Fat provides various fatty acids for the horse. Essential fatty acid requirements have not been established for horses, however, most equine diets will likely meet essential fatty acid needs. Linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid are essential fatty acids that cannot be made by the horse and must be supplied by the diet.
What does the Veterinary Feed Directive mean for small-scale livestock producers? First, it is important to note that the new FDA rules apply to all livestock producers, practicing veterinarians, and distributors of medicated feeds regardless of the operation size. What does that mean for you?
An animal is considered grass-fed, according to the USDA Grass Fed Marketing Claim Standards, when grass and forage are the “feed source consumed for the lifetime of the ruminant animal, with the exception of milk consumed prior to weaning.
In most beef operations, regardless of size, the single largest cost is feed. Proper planning and implementation of winter grazing can dramatically reduce annual cow costs without sacrificing productivity and profit. So how do you go about developing a winter grazing system, and what do you need to be wary of?
