It could be argued that few more iconic or beloved brands than Mrs. Pastures® Cookies for Horses exist in today’s horse industry. With their highly recognizable, red-lidded jars, they evoke a sense of nostalgia for many of us, leading to memories of days gone by, when we would cheerfully feed them to the horses that helped us learn and grow.

Devoted fans have included some of horse racing’s best-known champions, such as Hall of Famers California Chrome — who is still receiving regular Mrs. Pastures shipments at his home in Japan — and Old Friends Farm resident “Mr. Personality,” Lava Man. Mrs. Pastures cookie crumbs are even sent to 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Silver Charm, who has trouble chewing the standard cookies.

In October 2023, Mrs. Pastures built on this success when it proudly launched its first-ever addition to the product line, the sweet potato-infused Super Cookie™. Several more exciting new recipes are in the works.

How it all began

Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses was the 1986 brainchild of 66-year-old California horsewoman Patricia Burge, who wanted to create a wholesome treat for her daughter Maggie’s exceedingly picky horse, Poncho.

People are often curious about how the name of the company came to be. As the story goes, Mrs. Burge’s husband tried one of the horse cookies and remarked, “Well, it ain’t Mrs. Fields,” to which she replied, “No, it’s Mrs. Pastures!” The name stuck.

The all-natural ingredients of Mrs. Burge’s original cookie recipe remain unchanged, including apples, oats, cane molasses, rolled barley, water, and wheat middlings (a beneficial byproduct of the wheat milling process).

A legacy of love

Patricia Burge officially started the Mrs. Pastures business in her home kitchen and, at that time, never dreamed of it becoming the success it has. Her daughter, Maggie Carroll, officially took over business operations when her mother passed away in 2016 at the age of 96.

Five years later, Alltech acquired the business. Mrs. Carroll served as a close advisor in the first year following acquisition, helping to ensure that customers could continue to count on the high quality and great taste for which the treats are known.

A recipe for success

The original wholesome, home-kitchen-developed recipe, paired with Alltech’s industry knowledge and global reach, has already proven to be a winning combination — positioning Mrs. Pastures to meet the equine industry’s ever-evolving needs. The original recipe is now available not only in those red-lidded jars but in everything from 8-ounce pouches to 50-pound tubs.

With the new Super Cookie, Mrs. Pastures is giving health-conscious horse owners a superfood-filled treat option. Made with the same time-tested process as the original cookie, the Super Cookie is primarily made up of sweet potatoes, turmeric and kelp, with no molasses or other added sugars.

Nourishing the bond

Mrs. Pastures has an enduring commitment to nourishing the bond between horses and their humans — a tradition Alltech is proud to help the business carry on. The treats often serve as a healthful, positive reinforcement-based horse training incentive, helping to develop better ground manners, improve trailer loading and reward good behavior under-saddle.

To learn more or to find a retailer near you, visit mrspastures.com.

If you’ve ever scanned social media, you’ve seen pets do some crazy things! Just like us, each has a unique personality that’s influenced by its “second brain” – the enteric nervous system (ENS) within the walls of the digestive system. While the mechanisms by which the intestinal microbiome and ENS impact behavior are not fully understood, a growing body of evidence is revealing that gut health plays an important role in mental health. Supporting pet brain health is a new frontier, offering surprising health benefits.

Crosstalk between the gut and brain

For decades, it was believed that the brain-gut relationship was unidirectional with the brain affecting the gut but not the other way around. Now we know it's a matter of crosstalk at the neuronal, endocrinal and immunological levels. While the nervous system, including the brain, comprises an intricate network that controls and regulates the body overall, many of this network’s pathways are under the influence of the gut microbiome as well. Since what animals eat has a profound effect on gut microbiota composition and metabolic byproducts, your pet’s diet should be carefully considered from early life through adulthood.

The gut microbiota ecosystem is unique to each individual – human or animal – and is affected by a variety of factors including diet, antibiotic use, gastrointestinal disease, age, genetics and environment. It is primarily composed of bacteria but also includes archaea, viruses and protozoa. Imbalances in gut microbiota, sometimes referred to as dysbiosis, can lead to chronic low-grade inflammation and have been linked not only to gastrointestinal disorders such as leaky gut syndrome but also to neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Improving your pet’s health

Good nutrition, though, can benefit brain health by preventing or reducing the occurrence of dysbiosis. Prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics and antioxidants, in particular, play roles in protecting pet gut health.

Prebiotics are compounds in food that stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria and promote microbial diversity. Recent research has indicated that some prebiotics can boost cognition and positive behavior through the modulation of neuroinflammation.

Probiotics comprise live and/or deactivated bacteria that improve gut health by reducing the population of pathogenic bacteria in the GI tract. They work by competitive exclusion, producing antimicrobial compounds, cultivating beneficial endogenous microorganisms, and/or altering the microbial metabolism.

While there are a variety of probiotic strains, some improve mental health by affecting brain neurotransmitters and proteins, cortisol levels, and serum cytokine levels. These are known as psychobiotics. Many bacteria, such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, have already been shown to improve memory and reduce chronic stress-induced anxiety and depressive behavior in mice.

The breakdown of prebiotics by probiotics forms postbiotics, bioactive compounds that confer health benefits to their host. Recent evidence has supported the use of postbiotics as antidepressive agents, and they may provide additional benefits in animals prone to anxiety or stress disorders.

Antioxidants help to alleviate oxidative stress, which occurs when there’s an imbalance between the production and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body’s ability to detoxify these reactive products. When oxidative stress occurs at high levels, it results in biomolecular damage and can potentially lead to intestinal injuries and disorders such as colorectal cancers, enteric infections, and inflammatory bowel diseases.

