Dr. Kellon explains that over 70% of the immune system of the intestinal tract called GALT (gut associated lymphoid tissue) surrounds the digestive tract. This provides barriers to infection and plays an important role in immune responses, making the gut a significant factor in maintaining a healthy immune system.

Hay elevators need to be lubricated, but be sure to use vegetable oil so you don’t contaminate the hay. Using products that can be used to grease most farm machinery doesn’t work on a hay elevator. Yes, they lubricate the elevator, but that same petroleum based product will rub off the equipment onto your hay, and into your horse’s stomach. So think before you grease!

Outbreaks of equine viral arteritis, which is caused by the virus, may result in significant economic losses to the equine industry due to pregnancy loss in mares, death in young foals and establishment of the carrier state in stallions. The virus is maintained in the equine population between breeding seasons by persisting in the carrier stallion.