Marieke Penterman will proudly tell you that she hails from the small town of Thorp, located in central Wisconsin. But upon speaking with her further, you’ll discover that she actually grew up on a 60-cow dairy farm in the Netherlands, the birthplace of Gouda cheese. When her husband, Rolf, also from the Netherlands, came to America to become a dairyman in May 2002, he and his brother started with 350 cows. Since then, the business has expanded to include 900 cows and a booming direct-to-consumer business, all of which started with a dream and a particular fondness for cheese.

A truly cheesy idea

In the years that followed her move to the cold Midwestern state, Marieke and Rolf grew both farm and family, and they are now parents to five children. Though she already had a great deal on her plate, Marieke wanted to utilize her skills and degree in dairy business but wasn’t sure how. Then, late one evening as she was contemplating opportunities, Marieke realized how much she missed authentic Dutch Gouda. After waking her husband with her idea and being told to wait until morning, Marieke set to work. She began her research and obtained a cheese license (required in the state of Wisconsin), then studied cheese crafting in Wisconsin and Holland. And in November of 2006, with an original recipe and a set of ideals, Marieke Gouda was born.

The business was practically an overnight success. Marieke won her first of many awards just four months after opening her doors. Since then, Marieke Gouda has grown to include a cheese store and gift shop — which sells specialty items from both Wisconsin and Holland — as well as a restaurant, aptly named Café Dutchess.

Located near a major Wisconsin highway, Penterman Farm and Marieke Gouda give visitors an opportunity to watch cheese being made on-site. The barn sits just a few hundred yards from the store. Raw milk is piped straight from the parlor bulk tank to the cheese floor. Guests can watch through observation windows as the milk is first turned into curds, then washed, drained, pressed, brined, coated and aged. The Marieke Gouda experience is both welcoming and educational. 

For the love of cheese

When it comes to cheese, Marieke feels there is a special kind of magic in the industry. Good food has a way of bringing people together, and that is something she is happy to encourage through distribution of her products. She truly enjoys the people she works with in her business — and throughout the rest of the industry. She relies on the support of fellow cheese-makers and cheesemongers (independent cheese salesmen) to learn, teach and share her passion. There is something delightful about Marieke Penterman, seen in her passion for the cheese she makes, the staff she works with, the industry she supports, the customers who enjoy her product and her love for the cows and farmer. When you walk into Marieke’s shop, there is a sense of welcome, home and comfort. The entire team is filled with excitement to share their delicious product and share the story of Marieke Gouda.  

When Marieke first thought of starting a creamery, she knew she didn’t want to fail. She believes there are two versions of failure: one is trying something and not succeeding long term, and the other — in her view — is not even trying. As the dairy industry continues to develop, it is important that people like Marieke continue to take risks to grow the dairy market and educate the public about the hard work that goes into the food we all consume daily.

For more about this impressive entrepreneur and her true farmstead cheese, visit mariekegouda.com.

I want to learn more about supporting nutrition in my dairy herd.

For Coppens International, which was welcomed into the Alltech family of companies on June 6, 2016, its 25th anniversary this month will be a celebration of past achievements as well as looking to the future. Now known as Alltech Coppens, we caught up with Patrick Charlton, CEO of Alltech Coppens, to find out more about this new development.

“It’s a very exciting time for me and the team here at Alltech Coppens,” notes Patrick. “The team welcomed me a little over two years ago, and I know more about fish these days than I thought I’d ever know!”

The company develops and produces a wide portfolio of specialist fish feed. Originally established 25 years ago as Coppens International, the company is recognized in particular for its high-quality starter feed for a broad range of fish species, including sturgeon, trout, catfish, eel, tilapia and carp. Exporting to more than 60 countries worldwide, Coppens International had been successful in its own right for many years, but as a relatively small operator, further growth and expansion was a challenge.

“Alltech provided the growth solution to Coppens International when we came together two years ago,” says Patrick. “Coppens offered Alltech a tremendous platform, and since 2016, we have been evolving the Alltech technologies within Coppens products to optimize the value of the feeds.

“In fact, I believe Alltech Coppens is the first feed nutrition company to replace all inorganic minerals thanks to our inclusion of Alltech’s Bioplex® range of chelated organic trace minerals into our feed,” he continues. “Our aim has always been to grow the Coppens business to become a part of Alltech’s global footprint and expand the brand by entering more markets and developing specialist feed for more fish species.”