Recently, it’s been shown that food-derived antioxidant compounds may protect the host from intestinal oxidative stress by modulating the composition of beneficial microbial species in the gut. Since oxidative stress plays a role in causing many disorders, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, antioxidants are incredibly important to overall health. The dietary antioxidant selenium, especially in an organic form such as Sel-Plex® offers, can reduce oxidative stress and balance microbial flora as well, reducing the incidence of dysbiosis. Additionally, organic selenium has been shown to reduce the prevalence of beta amyloid plaques, which are abnormal proteins in the brain. This may assist in preventing age-related neuropathologies associated with cognitive decline.

Supporting pet brain health

Pet owners know that good nutrition, physical activity, and preventive care are key to a healthy and happy life for any animal, and an increasing body of research is demonstrating that body and brain health – both so important to quality of life – are intricately connected as well. The more we learn about this, the better we can make optimal health choices for our animal companions.

I want to learn about pet nutrition.

The presence of mycotoxins in your pig herd’s feed regimen may result in unintended consequences. These toxic substances, produced by the fungi in feedstuffs, not only have the power to negatively influence growth and performance but can also suppress long-term reproductive performance. These symptoms are not the only issues that producers may see manifest in their animals as a result of a mycotoxin problem; feed refusals, swollen vulvas in gilts and sows, and the reduced effectiveness of treatments and vaccines can also become a threat to any operation.

The Alltech 2022 U.S. Harvest Analysis is an extensive analysis of the mycotoxin risk across the country, as assessed by Alltech’s in-house mycotoxin expert, Dr. Max Hawkins. This report utilizes samples collected from throughout the country that have been analyzed through Alltech’s trusted 37+® mycotoxin analysis.

Outlined below are the key takeaways from the 2022 U.S. Harvest Analysis, as well as several proactive tips that can help pig producers mitigate their mycotoxin risk.

Here are five insights into the mycotoxin risk for the 2022 corn crop:

1. Responses to changing weather conditions

The 2022 growing season brought with it a 180-degree difference in the challenges producers faced in various regions. Drought conditions in the midwestern United States had a significant impact on corn health and yield across the western corn belt. More severe drought conditions were detected by the drought monitor in the West, and these conditions extended eastward into Illinois, Indiana and part of Ohio. Rains in late July and August eased the drought conditions east of the Mississippi River, but this rainfall — on top of already-drought-stressed corn — spurred the growth of Fusarium molds, producing a variety of type-B trichothecenes, fumonisin and zearalenone.

2. Average mycotoxin samples found

• 119 samples had an average of 6.7 mycotoxins per sample
• 98% of the samples contained two or more mycotoxins
• All samples contained between one and 12 mycotoxins each

Fusarium-produced mycotoxins were the most frequently occurring due to their preference for moist environments and moderate temperatures. The mycotoxins found most commonly in the samples included:

• Emerging mycotoxins (97.48%)
• Fusaric acid (83%)
• Type-B trichothecenes (68%)
• Fumonisin (65%)
• Zearalenone (35%)

3. Areas of greatest risk

The mycotoxins produced by molds that represented the greatest risk were type-B trichothecenes, also known as the DON family, and zearalenone. Type-B trichothecenes can negatively impact feed intake, digestion, average daily gains, feed efficiency, gut wall integrity, liver function and immune system responses. Zearalenone can act synergistically with DON to magnify the risks for reproduction, the number of pigs born, the return to estrus and conception rates. Even when the presence of these mycotoxins is lowered by the corn inclusion rate, they still represent a high risk in the finished feed.

4. Geographical location and storage differences

When it comes to Fusarium mycotoxins, the risk level tends to increase as we move from West to East. However, one factor that could increase the risk in the West is storage. Corn needs to be dried to a moisture level of 14% or less to be safely stored for extended periods of time. Across the Midwest, winter weather led to periods of cold temperatures, but in general, temperatures were above what is generally considered normal. These warmer temperatures — along with grain that was inadequately dried or left exposed to moisture — increase the likelihood of mold production and, as a result, mycotoxin growth.

5. Impact on the swine industry

The 2022 corn crop does have ranging levels of risk depending on the location of the pigs and production settings nationwide. Differing storage types could provide an environment in which the risk at harvest could increase over time. This necessitates the need for the corn to be analyzed to determine its mycotoxin levels and risk as we move through the winter and spring of 2023.

Proactive tips to help pig producers mitigate their mycotoxin risk

Make sure your feed mill is checked often.

When it comes to mycotoxins in pig feed, conducting proper testing allows for any potential risks to be managed. Dr. Hawkins shared that utilizing a mycotoxin testing program that is based on an instrument — such as HPLC MS/MS — will provide you with the most accurate and comprehensive analysis available.

Furthermore, starting the analysis of your raw materials as close to harvest as possible will ensure that you have enough time to develop an all-encompassing risk management and mitigation plan. If this analysis is properly scheduled, then your operation will have a good understanding of the risk posed by the feedstuffs being provided to your pigs prior to the animals actually receiving it.

“After utilizing comprehensive testing at harvest, you may then set up a quick analysis that can be used at your farm or mill,” said Dr. Hawkins in the U.S. Harvest Analysis webinar. “We would also suggest that you do more testing at various times throughout the year to ensure that your quick-test protocol for your grain or pig feed is still a solid plan for the production system.”

Keep feed bins dry.

Make sure your feed bins are closed and that there are no potential points of entry where moisture could get into the feedstuffs at the top of the silos.

In the summer months, feed tanks or feed bins can get very hot and are prone to sweating. Ensure that feed gets moving through the tanks or bins quickly. If there is feed leftover, transfer it to another barn.

Pay attention to feed intake.

Pigs are especially sensitive to DON; it’s like they can sense or smell it. Therefore, they tend not to eat contaminated feed. Abstaining from eating can be a classic sign that mycotoxins are present.

Instituting a proper mycotoxin management strategy will help reduce the risk of low performance in your herd. With a plan in place for mitigating mycotoxins on your operation, the chances that your pig herd will perform well in 2023 increase exponentially. 

