AGRI 3364 Equine Science
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 Housing
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 O2O2 CO 2 NH 3 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 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 CO 2, water vapor, and manure need to be removed Adequate ventilation will Reduce air contaminants such as dust, mold, and irritating gases Welfare of Horses
First Step in Building is Knowing the Recommended Space Requirements
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
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 Buildings
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 Selection
Getting a particular location ready involves: Removing topsoil Leveling the area Bringing utilities to site Usually means that local contractor will be engaged Site Preparation
Buildings can be: Metal frame Pole Conventional Construction Type of structure may depend heavily of economic feasibility Type of Construction
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 Options in the Building
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
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 Ventilation
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 Flooring
Arena and indoor training facilities Pasture shelters Feed and water facilities Should try to keep feed off ground Water should be kept clean Other Structures
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 Fencing
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 Selecting the Right Fence
Post-and-Board Woven Wire Pipe fence High-Tensile Wire PVC Cable Electric Barbed Wire Types of Fencing
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 Management
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. Manure Collection
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 Pasture Management
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 Storage and Treatment
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 Land Application