This rebrand is a natural next step and one that aims to optimize on future growth opportunities, explains Patrick.

“Since the acquisition, our goal has been to establish Coppens International as the cornerstone of Alltech’s global aquaculture business. By becoming Alltech Coppens, we not only retain 25 years of history and reputation — we also move forward to ensure we are more relevant globally to our customers and the wider industry. Alltech Coppens is a solid platform on which we can grow our aqua nutrition business in the years to come.”

They say that if you stand still, you fail. That cannot be said of the team at Coppens.

“We have a very strong reputation in the market,” says Patrick. “This rebrand to Alltech Coppens is very much a natural progression. Since 2016, our teams have worked together, combining our respective specialist skills to deliver the very latest innovative aquaculture feeds directly to producers across the globe. This mission shall very much continue under the Alltech Coppens brand.”

Alltech Coppens reflects the company’s position as a global leader in nutritional solutions for aquaculture. The Alltech name strengthens relationships with global aquaculture customers. Alltech has invested heavily in Coppens during the past two years with the expansion of the Alltech Coppens Aqua Centre and the installation of a third extruder at the site. These investments were necessary not only to meet customer demands for more products and technology, but also to provide the team at Alltech Coppens increased production capacity. These investments have also allowed the team to expand into new markets such as Norway, the U.S., Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey as well as exciting collaboration work in Brazil.

“We have demonstrated our commitment to the aquaculture industry, and our customers can continue to expect further dedication now that we are Alltech Coppens,” says Patrick.

Headquartered in Helmond, the Netherlands, with a research center in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands, and production in Nettetal, Germany, this is indeed an exciting time for the Alltech Coppens team.

I would like to learn more about nutrition management strategies for aquaculture.

Cows exhibit heat stress in many ways, and the impact can be seen in both the short and long term. Understanding heat stress is critical for producers managing herds in warmer, more humid climates or farms located in areas that experience intense heat spells in summer. There are appropriate management practices to help herds avoid some of the heat and strategies that work with the animal to help a herd manage stress during the summer months.

Often the simplest solutions for heat stress are cheap, only requiring good herd management. Here are 10 heat stress management tips to help your herd stay cool.

1. Provide shade. 

Cows will experience lower respiration rates, decreased body temperature and less aggression when provided with adequate shade.

2. Clean water tanks. 

Cows can drink 30–50 gallons of water on a normal day, but that number can double when cows experience heat stress. By providing fresh, clean water, cows will drink more and stay hydrated.

3. Feed during cooler hours. 

Cows don’t like to consume hot feed, and TMRs are prone to heating when left out. By unloading, mixing and feeding in the morning, cows can eat before the feed gets hot and ruminate during the warmer hours of the day.

4. Watch for inconsistent manure. 

Decreased rumen fermentation efficiency occurs when the cow is experiencing heat stress, leading to lost nutrient utilization. Reformulating the ration can help achieve optimum nutrition potential during phases when dry matter intake drops. 

5. Ensure access to feed. 

Depressed intake is common during heat stress periods. By providing feed at all times, cows will eat small amounts throughout the day to reduce thermal heating from large meals.

6. Use sprinklers, soakers and fans. 

Observe where the cows are congregating. Why are they there? Is a sprinkler out elsewhere in the barn? Are the fans providing air flow? Even if you have cooling equipment, ensure it is optimally located and functioning properly.

7. Reduce time in holding pens. 

The key issue with heat stress is that the environment is too warm to dissipate the heat coming from the cows. Keeping cows in close holding pens for prolonged periods of time reduces space and airflow. 

8. Don’t lock up during midday. 

Cows are smart and will move away from areas that are too hot, but only if they have the space to do so. By allowing them to move during the hottest time of the day, you allow them to move to cooler locations in the barn.

9. Feed more digestible high-quality forages. 

Since cows are prone to eat less when hot, efficiently accessing nutrients is essential to health and production. First cutting or fermented forages provide energy without requiring as much rumination as more fibrous feeds, reducing provisional heating.

10. Utilize a yeast culture additive. 

Yeast cultures have been found to stimulate the bacteria in the rumen responsible for both fiber digestion and acid removal. This will aid in improved fermentation efficiency and prevent acidosis, which can decrease body temperature.

