Farmers and ranchers typically use late summer and early fall to do their prep work for winter. Horse owners should take note and do the same, as fall is the ideal time to tackle winter preparedness. Cooler temperatures are easier to work in and better for plants and crops to establish root systems. Plus, the timing is right to get a leg up on tasks that will make it easier to get through wintertime challenges.

Use this “to-do” list to help you coordinate beneficial fall activities, which will undoubtedly provide a more chore-efficient winter with less weather-related stress.

1. Apply a “green band-aid” to bare spots in pastures. Fall is the ideal time to fix bare spots by overseeding pastures (at least six weeks before the first hard frost, which for most of North America typically occurs from mid-September through mid-October). Warm fall soil encourages root growth, which will continue until the ground freezes. In areas with mild winters, roots may continue to grow all season. Once early spring rolls around, roots either begin new growth or continue growing at a faster rate, while also beginning top growth. When summer finally arrives, fall-planted grass is far better equipped to deal with heat and drought because of its well-established root system. By contrast, grass seed planted in the spring will get a much slower start due to the cooler soil temperatures.

Other good reasons to plant in the fall include dependable rainfall, cooler weather (which most grasses prefer), fewer pest and disease problems and less competition from weeds. Drier fall weather also makes it much easier to prepare soil than it would be in the springtime.

Encourage a thick, healthy stand of grass by overseeding with forage plant seed on existing pastures. Overseed areas that are thin or have bare spots.

Talk with local extension offices or conservation districts about ideal forage plants for your soil.

2. Plant trees and shrubs. Fall is also a great time to place native plants, which can be beneficial on a horse property. For example, native hedgerows can act as wind or dust barriers and provide an attractive visual boundary between neighboring uses. Native plants can act as mud managers alongside paddocks and confinement areas to help reduce flows, absorb water, and filter sediments and pollutants. Check with your local conservation district or Horses for Clean Water if you have any specific questions on this topic.

3. Provide shelter for your horse. Shelter requirements may vary depending on your specific horse and location. However, horses typically need a way to get out of driving rain and/or wind. They can usually regulate their own body temperature if allowed to do so. Your horse’s shelter doesn’t have to be complex. It can be as simple as a three-sided run-in shed, a stall with a paddock, or a shelterbelt of trees.

4. Bring in footing material for paddocks, confinement areas and other high-traffic areas. Now is the time to think about the sand or gravel you will need for footing in confinement and heavy use areas, such as in front of gates. These materials are easier to access in the fall before demand is high. Plus, it is easier for delivery trucks to back into paddocks and drive through pastures in the dry season rather than once these areas become slick and muddy during the rainy season. Put down 2 to 6 inches of material for each of these areas.

5. Begin a horse manure management program. If you don’t do so already, now is the time to start picking up manure on a regular basis. A horse creates 50 pounds of manure per day. When mixed with winter rain or melting snow, this quickly becomes 50 pounds per day of unsightly and potentially hazardous muck. All manure should be picked up at least every three days in stalls, paddocks, confinement areas and high traffic areas. Composting is a great way to manage manure and turn it into a valuable resource for your property.

6. Spread compost. Early fall is a great time to spread compost. Compost is a rich source of soil enhancement. It adds micro- and macro-nutrients and replenishes natural microbes, all of which improve the health of soil and plants. Spread compost in pastures during the growing season no more than one-half inch thick and no more than three to four inches per season in the same place. Check with your local conservation district for more advice and to ask if they have a manure spreader rental program.

7. Check gutters and downspouts. Roof runoff systems should be cleaned and repaired in the fall. Gutters and downspouts “keep clean rainwater clean” by diverting roof runoff away from your paddocks to areas where it won’t get contaminated with manure or create mud. Good areas to divert rainwater to include a grassy ditch, a dry rocky landscaping area, rain barrels, stock watering tanks, well-vegetated woods, or an unused portion of pasture. Doing this will greatly benefit you by reducing the amount of mud your horse spends the winter standing in. It will also make daily chores easier.

8. Reroute surface water runoff. Runoff from driveways, parking areas, and hillsides can add significantly to the problem of managing mud in confinement areas. Ditches, grassy swales, dry wells, water diversion bars, and culverts are all useful means for diverting water away from confinement areas and barns. It is considerably easier to build these now than during the next downpour.

9. Review equipment needs for daily chores. Having the right equipment for chores not only makes things more efficient but also ensures that you’ll be more likely to get those chores accomplished when it’s dark and cold. Consider purchasing a manure cart that’s easy to push and to dump into the compost pile, along with a new manure fork if necessary. The heavy-duty plastic-tined type with a bent edge is made specifically for cleaning horse stalls and paddocks. Wooden handles or ones wrapped with tennis grip tape (or even vet wrap) are easier — and warmer — to grip than metal handles.

