Maintaining a Pond Dam

Why Build a Pond?

Incorporating a well-maintained water pond into your property has many benefits. First, ponds can serve as a water supply for livestock or gardening (in fact, over 75% of all farm ponds are primarily used for livestock water). Second, ponds can function as a fish, wildlife, and vegetation habitat, helping to increase the biodiversity of your property. Third, a well-maintained pond may also serve as an effective means of flood and erosion control as well as a source of water for rural fire fighting. Lastly, who doesn't enjoy spending a relaxing day by a pond? Whether fishing or skipping stones, ponds are a great way to relax! All of these benefits mean that a pond can increase your home's resale value, if it's well-maintained.

What do you mean by well-maintained?

A poorly maintained pond is usually worse than having no pond at all. Poorly maintained ponds can become a nuisance and an eyesore in a hurry and can actually negatively affect your home's value. Regular inspection and maintenance are a must in order to maximize a pond's usefulness, life, and value. Lack of prompt attention to problem areas has led to irreparable damage to many ponds. Simple and inexpensive repairs go a long way in extending a pond's useful life.

The 2 Main Types of Ponds

Pond maintenance methods depend on what type of pond you have. There are two main types:

Excavated Ponds: Excavated ponds are made by digging a pit or dugout in a (nearly) level area. Because the water capacity is obtained almost entirely by digging, excavated ponds are best used where there is relatively flat terrain and only a small supply of water is needed. Excavated ponds are popular due to the ease with which they can be constructed, their relative safety from flood-flow damage, and their low maintenance requirements.

Embankment Ponds: Embankment ponds are built by placing an embankment or dam across a stream where the stream valley is depressed enough to permit storing 5 feet or more of water. Embankment ponds are a little more complicated to construct and maintain than excavated ponds because an overflow pipe and emergency spillway are needed to safely handle the overflow from large storms. We will focus mainly on embankment ponds because of the increased maintenance requirements.

Modified version of original photo courtesy Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved at lawcoswm.org/ponds.htm

Embankment Pond Maintenance Issues

Clogged Overflow Pipe: The overflow pipe is used to handle most rainfall events. It should be inspected and cleaned regularly to ensure that there are no obstructions.
 

Erosion: The earthen embankment or dam is critical as it maintains the integrity of the pond. The emergency spillway, cut into the soil at one end of the embankment, carries excessive water flows around the embankment, protecting it from damage caused by possible overtopping. To prevent erosion from damaging the integrity of the embankment or the emergency spillway, a good vegetative cover like K-31 Fescue and regular inspections are necessary.

Livestock Damage: If you have livestock on your property, then it is recommended to construct a fence around the pond, embankment, and emergency spillway to keep out the livestock. Without a fence, livestock tend to destroy the vegetative cover resulting in erosion to the structures. Regularly inspect and repair any fences as well as any damage to the embankment or spillway. This may require reseeding with K-31 Fescue.

Trees: Trees can pose a problem, especially if they are allowed to grow on the embankment. They compete with the grass cover and provide a habitat for animals that might damage the embankment or pond edges. All trees should be removed from the embankment when they are small and definitely before they develop a deep root system.

Excess Pond Vegetation: There are a variety of factors that contribute to excess pond vegetation, including excess nutrients running into the pond from livestock, septic fields or applied fertilizer, and shallow or clear areas of a pond that allow sunlight to reach the bottom of the pond, stimulating plant growth.

If a pond infestation is caught and treated early, aquatic herbicides are a very effective method of control. FELDMANS carries a range of products to assist with the infestation of a wide range of aquatic vegetation. Consider this a reactive approach to aquatic vegetation management.

A more proactive approach to aquatic vegetation control to consider is an aeration system. Aeration systems add dissolved oxygen to water. Healthy levels of dissolved oxygen in your pond aids in the breakdown of decaying vegetation and other sources of nutrients that enter your pond. The more decomposition via aeration, the less nutrients there will be available for algal blooms and excess aquatic plant growth. FELDMANS has introduced Airmax Aeration Systems that we can special order to fit the needs of your pond. 

 

Airmax Aeration System

Muddy Water: Wave action against exposed shoreline and soil eroding into the pond can lead to a muddy water problem. To combat this, maintain good shoreline vegetation and take preventative measures to control all forms of soil erosion above the pond. Placing a few bales of hay or straw in the water can help clear it up.