A happy cow makes for a productive cow. Cow comfort is important year-round, but it’s a much bigger challenge in seasons of heat. Proper management of feed, water and shelter can help your herd stay comfortable and productive. Learn more about designing your barn for cow comfort year-round in Tom Lorenzen’s article “Designing dairy free stalls for cow comfort.”  

I want to learn more about improving efficiency in my dairy herd. 

Internal parasites often thrive in grazing areas and can easily afflict your horses. Some of the most commonly found equine parasites are large and small strongyles, roundworms, tapeworms, pinworms and bots. They can have debilitating effects, including, but not limited to, weight loss, diarrhea, anemia, coughing and liver damage. But there is hope. By establishing a regular, targeted deworming schedule designed to significantly decrease the numbers of these harmful pests, you can help your horse — and potentially other horses on the property — achieve better health.

You may be wondering how you could possibly help other horses. Some horses have a higher immune status than others and may not be as susceptible to the harmful effects of parasites. These horses may be chronic shedders, meaning that while they might not exhibit clinical signs of parasitism, they could be carrying a lot of adult worms, which are producing eggs that are then inadvertently spread to the shedder’s pasture mates. You may need to deworm chronic shedders more often than others in an effort to keep everyone healthier.

An effective deworming program needs to take several factors into consideration, including:

• Age: Foals and other young horses are more susceptible to certain types of parasites (large and small strongyles, roundworms, pinworms, tapeworms and potentially threadworms).

• Location: Different kinds of parasites are more common in different areas or climates.

• Season: Some parasites, like bot flies, are only active during specific times of the year.

• Travel: Horses that travel to shows may be exposed to infected horses and parasites they might not otherwise be exposed to at home.

• Pasture: Many horses grazing in a given area may increase parasite exposure. Other animals may also shed parasites that could infect your horse.

The importance of fecal egg counts

The best way to determine your horse’s specific deworming needs is to have your veterinarian perform a routine fecal examination, also known as a fecal egg count (FEC), during which the feces are inspected for the presence of worm eggs and the eggs are then counted. From there, you can work together to evaluate the numbers and types of parasites and decide on a course of action.                                                                               

If possible, I recommend having a second FEC performed 10 to 14 days after deworming. This is known as a “fecal egg count reduction test” and will tell you if deworming was effective. Resistance to commonly used dewormers is becoming more prevalent, so it’s important to make sure there are fewer eggs in your horse’s manure after deworming.

Management tips

You may also aid in keeping parasite numbers down with good management practices:

• Clean pastures regularly: Remove and dispose of manure at least twice weekly.

• Rotate pastures: Move horses between pastures to naturally break parasitic life cycles.

• Use elevated feeders: Lift grain and hay off the ground, where parasites thrive.

Lastly, I should clarify that your horse will — unfortunately — never be 100 percent parasite-free. All horses will always carry some worms due to the cycle of pasture grazing and fecal contamination. However, with some precautionary steps and targeted treatment, you can help your horse build a better defense against these would-be internal invaders.

I would like to learn more about horse health.

The summer season sets the scene, not only for picnics and pool parties, but also for pests lying in wait for a chance to prey on your precious pup — and potentially you, too. But, before you send Fido packing, know that you have a plethora of options available to combat these would-be invaders.

First, let’s consider what we may commonly be up against:

• Ectoparasites: These are perhaps some of the most well-known insects associated with dogs. These pests prefer to live on or just under the surface of your dog’s skin and can easily be picked up on outdoor adventures and introduced to your home.

  • Fleas: Dogs typically get fleas from other animals. Fleas are notoriously challenging to see with the naked eye, but their bites can cause severe irritation and inflammation. Your dog will undoubtedly be scratching and biting at their skin almost incessantly if infected.

  • Ticks: Ticks can easily be picked up in tall grass and wooded areas. More than just disgusting bloodsuckers, infected ticks can transmit Lyme disease, a serious bacterial illness that can also be passed on to humans.

  • Mites: Just as with people, mites exist naturally on dogs, but if found in excessive quantities, they can cause serious skin problems. Ear mites are another common concern. They are highly contagious and are typically passed from outdoor cats to canines, though humans are generally immune. Excessive head shaking and scratching at ears/the head are usually dead giveaways.

