Dr. Shea Porr
Continuing with a successful annual event, the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council in cooperation with Virginia Cooperative Extension are conducting the 2010 Equine Winter Forage Conference March 3-5. Locations this year will include The Meadows Event Park in Doswell on Wednesday, March 3; the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington on Thursday, March 4; and the MARE Center in Middleburg on Friday, March 5.
Speakers will again present a variety of topics of interest or concern to both horse owners and equine industry businesses. Darrell Marshall with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will explain what the Ag Stewardship Act is and how it could potentially affect horse operations. Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District’s Kate Norris will present the latest details on a research project evaluating the effectiveness of implementing selected best management practices on horse farms in Prince William County. Dana Ernst and JB Daniel, with the National Resources Conservation Service, will discuss how water and soil quality can affect the health of the horse.
Many questions are often asked with regards to the nutritional composition of horse pastures, but few horse owners or managers actually take into consideration the impact of pasture nutrition on their horse’s nutritional requirements. Dr. Paul Siciliano, Associate Professor of Equine Nutrition at North Carolina State University, will present some of the latest research on nutritional aspects of horse pastures and how to use that nutrient source efficiently. Another issue being discussed more frequently concerns options after euthanasia, and Bobby Clark with Virginia Cooperative Extension will discuss large animal mortality composting.
Registration will include materials handed out during the program as well as lunch at each location and will cost $25.00 if participants pre-register before the event. The cost at the door will be $35.00. For more information, contact Dr. Shea Porr at 540-687-3521 ext 27 or cporr@vt.edu .
2010 VFGC Winter Conferences Equine Brochure[1]
Continuing with a successful annual event, the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council in cooperation with Virginia Cooperative Extension are conducting the 2010 Equine Winter Forage Conferences March 3-5. Locations this year will include The Meadows Event Park in Doswell on Wednesday, March 3; the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington on Thursday, March 4; and the MARE Center in Middleburg on Friday, March 5. (more…)
