TOMORROW! MassAggie Horsekeeping/Livestock Seminar

Join us! There is still room ... pre-register at HorsekeepingSeminar@charter.net

PASTURE, MANURE, AND MUD MANAGEMENT
FOR SMALL-SCALE HORSE AND LIVESTOCK FARMS

Mass Aggie Horse Keeping Seminar Series

DOUGLAS/SUTTON — Well-managed pastures, high quality hay, and manure management are the topics of this one day seminar aimed at area livestock owners. On Saturday, April 3, 2010 at the Sutton Town Hall, Mass Aggie in cooperation with UMass Extension will present the Horse Keeping Seminar. The Manchaug Pond Association is sponsoring the educational program through a Mass DEP Grant which looks to protect water quality within the watershed. The workshop is open to everyone and will be held at the Sutton Town Hall, 4 Uxbridge Road, from 9 AM – 12:00 noon with lunch (provided) and discussion to follow. Door prizes donated from area businesses will be given.

Seminar Agenda

9:00 a.m. BASICS OF PASTURE MANAGEMENT - Dr. Stephen Herbert
Well managed pastures can furnish high-quality, nutritious feed at a relatively low cost. Dr. Stephen Herbert will discuss the basics of pasture establishment, and managing pastures for horse and livestock. Problems with weeds and poisonous plants also will be discussed.

10:15 a.m. EQUINE AND LIVESTOCK BARNYARD MANAGEMENT - Dr. Masoud Hashemi
Spring rains may result in manure and mud runoff threatening water quality. Dr. Hashemi will discuss managing nutrients, manure, and mud on horse and livestock farms, and review simple management practices for small equine and livestock operations.

11:15 a.m. HAY QUALITY PRINCIPLES - Dr. Stephen Herbert
Hay is an important and the most commonly used feed. Feeding hay of unknown or low quality may adversely affect animal nutrition, and will cost more than necessary. Learn about hay quality for horses and how to determine it. This will be in-part a hands-on workshop examining several hay samples of varying quality.

12:00 p.m. Lunch (provided) and Discussion

Cost: $35 per person includes lunch. To sign up or for more information contact
HYPERLINK "mailto:HorsekeepingSeminar@charter.net" HorsekeepingSeminar@charter.net

This event is partially funded with federal funds from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) under an s. 319 competitive nonpoint source (NPS) pollution grant for Manchaug Pond administered by the Manchaug Pond Association.

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