• Internal parasites: Dogs can contract internal parasites from a variety of situations, but they are typically transmitted when an animal unintentionally ingests parasite eggs in contaminated soil, water, food or feces.

  • Heartworms: One bite from an infected mosquito can lead to an unprotected dog developing heartworm disease, by far one of the most preventable and potentially deadly infections.

  • Tapeworms: There are several types of tapeworm, but the most common is caused by swallowing an infected flea. They typically set up shop in your dog’s small intestine, where they continue to feed and grow. Tapeworms compromise your pet’s nutrition and can contribute to weight loss, lethargy and a variety of other issues.

  • Hookworms: These nasty intestinal parasites can be ingested by sniffing or eating contaminated soil or feces. Hookworms literally hook themselves into the lining of your dog’s intestines and leave holes in their wake, potentially leading to anemia, weakness, weight loss and death.

Of course, these are just a few examples of the many possible pests that might afflict your canine companion. So, what’s a concerned dog mom or dad to do?

An ounce of prevention

First and foremost, let’s remember that we are our dogs’ biggest advocates. It is up to us to ensure that they have a clean, safe environment to thrive in. And, as responsible owners, we should all be taking the following recommended actions:

• Feed a chewable heartworm preventative, year-round, as prescribed by your veterinarian. It is a cheap and highly effective way to prevent disease.

• Flea and tick preventatives abound. You may choose from chewables, collars and topicals. Choose what works best for your dog and your lifestyle, as recommended by your veterinarian.

• Brush and bathe your dog regularly. This will not only allow for some quality bonding time, but it will also allow you to address any potential skin issues.

• Schedule time to regularly clean up your yard. Keeping it relatively free of feces and overgrowth will go a long way in keeping your pet healthy.

• Always check your dog’s skin (and yours, too!) after spending time in heavily wooded areas. If you should happen to find an embedded tick, take care in removing it. There are many affordable tick removal tools on the market today.

Building a defense

Another thing to consider is your nutrition regimen and what role it might play in immune defense, especially against would-be pathogenic or viral invaders. Much like us, dogs have a natural immunity that they have built up over the course of their life, but, unfortunately, that’s not always enough to prevent harm or illness. One thing you can do to help support your dog’s immunity is feed a high-quality diet containing trace minerals such as organic selenium (think Sel-Plex^®). Selenium can help to maintain proper function and strength of the immune system and counteract oxidative damage caused by infections.

As the late, great Benjamin Franklin so wisely proclaimed in 1736, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Nearly 300 years later, this advice still rings true.

I would like a FREE parasite management guide!

Warmer weather means it’s time to pull in the pasture ponies and take the rugs off your show horses. At long last, riding season has arrived! Sadly, this also means the return of the horses’ constant and most pesky companion: the fly.

And, while flies may seem like nothing more than an ever-present annoyance, they can carry serious implications for your equine counterparts. Flies are well-known for spreading disease, feeding off of the equine blood supply and causing potential digestive upset. And, unfortunately, even the most encompassing of fly turnouts — think fly mask with ears, fly sheet with belly guard and fly leggings, essentially making your horse resemble some strangely armored creature — can’t keep them completely at bay.

More than a simple pest

House flies may seem like the least of a horse owner’s worries, but they can carry disease and transmit parasites. They can also irritate a horse’s eyes, where they feed off of moist secretions. These flies breed during the summer and feed on muck, so proper stable management is imperative to reducing their numbers.

Horse and deer flies are known for being ruthless biters. Thankfully, they are only active during the day. And, as luck would have it, these flies do not normally enter structures. It is best to have barn or stable access available for pasture horses if you notice these flies becoming particularly bothersome.

Stable flies are probably the biggest equine nuisance of all. They live in barns and breed in organic, fermenting matter, such as manure, decaying straw or spilled, moist feed. They typically feed on horses’ legs and flanks and can cause significant blood loss, transmit swamp fever and cause summer sores — weeping wounds that are challenging to heal. Horses may also stomp incessantly in an attempt to rid themselves of these pests, only to cause hoof and leg issues.

