff · October 27, 2008Everybody knows horses need forage and grain...but how much? How often? What kind? What else? The answers may be slightly different for each horse depending on size, breed, use, and stage of development.
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Turning Your Horse Out to Pasture
By KER Staff · October 21, 2008It's worthwhile to cater to the horse's nature by making turnout part of his daily schedule.
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Benefits of Soaking Hay for Horses
By KER Staff · October 21, 2008Even the cleanest, best-quality hay is likely to contain a moderate amount of fine material. Collectively known as the respirable dust concentration, or RDC, these fine particles can cause severe airway irritation in sensitive horses.
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Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation Provides Significant Benefits
By KER Staff · October 21, 2008Horses need to consume both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, but the traditional equine diet tends to provide a skewed ratio of these compounds, minimizing the supply of omega-3s and oversupplying omega- 6s. Continuing research is revealing more information about the benefits of supplementing horses with omega-3 fatty acid to achieve a more nutritionally sound balance.
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Handling Suspected Horse Poisoning
By KER Staff · October 21, 2008A pastured horse develops hair loss, itching, dermatitis, colic, laminitis, or even sudden death, and the owner is certain the problem must have been caused by something the horse touched or ate. The first and most urgent task is to have a veterinarian diagnose and treat the affected horse. The second, and possibly more difficult, problem is to prevent another poisoning occurrence, a challenge that involves identifying susceptible horses as well as finding and removing the poisoning agent.
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Forage Alternatives
By KER Staff · October 27, 2007Hay, or some other source of fiber, is absolutely necessary to the health and function of the horse's digestive tract. Because of a scarcity of hay in many regions, can you just skip feeding hay this winter and make up the deficit by doubling your horse's grain ration?
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Lawn Clippings and Horses
By KER Staff · October 27, 2007When a pile of lawn clippings is placed in front of him, the horse can consume the cut grass much more quickly than if he were grazing naturally. If your horse has a tendency to bolt his feed (eat it very quickly), he may do the same with lawn clippings.
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Acidosis and Starch Fermentation Studied
By KER Staff · October 21, 2007Digestibility of various grains was quantified and fecal analyses were conducted to establish which grains held the greatest risk of hindgut starch fermentation and acidosis. Hindgut acidosis can impair performance, and could be career-threatening if it leads to laminitis.
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Nutrition and Convenience in Cube Form
By KER Staff · December 14, 2006The most popular types of forage cubes are made from coarsely chopped alfalfa hay, timothy hay, alfalfa/grass hay, whole corn plants, and alfalfa hay/whole corn plants," said Crandell. Horsemen derive numerous benefits by choosing hay cubes over more traditional long-stem hay.
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Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Horses
By KER Staff · October 27, 2006Scientists are delving deeper into how certain fats help horses. Researchers have focused their attention on two distinct families of fatty acids: the omega-3 family and the omega-6 family.
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Basics of Horse Feed Management
By KER Staff · October 27, 2006Forages, concentrates, and other basics of equine nutrition.
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Reed Canarygrass and Timothy Compared as Horse Feeds
By KER Staff · October 27, 2006Yields of timothy hay grown in some areas of New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania have dropped as much as 70%. Shortages of this popular horse hay have led growers to look at other forage crops that produce high yields, offer equivalent nutrition, and are less susceptible to cereal rust mite damage.
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Cold-Weather Horse Diets
By KER Staff · October 21, 2006While very young, very old, or ailing horses may need specific changes in stable routine, healthy horses with an intact coat can usually tolerate winter weather with few problems if owners pay attention to basic feeding and management principles.
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Scratching Out Equine Allergies
By KER Staff · October 20, 2006At times, identifying a food allergy seems more like trial and error than hard-core science. While diagnosis involves tremendous dedication, the result--a happy, healthy horse--is well worth the effort.
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Electrolytes in the Performance Horses Diet
By KER Staff · December 20, 2005<p> My jumper sweats heavily when I work him in the middle of the day. Is he receiving adequate electrolytes in his diet?</p>
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Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutter
By KER Staff · December 1, 2005It is most commonly seen as a sign of dehydration and electrolyte depletion among horses performing in endurance races.
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Keeping Tabs on Carbs in Equine Diets
By KER Staff · November 17, 2005Can't live with them, can't live without them. Humans have been inundated with the supposed evils of carbohydrates. But what contributions-good or bad-do carbohydrates make to the equine diet? Must horsemen be mindful of counting carbs in their horses' diets? As with most topics in equine nutrition, the question cannot be answered with a simple yes or no.