Strengthening its commitment to Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™, Alltech Crop Science has acquired Ideagro, based in Murcia, Spain. This partnership joins two leading platforms to accelerate soil and crop research, and to enhance biological and other microorganism-based offerings to Alltech Crop Science customers throughout the world.

“We are excited to announce that Ideagro has joined the Alltech Crop Science global team, providing us with a partner who shares our vision and significantly scaling our research capabilities,” said Andy Thomas, CEO of Alltech Crop Science. "This is the strengthening of a longstanding partnership. We have worked closely with the Ideagro team since their founding 11 years ago.”

Ideagro is a leader in agri-food research and development with a team of more than 20 scientists. It is committed to improving the productivity and profitability of agricultural systems. Its expertise in developing beneficial organisms for soil aids the growth of crops, reduces the impact of chemical inputs and helps plants to resist biotic and abiotic stress. Ideagro’s analytical capabilities, with special emphasis on in-vitro research, phytopathology, soil dynamics and microorganisms, further enable growers to identify microorganisms and quantify enzymatic activity in the soil.

“We are facing a great growth opportunity for Ideagro because we are going to have better means and more technological capacity to develop our research, which will now have a global projection,” said Pedro Palazón, CEO of Ideagro. “We will no longer only study the soils of the Iberian Peninsula, but we will work with soils from all over the world to achieve more sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture.”

Ideagro has state-of-the-art laboratories and experimental research stations and fields for carrying out trials in Spain. To date, the company has researched more than 90 different crops and performed more than 10,000 physicochemical and biological analyses. This has led to the development of new agricultural strategies based on microorganisms.

Ideagro’s three laboratories are fully equipped with the latest technologies to focus on nutraceuticals, phytopathology, research and development and molecular biology. Its services include:

• Precise diagnoses, identification and semi-quantification of more than 290 microorganisms at the species level in different crops. Through the development of multispecific detection kits, it can simultaneously detect up to 40 pathogenic microorganisms in a single sample, with results in 24-48 hours.
• Molecular identification of microorganisms as well as genetic characterization of specific strains and determination of pathotypes of a pathogen.
• Analysis of nematodes.
• Design of specific probes for specific microorganisms. As a result, Ideagro is able to detect specific microorganisms in soil, water, plant material and biostimulants.
• Mycotoxin analyses. With more than 15,000 analyses carried out to date, Ideagro can identify and quantify the risks of aflatoxin B1, fumonisins, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol trichothecenes and T2 toxin. It provides monthly data on mycotoxin contamination in animal feed and in the main crops of the Spanish and European markets.

Ideagro is accredited by MAPAMA (EOR 82/13) and has ISO 9001:2015 certification. In June 2021, it was named a Reference Regional Laboratory by GLOSOLAN, the Global Soil Laboratory division of the FAO.

“The combination of the Ideagro expertise with the reach and scale of Alltech will allow us to extend world-leading understanding of the interface between soil, crop, animal and human health to the global market,” said Andy Thomas, CEO of Alltech Crop Science. “The potential implications of these insights cannot be understated as we endeavor to improve the vitality of our global food system, from the ground up.”

For more information about Alltech Crop Science, visit alltech.com/crop-science.

Providing the proper diet is essential for the health, vitality and well-being of our pets, so we must ensure that, through the pet food we feed them, our pets are receiving all the nutrients they need to live a healthy and happy life.

The growing market demand for natural, functional, holistic and sustainable products has put pressure on the industry to develop pet foods that meet certain expectations. In the United States — the world's largest pet food market — natural ingredients are now widely used and are valued primarily by consumers for their contributions to the health and wellness of pets. The demand for and interest in natural ingredients continues to grow, and more research is becoming available that supports its inclusion in pet foods. We're hearing a lot about nutrigenomics and other “-omics” technologies, which contribute to the development of personalized nutrition; time will tell whether this trend will transition from food for humans to pet foods as well.

How does a well-fed microbiota impact the animal?

The microbiome is currently a topic of great interest in research. All living organisms — including humans and pets — have different microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa) that live, for example, on their skin or inside their bodies.

These microorganisms live together as communities, and the collection of their genomes is known as the microbiome. Microbiome communities are unique to certain habitats, such as the skin, lungs and gut, to name a few, and can prove crucial to the health of pets' immune systems.

Pet nutrition and diets are deeply related to the composition and diversity of the microbiome — which, in turn, plays an important role in the proper functioning of the digestive and immune systems of dogs and cats, thereby ultimately affecting their overall health and well-being.

The microbiome and microbiota: What's the difference?

The gastrointestinal tract is made up of trillions of microorganisms, which are known collectively as microbiota. Microbiota, or intestinal flora, constitute an ecological colony of beneficial microorganisms that reside in the digestive systems of both humans and pets. These microorganisms are responsible for many vital functions, such as the production of certain neurons in the adult brain, the functioning of the immune system, hormonal regulation, energy metabolism and the maintenance of body weight. These microorganisms, together with their genetic material or genome, create a microecosystem called the microbiome.

While it is true that, during the pandemic, the general public’s interest in digestive health increased, the scientific community has been paying close attention to this area for several years — and, above all, to the intestinal microbiota. This is due to the role it plays in various metabolic functions, including but not limited to immune system maturation, appetite control and energy metabolism. There is already a plethora of research in which it is evident that alterations to the intestinal microbiota are associated with several chronic ailments derived from inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity and diabetes, to mention just a few.

How can we feed the microbiome?

The gastrointestinal microbiome of cats and dogs is increasingly recognized as a metabolically active organ that is undoubtedly linked to their overall health.

Feed serves as a substrate for the microbiome of pets, as it plays an important role in defining the composition and metabolism of the microbiome. In turn, the microbiome facilitates the digestion of host nutrients and the production of postbiotics, which are compounds or metabolites derived from bacteria and which can influence the health of our pets.

