NE1941: Environmental Impacts of Equine Operations

(Multistate Research Project)

Status: Active

Project Menu

SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[11/19/2020] [12/06/2021] [11/30/2022] [11/20/2023]

Date of Annual Report: 11/19/2020

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 08/18/2020 - 08/19/2020
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2019 - 09/30/2020

Participants

ZOOM – August 18-19, 2020
Attendance: Mike Westendorf (Rutgers)
Masoud Hashimi (UMASS)
Jennifer Weinert (Rutgers)
Krishona Martinson (UMN)
Danielle Smarsh (PSU)
Laura Kenny (PSU)
Amy Burk (UMD)
Carey Williams (Rutgers)
Mieke Holder (UKY)
Carissa Wickens (UFL)
Lori Warren (UFL)
Amy Biddle (UDE)
Robert Causey (UME)
Hannah Lochner (UMN)
Paul Siciliano (NCSU)
Robin Brumfield (Rutgers)(day 1)
Mark Rieger (UDEL), Director of Project (day 2)
Bob Coleman (UK) (day 2)
Karyn Malinowski (Rutgers)(day 2)

Brief Summary of Minutes

August 18

8:30 am: Welcome and Project Overview by Mike Westendorf

State Reports (please add your name to your preferred time)

9:00 am: Paul Siciliano

9:30 am: Carey Williams/Jennifer Weinert/Mike Westendorf (Rutgers)

10:00 am:

10:30 am: Break

10:45 am: Amy Biddle (University of Delaware)

11:15 am: Danielle Smarsh/Laura Kenny (Penn State)

11:45 am:

12:15 pm: Wrap Up and Plan for August 19 by Mike Westendorf

12:30 pm: Adjourn

August 19

8:30 am: Plan for 2021 by Mike Westendorf (Mark Rieger, Robert Causey ??)

State Reports (please add your name to your preferred time)

9:00 am: Masoud Hashemi (Univ. of Massachusetts)

9:30 am: Krishona Martinson (Univ. of MN)

10:00 am: Carissa Wickens (Univ. of Florida)

10:30 am: Break

10:45 am: Mieke Holder and Bob Coleman (U Kentucky)

11:15 am:

11:45 am: Jennifer Weinert / Rutgers Report

12:15 pm: Wrap up and adjourn by Mike Westendorf

12:30 pm: Adjourn

Minutes Attachment:

NE1941 meeting minutes.docx

Accomplishments

Short-term outcomes: <ul> <li>Short courses and webinars continue to take place in all states:  These focus on pasture managment, manure management, farm management, nutrition, and environmental management.</li> <li>Farm Visits: These are greatly limited but continue to take place.  COVID Zoom farm visits have been attempted, but there are still some in-person farm visits post-COVID, with masking and social distancing procedures in place.</li> </ul> Outputs: <ul> <li>Evaluation of forage alternatives:</li> <ul> <li>Use of forage oats and crabgrass as a means to extend the grazing season.  (North Carolina)</li> <li>Summer re-growth of previously established Bermudagrass and ‘Quick n Big’ Crabgrass (CRB).  New Jersey)   CRB was very easy to establish and grew enough to graze through mid-Sept. Ideal forage to bridge the ‘summer slump’ gap which is in mid-July through mid-Sept.  The Sward Height, Herbage Mass and horse Carrying Capacity were greater during the summer slump months than the cool season sections and our cool-season control.  However, later in the fall there were no differences in these measures. The establishment of the CRB was very easy and establishes quite quickly. Good forage for even inter-seeding into an existing cool-season pasture.</li> <li>Study of pasture as a carbon sink.</li> </ul> <li>Hand-Held NIR</li> <ul> <li>Evaluation of Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) for use on-farm, as well as in research settings. Specific goals included to determine if estimates of nutritional composition are similar to wet chemistry methods.  The unit could accurately predict moisture, dry matter, CP, NDF, TDN, NEL, NEM, NEG, IVTD48, VDFD48, ME lb, ME kg, and TDN 1X. Unfortunately, the unit could not accurately predict NDFD48 and NFC. We are currently validating the unit with fresh alfalfa sampled in 2020. </li> </ul> <li>Equine Carcass Composting</li> <ul> <li>The goals of this research project are to demonstrate the ability to successfully compost equine carcasses during both summer and winter months, document concentrations of sodium pentobarbital throughout the composting process,  and educate horse owners and professionals on the process and benefits of equine carcass composting to encourage adoption.  To accomplish this, 4 horses were chemically euthanized and composted from September 26, 2019 to April 30, 2020 (“Winter”) and an additional 4 horses were chemically euthanized and composted starting on May 1, 2020 (“Summer”). The summer composting trial is ongoing. During the winter composting period, we found that piles reached >130F within the first few days. As temperatures declined, piles were turned around week 7 and piles reheated to >130F almost immediately after turning. Based on temperature and MN statute, piles were considered "composted" within 10 weeks (however, the trial continued for 7 months). Carcass degradation scores collected at the time of pile tuning (d 50) and after 7 months (d 217) confirmed horses could be successfully composted. Although euthanasia solution was detected at d 50 and d 217, amounts were significantly decreased from d 50 to d 217.</li> <li>Experience in Maine showed that farms may need to maintain a store of shavings to serve as bedding for mortality composting. On an impermeable surface this seems particularly important based on experience at UF where noxious fluid accumulated at the bottom of the pile on a concrete slab.</li> <li>Small farm composting projects.</li> </ul> <li>Studies of the fecal microbiome (New Jersey).  Characterize shifts in the fecal microbiota of horses grazing different forage types within integrated cool- and warm-season grass (CSG; WSG) pasture systems and to explore relationships between forage nutrients and microbial composition.  These results suggest that the equine hindgut microbiome is impacted by forage type and soluble carbohydrate content.</li> </ul> Activities: <ul> <li>Determine factors that equine producers use when making environmental decisions.  (New Jersey) <ul> <li>Online focus groups with equine producers and technical service providers - State Department of Agriculture, USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service, and Rutgers Cooperative Extension.</li> <li>Qualtrix survey e-mailed to equine producers in the State of New Jersey</li> <li>Participants: Carey Williams, Department of Animal Sciences; Ethan Schoolman, Department of Human Ecology; Gemma Parente, Animal Science undergraduate student; Michael Westendorf, Department of Animal Sciences</li> <li>Focus areas: <ul> <li>State regulations</li> <li>Manure management</li> <li>Streams and waterbodies on-farm</li> <li>Soil erosion and pasture management</li> <li>Mortality</li> </ul> </li> <li>Possibility of extensing to other states</li> </ul> </li> <li>Species comparison project evaluating environmental impact of feces from horses and cattle fed similar diets (Kentucky).</li> <li>Trace mineral supplementation: Effects on environmental impact characteristics of manure (Kentucky).</li> </ul> Milestones - Efforts of different states have reached a crritical mass of work in the two following areas.  In the future our group should consider extension and outreach progams related to these projects: <ul> <li>Forage alternatives.  Several states are working on different means of extending forages for use in the summer when forage growth may be inadequate and in the fall as fall supplies dwindle.  Use of alternatives such as warm season grasses or crabgrass have promise for providing extra summer forage.  If work continues to progress, this may lead to new recommendations for equine producers.</li> <li>Mortality composting.  Several states are working on the composting of mortalities.  Several years research indicate that  farms may need to maintain an adequate carbon source for making a compost bed to place mortalities for composting.  An impermeable surface for composting is also important.  More research is need about the destruction of euthanization drugs during composting.</li> </ul>

