Broodmare Nutrition Webinar to be Hosted by ITA
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
The Indiana Thoroughbred Alliance (ITA), in conjunction with Kentucky Equine Research, will be hosting a free webinar focusing on broodmare nutrition on Thursday, February 4, starting at 7 pm EST.
The webinar will focus on proper nutrition practices for breeders and farm managers for all stages of the broodmare's reproductive cycle—from pre-conception through gestation and late gestation to nursing. The information will be presented by Peter Huntington BVSc, MACVSc, an external lecturer and examiner at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Science program and Director of Equine Nutrition for Kentucky Equine Research Australasia.
"A lot of stars need to be aligned to both achieve pregnancy and maintain it. Horses are notoriously challenging to routinely breed successfully compared to many other mammals, with foaling rates of only about 60-70%," explains Dr. Huntington. "In addition to feeding high-quality, forage-based diets to achieve and maintain an appropriate body condition score, micronutrient balance, especially the trace minerals copper, zinc and selenium, and nutritional supplements also need to be considered."
The webinar is open to anyone looking to continue their education and provide the best care for their broodmares. Pre-registration is required for access to the Zoom webinar or the livestream on ITA's Facebook page (Facebook.com/IndyThoroughbred).
"We are excited to partner with Kentucky Equine Research to provide more education for Indiana breeders and owners," says Crystal Chapple, DVM, president of ITA. "This is what this group is dedicated to do—educate and encourage breeding and racing of Thoroughbreds in Indiana. We are thankful that Kentucky Equine Research is willing to work with us on this mission."
You can RSVP for the webinar by emailing Indythoroughbred.social@gmail.com or by clicking on the event on the ITA Facebook page.
For more information on the ITA and the webinar, visit the ITA website at http://indianatb.org, or follow them on social media.