10. Review lighting needs. In the winter, most feeding time is in the dark — either early morning or evening. Indoor as well as outdoor lighting will help immensely with chore efficiency. When you come home after work, do you have enough light to pick up manure and clean stalls and paddocks? When feeding, can you see the hay well enough to weigh it and be sure it is both green and mold-free? Solar lighting along walkways or drives makes nighttime walkways safer. Prepare now instead of waiting until temperatures are freezing and you’re trying to feed by cell phone flashlight.

11. Consider your emergency equipment needs. Do you have a headlamp flashlight that frees up your hands? Store several in easy-to-locate areas in the house and barn. Keep them charged or be sure to always have extra batteries on hand. How about fuel for generators, outdoor cook stoves or lanterns? Having a car cell phone charger on hand is also extremely important to power cell phones in case of a power outage. A cell phone with a dead battery and no way to recharge it is useless.

12. Set up a water supply that won’t freeze or get too cold during winter weather events. A horse drinks 8 to 12 gallons of water per day. Academic research shows horses prefer warm water, about 45–65 F. Horses drink less when water is icy cold, and studies show they cannot get enough moisture by simply eating snow. Inadequate water consumption can lead to colic, so it is very important to make sure your horses are drinking enough. On very cold days you can either break ice twice daily, consider getting a stock tank heater, or get a heated stall and/or muck bucket.

13. Develop a backup plan for watering your horses if you are concerned you might lose power to your private well. Water can be stored in rain barrels or garbage cans. Emergency officials generally recommend having a 3-day supply of water on hand, which for horses is a minimum of 30 gallons of water each.

14. Feed more hay. If the temperatures really drop, a horse must work harder to maintain its body temperature. The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) recommends increasing caloric intake by as much as 15–20% for every 10-degree drop in temperatures below 30 F. Hay (not grain) is the best choice for helping a horse generate body heat. Forages are digested in the large intestine by a process that generates body heat and raises the horse’s core temperature. Grain is digested in the stomach and small intestine, which creates much less heat. It is wise to provide plenty of good-quality hay during cold winter weather; free choice is best if possible.

15. Check your waterproof turnout horse blankets for rips or other necessary mending or washing so they are on hand and ready for use should you need them. Most horses don’t need to be blanketed since nature provides them with their own warm coat, but there may be circumstances when a waterproof turnout blanket would be helpful, such as in the instance of a cold, heavy downpour, or a polar vortex–type freeze, or if a horse should become hypothermic for health reasons.

16. Consider your own winter waterproof clothing needs. This is a fundamental yet often overlooked point. As a horse owner, you are likely to be working with horses in inclement weather for a significant amount of time. Invest in a good, waterproof jacket; calf-high, insulated mud boots; and waterproof, insulated gloves. These items will go a long way toward helping you stay ahead on winter chores and will be particularly beneficial if there’s a winter emergency. You are no good to your horses if you become hypothermic and in need of immediate medical attention.

17. Flood-proof your property. If you live in a flood-prone area or near a creek, river or wetlands, take time to review the high-water locations on your property. If it is difficult to visualize these, get help from your county or your local conservation district. Acquaint yourself with the historic high-water locations recorded for your property. If you live in an extremely flood-prone area (of which there are many), it may be wise to consider building a “critter pad.”

A critter pad is a large mound or small hill built out of dirt and fill material above the floodwater level. It is used to keep animals above a flood. Critter pads usually require special permitting and must be specifically engineered using approved fill material to ensure that they stand up to high traffic, heavy rains and high water volumes, all while remaining above flood levels. In some cases, funding or technical assistance may be available to help with the development of a critter pad. Contact your local conservation district, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office or Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) office sooner rather than later for assistance.  

The dead of winter and the early spring are common times for damaging, dangerous storms in North America. Making chore efficiency updates on your horse property and organizing backup supplies now will prove helpful in getting through the most challenging time of the year for horse owners, and it may help you avoid disaster.

I want to learn more about nutrition for my horses.

[CALGARY, Canada] – Calgary, Canada, was host today to the third stop of the Alltech ONE World Tour (ONE), a series of international events bringing the ideas and inspiration of the annual Alltech ONE Conference to the world. ONE Calgary welcomed more than 300 attendees from across Canada to explore collaborative solutions to the greatest challenges facing the agri-food industry, especially as they relate to the Canadian marketplace. Changemakers and thought leaders throughout the ag value chain united at the event to explore opportunities for agriculture to innovate and take a leading role in nourishing both people and planet.

The Alltech ONE Conference has been held in Lexington, Kentucky, home of Alltech’s global headquarters, for the past 38 years. In 2023, the global leader in agriculture is bringing the conference to its partners, customers, suppliers and friends across the globe, providing the opportunity for more people than ever to experience the power of ONE.

“As our customers and partners continue to face many challenges and uncertainties, we determined that 2023 would be dedicated to meeting them in their market,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO. “This special edition of the ONE endeavors to deliver global expertise to locally relevant issues. In the midst of economic and political uncertainties that fuel regionalization, this ONE reflects the responsibility we have as a global company to be a connector of people and ideas, ever advancing our purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™.”

