Facilities and Management AGRI 3364 Equine Science

Housing When housing is built for horses, what should it provide for? Welfare of the horses Safety, health, and comfort (horse & handler) Efficient use of labor Cost-effectiveness

Welfare of Horses Understanding their natural environment Physical Providing welfare of horses begins with what? Understanding their natural environment Environment involves four main areas Physical Social Chemical Biological

Welfare of Horses Physical Environment includes: Temperature Heat-Loss Factors Stall Space Feeder Space Flooring

Welfare of Horses Social Environment Includes: Behavioral Considerations Sex of Horses Age of Horses Level of Activity

Welfare of Horses Chemical Environment Includes: Water Quality Various Gases O2 CO2 NH3 Air Contaminants (dust and mold)

Welfare of Horses Biological Environment Includes: Disease organisms in air Water Feed Stall Materials Other Animals

Welfare of Horses Horses use When threatened, frightened, or in pain: Flight as a primary defense mechanism When threatened, frightened, or in pain: Strike, bite, kick, or attempt to leave Can injure themselves Facilities should provide for the safety

Welfare of Horses Horses do not spend long periods of time confined under natural conditions What may develop if confined for long periods? Vices What tends to minimize vices? Adequate stall space

Welfare of Horses Fresh air should always be available in barns CO2, water vapor, and manure need to be removed Adequate ventilation will Reduce air contaminants such as dust, mold, and irritating gases

First Step in Building is Knowing the Recommended Space Requirements

Buildings Horses are housed in buildings primarily for convenience of handlers As a result Human environmental needs plays a major role in facility design This may be a conflict with The environmental needs of the horse

Buildings A horse can do well in nearly any temperature if: Humidity can be held to a comfortable level Enough air movement through barn Conditions that are most detrimental are: High moisture Barn is either too hot or cold

Buildings Purpose of facility Number and breed of animals What must be considered in the construction of a facility? Purpose of facility Number and breed of animals Room for expansion Regulatory requirements Budget Layout of facilities to day-to-day activities

Site Selection Local zoning requirements should be checked: Some areas restrict the number of acres to house livestock Distance of boundary lines, dwellings, and neighbors may also be regulated If regulation cannot be met, approval from zoning board may be necessary

Site Selection Site should allow water to drain away from buildings, etc. A site of 2 to 6 % slope provides rapid removal of water without causing erosion Detailed site plan should be developed before making final decision Allows to ensure sufficient space is allowed

Site Selection Plan should indicate where Water, sewer, and electrical lines enter the building Building should be situated to Take advantage of prevailing winds and airflow

Site Selection Consideration should be given to: Clients Traffic Impact on neighbors Manure handling Conditions in neighborhood that will startle or distract horses

Site Preparation Getting a particular location ready involves: Removing topsoil Leveling the area Bringing utilities to site Usually means that local contractor will be engaged

Type of Construction Buildings can be: Metal frame Pole Conventional Construction Type of structure may depend heavily of economic feasibility

Options in the Building Windows: Expensive additions Only essential in those structures that must conform to health regulations When used for light, should equal 8 to 10% of floor area

Options in the Building Siding: Metal Low maintenance Pre-painted, will last 15 to 20 yrs Wood Will withstand abuse Better insulating value Requires periodic painting or staining

Options in the Building Siding: Masonry Very little maintenance High initial cost Difficult to insulate When used with steel-frame or pole buildings, requires a separate foundation

Options in the Building Roofing: Aluminum or steel White colored has slightly better reflective quality Requires less roof framing than shingles Lower Cost Less insulating value than wood

Options in the Building Insulation: Many choices of insulating material are available (Considerations include): Cold buildings operated at outside temperatures Buildings where animal heat provides only winter minimum temperatures Buildings with supplemental heating systems

Ventilation A good ventilation system must: Provide fresh air Control moisture buildup within the structure Move enough air to dilute any airborne diseases Control and/or moderate temperature extremes

Ventilation Cool, dry air is drawn into the building The basic process that occurs with all successful ventilation systems is: Cool, dry air is drawn into the building Heat and moisture are added to the air Warm, wet air is expelled Failure to provide for any part of this process will result in failure to ventilate

Flooring Stall floors must be made of Durable material that is not slippery Should be absorbent, easy to clean, and resistant to pawing Common materials include: Clay, sand and clay mix, limestone dust, wood, concrete, asphalt, rubber mats

Other Structures Arena and indoor training facilities Pasture shelters Feed and water facilities Should try to keep feed off ground Water should be kept clean

Fencing Fences must be: Safe and strong enough to contain the horses Affordable and acceptable in appearance Important in making the handling, moving, and sorting of horses easy

Selecting the Right Fence Type of Fence Depends on: Type of horses being managed Intended use of the area Density of animals on the fenced area Availability of shelter Neighbors Desired aesthetics Projected budget

Selecting the Right Fence Draft vs. Miniature Mare and foals Yearlings Stallions Forage vs. Exercise pasture Density

Types of Fencing Post-and-Board Woven Wire Pipe fence High-Tensile Wire PVC Cable Electric Barbed Wire

Manure Management An average 1,000 lb horse produces: ~ 9 tons of manure / year How the manure is stored and treated has a substantial impact on its value Labor, storage, and utilization costs can be considerable

Manure Management U.S. Horse Industry uses two principle manure management systems First permits horses to Graze full time on pastures and manure is not collected Second system Confines animal feeding which relies on intense management

Manure Management Manure is typically managed in one of the following ways: Compost (removed daily and composted) Stockpile (removed daily) Daily Land Application Removed daily and spread on land

Manure Collection Horses housed in confined settings require soft absorbent bedding Most common bedding includes: Wood shavings Straw Corn stalks Shredded newspaper Peanut shells Peat Moss Rice Hulls, etc.

Pasture Management Management in pastures depends primarily on Having good distribution across pasture Rotational grazing What will also encourage better manure distribution? Several watering facilitates and moving of feeding facilities

Pasture Management Avoid grazing during rainy periods if possible Refrain from excessive stocking rates Damage to grass stand will increase manure runoff

Storage and Treatment Composting: Produces a relatively dry end product that is easily handled At proper temperature, can kill fly eggs and larvae, pathogens, and weed seeds Has less of an odor Acts as an excellent fertilizer

Storage and Treatment Stockpiling: Adequate storage area allows for greater flexibility Proper site selection for manure disposal is important Place stockpiles at least 150 feet away from surface water to avoid runoff

Land Application Manure can be applied to pasture for disposal Manure spreader aids in uniform distribution of manure Avoid spreading manure close to surface water or eroded areas