Shoo, fly: Sanitation and stable management tips

It should come as no surprise that proper sanitation and stable management are among the best methods of fly control. House flies and barn flies require breeding material, ideal moisture and adequate warmth to develop. Therefore, elimination of breeding sites is the key to a successful fly control program. Barns and paddocks should be thoroughly cleaned once per week to assist in breaking fly life cycles. Insecticides should only be considered as a supplement to fly control.

Below are some tips to help with your fly management program:

• Keep manure picked up and pile at a good distance from facilities, waterers and paddocks.

• Make sure all garbage cans have tight-fitting lids and are cleaned out regularly.

• Keep waterers in good condition and place them away from areas where horses are fed.

• Consider screening windows in feed and tack rooms, as well as box stalls.

• Fans that direct a downward and outward airflow will help to keep flies from entering barns.

• Fly traps and sticky paper are an effective way to capture flies. They may also be useful in documenting fly numbers over time. A notable increase in catch from one week to the next could be a warning to check on sanitation measures and increase your fly control measures.

Last, but not least, keep this in mind: Large numbers of flies mean there are a great deal of breeding sites in your area. There are many insecticide options (e.g., residuals, sprays, fogs, mists, etc.), but they will only provide temporary relief and should generally be used sparingly. Your best option is to keep a tidy stable and yard — both you and your horses will be grateful for the extra effort!

Looking to add fly control to your horse’s nutrition program? CRYSTALYX^®, SWEETLIX^®, ULTRALYX^® and STOCKADE^® brands offer several options in pressed and mineral blocks.

I would like to learn more about horse health.

Excess weight may cause or predispose horses to problems like joint pain, laminitis and insulin resistance, or it may indicate an existing metabolic disorder. Nutritional management of the overweight horse is key – and not quite as simple as some may think.

At what weight is a horse overweight?

Assigning a specific weight to define obesity in horses is impossible due to differing bone structure and muscling. Instead, evaluating fat deposition over the horse’s body is a better method to estimate body condition. Body condition scoring (BCS) systems have been developed to apply a numerical score to the horse’s condition based on fat coverage over target areas of the body. While BCS systems are subjective, they do provide a systematic method for evaluating body condition. One of the most widely accepted scoring systems is the 1 to 9 Henneke scale, where 1 is extremely emaciated and 9 is very obese. Horses scoring above a 7 on this scale are considered overweight. For more information specific to body condition scoring, you may visit McCauley's dedicated page.

Why is the horse overweight?

Determining why the horse is overweight can be helpful. Sometimes the answer is as simple as the horse receiving feed when little or no feed is required. Unfortunately, the answer is often much more complicated. Metabolic disorders such as Cushing’s disease, insulin resistance and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) may predispose the horse to obesity. Some horses carry extra weight simply because they are very efficient at converting dietary energy (calories) to fat.

Nutritional management of obese horses

Feed should be adjusted according to body condition and season. One of the primary keys to achieving desired body condition is to balance the number of calories consumed with the number of calories used. The number of calories used changes with age, climate and activity level. As a result, the calorie consumption will likely need to change throughout the year to maintain a healthy body condition. Warmer weather means less energy is used to maintain body temperature, and as pastures grow lush and calorie-rich, winter feeding quantities need to be decreased to maintain a healthy weight.  

If reducing or eliminating feed does not accomplish the desired weight loss, grazing on lush pastures should also be limited. This may be accomplished by splitting time between pasture and stall, using a grazing muzzle or placing the horse in a dry lot and feeding hay.

Pastures are often deficient in many trace minerals. A typical trace mineral salt block will not meet the horse’s mineral requirements. If the amount of feed provided is below the minimum requirement, then supplemental vitamins and minerals will be needed. In such cases, vitamin and mineral supplements should be fed daily rather than fed free-choice.

When feeding hay to overweight horses, choose mature grass hay. The more mature the hay at harvesting, the lower the digestible calories. Sugar and starch concentrations are usually lower as well. Many metabolic disorders require avoidance of sugars and starches, making mature grass hay the best choice for reducing calorie intake.

Horses on a hay-only diet should receive a minimum of approximately 1.5 to 2 percent of their body weight per day. Feeding hay at this rate is essential to maintain normal, healthy gut function and to avoid the development of vices like wood chewing. As always, the hay should be free of dust, mold and other contaminants.

Summary

• Use a body condition scoring system to evaluate the horse’s fat deposition.

• Reducing caloric intake and/or increasing caloric output is crucial to weight reduction.