Alltech ONE Calgary featured global and Canadian experts discussing agricultural trends, animal nutrition and business, including keynote presentations from Dr. Mark Lyons and renowned motivational speaker, Chris Koch, and a Sustainability Insights panel discussion. Moderated by Dr. Kayla Price, Canadian technical manager for Alltech, panelists included Tara McCarthy, global vice president of ESG at Alltech; Melissa Downing, director of regulatory and sustainability for the National Cattle Feeders Association; John Barlow, vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Parliament; and Al Mussell, research director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI).

“Our industry is navigating unprecedented disruption yet remains confident and committed to evolving toward a more sustainable food system,” said McCarthy. “The key to success will be the development of innovative solutions, but even more critical is the capacity of the industry to work together across the value chain.”

Alltech recently launched a global value chain engagement study seeking industry input. Though the complete Alltech Sustainability Insights report will be released later this summer, the initial findings include:

•           There is a world of shifting and, depending on geography, quite divergent priorities. There is a very real series of crises facing the agri-food industry and, for the most part, an acknowledgement and realistic view of the gravity of those challenges. In the face of all that, there is a strong level of optimism and positivity with 85% of respondents agreeing that the food system can rise to the challenge.

•           Respondents were similarly realistic about the need for support for the primary producers of the food that the 8 billion people on this planet eat. 66% agree that unless the farmer is incentivized, things will never change.

•           There is recognition that we won’t be able to resolve the challenges ahead without a huge degree of innovation and harnessing technology to enable us to feed ourselves sustainably, with 92% of respondents believing that technology and innovation are key to more sustainable food systems.

•           There is a near-universal recognition that we need a collaborative conversation and effort across the value chain, with 93% of respondents agreeing that we all have to work together to create a better food system for the future.

Dr. Mark Lyons presented the 2023 Alltech Canada Planet of Plenty Award to Laurie Stanton, owner of Stanton Farms in Ilderton, Ontario. This award recognizes Canadian farmers, producers and ranchers across the country and their efforts of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty.

“Alltech Canada is proud to honor and thank the people and organizations that work hard every day to feed our country while implementing innovative and sustainable practices for the future of Canadian agriculture,” said Lyons.

The Alltech ONE World Tour will continue with stops in the U.S., Asia, South America and the Middle East. For more information and to register for an Alltech ONE World Tour stop, visit one.alltech.com.

-Ends-

Download photos from Alltech ONE Calgary: 2023 Alltech ONE World Tour - Calgary, Canada | Flickr

Those who work outside during hot and humid weather are familiar with sweat-soaked shirts and sweat rolling from their foreheads. Horses and humans are two of the very few mammals that really rely on sweating to regulate body temperature. Horses have one of the highest sweat rates of all mammals and can lose 1–12 liters of sweat per hour, meaning they can lose about 70% of their metabolic heat from evaporative sweat. Several factors can affect the amount of sweat excreted, including work intensity, temperature, humidity and level of fitness.

The sweat of both humans and horses is composed of water, minerals (sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium and magnesium), and some proteins. The minerals, also called electrolytes, are influential in the maintenance of fluid balance, osmotic pressure, nerve response, muscle contraction and relaxation. However, although both humans and horses sweat liberally, their sweat glands are not the same, creating different concerns for dehydration and exercise recovery. Humans largely have eccrine sweat glands, while horses predominantly have apocrine sweat glands.

Human eccrine sweat glands retain large quantities of electrolytes, producing what’s called hypotonic sweat, which contains lower concentrations of electrolytes when compared to other bodily fluids. This increases plasma osmolarity, stimulating the thirst response. But equine apocrine sweat glands do not retain large quantities of electrolytes, so horses’ sweat tends to be isotonic or hypertonic, containing the same to higher concentrations of electrolytes compared to other bodily fluids. This isotonic or hypertonic sweat doesn’t increase plasma osmolarity, which in turn doesn’t stimulate the horse’s thirst response. Consequently, equine athletes lose more electrolytes and are at an increased risk for dehydration, heatstroke, muscle fatigue/cramping, and potential cardiac arrhythmia in extreme cases.

Electrolyte supplementation and its role in exercise and recovery

Optimal hydration and electrolyte status sets equine athletes up for improved exercise performance. Research from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover reported improved water and electrolyte metabolism when horses were supplemented one to four hours pre-exercise. This can lead to improved exercise performance in hot weather. 2021 research led by Canadian researchers at the Nutraceutical Alliance reported increased exercise duration and sweat volume, as well as delayed onset of fatigue when three to eight liters of electrolyte water was consumed before the onset of moderate exercise.