Publications

<ul> <li>Effects of grazing muzzles on behavior and physiological stress of individually housed miniature horses., Davis et al. 2020. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.</li> <li>Effects of grazing muzzles on voluntary exercise and physiological stress of a miniature horse herd., Davis et al. 2020. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.</li> <li>Relative traffic tolerance of warm-season turfgrasses and suitability for grazing by equine. Jaqueth et al. 2020. J. Equine Vet. Sci.</li> <li> Vasco, A.C., K. Brinkley-Bissinger, V.R. Paschoal, J.M. Bobel, L.K. Warren, C.L. Wickens. 2020. Fecal pH, dry matter, and volatile fatty acids of horses grazing legume-grass mixed pastures. Accepted for presentation at the American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting. Virtual Meeting, July 19-23. Vasco, A.C., A.M.A. Esquivel, E. Seals, F.Q. da Rosa, M.O. Wallau, L.K Warren, C.L. Wickens. 2020. Grazing behavior of horses managed on legume-grass mixed pastures. Accepted for presentation at the American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting. Virtual Meeting, July 19-23. Rivera-Melendez, F.P., M. Lusk, C. Wickens, J. Hinton, S. Bollin. 2020. Hillsborough County horse owners learn about manure management and benefits of composting. Accepted for presentation at the National Association of County Agricultural Agents Conference, Virginia Beach, VA. (Rescheduled to September 29-October 1 due to COVID-19). Trade publications: Vasco C., and C. Wickens. 2019. Importance of forage and forage testing. The Florida Horse (December issue):40-42. Available at: https://issuu.com/floridahorse/docs/fh_dec2019 Multi-media presentations: Hiney, K., C. Wickens, C. Williams, K. Martinson, B. Greene. 2019. Pasture peculiarities: The story of Florida, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Arizona. Extension Horse Tack Box Talk. Recorded December 19. Available at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pasture-peculiarities-story-florida-new-jersey-minnesota/id1492355719?i=1000460212446 109 downloads. Infographics: Created a series of 13 infographics on best management practices for equine operations with emphasis on appropriate manure management, composting of horse manure/stall waste, and water resource protection guidelines. Extension and Outreach Presentations: Wickens, C. 2020. Managing manure on equine operations through composting. Louisiana State University, Ag Center Webinar. Delivered April 22 via Zoom. 14 live webinar participants. Available at: https://youtu.be/pyOWCiGlnf8 (Oral). 14 YouTube views. 187 Facebook views. Wickens, C. 2020. Characterizing the impact of manure management practices on water quality: Composting at equine stock facilities project. Southwest Florida Water Management District Funded Project. Hernando County Ground Water Guardians Meeting. January 23, Brooksville, FL. (Oral)</li> </ul> Published: (Sustainability: Sustainability in the equine industry section) Ashley L. Fowler, Mieke Brümmer-Holder, and Karl A. Dawson.  Dietary Trace Mineral Level and Source Affect Fecal Bacterial Mineral Incorporation and Mineral Leaching Potential of Equine Feces.  Sustainability: 2019, 11, 7107; doi:10.3390/su11247107 Submitted: (Sustainability: Sustainability in the equine industry section) Ashley L. Fowler, Mieke Brummer-Holder, and Karl A. Dawson. Trace mineral leaching from equine compost Accepted Abstract (Poster): World Sustainability Forum (September 15th – 17th, 2020) A.L. Fowler, M. Brummer-Holder, and K.A. Dawson. A comparison of mineral leaching from equine feces and equine-sourced compost Williams, C. A., L. B. Kenny, J. R. Weinert, K. Sullivan, W. Meyer, and M. G. Robson. 2020. Effects of twenty-seven months of rotational vs. continuous grazing on horses and pasture condition. Transl. Anim. Sci. 4:1-17.  doi: 10.1093/tas/txaa084 Weinert, J. R., A. Biddle, C. A. Williams.  2020.  Fecal Microbiome of Horses Grazing Integrated Warm- and Cool-Season Grass Rotational Pasture Systems. ASAS abstract.

Impact Statements

Educational impacts due to COVID-19. Limitations in farm visits and outreach led to the use of other educational methods. Several states adapted online educational methods. New Jersey had nine separated webinars focused on equine/livestock related topics such as pasture management, hay production, manure management, and the effects of COVID-19. These were attended by 378 participants. Other institutions also implemented similar meetings. These online meetings were effective and attended by farm more people than face-to-face meetings would have been. The impact is that we adapted and provided effective programming.

Date of Annual Report: 12/06/2021

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 08/17/2021 - 08/18/2021
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2020 - 09/30/2021

Participants

Carissa Wickens, University of Florida,
Masoud Hashemi, University of Massachusetts
Bob Coleman, University of Kentucky
Krishona Martinson, University of Minnesota
Robert Causey, University of Maine
Carey Williams, Rutgers University
Jennifer Weinert, Rutgers University
Paul Siciliano, North Carolina State University
Laura Kenny, Pennsylvania State University
Danielle Smarsh, Pennsylvania State University
Robin Brumfield, Rutgers University
Mike Westendorf, Rutgers University
Gemma Parente, Rutgers University
Amy Burk, University of Maryland

