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Facility Management, Horse Breeding, Horse Care, Horse Feed & Nutrition, Horse Health, Horse Ownership in Colorado
Locoweed and Horses: A Toxic Combo
Locoweed, also known as crazyweed, is a type of plant that belongs to the pea family (Fabaceae) and is native to North and Central America. It is known for its toxic properties, which can cause serious health issues in livestock and wildlife that consume it. Locoweed contains toxic alkaloids, such as swainsonine and selenium, which can cause a range of symptoms in animals that ingest it, including neurological, reproductive, and digestive problems. The plant is commonly found in rangelands and pastures, and can be ingested by grazing animals, such as cattle, horses, and sheep, when other forage is scarce. The toxic effects of locoweed can vary depending on the species…
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Easy and Secure Grain Storage for Multiple Types or Bags of Grain
I see people asking how to store multiple bags of grain securely for their horses all the time. As with everything horse, everyone has an opinion… but this is what I do for my grain storage! I use a contractor job site box so I can have multiple grain bags and types, without multiple containers, and they stay protected. This way I can feed right out of the grain bag and never have old grain at the bottom I need to worry about using up before I can get new grain (like if Murdoch’s is having a sale and I want to buy grain now!). The particular model I have can…
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FDA Cautions Horse Owners Not to Feed Recalled Lots of Top of the Rockies Alfalfa Cubes due to Reports of Illness and Death
UPDATE On January 19, 2023, FDA finalized laboratory testing of samples of Top of the Rockies alfalfa cubes that confirmed the presence of Clostridium botulinum type C, a bacteria that can lead to botulism. Fast Facts What is the problem? On December 17, 2022, the U.S. FDA cautioned horse owners not to feed recalled Top of the Rockies alfalfa cubes with the date codes 111222, 111322, 111422, 111522, and 111622. Some of the alfalfa cubes have been reported to contain what appears to be fur and animal tissues, indicating that material from an animal or animals may have been incorporated into the cubes during alfalfa harvesting. Some people have reported…
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Foxtail and Horses in Colorado
You may have heard about foxtail and that it poses a danger to horses. But did you know it can actually get embedded in their mouth needing veterinary removal? It even poses dangers to dogs and other outdoor pets, and can get embedded in their paws. First, what is Foxtail? Foxtail Barley (hordeum jubatum) is a showy short-lived native perennial cool-season bunchgrass that belongs to the grass tribe Triticeae. This plant ranges in height from one to three feet tall at maturity. Livestock can safely graze foxtail barley prior to seed development. Once the seeds develop, livestock and other animals should no longer have access, as the seeds form awns…
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