Shannon Godwin BAppSc GDTL AgSolutions Technical Advisor Horses require a balanced a diet to achieve optimal health, but knowing how to provide your horse with the perfect blend of energy, protein, fat, minerals, vitamins and fibre in their diet can be difficult to discern as numerous factors influence...
According to the Merck Veterinary Manual (2005) the definition of Bloat is an over-distention of the rumeno-reticulum with the gases of fermentation, either in the form of a persistent foam mixed with the ruminal contents, called primary or frothy bloat or in the form of...
Keep a close eye on the changing season! Winter is upon us. Pastures are haying-off and nutrient quality generally decreases as a result. During this change of season, producers should monitor the manure of their livestock to assist with identifying a reduction in feed quality. When...
Helping Horses with Skin/Coat Conditions By Shannon Godwin BAppSc GDTL Everyone wants to have a horse with a beautiful, sleek and shiny coat that reflects health and vitality. Unfortunately, there are a significant number of horses that suffer from Sweet Itch (Queensland Itch) and other skin issues...
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...
