Broadcaster Press 3 July 26, 2016 www.broadcasteronline.com Horse Owners Beware Of Extreme Heat: Quick Tips For Horse Owners BROOKINGS, S.D. - As temperatures continue to rise, horse owners need to take steps to keep their equines safe during extreme heat and humidity. "Horses can experience heat stress when they are exposed to extreme heat multiple days and nights in a row. This creates unique challenges for horse owners," said Heidi Carroll, SDSU Extension Livestock Stewardship Associate. Below Carroll outlines tips for horse owners to implement during days of extreme heat. Tips for Pastured and Stabled Horses Provide water: Horses should have access to fresh water. When the temperatures rise, their consumption may increase. Observe water sources more frequently during your daily routine to ensure that horses have ample sources. Consider the number of sources and the space per animal around each source to minimize competition between individuals during intense heat events. "As horses sweat they lose salts along with water," Carroll explained. "Electrolyte balance, which is critical for bodily function, is dependent on a horse's access to both salt and water." Horses that are working hard in the heat and sweating, may need additional replenishment of electrolytes beyond what salt can offer. Consult your veterinarian and nutritionist concerning these requirements. Provide shade: Shade is the most effective way to assist horses and any animal exposed to the heat. Shade helps them cope with heat stress and regulate body temperature. "If horses are on pasture or in turnout lots, evaluate the type and shaded space available," Carroll said. Is there enough room for all horses to stand in the shade? If turnout paddocks do not have shade, can you provide a temporary shade structure or adjust the time of turnout? Consider horse's age: Younger and older horses may struggle more with prolonged heat events, especially when evenings do not cool to below 70 degrees Fahrenheit or humidity persists. More frequent observations throughout the day are recommended. Barn ventilation and air quality: Proper airflow and air quality should be more closely monitored during heat advisories. Even well designed horse barns can benefit from strategically placing large fans to circulate air. This may be the best option for older remodeled buildings that only have a couple windows or doors that facilitate airflow if the wind is blowing. Be honest about the air quality, keep stalls cleaned daily to limit ammonia and manure buildup to ensure horses are not having to cope with poor air quality while trying to regulate their elevated body temperature. Horses and other livestock should not be kept in buildings where airflow and ven- tilation are not adequately managed. Fly control: Observe your horses daily to determine if additional fly control measures need to be implemented. Increased fly pressure on horses means they spend more energy on stomping and kicking to alleviate the pain and annoyance. More flies also impacts the time horses may spend grazing, so monitor body condition scores weekly/monthly to ensure the pasture and forage provided is meeting all animal's maintenance requirements. Evaluate pasture quality and growth: During hot summer months, the grazing pressure that horses put on grass/plant growth is huge. To maintain the pasture quality and prevent damage to the plants, consider pulling horses off pasture and feeding supplemental hay to allow pastures to recover. This is especially important for horse owners in counties that are under severe drought conditions. Protecting your pastures during a drought will ensure future productivity. Reproductive performance impacts: Heat stress has huge impacts on the reproductive performance of both mares and stallions. Heat and humidity have been implicated in possible reduction of reproductive performance in breeding stock. Basic environmental conditions, such as heat, should be managed in order to provide optimal production potential. For additional information about stallion reproductive impacts during performance events and shows, please visit iGrow.org and read "Can Heat Stress during Performance Affect Stallion Reproduction?" Tips for Transporting Horses Avoid traveling in the heat of the day: As with all livestock hauling, choose the cooler parts of the day to be on the road because trailers are typically exposed to direct sunlight throughout the trip raising solar radiation heat. "Think of how it feels in the truck cab when the sun beats in the window on your skin even with the air conditioning blowing on you; it's still hot and uncomfortable in the direct sunlight," Carroll said. Horses hauled between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be exposed to the hottest temperatures and absorb the most heat during transport than horses hauled during cooler times of the day. Remember, it takes time for the horse to dissipate the heat (increased body temperature, increased respiration rate, increased sweating) and recover before it is expected to perform at its top potential. For more information on the transportation of horses visit iGrow.org. Keep horses hydrated: This may mean offering electrolytes along with cool, fresh water. Horses should be offered water prior to and immediately following transport, regardless of distance traveled. Plan to pack at least 2 to 3 gallons of water per horse while traveling; or know your route of where to stop with sufficient water hydrants. The temperature of the water should be cool to the touch, but not cold. Warm water may also limit water intake, which could lead to slight dehydration. Be proactive and consult your veterinarian and nutritionist concerning electrolyte requirements prior to travel or shows. Open trailer ventilation slots or windows to maximize airflow. Airflow through vents and windows is typically the only air exchange to assist horses coping with the heat stress of transportation. Remember to properly secure any windows and have safety bars in place so horses are not able to stick their heads outside the trailer; also ensure proper rope lengths for ties in the trailer. Avoid keeping horses in a parked trailer for any period of time - Parked trailers only have the airflow from a breeze that is blowing, which is minimal and impacted by the structures the vehicle is parked next to. A horse kept in parked trailers will have a faster rise in body temperature and struggle to relieve itself from the heat inside even a well-ventilated trailer. Assess horse health: Monitor vital signs and signs of heat stress before, during, and after transporting horses. While traveling, you can easily check the capillary refill time through a trailer window. Transporting horses of any age, regardless of health status, has a direct impact on their immune system from the general stress it imposes. Do not haul horses that are not healthy or those who are not