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

2021 NE-1941 Minutes.docx

Accomplishments

Pennsylvania Accomplishments The Equine Environmental Stewardship Short Course was transformed into a virtual workshop using Zoom with 4 two-hour sessions. There were 29 registrants from 6 different states. Overall, the short course was successful, with positive evaluations and high impact on several planned behavior changes. This course is also being transformed into an asynchronous online course in partnership with our Digital Education team. Several webinars were delivered on various pasture management topics. On April 20, 2021, “Pasture Seeding and Soil Testing” had 47 live attendees. On April 22, 2021, “Spring Pasture Management” had 37 attendees. On June 23, 2021, “Horse Pasture Management Tips” had 35 attendees. A new initiative has been a phone hotline intended for the Amish community to receive educational livestock information while in-person meetings were suspended. The PSU team records a 3-minute horse-related message every Sunday. They cover horse care, diseases, pasture management, nutrition, and facilities. Most weeks we receive a minimum of 5 calls to the hotline and up to 26 calls. Maine We have begun applying GPS technology to study equine grazing behavior. Specifically, as part of student project, we have improved resolution of GPS tracking to 1 meter using a 1 second interval. By correlating GPS data with behavioral observations, we appear to be able to distinguish between resting, grazing and walking. By adding 3 axis (x, y, and z) accelerometer to the halter we may be able to improve our interpretation of GPS data, allowing us to identify sick, lame, and estrous animals. Ultimately this could lead to realtime transmission of data to a users cell phone. Maryland In 2020, Dr. Amanda Grev and Dr. Amy Burk received a 3-year $78k NE SARE Grant titled “Implementing Rotational Grazing Practices on Livestock Operations in Maryland” whereby we visit farms and provide plans and tips on proper grazing and pasture management. In 2020, Dr. Burk coordinated a 7 week online webinar series titled “Zoom-ing in on Healthy Horses Webinar Series” featuring talks by Univ. of MD Extension faculty on soil testing, nutrient management, managing pastures with all talks archived on our UME Horse Extension YouTube channel. North Carolina State An experiment was conducted to compare differences in equine grazing behavior and pasture utilization between continuous grazing (CG) or management intensive grazing (MIG) systems.  In conclusion, the MIG system had a greater potential to increase the number of grazing days thereby increasing the efficiency of pasture use. A course in livestock grazing management was designed and implemented.  This course is an overview of scientific principles applied in managing grazing livestock species (e.g., beef cattle, horses, sheep and goats) with an emphasis on promoting animal health, plant health and production efficiency.  Topics include grazing behavior of livestock, nutritional aspects of pasture, effect of grazing on plant and soil health, plant identification, pasture allocation, pasture systems for each livestock specie (beef cattle, horse, sheep and goats), multi-specie grazing systems, watering systems, fencing, and economics of grazing.  The course was conducted as hybrid using asynchronous online lectures and one three-hour lab per week. Delaware Parasite management In the area of parasite reduction, we completed and published our study of the reemergence patterns of cyathostomin species following deworming. In this study we identified specific cyathostomin species that were recalcitrant to anthelmintic treatment. The identification of specific species that are sensitive and resistant to each class of de-wormers, and the mechanisms of their responses is underway. This data will provide new targets for the control of cyathostomins in horses. The goal of our second study is to identify genetic factors associated with cyathostomin sensitivity and resistance to de-wormers. We are currently optimizing culture, counting, and separation protocols to collect living and dead larvae following exposure to high/low anthelmintic concentrations. Here we will determine not only which species of cyathostomins are more sensitive to each treatment, but also track the transcriptional response. This work will provide new targets for anthelmintic drug discovery. A third study to identify climate factors contributing to the success of cyathostomin species has leveraged the sampling effort of the Equine Microbiome Project to obtain data nationwide from climate zones 4-10. Correlating species prevalence with climate factors such as precipitation, humidity, and temperature will inform deworming strategies and management practices designed to prevent cyathostomins. A fourth study is under development with the collaboration of Michelle DeBoer from UWRF. We are developing a grant proposal for fall submission to measure the reduction of L3 larval load in pastures following popular management techniques: grazing rotation by small ruminants, manure spreading/dragging, manure removal and mowing. The last study comes from the Equine Microbiome Project, a collection of fecal samples and metadata from horses nationwide. My lab has been using this database to generate and test hypotheses regarding the impact of factors on the equine microbiome. Analysis of 254 horses with no noted metabolic issues revealed that the gut communities of horses with access to grass were more diverse in numbers and types of microbes. The core microbiomes (90% cutoff) of horses with no access to grass was enriched in Proteobacteria, Spirochaetes, and Synergistes, while those with access to grass contained Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Fibrobacter. This data points to deeper questions about the impact of different grass types, seasons, growing rates and other questions. 2021    Poseidon Equine, Australia; Presentation:  Horse health and the gut microbiome 2020    On Course Equine Nutrition Seminar, Zoom Webinar; Presentation: The Equine Microbiome Project Two educational videos were produced to highlight Best Management practices at the University of Delaware’s Webb Farm. The first was filmed in the spring with emphasis on pasture rotation, manure management, and cool/warm season grasses for beef cattle and horses. The second will be filmed in late August to illustrate sustainable weed control measures such as the use of drought tolerant summer annuals (buckwheat, hemp, sunflowers) as highly palatable and pollinator friendly smother crops. Rutgers Animal waste is an issue that prevails in the animal industry and is widely understood as a problem on traditional livestock operations. In New Jersey, an animal industry that is very widespread and successful is the equine industry. This industry is widespread in the state and has the potential for great impact due to animal wastes. The issue that animal waste poses is that of nutrient pollution, which can devastate ecosystems and contribute to greater environmental damage. This research team wanted to understand the practices utilized by the equine community in NJ and to do so conducted a survey of equine operations. An observational survey study for the purpose of gathering data on the adopted practices and awareness of animal waste management regulations on equine farms in New Jersey. Selected participants were contacted via various channels to reach equine farmers.  Organizations such as the Rutgers Equine Science Center and the NJ Equine Advisory Board were influential in connecting participants to the survey.  This survey indicated areas where organizations such as cooperative extension can provide outreach to equine farmers in topics such as manure composting, carcass disposal, and runoff prevention.

