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Discussion on Sanitizing pasture to introduce foal?
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Member:
Pulley
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 15, 2004 - 7:28 pm:
Hi Dr. O.
I have a question regarding cleaning of a pasture to introduce a foal into.
I plan to put my mare who is now 8 1/2 months pregnant, out in a decent size pasture Feb. 1 by herself until it is time to bring her into the foaling stall to foal. Then in about a weeks time after foaling, our plan is to return the mare and baby to the pasture, by themselves. I am not going to introduce her and the baby into the other broodmares with foals on the property as I feel it is too risky. I think the foal will have ample time to socialize during the weaning process.
Anyway, my mare will be in this pasture for 3+ months prior to foaling and from what I have read this should help her to establish antibodies for protection. I am going to clean this pasture of all obvious "piles" from the current tenant and keep it clean daily. Will this be enough to insure both mare and baby will not "get any coodies" from the current or past tenants? It has not been kept very clean thus far in my opinion. Any kind of sanitizing necessary? Or am I just really taking things too far? Any and all opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Lil
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Jan 16, 2004 - 6:13 am:
Hello Lillian,
I think cleaning up the existing manure piles is about the limit of practical changes made as long as the pasture has no recent history of infectious disease. Does this insure the foal will not get a infectious disease(?): No. Serious illness in foals has more to do with the health and immune status of the foal than it does exposure.
DrO
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Member:
Pulley
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Posted on Friday, Jan 16, 2004 - 3:52 pm:
Thanks Dr. O. for your input. When you mentioned recent infectious disease, I do recall that the horse currently in this pasture has white line disease. It was identified by the owners farrier this fall. Since it is thought to be a fungal infection could there be something in the soil? Is there a potential problem for my mare or foal?
Thanks!
Lil
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 17, 2004 - 5:40 pm:
I am afraid we are not sure about the hows and whys horses develop white line but I have seen it as a herd problem in two pastures but only for a short time: was it conditions or exposure? I suspect a combination of both, if you hae a better choice take it, if not I would not worry a lot about this.
DrO
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