• While calorie restriction is important, the other essential nutrients (e.g., protein, vitamins and minerals) cannot be ignored.

• For optimal health, the goal is to achieve and maintain the ideal body condition throughout the year. This may require fine-tuning the diet regularly to adjust for seasonality and other factors, such as changes in activity level.

Have a question or comment?

A good start for fish larvae is not only crucial to health and development — it also impacts producer profitability.

Weaning on dry feeds with an unbalanced diet can result in deformities and high mortality rates. High-quality starter diets are therefore essential. Providing nutritional solutions for the specific needs of larvae in their most critical life stage benefits the fish during their entire lifecycle. Supporting the healthy development of all organs, including the skeleton, for an ideal start begins with optimal nutrition.

Extensive studies at the Alltech Coppens Aqua Centre have revealed the essentials for a weaning diet, which will significantly minimize deformations in sensitive fish species. This allows us to wean fish larvae with confidence knowing that the vast majority will fully develop into healthy fry without any abnormalities.

Three things producers look for in starter feeds:

• High survival rate and minimal deformities

• Optimal skeleton development as a foundation for future growth

• High digestibility for optimal performance and water quality

Benefits for hatcheries and farms

By delivering nutrients in a way that can be handled easily by the maturing digestive tract of fresh water larvae, we can offer hatcheries more security when weaning freshwater larvae from Artemiaonto a dry diet. Deformities can be scaled back to a minimum with a more even growth rate, thereby resulting in less frequent grading. The end results are healthy larvae and fry, more revenue, more efficiency and less work.

A new generation of starter diets

Alltech and Coppens International are working closely together to bring a new generation of fish feed to the marketplace. Coppens’ Essence, designed with Alltech’s Total Replacement Technology™ and gut health technologies containing Bioplex® and Bio-Mos®, reflects this approach.

Through highly bioavailable, organically bound trace elements, we can ensure optimal skeleton development with a special larval diet that can largely replace live Artemia. Essence also promotes optimal tissue development which reduces factors associated with deformity and low fry survival rates, making this feed truly unique. Due to its high digestibility and excellent performance, this starter diet is ideal for recirculation aquaculture system farming conditions.

Essence is tailored to the specific needs of the early life stage of many freshwater fish, such as cyprinids, pikeperch, catfish, tilapia and koi, which are characterized by many as living jewels.

For more information, please contact aquasolutions@Alltech.com or info@coppens.com.  

Have a question or comment?

If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, with any luck, the chill of winter is finally lifting, and grass is taking on a long-awaited healthy, green glow. You and your horses are likely chomping at the bit (pun intended) to head outside and take full advantage of the free buffet. But before you turn those ponies loose, ask yourself: Are you thinking strategically about pasture management?

Why utilize rotational grazing?

If horses are allowed to graze on one pasture continuously, they can quickly eat down the quality forage, leaving behind weeds and potentially bare ground. Given the choice, horses will selectively graze on their favorite plants and grasses and may completely neglect certain areas while overgrazing others. Whenever a plant is grazed on, it needs time to regenerate leaves and restore energy to its root system. If grazed on again before roots are re-energized, the plant grows weaker. If regularly overgrazed, the plant will ultimately die. Rotational grazing is meant to stop this cycle from taking place.

By utilizing rotational grazing, you could potentially double the amount of forage produced and salvage this precious resource, thereby saving a great deal on additional hay costs. This is because rotational grazing allows portions of pasture to rest and recover, particularly the most heavily grazed plants and grasses. A pasture can be divided into several segments to allow ample time for rested areas to grow back to a reasonable grazing height.

How do I begin a rotational grazing program?

The way you divide your pasture(s) will depend on several factors, including climate, soil fertility, rainfall/irrigation, drainage, types of plants and grasses, and number of horses grazing. Removing horses from an area when the grass has reached an approximate height of 3 to 4 inches (using a color-coded grazing stick can be very helpful) can prevent overgrazing from occurring and allow you to take advantage of the underutilized sections.

If you are transitioning a paddock to its rest period, you will need to remove manure, trim to an even height to encourage grasses to regrow uniformly and allow approximately three to four weeks’ rest. You’ll need at least four paddocks (1 to 2 acres per horse, per paddock) to maintain this schedule. Using more will allow for briefer grazing periods and increased rest, which is even better. A smart strategy is to keep a dry lot available and feed hay when longer rest periods are warranted.

