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Horse Pasture Management & Nutrition Workshop: Education for Horse Owners

Extension Education

Elizabeth Picking
Field Specialist in Livestock
University of Missouri Extension
West Plains

Abstract

According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service 2017 Census of Agriculture, Missouri maintains 85,540 horses on 16,925 farms. With overgrazed horse pastures being a common problem, there is a need to educate horse owners and caretakers about pasture management and proper nutrition. Further, horse owners have historically under-utilized Extension resources when compared to other livestock owners. Responding to the need for pasture management and nutrition education, University of Missouri Extension field specialists developed a pasture management and nutrition workshop for horse owners. This evening workshop combined presentations about pasture management and nutritional requirements of horses with hands-on weed identification and hay evaluation discussions for 19 participants. When surveyed, 86% of respondents planned to make changes to their pasture management after attending the workshop. In addition, 57% of respondents planned to make changes to their nutritional program. Attendees planned to initiate the following practices: soil and hay sampling, pasture rotation, weed control, interseeding grasses and legumes, evaluation of starch levels in feed and forage, purchase more hay, and have Extension specialists out for farm visits. In fact, increased use of Extension resources from workshop participants including eight phone or in-office consultations and six farm visits occurred in the months following the workshop.

Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC

This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.

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Authors: Elizabeth Picking, Sarah Kenyon
  1. Picking, E. Field Specialist in Livestock, University of Missouri Extension, Missouri, 65775
  2. Kenyon, S. Field Specialist in Agronomy , University of Missouri Extension, Missouri, 65775