Husbandry

A flock of sheep at pasture – a seemingly idyllic scene. But appearances can be deceptive: If the animals are suffering from scrapie, entire flocks may perish.
Scrapie is an infectious disease in which prions destroy the animal’s brain, rather like BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or mad cow disease). The brain becomes porous, the sheep lose [...]

Sneaking up behind a 1,000 pound Thoroughbred with a case of the hiccupsand yelling “Boo!,” is not advisable for several reasons.  For one, you might just get a surprise of your own.
The medical term for the noise we commonly refer to as hiccups is synchronous diaphragmatic flutter or singultus.  In horses, it has been called [...]

Summer is a time of war against the tiny, wingless, blood-eating fleas that make our pets miserable during hot, humid days.
While extremely annoying to both pets and humans, the flea is a fascinating insect, according to University of Illinois veterinary parasitologist Dr. Allan Paul. Its body is flattened slightly to allow it to move between [...]

from The Book of Draft Horses
The Gentle Giants That Built the World
by Donna Campbell Smith
Cracked and chipped hooves are a common problem if the draft horse’s environment is too dry. If the frog is dry, it loses its elasticity and ability to aborb shock when the hoof hits the ground. This can lead to lameness. [...]

U.S. pork producers are facing economic hardships so serious that many producers will leave the business. In an attempt to offer assistance, the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) and University of Illinois Extension have developed a program titled Managing Pig Production in Tough Times.
The online program covers decision areas for producers: Price Risk, Reproduction, Health/Employees, [...]