facility management Flashcards
pasture housing
Pasture with shelter is the best possible housing for horses
– Fresh air – Free choice food consumption – Reduced risk of colic
• Be careful of periods of lush forage
– Exercise
– Opportunity for herd interaction
• Fewer abnormal behaviors
fencing uses
Contains horses • Keeps other animals out • Allows for group management • Allows for rotation of pasture • Aesthetics (can add or detract from property) • Keeping horses safe and secure
fencing considerations
Number of horses to be fenced – What classes of horses are being contained
• Stallions, foals, etc.
– Amount of your property to be fenced – Cost – Best fence type for your needs
• Classes of horses, stocking density, personal preference
fencing construction considerations
Gate location and width • Fence height: 54” – 60” (4 ½ to 5 feet) • Lower rail or wire: 8” – 12”• Corners
– Can be a problem with high stocking density – Dominant horses “corner” lower herd members
• Smooth on the horse side
fencing types
Wood • Wire mesh • Woven wire • High tensile (smooth) wire • Electric (metal or plastic wire, tape) • Pipe • PVC (polyvinyl chloride plastic)
other fence variables
Costs
– Installation – Maintenance – Replacement
• Visibility to horses (safety factor) • Durability • Aesthetics
Potential toxicity
– Copper-arsenic pressure-treated lumber
• Chewing and ground water • New lumber is lower in arsenic than previous types
• Supplemental hot wire
– Used to line wood, woven wire fences – Divide pastures for rotational grazing
run-in sheds
Provide shelter from rain, wind, sun – 3-sided with solid walls facing prevailing wind – 100-150 sq feet per horse – Need adequate ventilation – Open enough to allow easy escape – Good place to put salt blocks or salt feeders
• They will last longer
feeders
Feed bunks for concentrates
• Allow about 3 linear feet per horse • Can be covered
– Hay feeders
• Greatly reduce waste • Reduce exposure to some parasites • Can be a source of injuries
– Both should be located in open areas
providing water
Tanks
• Can be fitted with a heater • Heats a large volume of water
– Automatic waterers
• Small reservoir, refills as water is consumed • Small volume of water to heat
– Surface water must be protected from horses
• Source of pollution and erosion
pasture layout
Having more than one pasture allows for
– Rotational grazing – Utilization of cool and warm season grasses – Parasite control
• Plan for shelters and feeding/watering
– In each pasture – Can be in central location with gates to pastures
• Sacrifice area for resting fields in winter
barn considerations
Temperature – Hot, cold, mild (neutral) • Humidity – Effects how animals handle temperature • Precipitation – Rain, snow • Wind – Increases heat loss
Lower critical temperature for horses
Ambient temperatures below ~ 30oF:
– Basal metabolic rate not sufficient to maintain core body temperature
• Horse will need to increase heat production or reduce heat loss in order to maintain core body temperature
– Behavior modifications – Burning energy to increase metabolic rate
upper critical temperature for horses
Ambient temperatures above ~75oF: – Horse needs to increase heat loss • This requires energy expenditure • Increased blood flow to extremities • Sweating – evaporative cooling • Basal metabolic rate increases as a result – Reduce heat production • Behavior change – less active – Seek shade and wind
factors influencing thermal neutral zone
Wind, rain, body condition, hair coat, age
– For each 10 degrees F below LCT, 15-20% more energy is needed in diet
humidity lowers upper critical temperature
use for barns
Provide protection from temperature extremes
• Should not make matters worse in times of heat and humidity (provide shade)
• Facilities also allow us to contain horses, provide feed and water, manage resources, work and enjoy horses, store equipment, etc.