Sediment Accumulation: Sediment accumulation is a serious problem as it can make a pond useless over time. Muck like with muddy water, the rate of sediment accumulation is directly related to how good a job is done to protect the land above from eroding. Dredging or rebuilding the pond might be necessary if the problem is bad enough.

With the proper maintenance, a pond will provide many years of service. Let FELDMANS help your pond maintenance needs with the grass seed, aquatic herbicides, and aeration systems to see you through the project!

 

Cotton Burr Compost

Spring is finally here! The seed catalogs can be put away, with their numerous dog-eared pages. The dust can be blown off your favorite garden tools. Now is the time to roll up your sleeves, head to the garden, and get dirty. Inhale the rich smells of the earth. Experience the vibrant colors of blooming flowers. Imagine the sweet taste of the season's first vegetable.

FELDMANS is here to help every step of the way! And we understand that gardeners are becoming increasingly conscious of what soil amendments are used in their gardens, shying away from chemical fertilizers and focusing on building a healthy, quality soil. To this end, nutrient-rich compost goes a long way in creating a healthy and flourishing garden.

But are all composts created equal? The variety of commercially available composts is outright confusing. Here at FELDMANS, we believe that the science of composting shows that Cotton Burr Compost is the highest quality and most nutrient-rich compost available on the market! To see why, let's first look at why compost is so beneficial to soils.

The Black Gold of the Garden

Compost is referred to as the black gold of the garden due to its numerous benefits to the soil. Compost improves the soil in 3 main ways: structurally, nutritionally, and biologically.

 Structural: If you have clay soil, you will absolutely love compost! Adding compost to clay soils reduces the density of the soil, making it easier to work. Compost also helps clay soils become more water permeable, which is critical during our drought-prone summers. Similarly, if your garden contains loose, sandy soils, compost will increase the soil-binding properties of the soil, again improving the soil's ability to hold moisture. Regardless of the type of soil you have, compost will improve its overall structure!

Nutritional: Compost is rich with nutrients, including the macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and micronutrients like manganese, copper, iron, and zinc. Macronutrients are essential for the overall growth and structure of the plant. Micronutrients play an important role in the plant's ability to extract and utilize nutrients found in the soil. In addition, compost, which has a neutral pH, stabilizes the soil pH of both acidic and alkaline soils.

Biological: Compost is teeming with microorganisms like bacteria, protozoa, and fungi! These microorganisms break down available compost into nutrients and humus – a stable residue that holds soil particles together. Humus is beneficial to soil because it increases nutrient and moisture retention and helps suppress disease.

With all of these benefits, what's not to love about compost? Admittedly, it can be confusing to sort through all of the information available on various composts. But when making the decision as to which type of compost to use in your garden, the most important rule of thumb is this: any compost is better than no compost. However, some composts are definitely better than others, and soil science shows that Cotton Burr Compost is the highest quality commercial compost available. Let's see why!

Cotton Burr Compost

In order to understand how effective a compost Cotton Burr makes, it is important to understand the lifecycle of the cotton plant. Cotton plants are highly demanding on the soils in which they are planted, absorbing a large quantity of soil nutrients and depositing them in the stalks, leaves, and seed pods (or burrs) of the plants. In most of the U.S. Cotton Belt, once the cotton is ready to harvest, mechanical pickers are used to separate the cotton and cottonseed from the stalks, leaves, and burrs, which are considered a “waste product.” This “waste product,” however, has been discovered to be very conducive to composting due to its consistency and high nutrient content.

Not All Composts are Created Equal

Cotton Burr makes for a consistent and high nutrient compost, but how is it superior to mushroom compost, composted manure or other soil amendments like peat moss? I'm glad you asked. There are many reasons!

1) There is much variability and inconsistency to be found in commercial Mushroom Compost. This is because Mushroom Compost consists of the leftover materials in which mushrooms were grown (substrates). In other words, there is no standard list of ingredients for Mushroom Compost. Instead, it can include hay, straw, poultry litter, cocoa shells, peat moss, cottonseed hulls or other organic materials. In addition, mushroom farmers use different substrates for different species of mushrooms, further increasing compost variability. Finally, these growing substrates have been partially depleted of nutrients since mushrooms have been grown in them. This can lead to high levels of salts in the compost. Research at Penn State University concludes that Mushroom Compost is good for use on turf grass; however, if used in gardens, Mushroom Compost should be thoroughly mixed into the soil to help distribute the salt.

Cotton Burr Compost does not suffer from these problems. You can expect consistency and high nutrient content in every bag of Cotton Burr Compost that we sell.

