Written By:Dan Undersander, University of Wisconsin & Krishona Martinson, University of Minnesota Frequent and above average rainfall fell throughout the Midwest during the summer of 2010, resulting in a challenging hay making season. Rain occurring while cut hay is laying in the field causes both yield and quality losses that reduce the value of the crop […]

Read More

Written By: Krishona Martinson, PhD, University of Minnesota Recently, there has been a significant amount of interest in the sugar content of forage grasses. Pasture-induced laminitis (founder) can be triggered when susceptible horses ingest high amounts of sugar or fructans that are naturally found in forage species commonly grown in Minnesota. Susceptible horses include, but […]

Read More

Written By: Krishona Martinson, PhD; Lynn Hovda, DVM, MS; and Mike Murphy, DVM, PhD, University of Minnesota

Read More

Written By: Betsy Gilkerson Wieland, University of Minnesota A drought can leave many horse owners looking for quality hay, and considering alternative feedstuffs for their horses. A large portion of a horse’s diet should be forage of some sort, and horses eat roughly 2% of their body weight in dry matter each day. Below is […]

Read More

Written By: Larry Lawrence, PhD, Kentucky Equine Research, and Stephanie Valberg, DVM, University of Minnesota All horses are subject to digestive upsets associated with spring pasture. The content of highly fermentable carbohydrates in pasture can be overwhelming to the un-adapted digestive system of horses. Ponies, because of a gene that allows them to survive on […]

Read More

Written By: Marcia Hathaway, PhD, University of Minnesota While “beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”, determining whether a horse is fat does not have to be so vague. The answer lies in the body condition score. A body condition scoring system was developed by researchers at Texas A & M based on the […]

Read More

Written By: Krishona Martinson, PhD, Lynn Hovda, DVM, Mike Murphy, DVM, PhD, and Patrick Weicherding, PhD, University of Minnesota   Black walnut: Juglans nigra Lifecycle: Black walnut trees are perennials. Most seedlings germinate from nuts buried by squirrels. Black walnut trees mature in about 150 years, but may live for 250 years. Identification: Often a […]

Read More

Written By: Krishona Martinson, PhD; Lynn Hovda, DVM, MS; and Mike Murphy, DVM, PhD, University of Minnesota   Drought concerns Sorghum-sudangrass has good yield potential, especially in dry years, and can be used for pasture or hay. The crop is most commonly used during times of high temperatures and drought, usually as an emergency forage […]

Read More

Written By: Krishona Martinson, PhD, U of M Harvesting ditch hay (grass and legumes growing alongside the roadways) is a common practice, especially in western Minnesota. Ditch hay provides livestock owners with forage suitable for beef cattle, dairy heifers and horses. However, in recent years, there have been several cases of significant soybean injury as […]

Read More

Written By Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. Horses enjoy cold weather and the relaxation that winter brings, but it takes more than hay to keep them healthy during the colder months. Optimal nutritional planning will help them enjoy the season and emerge in good condition when spring arrives. Hay is not enough Hay cannot compare in […]

Read More