Publications

Publications, Pennsylvania State University <ul> <li>Kenny, L.B. and Smarsh, D.S. 2021. Comparison of program evaluations for an extension short course offered in-person and virtually. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 100. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103593">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103593</a></li> <li>Kenny, L.B. 2021. Managing Horse Pasture During and After a Drought. Online. <a href="https://extension.psu.edu/managing-horse-pasture-during-and-after-a-drought">https://extension.psu.edu/managing-horse-pasture-during-and-after-a-drought</a></li> <li>Orr, E and Kenny, L. 2021. Rotational Grazing. Inforgraphic.</li> </ul> Publications, University of Maryland <ol> <li>Davis*, K., M. Iwaniuk, R. Dennis, P. Harris, and Burk. 2020. Effects of grazing muzzles on behavior and physiological stress of individually housed miniature horses. Appl. Anim. Beh. Sci. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105067">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105067</a>.</li> <li>Davis*, K., M. Iwaniuk, R. Dennis, P. Harris, and Burk. 2020. Effects of grazing muzzles on voluntary exercise and physiological stress of a miniature horse herd. Appl. Anim. Beh. Sci. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105108">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105108</a>.</li> <li>Jaqueth*, A.L., T.R. Turner, M.E. Iwaniuk, B.J. McIntosh, and O. Burk. 2020. Relative traffic tolerance of warm-season turfgrasses and suitability for grazing by equine. J. Equine Vet. Sci. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103244">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103244</a>.</li> </ol> Publications (Robin Brumfield, Rutgers University) Refereed Journal Articles (Published): Knuth, Melinda J., Hayk Khachatryan, Charles R. Hall, Marco A. Palma, Alan W. Hodges, Ariana P. Torres, and Robin G. Brumfield. 2021. Trade Flows within the United States Nursery Industry in 2018. J. Environ. Hort. 39(2):77–90.  Abstracts of papers presented at professional meetings (Published): Brumfield, Robin G., Surendran Arumugam, Arend-Jan Both, Madeline Flahive Di Nardo, Ramu Govindasamy, Deborah Greenwood, Joseph Heckman, Nicholas Polanin, Ashaki A. Rouff1, Amy Rowe, and Richard VanVranken. 2021. A Successful Educational Program for Women Producers, Beginning Farmers, and Military Veterans That Helped Address Farm Risks during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Paper presented at the 2021 Annual Conference of the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), Hybrid, Denver, CO, August 5-9, 2021. Dube, Ahmed Kasim, Robin G. Brumfield and Burhan Özkan. 2021. The Effects of the Market Outlet on Welfare of Smallholder Horticultural Producers in Ethiopia. Paper presented at the 2021 Annual Conference of the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), Hybrid, Denver, CO, August 5-9, 2021. Wei, Xuan, Hayk Khachatryan, Ariana P. Torres, Robin G. Brumfield, Alan Hodges, Marco Palma, and Charles R. Hall. 2021. Exploring Firms’ Marketing Choices in the US Ornamental Horticulture Industry. Paper presented at the 2021 Annual Conference of the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), Hybrid, Denver, CO, August 5-9, 2021. Symposium Proceedings Articles (Published): Brumfield, R.G.2021. Building Financial Resilience During Tough Times. New Jersey Vegetable Growers’ Meeting. Atlantic City, NJ, February 22-25, 2021, Virtual. Pp. 20-21. <a href="https://nj-vegetable-crops-online-resources.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-VGANJ-Proceedings-Book.pdf">https://nj-vegetable-crops-online-resources.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-VGANJ-Proceedings-Book.pdf</a>.  Brumfield, R.G.2021. Constructing and Interpreting a Balance Sheet. New Jersey Vegetable Growers’ Meeting. Atlantic City, NJ, February 22-25, 2021, Virtual. Pp. 22. <a href="https://nj-vegetable-crops-online-resources.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-VGANJ-Proceedings-Book.pdf">https://nj-vegetable-crops-online-resources.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-VGANJ-Proceedings-Book.pdf</a>. Brumfield, R.G.2021. Managing Risks Using 3 Key Ratios from Your Balance Sheet. New Jersey Vegetable Growers’ Meeting. Atlantic City, NJ, February 22-23, 2021, Virtual. Pp. 23. <a href="https://nj-vegetable-crops-online-resources.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-VGANJ-Proceedings-Book.pdf">https://nj-vegetable-crops-online-resources.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-VGANJ-Proceedings-Book.pdf</a>. Brumfield, R.G.2021. Income Statement: Measuring Profitability. New Jersey Vegetable Growers’ Meeting. Atlantic City, NJ, February 22-25, 2021, Virtual. Pp. 23-25. <a href="https://nj-vegetable-crops-online-resources.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-VGANJ-Proceedings-Book.pdf">https://nj-vegetable-crops-online-resources.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-VGANJ-Proceedings-Book.pdf</a>. Brumfield, R.G.2021. Building Financial Resilience During Tough Times. New Jersey Vegetable Growers’ Meeting. Atlantic City, NJ, February 22-25, 2021, Virtual. Pp. 20-21. <a href="https://nj-vegetable-crops-online-resources.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-VGANJ-Proceedings-Book.pdf">https://nj-vegetable-crops-online-resources.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-VGANJ-Proceedings-Book.pdf</a>. Govindasamy, R., S. Arumugam, R. Brumfield. 2021. Marketing Tools for Small Businesses. New Jersey Vegetable Growers’ Meeting. Atlantic City, NJ, January 16-18, 2007, Virtual. Pp. 13-16. <a href="https://nj-vegetable-crops-online-resources.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-VGANJ-Proceedings-Book.pdf">https://nj-vegetable-crops-online-resources.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-VGANJ-Proceedings-Book.pdf</a>. Brumfield, Robin G. and Burhan Özkan. 2020. Empowering Women Farmers and Their Families. Proceedings of Conference on Women Empowerment in the World,  Pp. 375-389. Virtual, December 26-27, 2020. ISBN 978-93-5437-392-3. Brumfield, Robin G., Deborah Greenwood, Madeline Flahive DiNardo, Arend-Jan Both, Joseph R, Heckman, Ramu Govindasamy, Nicholas Polanin, Ashaki A. Rouff, Amy Rowe, Richard VanVranken, and Surendran Arumugam. 2020. Farming in New Jersey’s Cities and the Urban Fringe: A successful educational program for women producers, beginning farmers, and military veterans. 2020. Proceedings of  Conference on Women Empowerment in the World,  Pp. 355-363. Virtual, December 26-27,2020. ISBN 978-93- Refereed Journal Articles (Pending): Brumfield, R.G., D. Greenwood, M. Flahive DiNardo, A.J. Both, J.R. Heckman, R. Govindasamy, N. Polanin, A.A. Rouff, A. Rowe, R. VanVranken, and S. Arumugam. 202x. A non-parametric approach to evaluate a risk management-training program designed to empower women farmers in New Jersey. Submitted for publication to Vimarsh Journal. Gottlieb, Paul D.,  Robin G. Brumfield, Raul I. Cabrera, Daniel Farnsworth, and Lucas Marxen. 202x. An Online Tool for Estimating Return-on-Investment for Water Recycling at Nurseries.  (Submitted for publication to HortTechnology). Greenwood, D., R.G. Brumfield, M. Flahive DiNardo, A.J. Both, J.R. Heckman, N. Polanin, A. Rouff, A. Rowe, and R. VanVranken. 202x. Annie’s Project: Farming in New Jersey’s Cities and the Urban Fringe. Submitted for review to the Journal of Extension. Wei, Xuan, Hayk Khachatryan, Ariana P. Torres, Robin G. Brumfield, Alan Hodges, Marco Palma, and Charles R. Hall. 202x. Exploring Firms’ Marketing Choices in the US Ornamental Horticulture Industry (Submitted for publication to Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics). Publications (University of Florida) Peer Reviewed Publications: Vasco, A.C., J.C.B Dubeux, M.O. Wallau, C.L. Wickens, L.K. Warren. 2020. Characterization of forage utilization and pasture management practices on Florida horse operations. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 95:103253. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103253">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103253</a> Abstracts: Vasco, A.C., A.S. Morrison, K.J. Brinkley-Bissinger, J.M. Bobel, J.C.B Dubeux, L.K. Warren, C.L. Wickens. 2021. Intake, digestibility, and nitrogen balance in horses fed rhizoma peanut hay. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 100:103513. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103513">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103513</a> Submitted to Journal of Animal Science, recommended for publication following minor revisions (Editor decision received August 9, 2021). Multi-media presentations: Hiney, K., C. Wickens. 2021. Manure and Ivermectin. Extension Horses Tack Box Talk. Recorded May 7. Available at: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/manure-and-ivermectin-the-story-of/id1492355719?i=1000520771357">&lrm;Tack Box Talk: Manure and Ivermectin: The Story of answering listener questions! on Apple Podcasts</a>. Listeners: 205. Hiney, K., C. Wickens, J. Schmidt. 2021. Manure Mountains: The story of turning horse apples into black gold. Extension Horses Tack Box Talk. Recorded April 27. Available at: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/manure-mountains-the-story-of-turning-horse-apples/id1492355719?i=1000518762424">&lrm;Tack Box Talk: Manure Mountains: The Story of turning horse apples into black gold on Apple Podcasts</a>. Listeners: 147. Composting: An effective manure management strategy. Video. 2020. Created and delivered as part of the virtual UF/IFAS Equine Institute and Allied Trade Show. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3PnBA6OpQM&list=PLeMRfitORl-ffMHBFxmy0G06-nC3guATH&index=4">Compost - YouTube</a>. Live attendees: 75, YouTube views: 27. Honors/Awards: Bainum, C.L., M. Brew, C. Wickens. 2021. Equine Best Management Practices Program. National Association of County Agricultural Agents, National Finalist and Winner of the Southern Region Search for Excellence in Environmental Quality, Forestry, and Natural Resources Award. <a href="https://www.nacaa.com/awards/apps/display_award.php?id=15113-20222">Caitlin L. Bainum - Search for Excellence in Environmental Quality, Forestry and Natural Resources (nacaa.com)</a> Grants: Bainum, C.L., C.L. Wickens. Equine manure management through composting: A look at compost system design and management. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Agricultural Water Policy, Mini-grant Program. Funding period: 2020-2021. Amount: $3,643. Project provided materials to assemble a three-bin compost management system on a cooperator equine site in Marion County, FL (Hillcrest School), display educational signage, and conduct a composting Delaware Johnson, A.C.B, Biddle, A.S. 2021. The Use of Molecular Profiling to Track Equine Reinfection Rates of Cyathostomin Species Following Anthelmintic Administration. animals. 11(5), 1345.https://doi.org/10.3390/ ani111051345 Tavenner, M., McDonnell, S., Biddle, AS. 2020. Development of the equine hindgut microbiome in semi-feral and domestic conventionally-managed foals. Animal Microbiome. 2:43. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s42523-020-00060-6">https://doi.org/10.1186/s42523-020-00060-6</a> Blair, J and Biddle, AS. 2020. Stimulating Duddingtonia flagrans chlamydospore production through dehydration. Parasitology Research. 119:123-128.