2) Composted Manure has a finer texture than Cotton Burr Compost, making it less effective as a soil conditioner. Cotton Burr has plenty of larger, bulkier particles that help loosen and aerate dense, clay soils.

3) Unlike Peat Moss, Cotton Burr Compost is is easy to wet and re-wet and has the ability to retain lots of moisture, which makes it an ideal soil amendment for dry, clayish soils that leach water. Furthermore, the nutrient content of Peat Moss pales in comparison to compost.
 

Is Cotton Burr Compost Safe to Use?

Despite all of the benefits of Cotton Burr Compost, gardeners often express concern over using it in their vegetable gardens because of the presence of herbicides and chemicals. In some areas of the U.S. Cotton Belt, herbicidal defoliates are used to kill the cotton plant and remove the plant leaves, thereby reducing the stress on mechanical picker equipment.

At FELDMANS, there is no worry of herbicide or chemical contamination because we sell Back to Earth Cotton Burr Compost, which is 100% chemical free! Manufactured in northern Texas, the early freezes of the Texas Panhandle eliminate the need to use herbicidal defoliates to kill the cotton plants. A 2 Cubic Foot bag is $8.99.*

Get your garden off to a great start this year with Cotton Burr Compost!

* Price is good through June 30, 2013.

Winter Wild Bird Feeding

The winter months are an excellent time to attract colorful birds to your residence. While some species make their yearly flights south, many – like chickadees, finches, and woodpeckers – stay in the region throughout winter. With bugs and natural sources of forage either dead, dormant or covered in snow, wild birds need all the help they can get to maintain body temperature and energy levels, including providing supplemental sources of food, water, and shelter. FELDMANS is here with the products and the know-how to help you establish a winter refuge for the wild birds!

Protein and Fat: What Wild Birds Need

As warm-blooded animals, birds need food with high protein and fat levels during the winter months in order to maintain body temperature and energy levels. Some of the best sources of protein and fat are also some of your most cost-effective options! Here are several products to consider: 

• Black Oil Sunflower Seed: For all around wild bird feeding, it is hard to surpass the benefits of black oil sunflower seed. One of the most widely preferred seeds, black oil provides birds with high levels of energy. Furthermore, its thin shell is easy to crack open by smaller birds such as chickadees, nuthatches, juncos, cardinals, titmice, mourning doves, grosbeaks, and others. FELDMANS has 50 pound bags of black oil sunflower seed on sale this month for $19.99!

For an excellent black oil sunflower seed feeder, try our No/No Wild Bird Feeders. These all-metal feeders are built to last! With a large seed capacity, these colorful feeders can host up to 15 birds at once. We have three models on sale this month starting at $7.99. 

• Nyjer Seed: Consisting of approximately 35 percent fat and 18 percent protein, Nyjer seed is highly attractive to the Finch family, including American gold, purple, and house finches. FELDMANS stocks 20 pound bags for $19.99 and 50 pound bags for $44.99. 

Tube feeders with narrow ports to prevent spilling are ideal feeders for use with Nyjer seed. We stock a range of Nyjer feeders on sale this month from $3.99 to $39.99. My favorite is the $39.99 Birch Log Feeder. With a 2 pound seed capacity, this attractive feeder protects the seed from squirrels with stainless steel shields and locking roof clips. And it is made in the USA! 

• Suet: This solid fat rendered from beef or venison contains highly concentrated fat and energy. Typical suet-eating birds include chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, bluebirds, and woodpeckers. FELDMANS offers a large selection of suet cakes and pellets starting at 99¢! Affordable suet cake feeders are available in single cake and double cake varieties.

 

The Highs and Lows of Feeder Positioning

Feeder position can make all the difference in the success of your winter bird feeding. Here are some general rules of thumb that will help you attract a larger amount of birds. First, position the feeder near natural or artificial cover so that the wind is cut down. Second, it is generally better to locate feeders in areas that mimic natural sources of food. Last, feeders placed in quieter areas will usually attract more birds because they feel safer. However, do not locate the feeder so out of the way as to make it difficult or dangerous to refill.

The height of your feeder is an important decision that will affect which species you attract and how many. Ground feeders tend to attract birds like sparrows, juncos, and mourning doves. Elevated platform and hopper feeders are especially good for attracting cardinals, wrens, chickadees, titmice, jays, and grosbeaks. Since hanging feeders blow in the wind, they are used by species that are able to hang while feeding, like chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and finches.

