The Effect of Moxidectin Treatment on the Equine Hind Gut Microbiome, Metabonome and Feed Fermentation Kinetics in Horses with Very Low Parasite Burdens

Seventeen horses, mean 12 ± 3.5 years, kept at pasture, with haylage provided and no concentrates. Faecal Egg Counts were conducted September 2015‐March 2016, no eggs seen, no anthelmintic given. Sampling commenced March 2016, points were 0 (prior), 16, 48 and 168 hours post anthelmintic. Treatments were randomized, nine animals dosed orally with Moxidectin 18.92 mg/g at 0.4 mg/kg bw and eight controls. Three horses from each group were randomly assigned for fermentation kinetics. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was conducted on extracted faecal bacterial DNA, bioinformatics using QIIME assigning operational taxonomic units (OTUs). LEfSe (Segata et al., 2011) was used to identify differentially abundant OTUs. Bacterial metabolic profiles were characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy (Escalona et al., 2015), from urine, analysed by Principal Components Analysis. Fermentation of hay and oats, separately, were measured by in vitro gas production (Murray et al., 2006), data were analysed by repeated measures ANOVA

Public opinion on energy crops in the landscape: considerations for the expansion of renewable energy from biomass

Public attitudes were assessed towards two dedicated biomass crops – Miscanthus and Short Rotation Coppice (SRC), particularly regarding their visual impacts in the landscape. Results are based on responses to photographic and computer-generated images as the crops are still relatively scarce in the landscape. A questionnaire survey indicated little public concern about potential landscape aesthetics but more concern about attendant built infrastructure. Focus group meetings and interviews indicated support for biomass end uses that bring direct benefits to local communities. Questions arise as to how well the imagery used was able to portray the true nature of these tall, dense, perennial plants but based on the responses obtained and given the caveat that there was limited personal experience of the crops, it appears unlikely that wide-scale planting of biomass crops will give rise to substantial public concern in relation to their visual impact in the landscape

The Effect of Steaming and Soaking on the Respirable Particle, Bacteria, Mould, and Nutrient Content in Hay for Horses

Forage is crucial for stabled horses, promoting gut health, supplying valuable nutrients, and maintaining normal feeding behaviors. Forage can contain high levels of respirable dust predisposing horses to respiratory disorders. This study examined the effect of different treatments on the airborne respirable particles (ARPs), microbial and nutrient content of hay for horses in three experiments. Experiment 1a eight bales of meadow hay were subjected to five treatments n ¼ 40: dry (D), 10-minute soak in water (W), steamed in a wheelie bin (TWB), steamed in a Haygain (HG) 600, and steamed with a kettle of boiling water (K) on ARP content. Experiment 1b microbial contamination was measured in five bales of meadow hay after treatments D, TWB, and HG in cold conditions (0–7�C) (n ¼ 15). Experiment 2 measured the nutrient content of 30 different hays after D and HG treatments, n ¼ 60. Data in experiments 1a and 1b were analyzed using analysis of variance and least significant difference test: hay and treatment as factors. Experiment 2 was analyzed using paired t-test with significance levels accepted P < .05. Results showed steaming in the HG reduced ARP and microbial contamination by 99%. TWB or K reduced ARP in hay by 88%. W, TWB, or K did not reduce microbial contamination. HG treatment preserved mineral and protein contents but reduced water-soluble carbohydrate by 18.3%. Steaming using an HG steamer is a feasible long-term strategy for reducing ARP and microbial contamination, while conserving mineral and protein content in hay and is thus suitable for providing hygienically clean forage to stabled horses