To maintain the health of our pets, it is important to take care of both their intestinal flora and their immune systems. For this, you need to "feed" the bacteria with prebiotics and strengthen them with probiotics; the former feed the beneficial bacteria of the gut, while the latter add living organisms to the gut environment that help maintain a diverse and beneficial bacterial population.

Prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics for pets: What's the difference?

People and pet parents play a role in shaping our microbiomes and those of our pets through the foods we choose. Pet food in particular is formulated to contain the typical nutritional blocks of carbohydrates, proteins and fats — but increasingly, it also includes ingredients that target the microbiome, such as prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics.

Each of these compounds, as well as their relative proportions in pet food, can affect the composition of the microbiome or its functions.

Accumulating evidence suggests that dietary components may influence not only gastrointestinal diseases but also allergies, oral health, weight management, diabetes and kidney disease, due to changes in the gastrointestinal microbiome.

Scientific literature is abundant on how these prebiotic compounds work and benefit the host — which they do by blocking receptor sites used by pathogens. Such prebiotic compounds also serve as "food" that allows beneficial bacteria to produce metabolites to facilitate nutrient digestion and the host’s immune response. Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when provided in adequate amounts in the diet, can improve the gut microbial balance.

In recent years, the term “postbiotic” has been highlighted by both the scientific community and the popular press due to its association with physiological and metabolic benefits in human health. Postbiotics are not necessarily new but are, rather, a different way of defining the beneficial metabolites or metabolic byproducts generated by the commensal microflora present in the digestive tract, which can directly influence the host’s health. Some examples of beneficial metabolites or metabolic byproducts are enzymes, peptides, organic acids, bacteriocins, flavonoids and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

The SCFAs butyrate, propionate and acetate are examples of postbiotics. They are products of probiotic degradation and offer a variety of health benefits. For instance, they provide a source of energy, regulate potential anti-cancer activity, improve the intestinal barrier, signal satiety by positively impacting glucose and energy homeostasis, and promote the growth of other bacteria through bacterial cross-feeding. Postbiotics lower the luminal pH and create a less favorable environment for pathogenic species.

What solutions does Alltech offer for the pet market?

At Alltech, we are dedicated to optimizing animal health and performance through nutrition. Our line of cutting-edge ingredients has been designed to meet the needs of pets at all stages of life. We offer a wide variety of analysis, testing and support tools, enabling pet food manufacturers to achieve better efficiency, productivity and success. By working with nutritionists and product developers globally, we strive to meet the growing and changing nutritional needs of today's companion animals. With support services ranging from the technical to the practical, we help pet food companies move into the future by producing safe, sustainable and trackable quality pet food that exceeds consumer expectations.

One of our newest technologies, NVGEN PACK, was developed through nutrigenomics. NVGEN PACK is a leading fermentation technology whose function is to feed the microbiome. This solution provides important bioactive compounds derived from specific fractions of yeast cells that further support the microbiome and the overall health of dogs and cats.

NVGEN PACK is a functional solution that works to nourish beneficial intestinal bacteria and encourage them to naturally produce the postbiotics necessary for the proper functioning and complete optimization of the intestinal function of dogs and cats.

New technologies available to pet food manufacturers

Biotic nutrition can provide support in various food-processing scenarios. The controlled administration of microbial metabolites can dramatically influence gene expression and physiological responses.

Immunity, microbiome and digestive health go hand in hand. A healthy microbiome is key to digestive health and immunity, and a healthy microbiome plays a role in maintaining health and potentially affects disease development, weight management and behavior. Every day, we learn more about the various ways that the microbiome can influence our pets' lives.

Continuing to gain a better understanding of the functions of these specific nutritional compounds will help the pet food industry develop strategies that will allow them to continue to improve pet food and, as a result, the well-being of pets.

Recommendations for pet food manufacturers and buyers

Store shelves are increasingly filled with new formulas and trend diets, and the number of choices can be overwhelming. As such, consumers must choose formulas that are time- and field-tested to make a positive difference in the health of their pets.

Even the smallest ingredients can have the greatest impact on the gut health of companion animals. From weight to longevity to cognitive ability, the gut microbiome affects nearly every aspect of a pet's health and well-being. Promoting beneficial bacteria while limiting pathogenic bacteria will help balance the microbiome for nutrient digestibility, immunity and overall well-being.

“Organic chicken,” “free-range chicken” and “antibiotic-free chicken” are now popular terms in the food supply chain. As consumers become more conscious about their health and animal welfare, the poultry industry has been working hard to address their concerns.

There has been a particularly strong drive for antibiotic-free (ABF) chicken. As a result, producers, retailers and restaurants have started to offer ABF choices. Governments have also created stricter regulations to prevent the misuse or overuse of antibiotics in animal feed.

Why has there been such a strong adjustment from various stakeholders globally around this issue? It all started with consumer concern about antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotic resistance is predicted to kill more people than cancer by 2050. This blog post reveals how reducing antibiotic usage in agriculture is being demanded by consumers, required by governments and led by big brands to help prevent this global health threat.

For poultry producers, ensuring good animal gut health is important for preventing the disease challenges that come with antibiotic reduction on the farm.

The push for antibiotic-free chicken has come from consumers due to health concerns.

The majority of antibiotic resistance has resulted from human misuse and the overuse or abuse of antibiotics. However, the public is worried about antibiotic use in agriculture for several reasons:

• Antibiotics used in farming have also been used in human medicine.
• Animals can pass resistance to humans through live contact and/or environmental contamination.
• Meat, milk and eggs from contaminated animals (for example, poultry meat that contains antibiotic-resistant E. coli) can pass resistance to humans.

Why is antibiotic resistance scary?

Let’s rewind to 1945, when Sir Alexander Fleming won a Nobel Prize for his discovery of penicillin. In his acceptance speech, he warned even then that bacteria could become resistant to drugs. That means that some bacteria meant to be killed by antibiotics can adapt, survive and replicate. Sometimes, they pass this characteristic to other bacteria present in the gut. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is dangerous because it makes treatments fail when people or animals get sick.