Natural and Artificial Bird Shelters

A combination of natural landscaping and artificial shelters can make our feathered friends so much more comfortable in the cold! Planting evergreen trees or bushes with year-round foliage can provide both natural shelter and protection from predators. Maintaining bird houses throughout the winter can help as well. While bird houses do not provide the cold protection that roosting boxes do, they can cut down on the wind. The addition of straw or wood shavings as an insulating material will increase the effectiveness of the bird house. Face the bird house opening south to maximize passive solar heating of the interior.

Don't Forget the Water

The importance of providing water cannot be understated. You wild bird refuge will be more frequented if it has a steady source of water. FELDMANS offers two styles of bird bath. First, we carry Henri Studio cast stone concrete pedestal bird baths. These USA made bird baths are hand painted with weather resistant paints and have intricate sculptural detail. A truly unique addition to any backyard setting.

Second, we carry the Birdscapes Cobblestone hanging bird bath. With a 12” surface and a hand resin finish, this hanging bird bath offers ultimate flexibility in bird bath location.

Remember FELDMANS for Your Birding Needs

Whether you are an amateur or experienced bird feeder, FELDMANS can help provide custom solutions to your particular needs. Make FELDMANS your one stop shop for all of your birding needs!

New Women's Clothing Lines at FELDMANS

We are thrilled to announce our stylish new lines of women’s clothing. Whether you are shopping for a complete outfit or just looking to accessorize, FELDMANS is the place for modern women's western wear!

Dan Post Boots

Dan Post Boots are well known for “Handcrafted Cushioned Comfort.” With their signature Comfort System, double stitching, and premium leathers, Dan Post boots will have you ready for work in the barn or field. But comfort and durability doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice style. These supple, handcrafted boots look great for a night out too! 

Corky’s Boots

If you are needing a cute, comfortable, and affordable western boot, Corky’s has you covered. Our adorable Sage Brush boot has a stunning 3.5” heel and unique style. Tried and true western style in 5 bold colors – these boots looks great with your favorite pair of jeans or a cute dress.

Silver Strike Boot Bracelets

Head out in style by adding a personalized touch to your boots! Silver Strike makes premier western boot bracelets that are affordable and eye-catching. Accent a new pair of boots or make your favorite old pair stand out in the crowd. We also offer Silver Strike earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets.

Western Woods Jewelry

Western Woods bracelets are the perfect accessory for any outfit. Whatever your style, Western Woods uses a wide range of colors and materials – including shells and chip stones – to complement your look. And for a touch of the southwest, try an arrowhead necklace!

Rock 47 Jeans

We have offered Wrangler Rock 47 jeans for some time now, but we can't stop talking about them and neither can our customers! Rock 47 low rise and ultra low rise jeans are super comfortable and look amazing. Our customers always comment on how great the fit is on a pair of Rock 47 jeans. With back pocket embroidery and boot cut leg openings, these jeans are perfect for riding, work, or a night out. 

A variety of unique and stylish western clothing awaits you at FELDMANS. These new clothing lines make great gifts too! If you are worried about selecting the appropriate size, we do offer gift receipts and gift cards.

Deer Attractants and Minerals

Deer season is fast approaching in Missouri and Kansas. Whether you are hunting or observing deer, now is the perfect time to get the attractants and minerals you need. FELDMANS is here to help. Here are some important facts about attractants and minerals to keep in mind that will help make this deer season one to remember!

What Attracts Deer?

In order to better attract deer, it is important to understand their diet. Deer primarily browse on leaves, acorns, twigs, buds and forages in the spring, summer, and fall months. Because this diet is largely deficient in sodium, deer crave sodium during these months. This is why deer attractants are mainly composed of salt.

The Pros and Cons of Salt Attractants

Salt attractants are great for short-term deer attraction. They are inexpensive and work very well if stationed in areas with protective cover. The natural attraction of the salt will be amplified if deer feel safe enough to stop and consume it. For short-term deer attraction, we offer many salt attractants like Evolved Habitats Deer Co-Cain, one of the most effective lines of attractants.

If your deer nutrition program relies heavily on salt attractants, however, the antler growth of deer in your area will suffer. This is because sodium plays only a very small role in antler growth.

Minerals are Critical to Antler Growth

Minerals like selenium, calcium, zinc, copper, phosphorus, and magnesium play a key role in antler growth since they make up roughly 55 percent of hardened antlers. Minerals are also important for fawn growth and doe lactation. Mineral supplements, unlike salt attractants, provide deer with these essential minerals. We carry mineral supplements from Whitetail Institute and Evolved Habitats.