Electrolyte supplementation is also beneficial in optimal exercise recovery, helping prepare horses for returned performance — and adequate post-exercise hydration can do more than prevent risk factors from dehydration. Research by the University of Guelph reported that oral administration of electrolyte water after prolonged, moderate-intensity exercise improved the rate of muscle glycogen repletion. These results indicate that post-exercise dehydration may be a contributing factor to slow muscle recovery and slow glycogen repletion.

Providing electrolytes in water during and after exercise will further induce drinking during exercise recovery. The electrolyte solution increases plasma osmolarity and leads horses to consume more water within 60 minutes post-exercise than they do when given regular water. However, nonelectrolyte water should be provided as well, in case a horse doesn’t favor the taste of water with dissolved electrolytes.

Checking for dehydration

Horse owners can check for signs of dehydration in the field. Two common tests include checking skin elasticity and gum coloration.

When evaluating skin elasticity, pinch and pull a small section of skin on the neck above the shoulder. Well-hydrated skin will snap back quickly. Dehydration will show the skin remaining as a ridge or taking longer than two seconds to return.

Long capillary refill time is another sign of dehydration. Hydrated horses should have moist, pink gums. When testing for dehydration, lift the horse’s lip and press the gums, above the teeth, for a couple of seconds. After pressure is released, the pink color should refill the white spot created by your finger. If gums are white in color, or if the spot takes more than two seconds to return to the original pink color, these are signs of dehydration.

Electrolyte supplementation

When to provide electrolyte supplementation is a common question asked by horse owners. Under average conditions, forage, commercial feed, and free-choice salt will cover electrolytes excreted from sweat. Although free-choice salt is recommended and can be beneficial, excessive salt supplementation in feed isn’t a recommended practice. It can cause horses to refuse feed, can lead to gum ulceration, and can increase dehydration post-exercise when horses don’t consume adequate water. Due to these risks, most provide free-choice salt separately from the feed.

As mentioned before, several factors affect the amount of sweat that horses excrete including work intensity, temperature, humidity, and level of fitness. In many commercialized diets, sodium and chloride are not provided at high enough levels to replenish electrolytes lost from excessive sweating. When these factors coincide and excessive sweating occurs, additional electrolyte supplementation is crucial to recovery!

Why McCauley’s® Hydrolyte®?

McCauley’s Hydrolyte encourages water consumption, improving hydration status and maximizing exercise recovery. It doesn’t contain added sugar, which makes it safe for horses with metabolic diseases like Cushing’s disease, equine metabolic syndrome, and chronic laminitis. It has long been said that added sugar improves electrolyte absorption and retention, but this myth has long been debunked in horses. No added sugar in Hydrolyte further ensures a focus on providing quality electrolyte ingredients rather than containing a large fraction of sugar.

Hydrolyte also provides optimal electrolyte supplementation by mimicking the ratio of electrolytes lost in equine sweat. It is balanced with sodium, chloride, calcium and magnesium to replenish minerals lost from excessive sweating due to exercise, stress and environmental conditions. Hydrolyte can also easily be top-dressed on feed and/or dissolved in water for flexible electrolyte supplementation.

Summary

• Horses have one of the highest sweat rates of all mammals and can lose 1–12 liters of sweat per hour.
• Equine sweat glands lose more electrolytes than human sweat glands do, increasing the risk of dehydration.
• Providing electrolyte water can improve equine exercise performance and recovery.
• Ways to check for dehydration include evaluating skin elasticity and gum capillary refill time.
• Providing free-choice salt is industry standard and recommended, but it may not ensure full electrolyte replenishment from excessive sweating.
• McCauley’s Hydrolyte is a great addition to your horse’s exercise program to aid in exercise performance and recovery during hot and humid conditions!

I want to learn more about nutrition for my horses.

Alltech has released the 2022 Alltech Sustainability Report, which demonstrates the actions the company is taking to align the business with its commitments to the United Nations Global Compact, the U.N. Ten Principles, the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™.

“Today, climate change threatens agriculture’s ability to feed the world’s growing population. Fortunately, the world’s best problem solvers are on the case,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “We believe agriculture has the greatest potential to positively shape the future of our planet and that is why Alltech is uniting the agri-food community in Working Together for a Planet of Plenty. It’s not just our mission, it’s our purpose.”

Alltech is committed to the efficient production of nutritious food while working to minimize its carbon footprint and helping producers worldwide find and implement solutions to their sustainability challenges.

Through data and stories from Alltech team members around the world, the 2022 Alltech Sustainability Report emphasizes the role of agriculture in combatting climate change and creating healthy, sustainable food systems. It also includes information about Alltech’s emissions reduction goals, efforts to promote sustainability and the ways in which Alltech is advancing environmental actions in the industry.

Additionally, the report outlines the steps Alltech has taken to promote an inclusive work environment and highlights its team members’ efforts to make a difference in the communities in which they live and work.

“By adopting new technologies, improving business practices and embracing innovation, the agri-food industry is working together to harness the power of human ingenuity and the sustainable science of agri-food to create a Planet of Plenty, and we are honored to be part of it,” said Dr. Lyons.