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Get the Scoop on Feed Forms
By KER Staff · November 8, 2005Extruded, pelleted, or sweet feeds can all provide energy, and each feed form has other attributes that owners should consider as they look for the best products to suit their animals. Examining the pros and cons of each type of feed can clarify the decision.
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Corn Sensitive to Fumonisin Infestation
By KER Staff · November 4, 2005The plant disease might involve individual kernels or clusters of kernels on an ear of corn. Discoloration of kernels is usually the first visible sign, with kernel caps becoming salmon-pink or a light shade of red. Once the signs develop, the pathogen may continue to spread on the ear, knitting a cotton-like growth that might eventually cover the entire ear. Complete coverage is likely to occur if moisture was trapped beneath the husk. Not all infected kernels, however, show signs.
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Laminitis Triggering Allergens
By KER Staff · December 1, 2004This result indicates that laminitis flare-ups may be triggered by allergens and also by reactions to ingredients in common vaccines.
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Pass the Salt: Endurance Horses and Electrolytes
By KER Staff · November 17, 2004If a horse sweats little, access to a generous amount of high-quality hay and a salt block will provide sufficient electrolytes. If the horse sweats profusely or is allowed only minimal forage, an electrolyte product containing sodium, chloride, and potassium is recommended. Consistent supplementation with electrolytes may be just the thing to transform lackluster summertime performances into winning ones.
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Evaluating Feeding Practices at Boarding Facilities
By KER Staff · November 4, 2004The most important component of any feeding program is forage, be it pasture or hay. Without question, a survey of the paddocks, pastures, and other turnout areas in which your horse may reside is in order before finalizing a boarding arrangement.
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Vitamin C in the Equine Diet
By KER Staff · October 29, 2004<p> Do horses require Vitamin C in their diets?</p>
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Salt Blocks vs. Loose Salt
By KER Staff · October 27, 2004<p> Is there any difference in the amount of salt consumed when horses are given a choice between a salt block and loose salt? Is one better than the other?</p>
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Fiber for Horses: Soybean Hulls a Quality Source
By KER Staff · October 27, 2004Soybean hulls are high in pectin and other soluble fibers. Because they are digested mostly in the cecum and contain relatively small amounts of starch, their use in equine diets does not pose a high risk for colic and laminitis.
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Feeding Bread to Horses
By KER Staff · October 27, 2004<p> Are there any concerns with feeding bread to horses?</p>
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Is Alfalfa the Right Choice?
By KER Staff · October 27, 2004As forage for horses, alfalfa is both revered and disparaged. While it may not be the best hay choice for all horses in all management setups, high-quality alfalfa possesses sufficient nutrients to support high production such as growth and lactation.
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Fatty Acids
By KER Staff · October 27, 2004<p> What is the difference between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids?</p>
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Use of Corn Oil in Horses Diets
By KER Staff · October 27, 2004<p> Why is it common to add corn oil to the performance horses diet?</p>
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An Introduction to Protein Supplements for Horses
By KER Staff · October 27, 2004A number of feedstuffs can be incorporated into horse feeds to satisfy protein requirements. Though soybean meal is used preponderantly in the horse feed industry, other sources can deliver adequate protein, especially to mature horses.
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Protein and Fat in Horse Diets Studied
By KER Staff · October 21, 2004Exercising horses need a certain level of dietary protein to build and repair muscle tissue and to replace the protein lost in sweat. This study was designed to test whether decreasing dietary protein quantity, while increasing protein quality by supplementation with lysine and threonine, could reduce the negative effects of excess protein while providing sufficient amino acids to support tissue maintenance.
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Oats: The Perfect Horse Feed?
By KER Staff · December 29, 2003Most oats fed to horses are whole, meaning each kernel is encased in a hull or fibrous sheath. Oats are frequently subjected to processing, typically rolling or crimping, which cracks the hulls and adds slightly to their digestibility.
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Molasses used in Horse Feed for Palatability and Energy
By KER Staff · December 6, 2003In addition to the type and amount of concentrate being fed, owners of hyperactive horses should look at other areas of management. Horses that are kept in a stall or small corral much of the day will likely be more difficult to handle than horses that have more liberal access to free exercise. Full-time turnout and regular work are sometimes all that is necessary to curtail the expression of excess energy.
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Effects of an Aluminum Supplement on Nutrients and Minerals Studied
By KER Staff · December 6, 2003Studies in ruminants and ponies found that high levels of aluminum disrupted the use of calcium and phosphorus. On the other hand, one study found no adverse effects on macro- or micromineral digestibility and balance when small amounts of aluminum (less than 1500 parts per million) were ingested.