You may also be wondering how long you should allow horses to graze on pasture sections. This will be dependent on the number of horses, length of daily turnout and size of the area, as well as the other factors mentioned previously. A good rule of thumb is to plan for one week’s use of each section but to monitor closely. Walking the pastures, preferably daily, will allow you to ensure that areas aren’t being overgrazed and to check that fencing is working properly. Temporary electric fencing is generally most effective for this strategy as it can be adjusted at any time. It is also worth noting that you should keep horses inside or in a dry lot during wet weather to prevent pasture damage from hooves.

What about water?

One challenge associated with rotational grazing is that we are often using automatic waterers and the question of accessibility comes into play. Obviously, you won’t be able to provide easy access to the waterer in all instances, so you may have to get creative when it comes to providing adequate water. Setting up temporary troughs, checking them often and moving them around the paddock(s) periodically can help to avoid creating particularly muddy areas or soft ground, which could lead to pasture damage.

Is rotational grazing worth the hassle?

I know what you’re thinking. This sounds like a lot of extra work, and that’s because it is. But the time, effort and commitment can truly pay off in the end, with the potential to increase forage quantity and quality, improve horse health, save money (less spent on hay) and decrease both you and your horses’ environmental footprint, making rotational grazing a very worthwhile endeavor.

I would like to learn more about horse health.

Winners of the Alltech Young Scientist program to be awarded at ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE18).

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — In a few short weeks, agriscience students from colleges and universities around the world will compete at the highest level for the chance to be rewarded for their innovative research. The global regional finalists have been selected for the 2018 Alltech Young Scientist (AYS) program, the world’s largest agriscience competition for university students. Now in its 13^th year, the program’s pool of nominees represents 83 universities from 28 countries.

The regional finalists will attend AYS Discovery Week, held in conjunction with ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE18), May 20–22 in Lexington, Kentucky, to present their research to a panel of international judges. They will also have leadership building, career mentorship and networking opportunities. The prizes include a fully funded Ph.D. position for the global undergraduate winner as well as $5,000 USD, and a fully funded postdoctoral position and $10,000 USD for the global graduate winner. 

The regional finalists for the graduate AYS award and their paper topics are:

• Zili Gao, University of Massachusetts Amherst, United States
  • “The heat shock cognate 70 protein is a novel target of nobiletin and its colonic metabolites in inhibiting colon carcinogenesis”
• Saheed Salami, University of Catania, Italy; currently attending University College Cork, Ireland  
  • “Cardoon meal as a novel feed: effect on lamb performance, rumen function and meat quality”
• Yanli Liu, Northwest A&F University, China
  • “Metabolomics and proteomics reveal impacts of folic acid on lipid metabolism in chicken primary hepatocytes (Folic acid regulates lipid metabolism mediated by IGF2)”
• Moisés Poli, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil
  • “Pacific white shrimp and Nile tilapia integration in biofloc system under different fish-stocking densities”

The regional finalists for the undergraduate AYS award and their paper topics are:

• Ronald Trotta, University of Kentucky, United States; currently attending North Dakota State University, United States
  • “Effects of source and level of dietary energy supplementation on fiber digestion and in vitro methane production from tall fescue-based diets”
• Evgeny Remizov, Saratov State Agrarian University, Russia
  • “Antimicrobial peptides as a base of development of new antimicrobial medication”
• Shenfei Long, China Agricultural University, China
  • “Dietary supplementation with DHA-enriched microalgae improves performance, serum composition, carcass trait, antioxidant status and fatty acid profile of broilers”
• Juan Bol, Universidad EARTH, Costa Rica 
  • “Evaluation of induced resistant products to improve root health and control of plant parasitic nematodes in commercial banana plantation”

“The Alltech Young Scientist program provides a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the best and brightest minds of the next generation of agriculture science leaders,” said Dr. Karl Dawson, vice president and chief scientific officer at Alltech. "The regional finalists will present their research to a global audience, and the undergraduate and graduate competition winners will have the opportunity to join our global team."the opportunity to join our global team.”

For more information about the Alltech Young Scientist program, visit AlltechYoungScientist.com and stay connected through the Alltech Education Facebook page.