Care must be taken when using mineral supplements for several reasons. First, minerals must be placed in areas where deer feel comfortable enough to consume them. Second, mineral supplementation will be less effective if not begun in the spring time. Third, mineral supplements by themselves may not satisfy the mineral requirements of a large herd. And if minerals are scarce, any ingested will not go toward antler growth. Instead, they will be used to satisfy more basic bodily functions.

Take Advantage of a Food Plot for Superior Herd Health

Food plots are an excellent solution for long-term mineral supply! In addition, food plots are a great source of protein, which is crucial for antler growth and overall health. FELDMANS offers both warm-season and cool-season food plot forages.

The most important factor in a successful deer plot is proper preparation and maintenance of the soil. There are three main steps:

1. Test the soil pH – Most forage plantings need a a neutral pH ranging from 6.5-7.5. This allows for a better uptake of nutrients. We offer several types of inexpensive but effective soil pH test kits.

2. Apply lime – If the soil pH is too low, it should be raised by tilling lime into the soil at a depth of six to eight inches. We carry the lime, tillers, and Whitetail Institute herbicides to see you through this project. We even offer no-till forage blends (like Evolved Habitats Throw & Gro) for those food plot areas that do not have access for tilling equipment.

3. Fertilize – Food plots need the appropriate level of fertilizer, usually 13-13-13. Apply according to the instructions on the product label. We carry spreaders (push, pull-behind, ATV, and 3-point) as well.

Where Should I Plant a Food Plot?

Space will pose a limitation for any food plot. Beginning with a one-fourth to one-half acre plot is a good choice, especially since deer prefer to feed along the edges of plots. If deer observation is your primary goal, plots can be placed in open areas. However, if hunting is your goal, it is best to provide deer with a more secluded area. They will feel safer and use the plot more often.

Feed Supplements – Rounding Out the Diet

We also carry deer feeds like whole corn, deer corn, deer blocks, and feed supplements that can be used as a supplement to food plots and natural forage, especially in the winter months when there is a reduction in available forage. These products are a good source of fat, protein, and carbohydrates and can serve as a short-term attractant as well.

Important note: Make sure to consult your state and local laws because these supplements contain grain and are therefore considered to be bait in many areas.

Count on FELDMANS for Your Deer Needs

In addition to all of your deer attractants, minerals, and food plot forages, we stock a wide selection of winter clothing, including camouflage. You can also buy your hunting licenses here. We stock winches and ramps to get your catch home, and jerky kits, sausage kits, and dehydrators to process it. Whether for observation or hunting, count on FELDMANS for your deer supplies!

Cattle Feed

Although we have received some much needed rain, the damage done to most pastures is severe.  To repair the pastures, it will require additional rain, cooler temperatures, and a lot of TLC.  The TLC includes, fertilizing, reseeding, and to avoid overgrazing what grasses are left.  If you are, in fact, grazing the ailing pastures, care should be taken to avoid nitrate poisoning with your animals.  High levels of nitrates are common in plants during times of drought.  Nitrogen is naturally found and manually added to our soil and is used by plants in growth and production.  Nitrogen is picked up by plant roots from the soil and it moves up into the plant.  The nitrates are then converted into amino acids, which are building blocks for plant proteins.  Lack of moisture stops the flow of nitrates up the plant and the conversion to protein. The roots continue to bring nitrogen into the plant, where it accumulates.  Too much unconverted nitrate can become toxic to the animals eating it.

Nitrate toxicity is not only a concern in the grasses, crops, and forages growing in the pastures, but also in the grasses and forages that have been cut and baled for hay.  You should be cautious when feeding hay that was baled late Spring or during the Summer after the drought had set in, as it may contain the same dangerous levels of nitrates that could have been found in the pastures.  High levels of nitrates are more dangerous for smaller animals (goats, sheep, horses) than it is for cattle.  It is always better to be safe than sorry.  Have your hay tested by visiting most any MU Extension offices and have a test done to check for any possible concerns.

As a result of the lack of rain, and the inability for plants to create protein, the grasses and forages become less nutritional for the animals that are grazing on them.  This is a problem both with the damaged pastures, as well as, any hay that was cut and baled from the poor quality grasses from this year.  Providing your animals with a protein supplement is and will be vital this fall and winter as the pastures try to recover from the hard summer and the animals are forced to consume lower quality hay.