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Feeding After the Hammer Falls
By KER Staff · November 17, 2003Thousands of horses change hands annually at public auctions. While the most conscientious of buyers may flood the seller with innumerable questions regarding their most recent equine acquisition, many horses are shipped without feeding instructions. When they arrive at their destination, the horses are often placed immediately on the new owner's feeding schedule, which may be considerably different than the familiar one.
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Equine Extremes: Feeding Ponies and Draft Horses
By KER Staff · November 17, 2003Almost all the guidelines on feeding and caring for horses are aimed at the middleweight or light horse population, those that weigh in at about 1,000 pounds or so and little information is available regarding the equine extremes - ponies and draft horses. Generally speaking, horses are horses regardless of their size, but there are some differences in the nutritional requirements and management of these equids.
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Sunflower Seeds for Horses
By KER Staff · November 9, 2003<p> Is it safe to feed sunflower seeds to horses?</p>
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Alternative Grass Hays for Horses
By KER Staff · November 4, 2003Researchers at the University of Kentucky measured the voluntary intake of big bluestem, Indiangrass, eastern gamagrass, and timothy grass hays in a group of mature horses.
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Bran Mash: What’s it Really Good For?
By KER Staff · November 4, 2003Bran mashes remain a staple in the feeding regime of some horsemen and continue to be a traditional meal for horses recovering from sickness, for mares immediately following foaling, and for aged horses with dental problems. A bran mash is often the meal of choice for horses following an intense workout, especially for those that do not drink adequately during or after intense exercise and teeter on the brink of dehydration.
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Biotin Basics
By KER Staff · November 4, 2003In order to achieve maximal improvement in hoof health, a horse should consume 20 mg of biotin per day. If improvement has been seen within eight to 15 months, the horse will need to remain on biotin the rest of its useful life to maintain that improvement. Cutting the dose is not advisable because it may affect the results, and care should be taken not to buy more than what can be used up in six months.
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The Nitty Gritty on Salt
By KER Staff · November 4, 2003The most popular way to feed salt ad libitum is a salt block. These were originally designed for cattle, which possess a rough tongue, but are suitable for most horses. Occasionally a horse may be seen biting or gnawing at the corners of the block.
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Cutting Horse Feeds with Cereal Grains and Protein Supplements
By KER Staff · November 4, 2003Random blending of whole grains or protein supplements with commercially manufactured feeds can skew the nutritional balance of feeds and induce growth problems in young horses. The best way to ensure sound nutrition and thus favorable growth, performance, and production is to choose a fortified feed that best complements the nutritional profile of the intended forage and the proposed use of the horse.
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Feeding Horses in Australia and New Zealand
By KER Staff · November 4, 2003The components of a typical diet for horses in Australia and New Zealand may seem an unlikely lot. Lupins, tick beans, and copra meal are certainly not common in the vernacular of the horse community in North America. Nutritionists have adapted these native, though seemingly unusual, ingredients into well-balanced rations that support growth, performance, and reproduction.
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Animal Feed Imports Increasing
By KER Staff · November 1, 2003Figures released by the USDA and the United Nations show that North African and Middle Eastern countries have steadily increased imports of animal feeds in the last decade.
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Super Fibers for Horses
By KER Staff · October 27, 2003<p> What are super fibers, and what are the benefits of feeding them?</p>
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Silage for Horses
By KER Staff · October 27, 2003<p> What’s the difference between silage and haylage and is it beneficial to horses?</p>
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Managing Broodmares on Fescue Hay or Pasture
By KER Staff · November 17, 2002For mares with known or suspected fescue exposure, managers should be sure the foaling is attended and a veterinarian is available. This is recommended even if mares have been treated with domperidone or fluphenazine. The attendant may need to cut the thickened placenta or help the mare expel a very large foal that is several weeks overdue.
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Digestive Aids: Does Your Horse Need Them?
By KER Staff · November 10, 2002Products defined as digestive aids can be broadly categorized as either probiotics or prebiotics. These aids can be fed as part of the horse's regular diet, or administered only occasionally in response to a particular need.
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Why Horse Supplements?
By KER Staff · November 10, 2002Do not choose supplements on price alone, but look for economical products that meet actual needs. A concentrated, low inclusion product will be more expensive than one in which the dose is larger. Look at the weight of the pack and the dosage amount, not the size of the bucket.
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Supplements to Help the Endurance Horse
By KER Staff · November 10, 2002Keeping an endurance horse fit and healthy involves more than just putting in a large number of miles on trails. The work required of these horses is quite different than that of any other equine athlete. The challenge is to provide the correct combination of nutrients that will support the special needs of these athletes during both training and competition.