Highlights include:

• Alltech invested $4.5 million in efficiency projects in 2022, resulting in a reduction of 7,600 metric tons of CO₂e.
• One hundred percent of production team members are trained in health and safety procedures.
• The Alltech Mini-MBA, Alltech’s advanced management development program, has had 576 graduates – 25% have been women. In the 2023 Mini-MBA class, 52% of participants are women.
• Seventy percent of office-based team members have received role-related training and development.
• Alltech’s climate advisory service, Alltech E-CO₂, supports 30 countries and has conducted over 20,000 on-farm environmental assessments.
• Alltech Coppens’ new sustainability scoring index reflects the carbon footprint of feed on packaging.
• Alltech Serdán received Empresa Socialmente Responsible (ESR) certification and reduced CO₂e by 650 tons through its photovoltaic system and use of compressed natural gas (CNG).
• Alltech was reaccredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition.
• Alltech São Pedro received the Paraná Climate Seal for its emissions reduction.

“Through collaboration and innovation, the agri-food community can create a world where science-based solutions help ensure sustainable food production for the global population,” said Dr. Lyons. “Agriculture has already made huge strides in sustainability. Imagine what is possible when we all work toward the shared goal of creating a world of abundance for future generations.”

For more information and to download the 2022 Alltech Sustainability Report in full, visit alltech.com/sustainability. Click here to read the executive summary.

[DUBLIN, Ireland] – The second stop of the Alltech ONE World Tour (ONE) wrapped up today in Dublin, Ireland, following a robust agenda of presentations focused on collaborative solutions to the challenges facing the agri-food industry as it confronts the “4 Cs” — the major forces of climate, conflict, consumer trends and rising costs. ONE Dublin welcomed more than 500 international delegates in person at Croke Park. This world-class event brought industry leaders to the stage to share valuable insights in live presentations and focus-track sessions while uncovering the challenges and opportunities related to agriculture.

Tara McCarthy, global vice president for ESG at Alltech, discussed demonstrating the ROI of sustainability.

"Our industry is navigating unprecedented disruption yet remains confident and committed to evolving towards a more sustainable food system,” said McCarthy. “The key to success will be the development of innovative solutions, but even more critical the capacity of the industry to work together across the value chain.”

Alltech recently launched a global value chain engagement study seeking industry input. While the complete Alltech Sustainability Insights report will be released later this summer, Holly Geraghty, project manager of sustainability at Alltech presented initial findings that included:

• There is a world of shifting and, depending on geography, quite divergent priorities. There is a very real series of crises facing the agri-food industry and, for the most part, an acknowledgement and realistic view of the gravity of those challenges. In the face of all that, it’s heartening to see a strong level of optimism and positivity with 86% of respondents agreeing that the food system can rise to the challenge.
   
• Respondents were similarly realistic about the need for support for the primary producers of the food that the 8 billion people on this planet eat with 67% agreeing that unless the farmer is incentivized, things will never change.
   
• There is a recognition that we won’t be able to resolve the challenges ahead without a huge degree of innovation and harnessing technology to enable us to feed ourselves sustainably, with 92% of respondents believing that technology and innovation are key to more sustainable food systems.
   
• There is a near-universal recognition that there is going to need to be a collaborative conversation and effort up and down the value chain with 93% of respondents agreeing that we all have to work together to create a better food system for the future.

Delegates at ONE Dublin also heard presentations from Russell Smyth, head of sustainable futures at KPMG Ireland, about “The metrics that justify the investment”; Nina Prichard, head of sustainable and ethical sourcing for McDonald’s U.K. and Ireland, on “Our journey to net zero: The role of supply chain”; and Constance Cullman, president and CEO of the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), on “The forgotten role of the feed industry”. These speakers were then joined by Hans Jöhr, former corporate head of agriculture at Nestle and current sustainability and ESG specialist and coach, for a panel discussion exploring “How do we feed the ecosystem, not just ourselves?”

“The conversations that we are having here at ONE, the ideas that are being fostered and the science and the data being developed can help to create a story where agriculture is the hero,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “Together, we have the collective courage and impact to work together for a Planet of Plenty™.”

The Alltech ONE World Tour will continue with stops in Calgary, Canada, on July 3–4, and in the U.S., Asia, South America and the Middle East. For more information and to register for an Alltech ONE World Tour stop, visit one.alltech.com.

[DUBLIN, Ireland] – The second stop of the Alltech ONE World Tour (ONE), a series of international events bringing the ideas and inspiration of the annual Alltech ONE Conference to the world, opened today in Dublin, Ireland. The two-day event, held June 19–20, is convening more than 500 international agri-food leaders to discuss collaborative solutions and strategies for success in today’s agriculture and agri-food industries. The discussions fostered at ONE Dublin explore collaborative solutions to the greatest challenges facing the agri-food industry as it confronts the “4 Cs” — the major forces of climate, conflict, consumer trends and rising costs.

Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech, welcomed delegates to Dublin and shared the stage with Dr. Vaughn Holder, director of ruminant research at Alltech, and Nikki Putnam Badding, registered dietician and director of human nutrition initiatives at Alltech, to discuss agriculture’s role in saving the planet.

“Agriculture can transform things in ways that other industries cannot and is at the interface of nourishing the present and preserving the future,” Lyons said. “Our belief is that agriculture has the greatest potential to positively influence the future of our planet, provide nutrition for all, help rural communities thrive and replenish our planet’s resources.”

Dr. Holder shared his insights on how animal agriculture can be part of the solution to improving sustainability.

“Agriculture has gone from having the most important job in the world to having the two most important jobs: feed the world and reverse climate change,” said Holder. “We sit in a unique position as we can replenish our planet and provide nutrition for all.”

Additionally, Putnam Badding spoke about the crucial importance of making nutrition accessible to all.

“Agriculture’s responsibility is to feed the world, but providing enough food is not enough, we must provide adequate nutrition,” said Putnam Badding. “The end goal is nutrition for all, and nutrition security requires all food sources.”

As ONE Dublin continues, delegates will hear from industry experts on various topics, including consumer demands, succeeding through conflict, and demonstrating the relationship between agriculture and sustainability for the world. They will also be able to attend focus-track sessions on soil and crops, animals, and the business of food and farming over the course of the two-day event.

The Alltech ONE World Tour will continue after ONE Dublin, with stops in Calgary, Canada, on July 3–4, and then on to the U.S., Asia, South America and the Middle East. For more information and to register for an Alltech ONE World Tour stop, visit one.alltech.com.

Download photos from Alltech ONE Dublin: https://creative.alltech.com/web/4f6fd5dfa7a2aa0b/one-dublin-photography/

In a demonstration of its commitment to nurturing talent, Alltech is pleased to announce new leadership in the office of the president, the culture and talent team, and the marketing and communications team. Orla McAleer joins the culture and talent team as chief culture officer, while Susanna Elliott will lead the global marketing and communications team as chief marketing and communications officer, and Brian Lawless will lead the office of the president as chief of staff.

"As we have reviewed our strategy and growing capabilities, we are focused on the recruitment, development and well-being of our greatest asset — our people,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “Orla, Susanna and Brian bring leadership and experience that will enable us to capitalize on our opportunities and leverage the strengths of our global team.”

As the chief culture officer at Alltech, McAleer will work to strengthen the company’s emphasis on its people and purpose. She has worked in the business for more than 20 years and has traveled extensively, building teams and close relationships with colleagues globally. Prior to this new role, she was the chief marketing officer at Alltech, responsible for overseeing the company’s global marketing efforts across its more than 120 markets and building a winning team and brand that has matched the growth ambitions of the company. McAleer received a master's degree in business, leadership and management practice from the University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in business studies from Trinity College Dublin in Ireland and holds a diploma in public relations.

As chief marketing and communications officer, Elliott will lead a 130-person global team to advance the company’s purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™. Through data, insights and relevant content creation, Alltech’s marketing and communication team provides thought leadership, rich resources and inspiration relevant to agriculture’s challenges and opportunities. Most recently, Elliott served as Alltech’s chief of staff and director of communications. In these roles, she worked closely with Dr. Mark Lyons and the executive team to support the business through the global challenges of 2020-2023. The position afforded her unique visibility of the entire business, a perspective that now informs her leadership of Alltech’s global marketing and communications strategy. Elliott has held various communications roles over her 15 years at Alltech and is involved in supporting the agriculture industry as an American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) board member and as vice chair of the CLEAR Center advisory council at the University of California, Davis. She received a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Asbury University.

Lawless is the chief of staff at Alltech, leading the office of the president. As chief of staff, he will support Dr. Mark Lyons and the executive team to drive global strategy and maximize operational effectiveness. Lawless brings tremendous knowledge from the ag-tech industry into this role from his involvement in the Pearse Lyons Accelerator in Dublin, Ireland. Currently, he is supporting the Bluegrass Ag Tech Development Corp., which aims to cultivate an agri-food innovation ecosystem in Kentucky. Over his ten years in the business, he has served as deputy chief of staff, species marketing manager, brand manager for North America and, at the beginning of his Alltech career, worked closely with Dr. Mark Lyons on key growth projects. Lawless holds bachelor’s degrees in economics and Spanish from DePauw University and a master’s degree in agriculture from Western Kentucky University.

For more information about Alltech, visit alltech.com.