Impact Statements

6. Delaware. Progress has been made toward the objectives for the Environmental Impacts of Equine Operations objectives in three areas: 1. Parasitology: Identifying cyathostomin species that are resistant to anthelmintics and the genetic mechanisms of resistance will lead to new targets for control. 2. Pasture management: Highlighting the Best Practices underway at the University of Delaware Webb Farm through educational videos will enable students to understand how to better manage pastures for horses in the MidAtlantic region. Testing hypotheses regarding pasture management strategies for cyathostomin control will point to strategies with evidence for effectiveness. 3. Identifying specific drivers for equine gut microbiome structure and function, specifically the impact of grass in the diet provides evidence for the importance of forage for horse welfare and the necessity for maintaining healthy pastures.

Date of Annual Report: 11/30/2022

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 08/15/2022 - 08/18/2022
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2021 - 09/30/2022

Participants

Mike Westendorf, Rutgers University
Carey Williams, Rutgers University
Masoud Hashemi, University of Massachusetts
Cassandra K. Uricchio, University of Massachusetts
Amy Burk, University of Maryland
Laura Kenny, Pennsylvania State University
Danielle Smarsh, Pennsylvania State University

Online:
Carissa Wickens, University of Florida
Amy Biddle, University of Delaware

Brief Summary of Minutes

NE-1941

2022

PA State Report

Fundamentals of Equine Pasture Management virtual course
- 68 registrants
- 26 PA counties, 8 states
- 91-96% intend to use information learned
- Over 50% of evaluation respondents plan to complete following practices within 2 years:
  - Rest pastures after grazing for 2 or more weeks
  - Develop a rotational grazing system and/or subdivide large pastures for rotation
  - Soil test every 3 years
  - Apply lime/fertilizer based on soil test results
  - Identify forages present in pastures
  - Select new forages to seed in pastures
  - Identify weeds in pastures
  - Choose herbicides based on weeds present & spray at the right time
  - Evaluate pasture condition at least annually
  - Overseed a pasture
  - Reestablish a pasture
- Farm visits which include any of the following topics: pasture management, weed control, toxic weed ID, and soil & hay sampling
- 3 Pasture Walk Workshops, 40 total registrants
- 2 Conservation District collaborative workshops, 19 total attendees
- 3 Pasture-focused webinars, 479 registrants
- Other focus areas:
  - Horse hay
  - Parasite control
  - Tick control
  - Educating new horse owners
  - Amish phone hotline for general horse management advice

Amy Biddle, University of Delaware

A brief synopsis of your research and outreach work completed on the NE-1941 project: Project 1: Work on cyathostomin resistance included optimizing culture conditions and collection of larvae from three levels of moxidectin, pyrantel, and fenbendazole. RNA is being extracted for RNA-Seq analysis to identify resistance mechanisms. Project 2: Black soldier fly (BSF) consumption of equine manure to investigate waste reduction and reduction of cyathostomin larval load. BSF were cultured on equine feces from high and low shedding horses. Fecal egg and larval counts were measured in addition to waste reduction compared with control feeding through the larval life cycle. Feasibility for developing BSF systems for people with a few horses to grow supplemental feed for household chicken flocks.

An impact statement for your work: Project 1 will point to mechanisms of resistance as potential targets for the development of more effective and efficient dewormer drugs with less environmental impact. Project 2 demonstrates the potential for using BSF larvae to convert horse manure into a protein source for chickens while reducing cyathostomin worm burden.

A list of publications: None to report.

University of Massachusetts

The research related to NE-1941 during 2021 and 2022 was focused on two themes as follows:

Reducing environmental impacts of equine operations through implementation and education of Best Management Practices. For this research activity, two pilot equine operations were selected and several BMPs were implemented. The BMPs included, the installation of gutters and French Drains to direct clean roof water into the ground to prevent mud, rotational grazing to prevent overgrazing, an aerated composting system to manage collected barn wastes, and excluding animals from wetlands and streams.

Pasture management and extending grazing seasons. For this section, a series of pasture management and grazing systems were presented and recorded. The list of these workshops follows:

Webinar series on Pasture management. Recorded and now available to view online.