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Horse Pasture Management
By KER Staff · November 8, 2002In the wake of the 2001 outbreak of equine foal and embryo deaths known as mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS), proper pasture development and maintenance have received increased attention. The need to determine a cause for the devastation visited upon Kentucky and adjoining states by MRLS led many researchers to look towards pasture anomalies for clues.
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Oats in the Equine Diet
By KER Staff · November 8, 2002Plain oats may have a place in the diets of some horses. Mature horses in light work and without the demands of reproduction may do just fine on plain oats, especially if pasture is scarce or low quality or if the forage source is low in energy. If oats are chosen as a way to increase caloric intake, a feed balancer should be used to ensure proper levels of vitamins and minerals are consumed.
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How Sweet It Is: A Molasses Primer
By KER Staff · November 8, 2002Manufacturers of horse feeds use molasses to improve palatability, reduce dustiness, eliminate or decrease sorting of certain components in a textured feed, aid in the pelleting process, improve mixing integrity of a concentrate, and add nutrients or other ingredients to a ration.
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Types of Oats for Horses
By KER Staff · October 29, 2002<p> What are naked oats, and how do they differ from whole and dehulled oats?</p>
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Linseed Meal for Horses
By KER Staff · October 27, 2002<p> What is linseed meal, and is its use widespread in the horse industry?</p>
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Adding Fat
By KER Staff · October 27, 2002<p> What are the benefits of adding fat to the diet of a performance horse?</p>
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Feeding Horses Ears of Corn
By KER Staff · October 27, 2002<p> Is feeding ear corn beneficial to your horse?</p>
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Warmbloods: Same Feeding Plan as other Horses?
By KER Staff · January 10, 2002Feeding well-balanced rations and attending to nutrition-related idiosyncrasies of warmbloods are the first steps in producing and maintaining sound athletes. The primary nutritional goal of managing young warmbloods should be ensuring slow, steady growth and reducing the risk of developmental orthopedic disease.
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Yeast Supplementation used in Horse Diets
By KER Staff · January 10, 2002In an effort to determine the effect of yeast on digestion in horses, researchers in France carried out a study to look at the influence of feeding a preparation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a strain of yeast, on microbial profiles and fermentation patterns in the large intestine of horses fed a high fiber or a high starch diet.
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Nutrition for Horses with Metabolic Disorders
By KER Staff · January 10, 2002Proper nutrition is extremely important in managing horses with metabolic disorders. Regulating the amount and type of feed, with special attention to carbohydrates, allows many horses to show minimal disease signs, maintain healthy body condition, stay comfortable, and safely perform exercise.
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Stocking Rate: How Many Horses on This Pasture?
By KER Staff · January 10, 2002Stocking rate is defined as the number of horses allowed to graze a unit of land for a specific amount of time. Making the most of pastures by optimizing stocking rate may reduce other forage expenditures. Stocking rate is contingent upon numerous factors including grazing behavior, level of pasture management, forage species, seasons, and weather patterns.
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Avoid Risks from Fumonisin in Corn
By KER Staff · January 10, 2002Unlike some fungus or mold species that cause problems in stored grain, Fusarium grows on corn plants before they are harvested. Stress from weather or insect damage can make plants more susceptible.
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Feeding the Miniature Horse
By KER Staff · January 10, 2002Regardless of their size, all equines have the same basic nutritional needs. Each animal must consume enough water, forage, and (possibly) grain to meet the requirements of growth, tissue repair, reproduction, exercise, and maintenance of all body systems. Factors such as body size, age, breed, work, climate, health status, and metabolism affect the type and amount of hay, pasture, and grain a particular horse should be given.
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Recovery from Enteritis Dictates Changes in Feed Management
By KER Staff · January 10, 2002Enteritis is an inflammation of the small intestine. More specifically, anterior (or proximal) enteritis affects the duodenum and jejunum, sections of the small intestine anatomically closest to the stomach.
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Feeding the Horse Following Anterior Enteritis
By KER Staff · January 10, 2002Depending upon the severity of the disease, horses may have to receive nutrition parenterally (intravenously) during treatment. This is particularly true if a bout of anterior enteritis lasts longer than three or four days.
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Feeding Frequency
By KER Staff · January 10, 2002Continuous ingestion of feedstuffs keeps the digestive tract running smoothly. Modern management practices dictate that many horses remain in confinement for long periods of time with limited or no access to pasture.
