Archives

Coronavirus in Horses

In 2010 some coronavirus outbreaks occurred throughout the world in adult horses (and causing diarrhea in foals), but luckily, horses never transmitted to humans. It is also extremely unlikely that the disease would jump into humans from horses.  In late summer 2018, several horses were affected by equine coronavirus at a horse show in the Northeast United States.  

¿Qué es One Health?

One Health es un enfoque colaborativo e integrador que reconoce la interconexión entre los seres humanos, los animales, las plantas y el medio ambiente. Los seres vivos están estrechamente conectados con su entorno natural. Reconocer la interconexión de los sistemas humanos, animales y ambientales puede ayudarnos a promover comunidades y ecosistemas más saludables, el uso sostenible de los recursos y un mundo más resiliente. Por lo tanto, aquellos que utilizan One Health buscan aplicar una perspectiva sistémica para fomentar un cambio positivo. Esta hoja informativa es para residentes, dueños de negocios, municipios, productores agrícolas y otros miembros de la comunidad interesados en aprender cómo el enfoque de One Health puede optimizar nuestra salud colectiva.

Backyard Poultry: A Quick Look at Raising Healthy Birds

Raising backyard poultry is an increasingly popular endeavor, providing fresh eggs, meat, and companionship, while contributing to a sustainable food system. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced poultry owner, it is essential to understand the fundamental aspects of poultry selection, housing, health management, and biosecurity to ensure a healthy, and productive, flock. 

What is One Health?

One Health is a collaborative, integrative approach that recognizes the interconnectedness between humans, animals, plants, and the environment. Living beings are closely connected to their natural surroundings. Recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental systems can help us promote healthier communities and ecosystems, sustainable use of resources, and a more resilient world. Therefore, those who utilize One Health seek to apply a systems perspective to encourage positive change.  This fact sheet is for residents, business owners, municipalities, agricultural producers, and other community members interested in learning how the One Health approach can optimize  collective health. 

Basic Equine Dental Care and How to Detect Trouble

All horses should receive a complete dental exam, at least yearly, starting from their first year of life. By the time most horse owners recognize that a horse is having trouble eating or is losing weight, that horse’s teeth may be severely abnormal.  Proper dental care from the beginning of the horse’s life can help eliminate problems before they start. Seek an experienced equine dentist or equine veterinarian to undertake these necessary horse care issues. 

Colic: Its Risk Factors and Prevention

Colic refers to any type of abdominal pain. There are many things that can be done to help prevent horse colic issues. By being aware of the risk factors and implementing these preventative measures, the horse can avoid this painful and costly disorder.  

Developing a Biosecurity Plan for Your Livestock or Poultry Operation

A biosecurity plan is a proactive protocol for maintaining the health of animals and people that interact with production or hobby enterprises. The goal of biosecurity is to prevent the introduction and spread of disease-causing pathogens within and between groups of animals and humans. The factsheet integrates a ‘One Health’ approach and is intended for use by livestock operation managers, hobbyists, and others that work closely with poultry and livestock species. The best practices included in this resource may apply to any of the following: chickens, ducks, cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, and other domestic livestock.  

Crisis Communications Planning for Agritourism Operations

Agritourism is a viable option for farms looking to diversify their revenue streams, educate their neighbors and customers about agriculture, and share the joy that their farm offers. While optimism is preferred, preparing a crisis communications plan before it’s needed can aid in the farm’s resilience. Ideally, it becomes a practice that helps the agritourism operation prevent and mitigate threats. Good communication practices are part of any successful business, including communicating during a crisis.

Invasive Plant Triage for Habitat Managers in Connecticut

Invasive plants are non-native species that reduce native biodiversity, alter habitats, impact the economy, and pose significant threats to ecosystems. The task of managing invasive plants can quickly become overwhelming due to their aggressive establishment and the time, money, and persistence required to achieve positive outcomes. One practical approach is to use triage, an assessment practice that prioritizes invasive species management strategies by the degree of ecological damage to the site and the economic resources required for management.  This paper explores the fundamentals of a triage approach to invasive plant management, including its components, challenges, and implementation strategies for effective invasive species management.

Insulin Resistance in Horses – Does It Matter?

Insulin resistance is defined as a reduced sensitivity of the body’s cells to insulin’s facilitation of glucose uptake. This article discusses equine insulin resistance including its causes, effects, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.  

Yogurt, Kefir and Other Choices at the Supermarket

Yogurt is one of the most popular dairy products among Americans. The yogurt section in the supermarket continues to expand, and the many choices can be confusing.  Nutritionally, yogurt is a good source of protein, calcium, and potassium. Most yogurts contain added sweeteners; however, it is usually sucrose, artificial flavors, and colors. Kefir is another fermented dairy product made by adding bacterial and yeast cultures to milk. Let’s look at some yogurt and kefir options in the dairy aisle.

Vaccination For Optimizing Equine Health and Performance

For horse owners, vaccination is a part of the routine maintenance of the animal’s health. Vaccination can prevent disease, reduce the severity of disease, and minimize the spread of disease. With one horse, the focus is on disease prevention. With more than one horse, the focus is on reducing the impact of an outbreak.