April 2021 Issue

Page 6 April 2021 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN Dr. Martin W. Adams, PhD, PAS Equine Nutritionist for Cargill Animal Nutrition While it still might be spring – and mares might even still be foaling – it’s never too early to start thinking about your plans for a successful weaning transition. Foals are normally weaned at 4 to 6 months of age. Prior to starting the weaning process, the foal should be eating at the rate of one pound of horse feed per month of age or 1% of body Cargill Animal Nutrition: Feeding the Foal for a Successful Weaning weight daily, as well as starting hay or pasture consumption. Leg- ends® Growth is a premium feed for the weanling. Since 60% of the horse’s mature weight, 90% of withers height and 95% of bone growth is achieved by a year of age, a good feeding program is essential to the future potential of your grow- ing horse. Continue with Leg- ends® Growth until 24 months of age. Provide enough hay for the horse to consume 1.0 to 1.5% of its body weight daily. The most common problems with a nutrition program for wean- ling horses is over- or underfeeding and rapid growth rate increases by suddenly changing the amount of feed available. Hay quality should be good to excellent, with soft leafy hay testing at least 10% crude protein and mixed hays, such as timothy/alfalfa or orchard grass/al- falfa, testing at 12-14% crude pro- tein. During your horse’s first year, monitor growth rate and adjust amounts of feed and hay to provide a gradual decrease in growth rate from about two pounds daily for a weanling to one pound per day for a yearling horse. Wondering which feed or supplements are right for your horse – find out with the Leg- ends® MicroSteed™ Ration Wizard - http://microsteed.com/ legends. With Spring comes mud and with it, one of the most frustrating equine skin conditions: Scratches (also called Mud Fever, Pastern Dermatitis, Greasy Heel). The chronic and progressive equine dermatitis infects the deep layers of skin in the heel and pastern. Scratches is a fungus that can have a bacterial component in more advanced stages. Seen in horses housed in muddy pastures, it’s also commonly found on show Banixx ™ Keeps Scratches at Bay During a Wet, Muddy Spring horses who spend a lot of time in the wash rack and whose legs are not always dried adequately. How do I keep my horse from getting scratches? If possible, keep your horse in a clean, dry stall and away from overly wet, muddy pastures. Avoid early morning turnout when there is heavy dew or frost, and, when you bring your horse in, dry his legs and check for early signs of infection. For show horses, spray on Banixx liberally as a preventa- tive after washing. Since Banixx provides an inhospitable environ- ment to both bacteria and fungus, stay ahead of the game by spraying the lower legs and pasterns regular- ly with Banixx. Pat it into the skin so that it makes good contact. It’s not possible to over-medicate with Banixx™, so it can easily be used daily as a preventative. How do I treat scratches? Instead of harsh chemical mixes, Banixx provides a gentler and more successful approach. If needed, carefully clip the hair away from the infected area, making sure not to break the skin. Then, wash thoroughly with Banixx Medicated shampoo (that already contains Ma- rine Collagen as soothing agent). Pat the areas dry and, twice a day, apply a gentle, topical treatment, such as Banixx™, that will not burn or sting and will promote healing. Consider applying Banixx NEW Anti-microbial Cream as an invisi- ble topical protective Band-Aid for the final finish to the treatment. Every horse has parasites to some degree, and sometimes they are no big deal. But when para- sites become a concern, it is time to look for a targeted deworming product that is proven to control your horse’s specific problem parasites. Farnam, your partner in horse care™, is pleased to introduce Farnam® FenCare™ Safe- Guard® (fenbendazole) 1.96% Type B medicated feed in easy-to- feed, pre-measured packets. Each single-dose FenCare TM deworming packet contains a full effective dose of fenbendazole that treats horses up to 1,250 pounds and helps control common equine par- asites. FenCare™ dewormer has an apple flavor horses love and should be mixed into your horse’s regular ration for easy feeding. The pelleted formula is perfect for horses who get spooked at the sight of a syringe. The active ingredient in FenCare TM dewormer is fenben- dazole, which is proven effective in controlling four key horse parasites: Small and Large Stron- Easy, Safe and Effective Parasite Control with Farnam ® FenCare ™ Dewormer gyles, Pinworms, and Ascarids. The presence and levels of these parasites can be identified by your veterinarian through a sim- ple fecal sample, making it easy to know when and how to use FenCare™ dewormer as a target- ed treatment. For horses with a wider range of parasites, Farnam offers a variety of broad spectrum deworming products. In addition to being effective against common parasites, Fen- Care™ dewormer is proven safe for horses including pregnant mares and stallions. The gentle mode of action of fenbendazole slowly starves the parasite with no harm to the horse, making it a smart choice for safe, effective parasite control. FenCare™ dewormer can be found at Tractor Supply Company, Amazon.com or at your local retailer. To learn more about FenCare™ dewormer and the complete line of Farnam® deworming products, visit www. farnam.com .