Summer Annuals with Caleb Goossen of MOFGA https://ag.umass.edu/crops-dairy-livestock-equine/videos/grazing-forage-seasonextension-webinar-series-summer-annuals-with-caleb-goossen-of-mofga

No-Till Pasture Improvement with Rick Kersbergen of UMaine Extension. https://ag.umass.edu/cafe/videos/grazing-forage-season-extension-webinar-seriesimproving-pastures-with-no-till-methods-with-rick

Brassicas and other cool-season annuals with Heather Darby of UVM Extension. https://ag.umass.edu/crops-dairy-livestock-equine/videos/brassicas-other-cool-season -annuals-with-heather-darby

Stockpiling with Troy Bishopp: 60 Days From Your Fall Feeding Plan https://ag.umass.edu/crops-dairy-livestock-equine/videos/stockpiling-with-troybishopp-60-days-from-your-fall-feeding-plan

Carey Williams, Rutgers University

Traditional cool-season grass pastures in temperate regions of the Northeast United States typically experience low productivity in summer months. This "summer slump" results in increased expense for horse operations associated with costly supplemental feed. Grazing strategies incorporating warm-season grasses, which produce high yields in hot summer months,

into traditional systems have shown little economic advantage in cattle. Due to differences in nutritional management goals and drivers of enterprise profitability in equine operations, integrated systems may have greater utility for horse producers. However, little published research exists in grazing of warm-season grasses by horses. This project will investigate the

potential for increased pasture productivity through implementation of integrated, sequentially grazed cool and warm-season horse pasture systems. Three rotational grazing systems (1. traditional cool-season, 2. bermudagrass integrated into cool season, and 3. crabgrass integrated into cool-season) will be evaluated under grazing by twelve adult Standardbred horses

over a full grazing season. Productivity will be assessed by measuring forage yield and persistence of planted forage varieties. This project will also evaluate the effect of test forage (bermudagrass or crabgrass) and establishment method (inter-seeding or monoculture) on productivity, forage nutritive value, and horse body condition. Finally, this project will determine if this grazing strategy would provide an economic advantage to horse producers. Costs of establishing and maintaining pasture systems will be compared with supplemental feed expense. Results of this project will inform equine grazing management decisions with the goal of improving economic sustainability of horse operations in the Northeast US.

Pasture Management Objective

Conservation of forage through application of grazing schemes that allocate time and space available for grazing may lend to facilitating a greater uniformity of forage supply throughout the year through stockpiling of both cool- and warm-season pasture plants during times of peak production. Additionally, the incorporation of cool and warm-season annuals to complement perennial pasture may be a useful approach to increasing productivity per acre and extending animal grazing days. An increase in forage productivity per unit of pasture area along with improvement of uniformity of forage supply throughout the year should also decrease chances of overgrazing which in turn should have positive impacts on soil health.

Objectives:

Identify grazing management schemes that promote uniformity in forage supply across annual grazing cycles and extend the number of available grazing days.

Determine the effect of incorporating warm- and cool-season annuals that complement existing perennial pasture productivity per acre and number of horse grazing days.

Explore alternative forage species to extend the grazing season.

Undertake a survey about equine environmental management that can be given in any of the participating states.

Educate agency personnel (USDA-NRCS, county Conservation Districts, etc.) about the horse industry, horse farm management, and recommended practices for horse farms to empower them to work more comfortably and effectively with farm owners.

Increase access to environmental stewardship information and recommendations from research for horse farm owners and managers through online content and face-to-face trainings and demonstrations.

This year objectives under 1-3 are completed. Due to COVID some things had to be altered or shortened. Everything has been analyzed and the process of writing journal articles, meeting abstracts is ongoing. A doctoral dissertation is also complete for a PhD student to confer their degree in Jan. 2022.

Objective #4: is also completed in terms of the survey and the data collection. An undergraduate honors project utilized this data and it is currently being re-analyzed and written up into a journal article and possible factsheet.

For objective #5 webinars have been underway with NRCS personnel and other professional agencies. As for # objective 6, outreach is utilizing as many webinar or other online venues as possible), utilizing results from this project.

Accomplishments

Publications

University of Florida Peer Reviewed Publications: Vasco, A.C.C.M, K.J. Brinkley-Bissinger, J.M. Bobel, J.C.B Dubeux, Jr., L.K. Warren, C.L. Wickens. 2021. Digestibility and nitrogen and water balance in horses fed rhizoma peanut hay. J. Anim. Sci. 99(11):skab284. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab284">https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab284</a> Abstracts: Vasco, C.M., L. Silva, K. Mullenix, L.L. Dillard, C. Wickens, L.K. Warren. 2022. 56 Characterization of pasture management by horse operation purposes in Florida. J. Anim. Sci. 100(Issue Suppl. 1):4-5. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac028.007">https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac028.007</a> Multi-media presentations and other creative works: Wickens, C. 2022. Equine manure & pasture best management practices. UF Research YouTube Channel. Produced by Jessica Wells. Posted February 17. Available at: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JZ9oStOWr4">Equine Manure & Pasture Best Management Practices - YouTube</a>. Views: 23. Wickens, C., M. Lusk. 2022. Equine BMPs mobile responsive website. Developed in collaboration with AUSTN Ltd. and UF IFAS Web Services. Available at: <a href="https://animal.ifas.ufl.edu/equinebmps/">https://animal.ifas.ufl.edu/equinebmps/</a> Grants: Bainum, C.L., T. Wilson, C.L. Wickens. Improving best management practices on equine operations through establishment of mixed warm-season grass-legume pastures: A model for facilitating peer-to-peer learning. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Agricultural Water Policy, Mini-grant Program. Funding period: 2021-2022. Amount: $9,317.   Rutgers University <ol> <li>*Kenny, L. B., D. Gimenez, J. S. Caplan, A. Al-Sarraji, M. Alhilo, M. G. Robson, W. Meyer, A. Williams. 2022. Rotational grazing reduces equine trampling effects on macropore infiltration. Soil Tillage Res. 225:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.still.2022.105539</li> <li>*Weinert-Nelson, J. R., A. Biddle, and A. Williams. 2022. Fecal microbiome of horses transitioning between warm-season and cool-season grass pasture within integrated rotational grazing systems. Ani. Microbiome. 4:41. doi: 10.1186/s42523-022-00192-x</li> <li>*Weinert-Nelson, J. R., W. Meyer, and A. Williams. 2022. Crabgrass as an equine pasture forage: impact of establishment method on yield, nutrient composition, and horse preference. Transl. Anim. Sci. 6:1-12. doi: 10.1093/tas/txac050</li> <li>*Weinert-Nelson, J. R., W. Meyer, and A. Williams. 2022. Diurnal variation in forage nutrient composition of mixed cool-season grass, crabgrass, and Bermudagrass pasture forage. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 110:1-6.  doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103836</li> </ol>   Extension Factsheets <ol> <li>*Weinert-Nelson, J., C. Dolan*, and Williams. 2022.  Non-structural Carbohydrates and Equine Warm-season Grass Pastures. Rutgers Cooperative Extension. FS1340. New Brunswick, NJ. pp. 1-6. </li> <li>*Weinert-Nelson, J., and Williams. 2021.  Crabgrass Integration in New Jersey Horse Pastures. Rutgers Cooperative Extension. FS1339. New Brunswick, NJ. pp. 1-5. </li> </ol>

