New equine resources available

By Gary Sliworsky
OMAFRA Rep.

Following is the latest Horse News and Views which is prepared by Dr. Bob Wright, Animal Health and Welfare, OMAFRA, in cooperation with the staff and researchers of the University of Guelph.
The monthly column highlights research topics, extension resources, reminders of common poisonings, disease or production concerns and coming events and is placed on our website, http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/news.html.
·With good hay in short supply, and expensive, no one can afford to waste 20% or more. But that is what happens when hay is placed on the ground. In the late 1980s, the Alberta Horse Industry Branch conducted research where horses were either fed on the ground or from a simple plywood box feeder. An alfalfa-grass, mixed hay was fed at a rate to meet the requirements for moderate growth.
The horses fed from the box were significantly heavier. In addition to wasting feed, hay fed on the ground forms a mat, which will kill any
grass under it, creating bare spots in the pasture/paddock and muddy areas. (Ref: Coleman R. Feeding Horses When Feed is Short, Republished by the Government of Alberta, Agriculture and Rural Development, www.agric.gov.ab.ca and search for the title.)
·New resources available from Equine Guelph and the University of Guelph include:
• A new online biosecurity tool to help assess the risk of introducing infectious disease and control the spread of infections in horses The Biosecurity Risk Calculator is available on the Equine Guelph website at www.equineguelph.ca/education/biosecurity.php
·“EQUIDBLOG” (www.equidblog.com/) aims to provide information and insight about equine infectious diseases to horse owners and veterinarians. The site is co-ordinated by Prof. Scott Weese and Maureen Anderson of Ontario Veterinary College’s Department of Pathobiology. They are specialists in large-animal internal medicine with expertise in infectious diseases and infection control.
For further information, contact Dr. Bob Wright (519) 846-3412 or visit our website: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/
New in 2009, Ontario Cattlemens’ Association (OCA) has added a “Vet on Call” feature to their Web site. Mac Littlejohn of Elgin County will take farmer questions via email regarding any aspect of beef cattle health. Visitors to the Web site (www.cattle.guelph.on.ca) will see a link to the “Vet on Call” page. There, you will fill in a page of demographic details before being allowed to submit your question to Mac.
OCA will keep track of the types of questions being asked and if there is a trend, will follow up with articles in Ontario Beef magazine.

Dates to Remember
Feb. 5 - 6 – Large animal clinic dates for Dr. Dan Matyasovszky. Call 807-475-3837 to book an appointment.
Feb. 14 – Grower Pesticide Safety Course. Call 1-800-652-8573 to register.