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Tick Talk

Tick Talk

It seems we hear more and more about the danger of ticks every year and the havoc they wreak on humans and pets alike. Ticks are not insects. Having eight legs, they are arachnids, more closely related to scorpions and spiders than insects. Ticks are ectoparasites (parasites that live on the outside of its host) and live by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds and occasionally reptiles and amphibians. Lifecycle of a Tick Ticks have a four-stage lifecycle. They begin as eggs in a cool, moist environment. The eggs hatch into six-legged larva that congregate in groups around vegetation...

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Hydration In Horses: Drink Up! Keeping Your Horse Well Hydrated

Hydration In Horses: Drink Up! Keeping Your Horse Well Hydrated

Many regions of the country have been experiencing high heat and humidity this summer, so naturally, the concern of proper hydration comes to mind. Reduced water consumption in horses may impair performance and increase the risk of impaction colic. Additionally, horses may sweat more profusely, resulting in faster dehydration. So what’s a horse owner to do? How Much Water Should Your Horse Consume? The first key element is to make certain that horses have ready access to clean, palatable, cool water at all times or at very frequent intervals. Horses will normally consume about 1 gallon of water per 100...

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Maintaining Body Condition in Hot Weather

Maintaining Body Condition in Hot Weather

It may seem like common sense, but a horse that is overweight is a horse that will struggle in warmer temperatures. The fat on a horse acts as insulation, great in the winter, but come summer this is a major issue. An obese horse in the summer can result in heat stress. This is why it’s vital to keep tabs on your horses’ body condition score during all seasons. A proper body condition score (BCS) for growing and performance horses, as well as general-use horses, should be kept at 4-7, with a 5 being “ideal”. Broodmares should generally be kept...

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What Makes a Poultry Feed a Good Value?

What Makes a Poultry Feed a Good Value?

What does good value in a feed mean to you? Is it a fair price? Quality ingredients? Less waste? NatureWise Nourishing was formulated with these things in mind. Our customers mentioned seeing a lot of dust and small pieces—what we call fines—at the bottom of feed bags. And, just for you, we developed NatureWise Nourishing, a new feed with a specialized cooking process that minimizes fines and also offers better nutrient absorption. It’s an all-around win—and an exceptional value—for you and your birds. NatureWise Nourishing is made with a process similar to that used to make pet foods. It allows...

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Prebiotics & Probiotics for Horses

Prebiotics & Probiotics for Horses

Pre- and probiotics are considered “functional ingredients” that are added to horse feed to provide benefits to your horse. The environment of the intestine (a.k.a. gut) contains naturally occurring beneficial microorganisms commonly called ‘bugs’. Gut bugs are found in all species, including humans, and are essential to the digestion process. For the horse, gut bugs work to break down components of forage and feed as they pass through the digestive tract. The bugs deconstruct complex molecules within feedstuffs, which releases nutrients and allows the synthesis of energy substrates and important vitamins. Those nutrients are then absorbed through the intestines into...

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