| Popis: |
This study examines the methods performance horse owners use to eliminate or minimize equine intestinal parasites. Fecal samples from performance horses from the area of Lubbock, Texas (n=68) and Springfield, Missouri (n=70) were sampled to determine parasite load by Fecal Egg Counts. The majority of samples from Texas participant’s horses were strongyle-free, with 5% of the samples having low numbers of 1-50 eggs per gram (EPG). Of the Missouri samples, 25% of the horses were strongyle-free, while 10% of the horses had over 100 EPG. Ascarids were not common among the samples taken from both states. It was further an objective to probe the anthelmintic management strategies and practices of performance horse owners from the two selected regions. A survey was developed and conducted to compare and contrast methods to control internal parasites from the two regions. A total of 83 surveys were distributed and 76 were returned. The survey addressed the location, type of housing, anthelmintic products being used, and frequency of use, along with pasture cleanup, and the level of education on anthelmintic usage horse owners had. Significant differences were observed from the responses of surveyed participants between Texas and Missouri. The answers from the surveyed participants showed there were differing trends observed in turn out, housing, anthelmintic rotation, number of horses owned, type of performance horse, and the implementation of fecal egg counts between the two states. |
