Australia is one of the largest producers of wool in the world with around 25 % of greasy wool sold on the world market coming from our Country. Annual wool production is largely influenced by environmental and economic factors and with the ongoing drought and...
Poor soil structure costs $$$ through decreased plant establishment, lower yields and wasted fertiliser, so it is worthwhile to take a second look at soil tests that you’ve taken over the years. Are your Sodium, Magnesium or Chloride levels high? Is your soil pH over 7.0?...
It has been fantastic to hear about parts of Australia that have been severely drought-stricken finally receiving enough rain to produce some grass growth. Despite this being great news, there needs to be some caution around letting stock gorge this rapidly growing grass as there...
It is the beginning of Summer and today is hot! This Summer is going to be a scorcher, so along with the ongoing drought and threat of bushfires, dealing with extreme heat is going to be another concern for horse owners. Prolonged exposure to high...
“Gut Health” is now a huge topic of conversation with horse owners and so it should be, because it’s absolutely crucial for the overall well-being of the horse. If a horse has a healthy gut it means that it is working efficiently in all of...
August and September can be the toughest two months of winter in many areas, with the season often not breaking until late September. The recent frosts and lack of moisture means protein often becomes the limiting factor for grazing dry feed. If there is no visible...
The Function and Deficiency Indicators for Important Minerals in Animal Nutrition Minerals play important roles in physiological, structural and regulatory functions within the animal body. The term ‘essential mineral’ is used in reference to a mineral that has been proven to have a metabolic role in...
Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism (NSH) is most commonly referred to by the name “Bighead” or sometimes “Bran Disease” and is a condition that develops as a result of a calcium imbalance within the horse’s diet. Calcium (Ca) is the most abundant mineral element in the animal...
Quality paddock feed reduces fodder costs Greater emphasis on pasture feeding of horses should be made in Australia, as it offers the advantage of considerable reduction in feeding costs in combination with a return to the natural grazing conditions to which horses are well adapted. Grazing horses...
Recognising mineral deficiencies...
During drought conditions, the better we feed rumen microbes, the better we feed the animal. Rumen microbes break down fibrous fodder and are essential to convert feed into energy (VFA). In addition, rumen microbes contain 60% protein and when digested, they provide the majority of the protein...
Vincent Posada, B Sc, M Ag - Consulting Animal Nutritionist The seasonal growth patterns of native and sub-tropical pastures generate wide fluctuations in quantity and quality. With adequate rainfall, a large bulk of feed high in nutritive value is produced, however as growth continues, progressively less...
