July 24, 2003

 

NDSU Dickinson Research Extension Center To Host Horse Field Day

The NDSU Dickinson Research Extension Center will host its first ever horse field day Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the research center’s ranch headquarters, four miles southwest of Manning. The event will include information on horse care and management and research activity being conducted by the center.

The program will begin with a noon lunch. The program will include:

• A discussion of equine muscle disorder genetics by Stephanie Volberg, University of Minnesota geneticist.
• Developing a gestating mare/foal research program by NDSU livestock specialist Chip Poland.
• Stair-step nutritional regimens for gestating mares by Chung Park, NDSU livestock nutritionist.
• Stair-step nutritional study for mares by Kacey Tweeden, graduate research assistant.
• A West Nile virus update by Charlie Stoltenow, a NDSU extension service veterinarian.
• Replacement diets for growing horses by Doug Landbloom, animal scientist and Toby Stroh, a Dickinson State University agriculture professor.

"Horse Day is part of our continuing effort to provide assistance to people in the many different phases of agriculture," says Kris Ringwall, director of the NDSU Dickinson Research Extension Center. "There is a growing number of horse enthusiasts in the region, and we want to address their needs."

"We hope to show the community that the programs we are working on will benefit all the horse breeders in the community and across the country," says Mick Reisinger, the center’s horse specialist and coordinator of the event.

The center’s horse herd, which includes stock and draft horses, has been used to conduct research into nutrition levels for gestating mares, foals and yearlings. "Presently we are working on a nutrition study using peas as a supplement for oats. We are also working with the University of Minnesota on a muscle tissue biopsy test," Reisinger says.

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Source: Kris Ringwall, (701)483-2427, kringwal@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701)231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu