Dr. Bridgett McIntosh has been instrumental in developing an equine research and demonstration facility at the Middle Tennessee Research and Education Center in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
The equine research farm consists of 10 acres and focuses on best management practices commonly used on Tennessee horse farms.
Recent grants have allowed the program to focus on conservation efforts, specifically water quality improvement.
Equine owners have a large impact on Tennessee forage management, with more than 160,350 equine in the state (2007) and an estimated impact of $1.396 billion (2010) on the state’s economy.
A large number of equine operations exist on small-acreage, suburban areas where agriculture’s impact on water quality can be a concern.
“Poorly managed and degraded pastures contribute significantly to Tennessee’s surface water pollutant loads of sediment, nutrients and pathogens,” says McIntosh.
“Educational programs will teach simple water quality best management practices that require minimal planning but also improve overall animal welfare.”
Current projects on the research farm focus on the impact of rotational and continuous grazing on water quality improvement and pasture forages.
Only in its first few years, the research farm already demonstrates the potential improvements in pasture forage quality and productivity made with rotational grazing, even on small acreages.
The farm’s design allows McIntosh to host local equestrians for hands-on training and demonstration of fencing and shelter option, manure composting and management of high-traffic areas to reduce negative impacts on the surrounding environment.
The equine program has also employed best management practices demonstrations on three farms in different regions of the state to reach more horse owners.
To learn more about best management practices for equine pastures, Dr. McIntosh can be reached here.
PHOTOS
TOP RIGHT: Joe David Plunk, research associate, takes botanical composition and yield measurements; an important part of monitoring forage production. Photo courtesy of Dr. Bridgett McIntosh.
LEFT: Management of high-traffic areas controls negative impacts on forage stands and surrounding environments as displayed at the University of Tennessee equine farm.
BOTTOM RIGHT: The University of Tennessee equine research farm offers hands-on training for both students and producer groups. Photos by Ryan Goodman.