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Forage Forms
By KER Staff · January 10, 2002Forage remains the primary constituent of most well-balanced equine diets, but nowadays it can be proffered in a multitude of forms, from traditional long-stemmed hay to symmetrical cubes. The five most common forage forms are pasture, hay, cubes, pellets, and haylage.
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Determining Work Intensity
By KER Staff · January 10, 2002Optimal nutrition of the performance horse hinges foremost on the exercise it performs. Just as the diet of a human bodybuilder is dissimilar to that of a marathon runner, horses are fed with performance goals in mind.
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Feeding the Mare and Foal after Weaning
By KER Staff · January 10, 2002Weaning is a stressful time for foals and mares. While mares are often ready to say good-bye to their rambunctious, rowdy charges, foals can be far more fretful. As such, weaning rarely negatively impacts a mare. In fact, some mares may blossom and begin to flesh out once they are freed from the burden of milk production.
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Super Fibers
By KER Staff · January 10, 2002Forage is chock full of fiber, a dietary component that is subjected to microbial fermentation in the cecum and colon of the horse. This fermentative process produces volatile fatty acids, important sources of energy for horses fed high-forage diets. Fiber can supply a horse with 30-70% of its digestible energy requirements.
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Feeding Fallacies
By KER Staff · November 8, 2001Feeding horses properly is not difficult. Reliance upon an educated horseman, a veterinarian, or an equine nutritionist is paramount if a feeding management question arises. This is particularly true when confronted with an old wives' tale.
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Forage Falsehoods
By KER Staff · November 5, 2001While some old-fashioned feeding practices remain pertinent in this day and age, others have fallen by the wayside. Over the last several decades, research has debunked some commonly held beliefs concerning the nutritional management of horses.
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Don’t Pass on Processed Feeds
By KER Staff · January 17, 2001Understanding the methods used to process feeds and knowing why they are used will make the idea of feeding processed feedstuffs more savory.
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Feed Tags
By KER Staff · October 29, 2000<p> Can feed tags be used to compare different horse feeds?</p>
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Fiber in Pellets
By KER Staff · October 27, 2000<p> I have a friend who has complained that his horse eats the shavings in his stall when he feeds pellets. He thinks it is due to a lack of fiber in the pellets. Is this true?</p>
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A; Legume and Grass Hays for Horses
By KER Staff · October 27, 2000<p> What are the nutritional differences between legume hay (alfalfa) and grass hay?</p>
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Hay Bales, Pellets, and Cubes
By KER Staff · October 27, 2000<p> Should horses be fed the same weight in pellets or cubes as in loose hay?</p>
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Vitamin E and the Performance Horse
By KER Staff · November 10, 1999Vitamin E is a non-toxic, fat soluble vitamin which has an important role in many physiological functions such as reproduction, immune response and nerve and muscle function. It also has overlapping yet independent roles with selenium, an essential trace mineral.
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Making Sense of the Supplements
By KER Staff · November 10, 1999Sorting through the numerous supplements displayed on the shelves of your local feed store or in the pages of your favorite horse magazine can be difficult. As an equine nutritionist, it is sometimes difficult for me to figure out the intended purpose of certain supplements. However, supplements can be divided into two broad categories.
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Selenium for Horses: How Important Is It?
By KER Staff · November 9, 1999Subclinical signs of selenium deficiency may be easily overlooked. Because the major role of selenium is in the oxidative defense system, deficiency would first compromise cellular integrity.
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Stabilized Rice Bran–Just the Facts, Please
By KER Staff · November 9, 1999Rice bran is a highly digestible by-product of the rice milling industry. It should be heat and pressure stabilized prior to feeding to prevent rancidity and digestive upset. The primary feature of stabilized rice bran is its high (20%) fat content.
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Different Horse Feeds for Different Needs
By KER Staff · November 8, 1999When a young horse begins training, horse owners and managers must realize the horse is still growing. The dual demands of training and growth make it especially important to pay attention to proper nutrition.
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What Are Those Pellets in the Sweet Feed?
By KER Staff · November 8, 1999This diet food scenario has proven very effective when feeding broodmares in late pregnancy. Most mares will sail through pregnancy in good body condition and can be fed the recommended amounts of sweet feed to provide essential protein, vitamins and minerals.
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Dairy Quality Alfalfa for Horses
By KER Staff · October 27, 1999<p> Does dairy quality alfalfa meet my horses needs?</p>
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Alfalfa Hay: A Major Component in Many Horse Diets
By KER Staff · October 27, 1998Methods to maximize the benefits of alfalfa in equine diets and balance the weaknesses often associated with alfalfa.
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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Heaves
By KER Staff · October 26, 1998<p> Can an adjusted diet help a horse with Heaves?</p>
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