Fast-forward nearly 80 years and AMR is one of the biggest threats in global health, food security and development today, according to World Health Organization (WHO). In 2019, almost 1.3 million deaths directly resulted from illnesses caused by drug-resistant bugs, according to a report released by the Lancet, a medical journal, on January 20, 2022. The large-scale use of antibiotics could lead to the death of up to 10 million people by 2050, meaning that one life will be taken every three seconds. In other words, superbugs could be a bigger killer than cancer, as projected in the chart below.

These alarming statistics reveal an urgent need for sweeping global changes to tackle antibiotic resistance on every front, from the healthcare industry to the agriculture sector.

Governments have introduced policies to prevent antibiotic resistance from agriculture.

Farmers began putting antibiotics in chicken feed in the 1950s after observing lower mortalities and faster body weight gain associated with their use. While the 1950s and the 1960s were the golden era of antibiotic discoveries, progress slowed down in the following decades, and new antibiotics are not currently being discovered. Meanwhile, bugs have evolved to resist many of the antibiotics available to both humans and animals. Consequently, regulatory boards have become stricter about antibiotics in animal feed.

Currently, the main uses of antibiotics in poultry productions are to treat disease, prevent disease or promote growth. The first use must exclude medically important antibiotics for humans in many countries now. The second and third uses are being increasingly restricted, as shown in the timeline below.

Denmark is a pioneer in this area and has established creative ways of following up on regulations. For example, Denmark’s government introduced a card system to name and shame drug abusers. This is done by listing the top veterinarians and farms by drug usage, then visiting those farms to ask why they are using so much.

With other countries following suit and creating their own rules, the focus on reducing antibiotic use in feed continues to grow globally.

Many producers, retailers and restaurant chains have developed ABF food products and menu items to respond to consumer demand.

The table below illustrates some examples from the U.S.

A holistic approach to ensuring poultry performance and producer profitability with a reduced reliance on antibiotics.

Many producers have been successful in making the transition to antibiotic-free production or antibiotic reduction, despite the inevitable challenges. To prevent disease in poultry and promote growth for broiler chicken, it is important to make both the outside and internal environments as beneficial and comfortable as possible for the animal.

For the outside environment, it is helpful to have a nutritionist evaluate any environmental factors, such as drinking water and air quality. Biosecurity, farm management and vaccination programs also play an important role in keeping the flock safe. 

The internal environment is related to gut health, which is directly linked to immunity and growth performance. A complete gut health program like Seed, Feed, Weed (SFW) aids in reducing antibiotic usage in poultry by:

1. Seeding the gut-favorable organisms (i.e., probiotics)
2. Feeding them and maintaining a proper environment in which they can survive
3. Weeding out the unfavorable organisms before they colonize the intestinal tract

This helps prevent pathogenic bacteria from binding to the epithelium and works to maintain microbial diversity, which improves the animal’s natural defenses.

In conclusion, with alarming predictions on what antibiotic resistance could do to people’s health and livelihood, the poultry industry is taking steps to reduce antibiotic use in animal feed. Many companies and farms have successfully switched to antibiotic-free production or antibiotic reduction in recent years. This shows that alternatives to antibiotics are available to help producers maintain their businesses. Additionally, a sustainable poultry production can also help companies reach a new market and gain a competitive advantage.

I want to learn more about poultry nutrition.

I have had horses most of my life, but it was not until I first cared for a horse on my small acreage that it dawned on me, what should I do with all the manure? I am sure you, too, if you care for horses, have asked the same question at some point.

Horses produce 50 pounds of manure per day, over eight tons per year! Add to that the eight to ten gallons of urine a horse generates and the wheelbarrow or more of bedding used each day, and in no time at all, you will have a manure mountain.

All that takes up a whole lot of valuable space that you would probably enjoy using for more interesting things than stockpiling manure. For me, that first small acreage experience was over 30 years ago, but the process of working out a useful horse manure management option led me on the exciting journey I am on today as an environmental educator working with horse owners around the country.

In this article, I will share some of the problems associated with not having a solid system to deal with manure as part of your overall horse management program and cover the benefits of composting. We will go through the steps to manage compost and wind up with guidelines for using finished compost.

The trouble with horse manure

There are many concerns about the mismanaged manure pile (besides the obvious of wasted space and being an eyesore), such as:

• Horses grazing near their manure are quickly reinfested by larvae that hatch from worm eggs shed in manure.
• Odor and fly problems becoming a concern to you or your neighbors.
• Runoff from soggy manure piles causing water quality issues for creeks and wetlands, as well as for drinking water, which is a serious concern if you have your own well. Many areas have ordinances in place that strictly control these issues.

What is composting?

All organic matter, including manure and bedding, eventually decomposes. By providing an ideal environment, we put the beneficial bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that speed up the decomposition process to work.

As manure and stall waste are broken down, the microorganisms generate tremendous amounts of heat. This heat destroys weed seeds, fly larvae, worm eggs and other disease-causing pathogens.

Finished compost is crumbly, earthy-smelling, dark material and a marvelous soil amendment that holds in moisture and adds nutrients.

The compost bin vs. the compost pile

In order to compost and generate heat, it is important to stack your manure and stall waste a minimum of three to four feet high. (Aim to make it at least the size of a washing machine.)

You can build a bin out of cement or pressure-treated wood, or you can just create a large manure pile. Larger horse facilities or those with tractors might need a sturdy bin design with strong walls. If you live in a wet climate, you will need either a roof or a tarp over your bin to avoid piles getting too wet and soggy. A cement pad for the bottom is helpful when using a tractor to keep the area from turning muddy in the winter or rainy season.