[BUDAPEST, Hungary] – Central Europe's agriculture producers will play a major role in addressing climate and food-supply challenges around the world. The region's agri-food leaders discussed collaborative solutions and strategies for success today in Budapest, Hungary, at the first stop of the Alltech ONE World Tour (ONE), launching a series of international events that bring the ideas and inspiration of the annual Alltech ONE Conference to the world. Discussions explored collaborative solutions to the greatest challenges facing the agri-food industry as it confronts the “4 Cs” — the major forces of climate, conflict, consumer trends and rising costs.

The ONE Budapest keynote presentation from Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech, welcomed delegates to Budapest and challenged them to think about what comes next for the agri-food industry. 

“In times of uncertainty, it is crucial for businesses like ours to adapt and innovate,” Lyons said. “The Alltech ONE Conference is no exception. While our annual symposium has had its roots in Kentucky, USA, for four decades, we felt it was important to adapt and engage with our customers on their home ground. Thus, it is only fitting that we launch the Alltech ONE World Tour in Budapest, Hungary, which is at the center of both change and opportunity.”

ONE Budapest attendees heard from industry experts on various topics, including insights from the dairy industry, data for profitable and sustainable agriculture, and mycotoxin management, and they were also able to attend focus track sessions on dairy, pigs and poultry. Robert Walker, European growth officer at Alltech, moderated a panel discussion featuring the species focus track speakers, who discussed how to remain profitable amid uncertainty and how the learnings from the day’s sessions can be applied to individual operations.

“By sharing data and insights, we empower advisors to solve agri-food-system challenges and drive the transfer of value, from the consumer to the processor to the farmer,” said Walker.

The final session of the day featured a discussion between Tara McCarthy, global vice president for ESG at Alltech, and Lyons on the path forward toward a sustainable future.

“As an industry, we have the responsibility to frame the role of agri-food in the context of the four Cs of climate, conflict, cost and consumer,” McCarthy said. “We will need to use our insights (from data), our skills and our scale to achieve impact, but most importantly, we will need to adapt and partner across the value chain.”

“The theme of our ONE Budapest stop — ‘Thriving Through Turbulence: Rising to the Challenges of Climate, Conflict, Consumers and Costs in Agriculture’ — perfectly encapsulates the unique hurdles we encounter in this region,” Lyons said. “With increasing geopolitical tensions and rising input costs, producers will need to make well-informed decisions to enhance their efficiency and adapt to the modern challenges faced by many in this area.”

The Alltech ONE World Tour will continue with stops in Dublin, Ireland, on June 19–20 and Calgary, Canada, on July 3–4, then on to the U.S., Asia, South America and the Middle East. For more information and to register for an Alltech ONE World Tour stop, visit one.alltech.com.

-Ends-

Download photos from Alltech ONE Budapest: https://creative.alltech.com/share/928F2EF2-13C5-4658-9FE6874BE0837D80/

Like humans, dogs, pigs and many other species, horses are monogastrics, meaning they have only one simple, single-chambered stomach. However, unlike most of their fellow monogastrics, horses are non-emetic, meaning they lack the ability to vomit.

With digestive systems designed as a one-way street, if horses overeat, have excess gas, or consume something harmful, they have no way to rid themselves of the discomfort other than through defecation or — in severe cases — surgical intervention.

As such, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of colic in horses, in addition to the different types and potential causes, so that you can do what you can to prevent this all-too-common condition from causing potentially serious harm.

Signs of colic in horses

• Frequently looking and/or nipping at their side(s)
• Pawing at the ground with a front foot
• Kicking at their belly with their hind legs
• Repeatedly lying down and standing back up and/or rolling
• Obvious abdominal distension/bloating
• Little to no passage of manure, or passing manure that is unusually small or dry
• Lack of interest in eating and/or drinking
• Heart rate over 45–50 beats per minute (normal adult horses should have a heart rate of 28–44 beats per minute)
• Long capillary refill time (normal is one to two seconds) and/or abnormal mucous membrane appearance (pink to pale pink is considered normal; gums should also be shiny and wet in a healthy, well-hydrated horse)
• Elevated respiratory rate (a normal respiratory rate for an adult horse at rest is 10–24 breaths per minute)
• Increased rectal temperature (a normal rectal temperature for an adult horse at rest is 99–101.5°F)
• Profuse sweating, which is often induced by suffering from intense pain
• Appearing depressed or unusually lethargic

