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Post by Pepper on Dec 29, 2017 8:51:03 GMT
One to ponder!
My horses are at home on the farm. We have a bore hole system for water for all the livestock - regularly tested and proven to actually be a better quality water than the mains water coming in to the house!
About a month ago we put a new filter/cleaning system on to the bore hole - a system currently used on water for our pig breed unit and free range hens at our other farms. It’s been developed to improve the quality of the water thus improving productivity, health - most specifically gut health, and wellbeing in the livestock. Interestingly this system is designed to reduce scours in pigs - also a single stomach animal...
All four horses are significantly brighter. But most significantly is my show hunter who has always been incredibly laid back. No amount of corn or energy boosters etc touch him. We accepted it was just him after two years of trying everything. But the last few weeks during his holiday he has been like a coiled spring every day - he has six weeks off every Christmas, daily turn out, reduced feeds, shoes off etc. Compared to his behaviour during the last two years holidays he’s a different boy
We questioned gut health in the past but he never displayed anything to indicate ulcers other than (very) loose dropping which always coincided with spring grass, excitement/shows or feed changes
So what I’m wondering is... could his general laid-backness was have been gut health / gut activity? Does water quality affect horses?
thoughts appreciated
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Post by Philippa on Dec 30, 2017 8:27:55 GMT
I would assume water quality should be something to take into consideration yet probably the one thing that is totally overlooked. People have started testing land quality, hay/haylege, feed etc but I've not heard of anyone testing water content/quality. It does however make sense.
It would be interesting to see how your horse fares as he comes back into work etc. Fingers crossed you've found the trigger you were looking for.
Keep us posted.
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Post by Pepper on Dec 30, 2017 17:30:01 GMT
It’s interesting Phillipa as this all started for pigs and scours - regulating gut bacteria, there was a link then to hens. Big so far no research in horses
Having now spoken with company, the water quality is now th equivalent of a medical grade probiotic and regulated gut bacteria. I’m then wondering about gut efficiency
Time will tell when he comes into work...
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Post by Philippa on Dec 30, 2017 20:03:24 GMT
I agree it is interesting and I feed keyflow feeds because of the pre & pro biotics but I’ve never considered water in the feed factors.
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