How to manage composting systems 

This includes tarping (covering), turning or aerating, and watering. Like most living things, the microorganisms that break down manure and bedding are aerobic, requiring air and water. Too much or too little of either can cause problems. Some simple steps to follow to manage the process are:

1. Choose the right location. Begin by locating an appropriate place for your composting site. For chore efficiency, choose an area convenient for chores with easy access to your horses, barn and paddocks. This area should be high, well-drained and away from waterways. Locating your pile at the bottom of a hill or in a wet area may mean it turns into a pile of mush. A dry, level area is especially important when it comes to accessing the pile with any kind of heavy equipment, such as a tractor or truck (which you may want for spreading the finished compost).

2. Piling. Place daily manure and stall waste in one bin or pile. When that bin or pile is as large as you want it (at least three feet), leave it and begin building a second pile or bin, and so on for the last bin. In two to four months, the first bin or pile should be finished, and you can start using the compost from that bin. It is a good idea to have two or three separate piles — or more if you would like.

3. Keep it covered! Covering your compost prevents the valuable nutrients you are saving in the compost from getting washed out and causing problems with the neighbors or in nearby waterways. A cover keeps your piles from becoming a soggy mess in the winter or too dried out in the summer. This can be accomplished with a tarp, plastic sheet or by building a roof.

Since you will need to pull the tarp back every time you clean your horse’s stall and paddock, make the tarp as chore-efficient and easy to use as possible. You may want to attach your tarp to the back of your compost bin. TIP: If you live in a windy area, weigh down your tarp with milk jugs full of gravel.

4. Get air into the pile. Turning the compost-to-be allows oxygen to get to the bacteria and organisms that break down the material into dirt-like organic matter. This keeps the process aerobic and earthy smelling. If the compost becomes anaerobic, without air, it will have a foul, undesirable odor.

How often you turn it determines how quickly your compost will be ready. On its own, air will permeate into the pile to a depth of one to two feet, so it’s the center of the pile that really needs air. Unless you have access to a tractor or enjoy a good workout, turning the pile by hand is difficult.

An easy way to get air to the center and avoid frequent hand-turning is to insert a couple of five- or six-foot PVC pipes into the center of the pile like chimneys. Buy PVC pipes with holes in them or use a drill to put in holes along pipes. Alternately, you could use a tamping rod to insert a few holes into the center.

The pile will still need to be turned from time to time to get the manure on the outside into the center so heat from the composting process can kill pathogens and evenly break down the material.

5. Keep it damp. Your compost material should be about as damp as a wrung-out sponge. Particularly in the summer, you will need to find a way to water your compost. Either use a garden hose when you turn it or just hose down the manure in your wheelbarrow before you dump it into the pile.

The compost should be damp but not dripping with water. If you squeeze a handful of it in your hand (wear a glove if you want), you should only be able to squeeze out a drop or two.

6. Optional: Monitor the heat. A wonderful component of composting is the heat generated by the beneficial microbes. A compost pile can get fairly warm, about 130–150°F. If you want the compost to kill fly larvae, worm eggs, weed seeds and pathogens, you need it to reach these temperatures for about three or four days. You can monitor the temperatures easily with the aid of a long-stemmed compost thermometer purchased at a local garden store.

7. Finished compost. How actively you monitor the air and water and how often you turn it determines how quickly it will compost. It should take around three to four months to finish, perhaps longer in the winter. The volume of material piled up will decrease in size by about 50%. You will know when your compost is ready when the material looks evenly textured, dark and crumbly like dirt and no longer like the original material. It should be 90°F or less.

8. Put that black gold to good work! Compost is a rich soil amendment that improves the health of both plants and soil and helps to retain moisture. You can use your compost in your garden, give it away to your neighbors, or spread it on your pastures. Spreading manure in pastures during the growing season — from late spring to early fall — is best.

You can use a manure spreader or simply spread it with a shovel from the back of a pickup truck or by the bucketful with a tractor. Do not spread it too thick to avoid smothering grass; just a sprinkling of about 0.25–0.5 inches at a time and no more than three to four inches per season in the same area.

In conclusion

Finished compost is a precious soil amendment infused with micro and macronutrients that work to add nutrients in a time-release fashion. Compost adds “life” to soils in terms of beneficial bacteria and fungi. Academic research shows that compost makes plants healthier, more disease-resistant and that just one application of compost can have benefits lasting five or more years.

Compost will also help hold in moisture — very important for helping your pasture survive a summer drought or climate change! And composting provides you with a free, easy source of compost that saves you money. Your horseless gardening neighbors may find it a valuable commodity as well!

For questions or design help, contact Horses for Clean Water, your local conservation district or the Natural Resources Conservation Service.  

I want to learn more about nutrition for my horses.

Not to use the “we’re living in unprecedented times” phrase one more time, but it really is quite a time to be alive. It is impossible not to notice the increases in most items we buy, including horse feed.

Instead of just accepting that everything is more expensive right now, I investigated the root causes of the increasing cost to feed a horse and can offer recommendations on making the most of the nutrition in your horse’s feed bag.

We are currently experiencing three critical factors in world markets that directly impact the ingredients in a feed bag:

1. First and foremost, there is a trucking shortage. This is a hangover from the effects of COVID-19 that is still being reorganized, whether we want to admit it or not.

With fewer trucks on the road and different mandates restricting how trucks can cross borders, the current reality is that the transportation industry is challenging.

Many minerals and other commodities, such as wheat and oats, must be transported between countries and states. Additionally, as fuel prices have increased due to conflict around the world, freight charges have increased too. These input costs to get a bag of horse feed to your local dealer directly impact the price you pay.

2. The weather patterns over the last year, including drought, resulted in a poor growing season and caused dramatic price increases in oats, flax and horse hay, to name a few.

To put it simply, fewer trucks and ingredients lead to increased hay and feed prices.

3. The world is interconnected. For example, Russia and Ukraine together produce approximately 14% of the world’s wheat crop and about 80% of the world’s sunflower seed production (some estimates are higher).

This means that the current conflict is not just horrifying on a human level but also directly impacting agriculture and the commodities that are often used to formulate your horse’s feed bag.