handling the heat well. Hauling compromised horses will increase the chance of dehydration or other stress related health conditions, such as colic. Spare tires and maintenance: Take the time to properly service trucks and trailers before every trip. Inflate all tires properly, including the spare tire(s). Do not forget to make sure the truck is in good running condition; do not procrastinate repairs or oil changes that could lead to emergency breakdowns during summer heat. Additional tips on heat stress prevention while transporting horses can be found at iGrow.org. Governor Names Four New Members To Gaming And Lottery Commissions By Bob Mercer, State Capitol Bureau PIERRE – State government’s two panels that regulate legal gambling in South Dakota have new members coming aboard. Gov. Dennis Daugaard recently appointed Michael Wordeman of Rapid City and Karen Wagner of Belle Fourche to the South Dakota Commission on Gaming. The panel oversees Deadwood gambling and betting on horse and dog races, setting rules and policies and handling discipline and licensing disputes. Wordeman was the founder of Sodak Gaming, a pioneer in Indian casino gambling. They replace Ralph “Chip” Kemnitz of Philip and Dennis Duncan of Parker, who weren’t eligible for appointments to third consecutive terms. Kemnitz played a long role as a gambling regulator. He served a term on the South Dakota Lottery Commission starting in 1999 under then-Gov. Bill Janklow and moved to the gaming commission in 2002 when Janklow appointed him there. Kemnitz was reappointed to the gaming commission in 2004 and 2007 by then-Gov. Mike Rounds. Duncan succeeded Kemnitz on the gaming commission on July 6, 2010, when Rounds appointed Duncan. Kemnitz returned to the commission a short time later when Rounds appointed him again on Aug. 30, 2010. Daugaard reappointed Duncan and Kemnitz on March 8, 2013. Their latest terms expired April 14 of this year. The South Dakota Lottery Commission’s two new members are former Rep. Bob Faehn, RWatertown, and former Rounds press secretary and Daugaard aide Joe Kafka of Valley Springs. Daugaard appointed them effective June 30. Faehn’s term runs until Jan. 1, 2018. Kafka’s term continues until Jan. 1, 2017. They replace two Lottery Commission members who resigned in the past month. Roger Novotny of Fort Pierre stepped aside after five years on the commission. He previously was director for the state Division of Banking. “Hopefully, I have given some perspectives to help operate the Lottery in a business-like fashion,” Novotny wrote in his resignation later dated June 17. The other commissioner to resign was Doyle Estes of Hill City. His June 6 letter to the governor didn’t provide a reason. “I have appreciated the opportunity to serve on this commission. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve in this capacity,” Estes wrote. He replaced Doug Sharp of Watertown on the commission Sept. 27, 2011. Daugaard reappointed Estes on Jan. 30, 2014. Estes said Tuesday he resigned because state lottery officials considered it a conflict for him to rent property to a video lottery business. He said he disagreed but the state attorney general’s office agreed with the lottery’s position. Making the situation potentially worse from a legal standpoint is the new conflicts law for more than 20 state boards and commissions that took effect July 1. The law has a one-year look-back feature. Estes said he decided he needed to leave the Lottery Commission before July 1. He said he’s also involved in ownership of some storage units with several business people who are involved in video lottery. Estes said he didn’t see a conflict because of the Lottery Commission’s limited roles. “We don’t look at applicants for licensing. We don’t look at locations,” he said. He said Novotny, whom he considers a friend and has known dating back to their earliest college days and later in state government during the 1970s, left the commission because Novotny is on a bank’s board of directors. The bank makes loans to people and businesses in video lottery. Estes knew video lottery well from the insider’s perspective. Before he sold his interests and joined the lottery commission, he was a partner in a video lottery route that placed and services the machines at businesses, and he also was a partner in a business that owned its own machines and locations. Estes served on the state Banking Commission. When Daugaard decided to replace him, Daugaard offered Estes a seat on the Lottery Commission, according to Estes. Estes doesn’t like the new law. He said one result will be boards and commissions filled with people who are aren’t involved in their communities. He is married to Kathryn Johnson, a scientist who serves on the state Board of Regents that oversees South Dakota’s public universities and special schools. The regents are covered by the new conflicts law too. “I think this law is going to be a problem for a lot of people,” Estes said. South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation Offers $2,500 Agricultural Graduate School Scholarship HURON, S.D. - Applications for the South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation Graduate School Scholarship are now available at www. sdfufoundation.org. The Farmers Union Foundation Scholarship is designed to help retain talent in South Dakota to support South Dakota's agriculture industry. It is open to students from South Dakota, pursuing a graduate degree in research, animal science, agriculture business or agriculture education at an accredited South Dakota school. "Education is our future. This scholarship is one way Farmers Union works to help retain highly skilled individuals in South Dakota," said Doug Sombke, SDFU President and fourth-generation Conde farmer. Application deadline is Nov. 1. bp Since 1934 Press 3211 E. Hwy. 50 • Yankton, SD 605-665-4540 • 800-526-8095 745 E. Hwy 46 • Wagner, SD 605-384-3681 • 800-693-1990 www.marksinc.com Locally Owned and Operated Since 1972 THE HEART OF EVERY ROTARY BEATS RED The Axial-Flow Combine is at the heart of our 100-year legacy of harvesting expertise. cornerstone church Broadcaster Press bp Broadcaster Since 1934 Carpentry, Install Doors, Windows & Siding, Refinishing, Drywall, Ceramic Tile & Decks Also sponsored by Travelers Motor Club, scholarship preference is given to students from South Dakota who have/had an affiliation with Farmers Union. Awards are for one academic year, beginning in the fall, and students may reapply at the end of the award period. Eligible graduate students include on-campus and distance education students who are pursuing any master's or doctoral program, agriculture teacher certification program (CERT/FCSC) or graduate certificate program (GCERT). To learn more, contact, Karla Hofhenke, Executive Director, South Dakota Farmers Union at khofhenke@sdfu.org or call 605-3526761 ext.114. 201 W Cherry, Vermillion 624-4429