Impact Statements

Rutgers University Impact Statement: Equine Stewardship Program. Environmentally friendly farms give the consumer greater confidence in the environmental sustainability of agriculture and encourages public support for the industry. The Gold Medal Horse Farm Award gives recognition to the most outstanding equine farms and their environmental sustainability and management. All New Jersey horse farm owners are invited to apply for the award - https://esc.rutgers.edu/research/ryders-lane-farm/educational-programs/gold-medal-horse-farm/. The criteria for selection are 1. Controlling animal access to streams and other water bodies; 2. Storing manure at least 100 linear feet from surface waters; 3. Applying manure using proper nutrient management practices; 4. Minimizing odors from manure storage and application areas; 5. Optimizing the beneficial use of nutrients from manure and bedding materials; and 6. Having a biosecurity program in place to minimize disease risk. The selection is completed by a team representing Rutgers Cooperative Extension, the Rutgers University Equine Science Center, and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. Farms receiving the highest scores will receive a Gold Medal Equine Farm plaque to be displayed on their farm. This program was initiated in 2012. Eleven farms have been selected for this environmental stewardship as of 2022. Past award recipients include breeding, training, pleasure, boarding, and public (university and park) farms. This program has had positive implications for the New Jersey equine industry as there is interest in the farms that have been selected and increased awareness in environmental stewardship on equine farms.

Date of Annual Report: 11/20/2023

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 08/14/2023 - 08/15/2023
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2022 - 09/30/2023

Participants

Michael Westendorf, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Carey Williams, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Amy Burk, University of Maryland
Krishona Martinson, University of Minnesota
Paul Sicilliano
Danielle Smarsh, Penn State University
Robert Causey, University of Maine
Amy Biddle, University of Delaware

Brief Summary of Minutes

Future Project Discussions:

We had a long discussion about the future of the Multi-State Project: NE-1941 "Enviromental Impacts of Equine Operations. We have one-year remaining on the current five-year approval. This project was initialted in 2009 as NE-1041, continued in 2014 as NE-1441, and now as NE-1941.

Most of the individuals taking part in the discussion were either conducting less equine environmental or pasture management work than in previous years or had other responsibilities at their institutions. Current project leadership will need to change in future years.

We discussed broadening the project to include other species (small-ruminant) or other grazing related work (such as agri-voltaics).

All agreed tthat the current projects, NE-1041, NE-1441, and NE-1941 have been successsful. These have resulted in good research and extension programs at each individual institution and have allowed good cooperation among the group.

It was agreed to complete the current five-year plan in 2024.

No revision of this project is planned.

A new proposal in a related equine research area will be discussed.

NE-1941

2023

Pennsylvania State Report

Fundamentals of Equine Pasture Management: York County, PA
- 11 registrants
- 4 PA counties
- 100% intend to use information learned (n= 8)
- 100% of evaluation respondents plan to complete at least one of the following practices within 2 years:
  - Develop a rotational grazing system and/or subdivide large pastures for rotation
  - Soil test every 3 years
  - Apply lime/fertilizer based on soil test results
  - Identify forages present in pastures
  - Select new forages to seed in pastures
  - Identify weeds in pastures
  - Choose herbicides based on weeds present & spray at the right time
  - Evaluate pasture condition at least annually
  - Overseed a pasture
  - Reestablish a pasture
  - Use sacrifice lots to keep horses off pasture when needed
- More specific outcomes are listed on the next page of this report.

Farm visits including pasture management, weed control, toxic weed ID, and soil & hay sampling

3 Pasture Walk Workshops, 55 total registrants

1 collaboration with USDA-NRCS: Equine Grazing Train the Trainer (n = 20)

9 invited talks/interviews for other organizations

2 Pasture-focused webinars, 466 registrants

Other focus areas:
- Horse hay
- Parasite control
- Tick control
- Educating new horse owners
- Equine First Aid workshops

1 national award: Search for Excellence Award in Environmental Quality, Forestry and Natural Resources. “Improving Environmental Stewardship on Equine Farms.” National Association of County Ag Agents.

Publications:

Program: Fundamentals of Equine Pasture Management

The objective of this program is to educate equine farm owners about pasture management to improve the quality of pastures and mitigate environmental concerns associated with horse pastures. 10 people from 4 Pennsylvania counties registered for the full-day in-person course in September 2022.

Most participants were recreational/hobby farm owners. The average size of farm was 10.3 acres with 4.1 horses. Self-assessed pasture quality was rated 3.0 on a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high). Overall knowledge increase was rated on the same scale as 4.4.

All evaluation respondents (n=8) reported that they will adopt practices as a result of the course.

Expected impact was measured by asking participants whether they will adopt certain practices covered in the course within the next two years. Other options presented were “Already do this” and “Will not adopt this practice.” 100% of respondents reported that they will adopt 9 different practices, including:

Practice	% Planning to Complete within 2 Years
Develop a rotational grazing system and/or subdivide large pastures for rotation	63
Soil test every 3 years	63
Apply lime/fertilizer based on soil test results	100
Identify forages present in pastures	88
Identify weeds in pastures	75
Choose herbicides based on weeds present & spray at the right time	75
Evaluate pasture condition at least annually	50
Overseed a pasture	88
Use sacrifice lots to keep horses off pasture when needed	75

Adopting these practices will help to improve pastures and consequently improve environmental stewardship on these farms.

Delaware

Problem:

Pastures and manure provide routes of transmission for equine parasites (cyathostomins) which affect horse health. Understanding the mechanisms of anthelmintic resistance of parasites and the use of novel strategies (black soldier fly larvae) for manure management were the two aspects of the project we are working on.

Activities:

We concluded RNA-Seq experiments to identify genes that are differentially expressed in cyathostomins that survive three levels of anthelmintic treatment. Three major classes of anthelmintics were evaluated, and a manuscript of the results is in preparation.

We evaluated black soldier fly larvae as a method for manure management by comparing growth parameters and gut bacterial composition when grown on horse manure vs standard media. Additionally, we measured a drop in cyathostomin egg and larval counts for manure that had been treated with black soldier fly larvae. A manuscript of these results is in preparation.

Benefit for Target audience:

Genes related to resistance will be evaluated as potential targets to increase the long-term efficacy of the anthelmintics currently available to horse owners and veterinarians. Since no new formulations are under development it is important to extend the impact of those already available.

Black soldier fly larvae can be used to convert nutrients in manure to high quality protein for poultry feed as part of a manure management plan for backyard/ small producers.

Benefit for Public audience:

Anthelmintics that perform better and are not subject to resistance will enable more effective parasite management for horse owners and veterinarians.

