First Session
Jan. 26, Feb. 9 and Feb. 16, 2008
IS THIS PLANT POISONOUS?
(Identifying Poisonous Plants)
Randall Prostak and Dr. Stephen Herbert
Horses and livestock usually avoid eating poisonous plants as long as quality hay or pasture is available. However, faced with no pasture or hay, an animal might decide to sample one of the poisonous weeds still left standing in the field. We will discuss the factors influencing poisoning and poisonous nature of plants.
FROM DISASTER TO PASTURE (Basics of Pasture Establishment and Grazing Management)
Dr. Stephen Herbert
Well managed pastures can furnish high-quality, nutritious feed at a relatively low cost. Dr. Stephen Herbert will discuss the basics of pasture establishment, renovating old pastures and managing pastures for horse and livestock.
WEEDS IN MY PASTURE, OH NO!
(Identifying and Managing Weeds in Pastures) Randall Prostak
Many weeds in pastures are actually quite palatable and nutritious if the pasture is maintained in a vegetative state and not allowed to become too mature. Learn basics of weed identification and management options.
EXERCISE & HORSE CONDITIONING (Health Issues and Nutritional Management for Horses)
Susan Bruns
Horses must have a balanced diet, and equally important is a balanced exercise program. Too much feed and little exercise ensures a fat horse.
Second Session
Feb. 23, (Mar. 1 canceled) and Mar. 8, 2008
MANURE AND MUD MANAGEMENT (Best Management Practices for Small Acreage Horse and Livestock Operations) Dr. Masoud Hashemi
Keeping animals on small acreage in suburban communities may threaten the quality of water in our wells, ponds, or lakes. Dr. Hashemi will first discuss managing nutrients and manure on horse and livestock farms, and review methods of handling manure, composting and the application of the correct amount of manure to the pastures.
BIOSECURITY ON THE FARM (Precautions when Buying or Showing Animals)
Carrie Chickering-Sears and Dr. Carlos Gradil, DVM
Bring new animals to your farm, showing animals at fairs and even people moving from one animal holding area to another can introduce health risks from pathogens. The way these can be spread will be discussed together with precautions that should be taken. Carrie Chickering-Sears has much experience in showing animals. Her family had the Supreme Champion Cow at the World Dairy Expo in 2007.
UNDERSTANDING HAY QUALITY
(Practical Hay Quality Principles)
Dr. Stephen Herbert
Hay is an important and the most commonly used feed. Feeding hay of unknown or low quality may adversely affect animal nutrition, and will cost more than necessary. Learn about hay quality and how to determine it. This will be in-part a hands-on workshop examining several hay samples of varying quality.
FROM CONCEPTION TO FOALING (Assisted Reproduction Techniques)
Dr. Carlos Gradil, DVM
Implications of reproductive issues will be related to horse health and management. The discussion of assisted reproduction techniques will include stallion collection and shipping, artificial insemination, and embryo transfer.
Locations
North Eastern Mass. Essex AgTech School
562 Maple St., Hathorne (Danvers)
The campus is located in the village of Hathorne, a section of the town of Danvers. The "Aggie" is situated on both sides of state Route 62.
From U.S. 1, traveling North or South: Take exit Rte. 62 West and follow for approx. one-half mile.
From I- 95, traveling North: Take exit 49 to Rte. 62 West and follow as above.
From I- 95, traveling South: Take exit 50, to U.S. Rte. 1, take exit for Rte. 62 West as above.
From 128 North: Take exit 44B to I-95, follow for approximately 6 miles. Take exit 49 to Rte. 62 W.
From I-93: Take I-93 South to 128 North to I-95 North to exit for Rte. 62 West as above.
From I-495: Take exit 42 Rte. 114 South to Middleton Center (approx. 8 miles). Turn left onto Rte. 62 at Middleton Center and travel 2 miles.
South Eastern Mass. Dean College
99 Main St., Franklin
From I-495 take Exit 17 to Rt. 140 S. At 4th set of traffic lights (Edwin's Gifts on left) turn left onto Beaver St. At 2nd light turn right onto Main St (Town Common to your right ). Follow Main Street to the College. Take left onto School Street. Follow to the end to Jones Parking lot (on right).
From Mass. Turnpike (I-90) take Exit 11A to I-495 S. Take exit 17 from I-495 South to Franklin and follow above directions.
UMass Horse Farm, Arena Classroom
111 North Maple Street, Hadley
From I-91 South take exit 19, right onto Rt. 9 E. At Hadley Mall Intersection, take a left at lights onto North Maple Street, go through next lights, UMass Farm is on the right, park at the bottom of the hill and look for signs to the classroom.
From the North, exit 20, left at lights (Damon Road) and then left onto Rt. 9 (east) follow direction above to farm.
Registration (print, then fill in this form and mail to the address below)
First Session - Please indicate location below
Is this Plant Poisonous? (9:30am) ($25) ____
From Disaster to Pasture (11:00am) ($25) ____
Weeds in my Pasture, Oh No! (1:20pm) ($25) ____
Exercise & Horse Conditioning (2:35pm) ($25) ____
$40 for two session talks____ or whole day $60 if paid by Feb. 8 ____ or $30 per talk, whole day $70
Jan. 26 Conn. Valley - UM Horse Farm, Hadley ____
Feb. 9 NE Mass. – Essex Aggie, Hathorne ____
Feb. 16 SE Mass. - Dean College, Franklin ____
Second Session - Please indicate location
Manure and Mud Management (9:30am) ($25) ____
Biosecurity on the Farm (11:00am) ($25)____
Understanding Hay Quality (1:20pm) ($25) ____
From Conception to Foaling (2:35pm) ($25) ____
$40 for two session talks____ or whole day $60 if
paid by Feb. 8 ____ or $30 per talk, whole day $70
Feb. 23 Conn. Valley - UM Horse Farm, Hadley ____
Mar. 1 canceled
Mar. 8 SE Mass. - Dean College, Franklin ____
TOTAL ENCLOSED ______
Mail with check to: UMASS CDLE Program, Bowditch Hall, UMass, Amherst, MA 01003-9294
**If snow prevents then snow day - Sunday**
Make checks payable to UMass by Feb. 8 for reduced rate, you can also pay at the door.
For more information contact: Carrie Sears at ccsears@umext.umass.edu or 413-549-3257