To provide your animals with the additional protein that they are going to need, FELDMANS offers a couple of options.  First, you can  provide to your animals supplemental feed to increase their protein intake.  Second, you can provide your animals with protein/mineral supplement tubs.

For cattle, providing them with 20% or 14% Protein Breeders cubes (sometimes called Range Cubes) or a pelleted feed, such as Nutrena's 14% Stampede or Purina's 14% Performance Stocker/Grower is a good option.  Also, we offer a few different protein/mineral tubs for cattle.  First, we offer a conditioning tub which is an excellent choice for cattle that could be mineral and protein deficient or for times when you know that the cattle are feeding on poor quality pasture or hay.  We offer a 16% All Natural tub and a 24% Urea Protein tub from Ragland Mills and a 24% Sup-r-block tub from Purina.  From Manna Pro we offer a 37% Protein block.  When feeding your cattle conditioning tubs, plan on them consuming 2-4lbs per head/per day.  You may see the consumption rate increase or decrease as the cattle require more or less protein and minerals.  The other type of Protein/Mineral tub that we offer is called a conditioning tub.  These tubs are much harder and the mineral/protein concentration in these tubs is greater.  These tubs are designed to be feed to cattle as a year-round option for your heard.  From Purina, we offer an All Season Wind and Rain resistant tub.  From Vitalix, we offer a 22% all natural protein tub and a 20% all species tub that are good choices for cattle.  When feeding the maintenance tubs, plan on the cows consuming approximately 1# per head/per day.  Again, consumption rates will increase and decrease as their needs change.

For horses, we offer a wide range of feed products that will help ensure your equine friends are receiving proper levels of protein, vitamins and minerals.  To supplement their mineral and protein intake, we do offer a couple of options.  In the conditioning tubs from Ragland Mills, you can give your horse the 16% all natural tub, but you should NOT give them the 24% Urea tub.  From Manna Pro we offer a 37% Protein block and the Man-O-War Horse Block.  In the maintenance tubs from Vitalix, you can give your horses the 22% All Natural tub, the 20% All Species Tub.  From Vitalix we also offer an Equine Developer tub that is specifically created for horses and is an excellent option.

For your other grazing animals (goats, sheep, etc.), you can feed them Ragland Mills 16% All Natural conditioning tub, the Vitalix 22% All Natural maintenance tubs, and the 20% All Species tub.  From Manna pro we offer a 37% Protein block and an 18% Sheep and Goat block.  Also, for goats specifically, we stock a Goat Choice mineral/protein tub from Vitalix.

Please keep the animals safe and hopefully our pastures turn and stay green.  Feel free to call and talk with any of our helpful and knowledgeable sales associates at your favorite FELDMANS Farm & Home location.

Thank you for your business and for supporting your locally, Family owned FELDMANS Farm & Home stores.

Deworming

We do our best to help keep you all informed on preventative measures and since October is a great time to deworm your horse, we thought it would be a great time to discuss why and how.

A horse's immune system cannot fight off a parasite on its own. If left untreated, these parasites can become debilitating to a horse or maybe even fatal.

This is where regular deworming treatments can protect your horse from these unwanted little creatures. Parasite treatments are very easy to use. If you have not already started your horse on a regimen, now is a good time to start and head off parasites before they become an issue.

A dewormer regimen rotating with different dewormers can treat the parasites in different cycles of development so that the parasite does not have a chance to develop immunity. A standard plan includes bi-annual Ivermectin and in-between treatments with a different dewormer. All the varieties are available at FELDMANS Farm & Home, with multiple options for treatment including pre-loaded oral syringes and pellets or liquid that is added to a horse's feed.

Most of the time owners deworm their horses and still rely on their veterinarian for examinations and annual vaccinations. Ivermectin is usually given in April and October and should be given before the frost is out of the ground and the parasites are active again. During the fall, you should administer after a good hard freeze.

Foals can begin their deworming at 6 weeks old. If your horse has never been dewormed, then you want to start with a half a dose and build up to a full dose in 4-6 weeks. If administered this way, it will help prevent the horse from getting colicky.

Now, there are different forms of Ivermectin having the same active ingredient designed to target the broad array of parasites. In addition, some Ivermectin is available with an extra defense against tapeworm. Between Ivermectin treatments, you should rotate other active ingredients such as Moxidectin, Strongid P, or Praziquantel.

This month our Ivermectin Apple Paste Dewormer, curing up to a 1,250 lb horse is $2.99.