Types of digestive colic in horses

• Spasmodic colic: This is considered both the mildest and most common form of colic. Often linked to stress or sudden feed changes, spasmodic colic takes place when normal internal movement within the gut (known as peristalsis) is interrupted. Horses typically exhibit periods of severe pain, followed by periods where they appear more comfortable.
• Gas colic: This type of colic is typically characterized by mild abdominal pain, stemming from excessive gas buildup. This can be caused by a dietary change, low forage consumption, lush spring grass intake, parasitic load or deworming. Horses suffering from gas colic will often exhibit excessive flatulence and may seek relief by holding a strained stretch, as if needing to urinate. Fortunately, this type of colic is typically resolved either on its own or with minimal veterinary intervention.
• Impaction colic: Impaction refers to an obstruction of the GI tract. This can happen when forage, sand or some type of foreign material gets lodged in the colon and prevents the horse from properly passing manure. Dehydration can also play a significant role in contributing to impaction colic. Horses suffering from impaction typically begin to show their discomfort through decreased appetite, decreased manure production, and/or the passage of dry, hard manure, with signs of distress escalating as time goes on.
• Displacement colic: Displacement occurs when the large colon moves to an unusual location; this can be caused by gas buildup inside of the gut that makes the intestines buoyant and thereby subject to movement. The pelvic flexure — an area where the colon narrows and makes a sharp turn — is a common site for displacement. This is a very serious form of colic, and surgery is usually required to save the horse’s life.
• Strangulation colic: Also referred to as torsion or a twisted gut, this is likely the most dangerous form of equine colic, as it can block blood flow and result in tissue death. Horses suffering from strangulation colic are often in acute pain and are extremely restless. This is a lethal type of colic; surgery should be conducted as soon as possible.

Common causes of colic in horses

• Stall confinement: It’s commonly known that horses kept for prolonged periods in stalls are more likely to colic than horses kept on pasture. The ability to freely walk around and continuously graze keeps the gut moving, which helps to keep colic at bay. Try to give your horses at least a few hours of turnout each day.
• Meal feeding: Horses were designed to continuously consume large quantities of forage, but modern horses are commonly meal-fed, and all this waiting between meals can seriously slow down a horse’s digestion. The installation of a slow hay feeder can help to provide around-the-clock access to necessary forage.
• High parasitic load: All horses have internal parasites/worms. A low parasitic load will generally have little to no effect on horse health, but a high one can lead to colic. It is important to conduct a fecal exam in both the spring and fall to determine fecal egg count prior to deworming. This can help you determine a proper deworming schedule and make appropriate dewormer choices.
• Dehydration: Horses are very sensitive to the temperature of their drinking water. If it’s too cold or too hot, they won’t drink much. To ensure adequate consumption of at least 10–12 gallons/day for a mature 1,000-pound horse, 45–65°F is considered ideal. The proffered water should also be kept clean and fresh. Adding electrolytes or even plain salt to the horse’s diet can also help to encourage water intake.
• Abrupt feeding changes: A sudden change in a horse’s diet is a leading cause of potentially debilitating ailments like colic and laminitis. Any change in a horse’s diet should be introduced gradually, over the course of 2–4 weeks.
• Stress: Does stress ever make your stomach hurt? The same goes for horses, whose common stressors include transportation, stabling and/or environmental changes, intensive training, and increased stall confinement. Of course, these stressors can sometimes be hard to avoid, but you should do your best to keep stress to a minimum, especially for horses who have a history of suffering from colic.

What to do if your horse colics

If you think your horse may have colic, contact your veterinarian immediately. Typically, the earlier you can act, the better your horse’s chance of recovery.

While waiting for the vet to arrive, you should:

• Monitor your horse’s vital signs, including heart rate and rectal temperature, every 15–20 minutes.
• Remove any potential access to hay, grass, grain and/or water.
• If your vet advises, you may administer Banamine (flunixin meglumine) paste, which is essential for any equine first aid kit.
• Keep your horse moving at a comfortable walk, unless it is simply too painful for them.
• Do your best to keep your horse calm and comfortable.

Dealing with issues like colic is certainly one of the downsides to horse ownership, but being prepared and well informed can make a world of difference. Adding a supplement like Lifeforce™ Digestion may also be an advisable form of prevention, as it is designed with yeast, probiotics and natural enzymes to support the ideal balance of beneficial gut bacteria.

Alltech is pleased to announce new leadership roles within the Alltech feed division. Scot Harold will assume commercial leadership as executive vice president, Feed & Premix, and Brian Gier joins the company as vice president of sales for Hubbard Feeds.

"As we position the business for future growth, we continue to evolve and work together across all parts of our business to best serve our customers,” said Mike Castle, chief operating officer at Alltech. “Scot and Brian will bring leadership and experience that will enable us to capitalize on opportunities within our feed business to continue to develop species alignment and leverage the strengths of our team.”

Harold joined Alltech in 2020 as the director of sales for Ridley Feed Ingredients, part of the Alltech feed division. He will work with the leadership team to develop and implement strategy for growth of the feed business while strengthening alignment across the feed, premix and specialty ingredients teams. Prior to joining Alltech, Harold served as Cargill Animal Nutrition’s national sales leader for both the Dealer & Multi-Store Ag Retailer segments.

Alltech welcomes Gier to the team from Purina Mills, where he served as vice president of sales. He was responsible for overseeing the company’s commercial livestock strategy, as well as the lifestyle portfolio, and was instrumental in the success of the coop segment, including several joint ventures. Gier’s wealth of experience in the feed industry will contribute to enhanced customer success. 

For more information about Alltech, visit alltech.com.