Profile of the Equine Industry's Environmental, Best Management Practices and Variations in Pennsylvania

Swinker, A.M.; Worobey, Sarah; McKernan, Helen; Meinen, Robert J.; Kniffen, D.M.; Foulk, Donna; Hall, M. H.; Weld, Jennifer; Schneider, Frank E.; Burk, Amy O.; Brubaker, Michael

doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2011.03.174

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…However, equine research and implementation is much slower to follow. It has been reported that most horse farms in the Chesapeake Bay area export nearly 50% of their manure [58,63] found that 58% of New Jersey horse farms disposed of some or all manure off-site while 54% of survey farms spread some manure on their farms.…”

Section: Nitrogen Balancementioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Implications of Nitrogen Output on Horse Operations: A Review

Bott

Greene

Trottier

et al. 2016

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science

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Nutrients such as nitrogen, which go unutilized during the digestive process, are then excreted into the environment via urine, gas or fecal matter. Excess nitrogen released in this manner may contribute to a reduction of the quality of air and groundwater sources. Many states have introduced or developed legislation mandating nutrient management plans on livestock operations to reduce environmental nitrogen losses. Strategies for reducing the environmental impacts of nitrogen on equine operations are two fold, including a reduction in nitrogen inputs and better management of nitrogen outputs. The practice of precision feeding, or feeding to accurately meet, but not exceed the nutrients requirements of an animal is a plausible method for reducing nitrogen inputs. This approach is not widely implemented, as feeding protein in excess of requirements is a common practice in the equine industry. Also, precision feeding is predicated on a body of data containing the nutrient availability and digestibility in different feed sources; data which are not fully elucidated in the horse. Management of nitrogen outputs on equine operations is largely based on data extrapolated from other livestock operations as well as a few preliminary efforts on horse farms. The potential impact of equine operations on nitrogen losses is explored in this review, shedding light on areas where further research and management strategies are needed.

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Section: Nitrogen Balancementioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Implications of Nitrogen Output on Horse Operations: A Review

Bott

Greene

Trottier

et al. 2016

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science

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Improving Environmental Management on Small-scale Farms: Perspectives of Extension Educators and Horse Farm Operators

Perry-Hill

Linda

2014

Environmental Management

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Although the number of small-scale farms is increasing in North America and Europe, few studies have been conducted to better understand environmental management in this sector. We investigate this issue by examining environmental management on horse farms from both the perspective of the "expert" extension educator and horse farm operator. We conducted a Delphi survey and follow-up interviews with extension educators in Indiana and Kentucky. We also conducted interviews and farm assessments with 15 horse farm operators in the two states. Our results suggest a disconnection between the perceptions of extension educators and horse farm operators. Extension educators believed that operators of small horse farms are unfamiliar with conservation practices and their environmental benefits and they found it difficult to target outreach to this audience. In the interviews with horse farm operators, we found that the majority were somewhat familiar with conservation practices like rotational grazing, soil testing, heavy use area protection, and manure composting. It was not common, however, for practices to be implemented to generally recognized standards. The horse farm respondents perceived these practices as interrelated parts of a system of farm management that has developed over time to best deal with the physical features of the property, needs of the horses, and available resources. Because conservation practices must be incorporated into a complex farm management system, traditional models of extension (i.e., diffusion of innovations) may be inappropriate for promoting better environmental management on horse farms.

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