Do not take a tick problem lightly. Aside from giving most folks the willies, they carry some very nasty diseases. I hate to sound like a broken DVD but we are back to controlling our environment. Ticks just don’t show up in an area. The urban wildlife (rabbits, rats, squirrels, raccoons, etc.) that visit us are bringing in the ticks. Yes, I know how cute they are, but they are bringing friends. There are a few things you can do now, to prevent ticks from infesting your yard. If you feed the birds stop, for about a month or so. Do not leave pet food outside. Keep the grass short, flowerbeds maintained and any brush picked up. This includes the stacks of firewood.
If you’re going to be out in areas that are prone to ticks, a little precaution can keep the ticks from latching on and coming home with you. Spray your shoe and long pants with Permethrin. When you arrive home, strip your clothes and place them in a hot dryer for 10 minutes. This will kill any ticks that may be hiding in your clothing. And finally, make sure your dog is protected with an effective flea and tick preventative.
At Wells Brothers, we’ve got all-natural and synthetic insecticides that will kill ticks. Talk to our experts about the products we recommend for tick control. As always read and follow the label directions.
When it comes to flea control, prevention is best. Fleas like temperatures below 95°F with humidity above 50%. It’s better to prevent them than to remove them. Fleas are brought in by the urban wildlife (rabbits, rats, squirrels, raccoon, etc.) that visit us and our bird feeders. As a general rule birds do not have fleas but you are also feeding the critters that do have fleas. So, if you have a flea problem and feed the birds, stop feeding for a month or so to get the problem under control.
If you have fleas you will have to treat the yard. If you have pets, treat them, the yard and the house within a 24 hour period. When fighting fleas it is all about breaking the life cycle. There are a bunch of all-natural and synthetic products to choose from. Most products will take more than one application, 5 to 10 days apart to break that life cycle.
Our number one product for outdoor flea control is sulfur, but remember it is a repellent not a killer. There are two types of sulfur, powder and granulated. Application rates vary but the following have worked well for me. Use 10# to 15# of granulated sulfur to cover a 1,000 square feet and should be reapplied every 10 to 14 days depending on weather. Five pounds of powdered sulfur will cover about 1,500 square feet and should be repeated weekly.
The all-natural product called Yardsafe from the folks at Cedarcide is high concentration cedar oil product in a ready to use quart that will cover about 2,000 square feet for the initial application. Repeat application in 5 to 10 days. This will kill the existing fleas and has a good residual for several days afterwards depending on weather.
There are also quite a few choices on the chemical side in both liquid and granulated. A good rule of thumb is to pick products with an active ingredient that ends with the suffix, “thrin”. Some of the most common are bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, permethrin and my favorite product, lambda-cyhalothrin, is the active ingredient in Cyonara. This quart attaches to the hose and will cover about 8,000 square feet. As always please read and follow all label direction.
When feeding brood mares, we must keep in mind that not only do we need to meet the nutritional needs of the mare, we must also meet the nutritional needs of the foal. Therefore, the needs of the brood mare change depending on the stage of reproduction.
One factor to keep in mind when feeding brood mares is that body condition may be the single largest influence on the mare’s reproductive performance. Research has shown that mares maintained in moderate to fleshy condition cycle earlier in the year, require fewer cycles to conception, have higher pregnancy rates and are more likely to maintain pregnancies that are thin mares. The recommendation is for brood mares to be maintained at a Body Condition Score of 5.5 to 7. (BCS’s range from 1 to 9, see Body Condition Scoring Your Horse for more information).
Open mares
The open mare (not pregnant) can be fed much like a maintenance horse. The energy (calorie) requirements of mature, idle horses are low and may be met by feeding high-quality forages. However, since high-quality forages may not always be available, concentrate feeds such as Purina® Strategy® GX, Strategy® Healthy Edge or Omolene #100® horse feeds may be fed in combination with forage sources to maintain the horse. Further, hay and/or pasture will likely not meet all the protein, mineral and vitamin needs of the mare, so the concentrated feed (fed at recommended amounts) will provide essential nutrients to meet the mare’s requirements.
In many situations, open mares fed good quality forages will maintain their body condition easily on the calories provided by grass or hay alone. In this case, Purina® Enrich Plus® ration balancing horse feed may be appropriate in small amounts (1-2 pounds per day) in addition to the forage to supply adequate protein, vitamins, and minerals without adding unnecessary calories for the brood mare.
Early gestation
During early pregnancy (first eight months), the mare can be fed the same as the open mare. During this time, the unborn foal is growing at a rate of about 0.2 pounds per day, which is slow enough that the mare does not usually require extra feeding. Again, however, forages alone may not contain adequate amino acids, phosphorus, copper, and other minerals and vitamins, so the addition of Purina® Strategy® GX, Strategy® Healthy Edge, or Omolene #100® (or Omolene #200®) horse feed is appropriate. Purina® Ultium® Growth Horse Feed is another option for mares that require higher caloric density to maintain body weight and condition during early gestation. If the mare is an easy keeper and maintains body weight and condition on hay or pasture alone, then Purina® Enrich Plus® would be a good choice to provide essential nutrients for the mare and the developing foal.
Late gestation
Sixty percent of the unborn foal’s growth occurs during the last three months of pregnancy, so the mare’s protein, energy, vitamin and mineral requirements increase to meet these needs. In fact, the foal’s growth rate increases to about 1 pound per day during this period. In order to meet the needs of both mare and the developing foal, Purina® Ultium® Growth, Strategy® GX or Omolene #200® horse feed should be fed along with good quality hay and/or grass.
Mare lactation
Nutrient requirements for digestible energy in lactating mares depend on the composition and quantity of milk produced. Mares with greater milk production will need more energy (total calories) in their diets. Mares produce an average of three gallons of milk daily during a five-month lactation period. Digestible energy requirements are highest for lactating mares immediately after foaling. Depending on the mare, energy requirements may increase up to double the maintenance requirements. Protein requirements are also highest during the first three months of lactation. Early in lactation, the foal requires milk that is rich in energy, protein, calcium, and phosphorus, so the mare must be fed appropriately. Keep in mind, however, that a sudden change in feed to meet the mare’s increased need may result in digestive disturbances such as colic. Increases in the mares’ need should be made gradually over seven to 10 days to allow the mare’s digestive system to adjust. Purina® Ultium® Growth, Strategy® GX or Omolene #300® are all appropriate choices to meet the mare’s needs, especially if the foal is allowed to nibble on the mare’s feed.
In the fourth, fifth and sixth months of lactation, the mare’s milk supply decreases, therefore her need for additional nutrients declines, and her feeding level should be reduced proportionately to maintain her body condition score for the next breeding season or to support a new pregnancy.
Visit us today at Wells Brothers for the right Purina Horse Feeds to meet your brood mare’s nutritional needs.
Source: Katie Young, Ph.D. – Equine Nutritionist, Manager Equine Technical Services, Purina Mills
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