Black soldier fly larvae can be used to convert nutrients in manure to high quality protein for poultry feed as part of a manure management plan for backyard/ small producers.

Florida

Extension Programming:

Equine Best Management Practices Workshop, Martin County, FL. March 31, 2023.

Program outcomes:

Evidence of knowledge gain, with an average pre-test score of 37% increasing to 64% for the post-test.

People felt their knowledge of soil fertility and composting increased, as did their ability to manage a manure pile.

They mostly stated they came into the program already with a high level of importance placed on manure management.

10 out of 10 respondents said they “definitely” or “probably” plan to do something new as a result of what they learned. Specific practices they intend to adopt include:

2 will rotate horses among pastured areas to encourage forage re-growth

1 will adjust their stocking rate to prevent over-grazing

6 will begin composting their manure

6 will apply for cost-share funding to implement BMPs

8 will share the information they learned with other horse owners

Challenges identified: need for a tractor, need to invest in sprinklers to improve pasture, tried composting before but were unsuccessful, adding base to manure storage.

North Carolina State University – NE1941 State Report

Submitted by Paul D. Siciliano, Department of Animal Science

Teaching:

A livestock grazing management course was developed and implemented in the fall of 2020. The course is a junior/senior level management course for Animal Science majors. The course teaches undergraduate students how to design and implement grazing plans for beef cattle, sheep, goats and horses that promote animal-health, plant-health and efficient animal production. Course topics include animal grazing behavior, basic principles of plant growth and soil health, pasture allocation, grazing systems for various livestock species, pasture establishment and renovation. The course has been offered four times and enrollment has increased from 5 to 15 students.

Research:

Limited research has been conducted over the past several years due to changes in appointment and responsibilities. A small study was conducted to validate the use of a GPS unit for measuring distance traveled by grazing horses. Preliminary results suggest the GPS units may be capable of accurately detecting movement of 5 to 10 m. However, more work is necessary to determine the appropriate monitoring frequency necessary to minimize error in measurement.

Extension:

A presentation titled “Opportunities for horses in multispecies grazing” was delivered as part of a multi-species grazing workshop held at the Annual Meeting of the American Forage and Grassland Conference held in Winston-Salem, NC in January.

A presentation on Grazing Management for horses were given as part of a Pastureland Ecology for Producers webinar series in April. The presentations were recorded and posted on the NCSU Amazing Grazing website (https://cefs.ncsu.edu/extension-and-outreach/amazing-grazing/pastureland-ecology-2023/).

Lectures and demonstrations on equine grazing management were included in the USDA-NRCS Pastureland Ecology I course hosted by NCSU in June. Participants from across the US attended the ten-day course and gained knowledge and experience managing grazing of horses and other livestock.

A grazing demonstration was developed and used to teach county animal agriculture extension agents principles of adaptive grazing for horses. The demonstration illustrated the use of crabgrass as a summer annual forage for horses. In addition, improved grazing efficiency (e.g., uniform grazing, increased number of grazing days) as a function of adaptive grazing was observed. Approximately 30 agents attended the training.

No reports submitted from Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Kentucky

Accomplishments

Publications

University of Florida Peer Reviewed Publications: Vasco, A.C.C.M, J.C.B Dubeux, Jr., A.M. Arias-Esquivel, L.K. Warren, C.L. Wickens. 2022. Feeding behavior and preference of horses fed rhizoma peanut hay. J. Vet. Behav. 47:35-44. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2021.09.011">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2021.09.011</a> Book Chapters: Silva, L.S., S.L. Dillard, M.K. Mullenix., M. Wallau, C. Vasco, J.J. Tucker, K. Keishmer, D. Russell, K. Kelley, M. Runge, A. Gamble, R. Prasad, M. Elmore, M. Burns, K. Stanford, V. Niyigena, C. Wickens, W. Sawadgo, C. Heaton. 2022. Concepts and research-based guidelines for forage-livestock systems in the Southeast region. Chapter on Forage Systems for Horses. Supported by the 2021 Southern Region SARE Professional Development Grant. Abstracts: Vasco, A.C., J. Dubeux, L. Sollenberger, M. Wallau, E. Santos, J. Lance, L. Warren, and C. Wickens. 2023. Diurnal variation in forage nutrient composition and metabolic parameters of horses grazing warm-season, perennial grass-legume mixed pastures. Proceedings of the International Grasslands Congress, Livestock Production Systems, May 14-19, Covington, KY. Vasco, A.C., E.R. Santos, J. Lance, J. Dubeux, L. Sollenberger, M. Wallau, L. Warren, and C. Wickens. 2023. Herbage responses and performance of mature horses grazing warm-season perennial grass-legume mixed pastures. Proceedings of the International Grasslands Congress, Livestock Production Systems, May 14-19, Covington, KY. Creative works: Wickens, C., M. Lusk. Revised 2023. Equine BMPs mobile responsive website. Developed in collaboration with AUSTN Ltd. and UF IFAS Web Services. Available at: <a href="https://animal.ifas.ufl.edu/equinebmps/">https://animal.ifas.ufl.edu/equinebmps/</a>   FY2023: Delaware Publications: Tento, B., Ferraro, I., Biddle, AS. Differential gene expression of equine cyathostomins treated with three anthelmintic drugs. In preparation. Crossley, M., Biddle, AS. The impact of black soldier fly larvae on equine cyathostomin egg and larval survival. In preparation.   Penn State Publications: Kenny, L.B. 2022. Sugars in Spring and Fall Pastures (update). Online. <a href="https://extension.psu.edu/sugars-in-spring-and-fall-pastures">https://extension.psu.edu/sugars-in-spring-and-fall-pastures</a>

Impact Statements

Program: Fundamentals of Equine Pasture Management The objective of this program is to educate equine farm owners about pasture management to improve the quality of pastures and mitigate environmental concerns associated with horse pastures. 10 people from 4 Pennsylvania counties registered for the full-day in-person course in September 2022. Most participants were recreational/hobby farm owners. The average size of farm was 10.3 acres with 4.1 horses. Self-assessed pasture quality was rated 3.0 on a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high). Overall knowledge increase was rated on the same scale as 4.4. All evaluation respondents (n=8) reported that they will adopt practices as a result of the course. Expected impact was measured by asking participants whether they will adopt certain practices covered in the course within the next two years. Other options presented were “Already do this” and “Will not adopt this practice.” 100% of respondents reported that they will adopt 9 different practices, including: Practice % Planning to Complete within 2 Years Develop a rotational grazing system and/or subdivide large pastures for rotation 63 Soil test every 3 years 63 Apply lime/fertilizer based on soil test results 100 Identify forages present in pastures 88 Identify weeds in pastures 75 Choose herbicides based on weeds present & spray at the right time 75 Evaluate pasture condition at least annually 50 Overseed a pasture 88 Use sacrifice lots to keep horses off pasture when needed 75