Archive for June, 2009
Released June 16, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Horse owners who keep their animals in suburban or even some rural settings may find challenges in handling manure to avoid issues with odor or flies that can strain neighborly relationships. To help them learn strategies for managing and composting manure, a Michigan State University (MSU) Extension program is scheduled for two western Michigan locations in August.
The Equine Manure Management and Compost Production workshop will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It will take place Aug. 8 at the MSU Bioeconomy Institute in Holland and Aug. 29 at the Kent County Extension office in Grand Rapids.
The program is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of equine manure management, the use of composting as a manure management practice and equine mortality disposal options.
Participants will see a demonstration of the manure management tools in the Equine Manure Management Planning CD and learn to use the Spartan Composting Optimizer spreadsheet.
Presenter Charles Gould is an MSU Extension educator based in Ottawa County. He will answer questions and clearly explain Michigan Right-to-Farm Act guidelines related to equines, and he’ll discuss the components of manure management systems, including manure collection, transfer, storage, treatment and use.
Participants will come away with an understanding of how to develop a farm-specific manure management plan.
The program has been approved as a Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program Phase I event.
The registration fee is $35 for the first person from each farm and $10 for each additional registrant from the same farm. The registration fee includes lunch, handouts, and one CD and spreadsheet per farm. The registration deadline is July 31.
To register or receive more information, call the Ottawa County MSU Extension office at 616-846-8250. Information is also available at http://www.msue.msu.edu/ottawa (click on the “Nutrient Management” link on the left side of the page).
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http://anrcom.msu.edu/press/060109/061609_equinemanagement.htm
Writer: Laura Probyn, 517-432-1555, ext. 175
Released June 2, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- When Camie Heleski traveled to Brazil to attend a conference in 2000, she noticed that the horses used to pull carts transporting people throughout the country’s villages appeared frail and their hair looked brittle and dull. The animals also displayed lesions on their bodies where dry sweat would build up under their leather harnesses.
In Brazil, cart horses are used for transporting goods to markets and picking up recyclables from off the streets, such as plastics and metal scraps, to be sold to recycling centers for profit. Cart horses are often used by the members of Brazilian society who can’t afford vehicles.
When Heleski, coordinator of the Michigan State University (MSU) horse management program, returned home from the 2000 conference, she made a commitment to improving the welfare and quality of care for cart horses in Brazil. She formed a research team made up of colleagues and students and, in 2003, she, her major professor, Adroaldo Zanella, and his brother, Ricardo, returned to Brazil to begin formally assessing the treatment of cart horses and conducting one-on-one interviews with horse owners.
Upon closer inspection by Heleski and the research team, many of the horses appeared weak and depressed.
“Owners weren’t providing these horses with the proper nourishment,” she said. “You could be driving along in the city or through the suburban areas when all of a sudden you would see these shabby-looking horses coming towards you down the road.”
Another factor the researchers considered when assessing how the animals were cared for is southern Brazil’s high average temperatures.
“It’s easy for the animals to become dehydrated in hot weather, so it’s really important to provide the animals with ready access to salt blocks and plenty of water,” Heleski said.
Many of the horses were also infected with parasites and needed to receive deworming treatment.
Heleski traveled to Brazil again in 2006 with six students and a colleague, Russell Erickson, to work directly with cart horse owners, teaching them how to improve the lives of their horses.
The students created caretaker manuals -- printed in Portuguese, the national language -- to teach the horse owners how to care for their animals properly. The manuals encouraged owners to give their horses more access to grass and water, and it also included information on preventive practices such as deworming and wound care. Some of the students’ fundraising money went toward purchasing deworming medicines to give to some of the cart horses during their trip.
Heleski said most of the owners valued their horses but just didn’t know how to take care of them.
“The welfare of these horses could be dramatically improved without spending a lot of money simply by teaching the owners how to properly care for their animals,” Heleski said. “The Brazilian cart horse owners were very friendly people, and they were kind and appreciative for the information we gave them.”
Heleski said several organizations funded the trips to Brazil, including the Humane Society International, the Michigan Horse Council, Friends of the Horse Teaching and Research Center, and the Department of Animal Science at MSU. Students also collected money to pay for the trip by conducting fundraisers.
Ultimately, Heleski hopes this project will result in longer, healthier and more productive lives for the cart horses, which will also benefit the people who depend on the animals to make a living.
“Everybody should want these animals to live a better life,” Heleski said. “Working together with the horse owners to teach them how to care for their animals is a win-win situation. The owners become more knowledgeable about caring for animals and can share what they have learned with other horse owners, and the horses benefit by being able to live a more fulfilling life.”
Heleski, a faculty member in the MSU Department of Animal Science, is a member of the Animal Behavior and Welfare Group (ABWG). The mission of the ABWG is to apply sound scientific principles to assess the roles that management and environment play in animal behavior and welfare. Research focuses on developing solutions to practical problems faced by the animal industries and assisting industry with implementing these solutions in socially responsible and sustainable ways.
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http://anrcom.msu.edu/press/060109/060209_horsesinbrazil.htm
Writer: Laura Probyn, 517-432-1555, ext. 175
Either way, when you're stuck indoors, an online horse sim game may be a perfect diversion to hold you over until better weather. I've put together a list of the most popular online horse games for you to explore. Whether you want to build your own online ranch, or spend a few minutes playing a speed game, there is lots to choose from. When my daughter was younger, her favorite horse sim game was Horseland. She also played Ludus Equinus, and like many gamers was disappointed when that particular site shut down. I've tried many of the Shockwave and Flash horse games--and if online gamers needed a helmet, I'd need a double thick one. I'm that bad.
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