As hay prices hang glide , new roving apps developed at University of Minnesota Extension can help horse owner more precisely find out how much hay to purchase and feed their animals .
“ Horses have develop from work animals to recreational animal , with many leading leisurely life style of limited utilization and access to plush pasture and grain . The late famine of hay and the spike heel in prices have forced many horse owners to re - measure their eating strategies , ” pronounce Krishona Martinson , U of M Extension equid specialist . append to the complexities of knight eating is the fact that most horses have differ dietetical needs , she notes .
The U of M Extension ’s horse team work out with researchers from the university and across the res publica to determine solution . Two mobile apps for use with iPhones and iPads have been developed for the horse industry by a radical led by Martinson . Android reading are in development .
App 1 : Hay toll Calculator“Horse owner are one of the few mathematical group of stock owners that bribe hay by the Basle , ” Martinson say . “ Buying by the bale can make it difficult to compare price between and within bale type . A $ 4 small substantial Basle that weighs 35 pounds actually costs more per ton than a $ 5 Basel that weighs 50 pounds , for example . ”
With the “ Hay Price Calculator ” app , buck owners introduce bale exercising weight and terms to reckon price per ton . Calculations for small square bales , large straight bales and round bales can be made , allow the buyer to purchase the most economical hay . Farmers have said the app will also be utilitarian to limit the Mary Leontyne Price per gross ton of edible corn angry walk , straw and other provender stuff .
Hay buyers must know the bale weight , and the app does not take nourishing note value into account .
“ Ideally , the app will be used to compare price of hay with exchangeable pasture nutritious values , ” Martinson say . The U of M Extension provides horse nutrition information on theirwebsite .
The Hay Price Calculator app retails for $ 0.99 .
App 2 : Healthy HorseVeterinarians and professionals have long expressed headache over increasing rates of equine obesity . The “ Healthy Horse ” app helps horse owners and professionals estimate their buck ’s body weight unit . The outcome can help owners , veterinarians and other equine professionals make conclusion based on whether a horse is name as being idealistic , overweight or scrawny . researcher collected information on nearly 700 horses to develop the app .
“ Determining a horse ’s body free weight is critical for weight and feeding direction , and for dispense medicinal drug , ” said Molly McCue , University of Minnesota Associate Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine , one of the app developers .
The “ Healthy Horse ” app allows horse owners and professional to estimate the consistency weight of various adult cavalry — Arabians , pony , stock , saddle and miniature — by entering tiptop , body length , neck opening and girth circuit . idealistic body weight and a trunk weight account are also bet for Arabians , ponies and stock gymnastic horse .
The Healthy Horse apps retails for $ 1.99 .