Is there any good news?

Yes! Commodity prices are cyclical. As the human race, we have been through many difficult times previously, and we will make it through this period of history as well.

The best things that we can all do right now include:

1. Do not panic: Perhaps cliché, but fear does not do anyone any favors. Do your best with what you have in this moment. Staying in a steady state will be your superpower during these times (i.e., let us not all panic buy like we did when COVID-19 came onto the scene).

2. Develop your curiosity: Rather than jumping to conclusions about increasing prices, I would encourage you to do your own research and really take the time to understand what is going on. Read articles and news sources that you would not normally read. Talk to experts. Embrace the fact that there is much to learn.   

3. Give each other (including your local feed dealer!) grace as we all navigate the current challenges: No one is out to get you or your wallet. Having grace and understanding is what others require from you at this time.

How horse owners can save money on feed

The other good news is that there are a few ways to ensure that you are getting the most from your horse’s nutrition. Some things to try include:

1. Feeding efficient feed: Yes, prices are high right now, but you can make the most of each dollar by choosing high-quality horse nutrition programs. For instance, feeds that use science-backed pre- and probiotics can help improve your horse’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients, which means that less of the money you spend per bag will be excreted as waste.

2. Feeding hay in a slow feeder or hay net: As you know, hay is the most important part of a horse’s diet. Slow feeders and hay nets can help minimize hay waste by horses and also contribute to horse health by offering a consistent supply of forage.

3. Feeding organic minerals: As noted above, one component of increasing prices has to do with weather patterns. While we will never have control of Mother Nature, doing our best to minimize environmental impact is crucial. Organic minerals are better utilized by the horse, which means that fewer are excreted into the environment. Choosing horse diets with 100% organic minerals can help reduce your environmental footprint.

In summary

The point of this article is not to incite fear, start a political conversation or make anyone angry.

The point here is that horse feed prices have increased, and many, including myself, are asking why. The reality is that the last few years have been challenging in many ways, and we are still experiencing the repercussions.

If nothing else, I hope this article reminds you that we are all connected. It is not about one country, one state or even one city. The world relies on us in many ways, and it is more important than ever that we start to realize that. Maybe you feel disconnected from what is happening across the country or around the world, but it truly has an impact on our lives, even at the level of how much we pay for a bag of horse feed.

My hope is that this blog opened your eyes a little bit more to the current world climate. I hope that you can start to see that everyone is doing their best right now, and maybe, just maybe, if we can offer one another the grace and compassion to navigate these times, we will come out stronger and more connected on the other side.

I want to learn more about nutrition for my horses.

Colder weather has begun to lay its annual claim on the land, and horses, especially those who live outdoors 24/7, are experiencing changing nutritional needs. Despite what many of us may think, and unlike their human counterparts, horses fare better in decreasing temperatures. In fact, our equine friends are most comfortable at temperatures between 18–59° Fahrenheit, depending on their winter coat, body condition and wind and/or moisture presence.

However, depending on the horse, the cold winter months may prescribe a need for dietary changes or supplementation not otherwise required in warmer weather. Hard keepers, senior horses and those with poor dentition, especially, can struggle to maintain a healthy body weight, while others may suffer from decreased thirst. All of these can equate to big problems for horse owners. Luckily, some seemingly minor nutritional changes can be beneficial for feeding horses in the winter, helping maintain weight, increase hydration and improve overall health.

Success starts with adequate roughage for horses

A mature horse at maintenance will consume 2–2.5% of their body weight in feed (both hay and grain) each day. At a minimum, horses must consume 1% of their body weight per day in good-quality forage to maintain a healthy gastrointestinal tract.

Some quick math will put this in a real-life perspective. The average 1,000-pound adult horse, on a day of normal weather conditions, will eat:

• Between 20–25 pounds of total feed
• A minimum of 10 pounds of hay/pasture (1.5–2% is preferred)

If you are feeding a diet that is solely forage, then you will need to estimate how much pasture your horse receives and how much additional hay you need to supply. Keep in mind that these ratios are likely to change in the winter when the ground is covered with snow, mud or other moisture, which is one reason why you may end up feeding more hay in the winter.

Additionally, increased energy will be spent to stay warm during the winter. Horses are better able to control body heat if suitable roughage is provided. The horse’s hindgut is a big fermentation center due to millions of bacteria, fungi and yeasts that reside there. As these good gut microbes ferment hay, they create heat as a side effect. This is just one reason why it is critical to promote gut health in horses.

Keep in mind that a horse’s need for heat (and therefore extra calories) will vary with the individual, depending on their:

• Age
• Breed
• Size
• Body condition
• Hair coat (has the horse been clipped?)
• Access to shelter
• Overall health status
• Geography and acclimation to cold weather

Observing your horse individually as the temperature drops is the best way to determine their needs. It is a good idea to consistently body condition score your horse throughout the winter and put your hands on the six key areas as winter coats can easily hide weight changes.

Also, remember: The horse has evolved over many centuries with much better systems (including a long winter coat) to keep warm than humans. Do not judge your horse’s circumstances or needs based on how you personally feel about the winter cold.

The lower critical temperature in horses

The lower critical temperature (LCT) is the temperature below which a horse requires additional energy to keep warm. In general, the estimated LCT is 41° Fahrenheit for horses with a summer coat and 18° Fahrenheit for horses with a winter coat.

The rule of thumb is that for each degree drop below the LCT, your horse requires a 1% increase in energy.

For example, if the temperature dropped to 0° Fahrenheit, a horse with a winter coat would require an 18% increase in feed. While some of this increase could come from grain concentrates, forage is the preferred source of increased energy due to its core-warming side effects that will help raise body temperature.

Improving water intake

The air temperature is not the only thing you need to consider. Drinking water should ideally fall between 45–65° Fahrenheit. If the water is too cold, intake will decrease, thereby reducing water and lubrication in the gut and, in turn, increasing the risk of cold-weather colic. As a reference, mature horses weighing 1,000 pounds require a minimum of 10–12 gallons of water daily to serve just their basic physiological needs.

