Researchers at the University of Kentucky’s Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center and the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory have preliminarily identified a novel Rotavirus associated with diarrhea in very young foals.

Eastern tent caterpillar egg hatch has begun in Southern Kentucky. It is expected to start in Central Kentucky next week and a few days to one week later in Northern Kentucky.

Veterinary student Olivia Walker from the Lincoln Memorial University School of Veterinary Medicine, a program affiliated with the University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Center and Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, was recently awarded the Nandi Scholarship by the American Society for Theriogenology. The scholarship recognizes a veterinary student in their final year who shows superior potential to impact the field of reproduction (theriogenology).

Infectious. Contagious. You have probably heard these words several times in your life, maybe even used them. While similar and related, they are often used interchangeably or incorrectly and there is a difference. The distinction between the two is this: all contagious diseases are infectious, but not all infectious diseases are contagious. 

As spring arrives, many horse owners’ attention turns to their pastures. This is when many start haphazardly throwing seed and fertilizer and herbicide on the ground, which often leads to frustration in the fall and winter, when little has changed. Having spent the last 11 years evaluating pastures and training others to do so, I believe good pasture management begins with knowing what you have.

Kristine Urschel, PhD, an associate professor in the University of Kentucky’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences, in conjunction with colleague Erica McKenzie, BVMS, PhD, DACVIM, DACVSMR, professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, recently co-published a review paper titled, “Nutritional Influences on Skeletal Muscle and Muscular Disease,” in the April issue of the Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice.

According to University of Kentucky extension entomologists Ric Bessin, PhD, and Raul Villanueva, PhD, recent warm weather has resulted in the emergence of alfalfa weevil larva across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It is critical that alfalfa growers scout fields immediately and prepare to apply insecticides as soon as the economic thresholds have been reached. 

Martin Nielsen, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVM, Schlaikjer professor of Equine Infectious Disease, associate professor in the University of Kentucky Department of Veterinary Science at the Gluck Equine Research Center, and his team are collaborating with leading scientists at the University of Massachusetts and U.S. Department of Agriculture on a project investigating the effects and safety of a naturally occurring bacterial dewormer.

Pouya Dini, PhD, spent several years at the Gluck Center as a visiting scholar and now serves as a faculty member at University of California, Davis. One of the projects that he worked on while with the Gluck Center was recently published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).

The University of Kentucky will host two regional fencing schools this spring to help livestock producers learn the newest fencing techniques and sound fence construction. 

The 2021 spring schools will occur May 11 at the Christian County Extension office in Hopkinsville and May 13 at the Daviess County Extension office in Owensboro. The schools begin at 7:30 a.m. CDT and conclude at 4:30 p.m. CDT. 

UK’s Equine Science Review celebrates one year.

One year ago last April, in the first few uncertain months of the pandemic and lockdown, the University of Kentucky launched a new publication, the Equine Science Review: highlighting research & outreach efforts at the University of Kentucky. The Review is a monthly newsletter from the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment that highlights the important horse-related work happening at the university. UK is home to world-class research and service excellence in equine health, safety, nutrition, pasture and forages, economics, engineering, environmental compliance and many others.