To help encourage drinking in cold temperatures:

• Consider purchasing a water trough heater or de-icer to keep drinking water at preferred temperatures
• Add salt or an electrolyte mix to your horse’s diet. Electrolytes are not just for hot weather but are involved in thousands of body functions to keep your horse healthy throughout the year 

Summary

In the wild, horses can move continuously, forage for food and water sources, and utilize thick, wooly coats and the warmth of the herd to survive in the winter months. Domesticated horses do not always have the same options. They are limited to the space, pasture mates and food we provide, and their hair coats often do not stand up to the elements, possibly requiring blanketing and/or appropriate shelter. It is our responsibility to ensure that their cold-weather needs are being adequately met to keep horses healthy and happy through every season.

I would like to learn more about horse health.

While swine productivity and efficiency continue to increase, gases and odors from livestock operations persist and have become a severe problem, with social implications for many countries. Swine facilities are intrinsically associated with air pollutants and the emission of gases, such as ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2). These gases often have a negative impact on air quality, animal health and quality of life within and beyond these facilities.

Among these gases, ammonia is one of the most widely recognized because of both its prevalence and distinctive effects on animal well-being and pork production but also for its impact on the environment. Ammonia emission is a natural process produced by the anaerobic decomposition of animal waste; however, chronic exposure can lead to health problems and could subsequently affect animal performance, especially in a confined environment. Research published by Koerkamp et al. (1998) suggested that emissions of NH3 from sows and wean and finishing pigs ranged from 22 to 1,298 mg/h/animal. Additionally, environmental ammonia ranged from 5 to 30 ppm in swine confinements. While highly variable, concentrations over 20 ppm of NH3 can adversely impact the health of both workers and animals.

Where does ammonia come from?

Ammonia is released from the urea present in urine through the activity of waste-degrading microbes. Urea is formed by the kidneys and is utilized by the body to excrete nitrogen, which is essential for normal health.

Several management factors can contribute to poor indoor air quality and, subsequently, higher concentrations of ammonia, including damp bedding, lack of ventilation and nutritional factors, like overfeeding protein.

How does ammonia affect pigs?

Ammonia is a toxic gas that, when present in high concentrations, can easily become a chronic problem in the barn. Other documented effects associated with ammonia include tail-biting and respiratory diseases in pigs, but it can also lead to severe problems in human caretakers and can be detrimental for the environment.

Research conducted by Andreasin et al. (1994) suggested that even minimal exposure to ammonia can be harmful. For example, swine exposed to 50 ppm of ammonia for 20 minutes a day on just four occasions experienced reduced performance and decreased live bodyweight gain (between 37 and 90 kg) (Fig. 1) In addition, ammonia can seriously affect respiratory health and delay puberty, even at the low level of 20 ppm (Malayer et al. 1980).

Figure 1. Impact of ammonia concentration in swine performance (adapted from Andreasin et al. 1994. IPVS Proc.).

How does ammonia contribute to pollution?

Ammonia is the major alkaline component of the Earth’s atmosphere and can be found in water, soil and air. Ammonia impacts the environment through several different mechanisms, including by influencing air quality, odor, eutrophication, acidification and direct toxicity and also via indirect effects.

Ammonia pollution has a major impact on biodiversity, with nitrogen accumulation affecting the diversity and composition of plant species within affected habitats. Additionally, atmospheric nitrogen deposition has induced adverse effects in forest systems and eutrophication in several estuarine and coastal ecosystems.

How to reduce ammonia emissions in pig barns

A holistic approach is needed to improve indoor air quality in swine barns, from checking ventilation to providing the proper equipment to implementing nutritional strategies and manure management. Here are three areas to focus on for improving ventilation and reducing poor indoor air quality:

1. Determine that all fans are in working order. Clean fan blades and louvers and ensure that the fan motor and thermostat are in the proper condition.
2. Check that the curtains close securely, that debris and/or equipment are cleaned up and put away before snowfall, and that the propane tanks are examined for leaks.
3. Check air inlets and temperatures and test the supplemental heat sources inside of your buildings.

Additionally, many pork producers and animal feeding operations also utilize nutritional strategies and technologies in their feed, such as reducing the amount of crude protein or including Yucca schidigera (YS) plant extract in the diet, which can be used as an additive to consistently reduce adverse gas and odor emissions and decrease ammonia concentrations. Peer-reviewed data has shown that YS can reduce aerial ammonia levels by up to 50%.

Formulated from proprietary extracts of YS, De-Odorase® is a safe way to reduce and maintain low ammonia levels in pig barns. The evaluation of using De-Odorase® in swine housing units to control ammonia began in the early 1990s. Tuck (1991) reported that including De-Odorase® at 120 g per metric ton of finished feed reduced atmospheric ammonia by 50% and 65% during the weaning and growing phases, respectively, representing nearly one-third of the initial level. Colina et al. (2001) reported a reduction of 35% in aerial ammonia in nursery swine units after four weeks of dietary supplementation with De-Odorase (Fig. 2) 

A summary of peer-reviewed research supports the benefits of utilizing De-Odorase®, including:

• Decreased gases and odors (Ender et al., 1993; Vucemilo et al., 2004).
• Sustained pig respiratory system function (Monteiro et al., 2010; Vucemilo et al., 2004).
• Improved animal performance (Gombos, 1991; Ender et al., 1993; Power and Tuck, 1995; Panetta et al., 2006).
• Better working conditions for stockmen (Cole et al., 1998).

Figure 2. Aerial ammonia in nursery swine determined by aspiration tubes (Adapted from Colina et al., 2001. J. Anim. Sci.)

Controlling ammonia gas in pig production creates a healthier environment not only for the animal, but also for the producer.

I want to learn more about nutrition for my pig herd.