Kentucky Equine Research Nutritionists Contribute to Textbook

The well-respected reference book Equine Clinical Nutrition: Feeding and Care recently received a makeover, and two nutritionists from Kentucky Equine Research offered their time and expertise to the project.

Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., and Ashley Fowler, Ph.D., contributed to the second edition of the book, retitled Equine Clinical Nutrition. The new edition, edited by Rebecca Remillard, D.V.M., Ph.D., features nearly 40 contributors. Written in 1995 by Lon D. Lewis, Ph.D., the first edition has been used extensively by veterinarians, nutritionists, and animal science students.

Crandell coauthored the chapter “Manufactured Feeds” with three other nutritionists. While the chapter covers a wide range of topics, Crandell’s contributions centered on manufacturing processes and calculating costs of feeding. The manufacturing section includes descriptions of common feed ingredients, methods of ingredient processing, and several useful tables detailing nutrient composition of feedstuffs. She also created a comprehensive feed glossary for the book.

One of Kentucky Equine Research’s feed-manufacturing partners, Brandt’s Mills of Pennsylvania, gathered various feedstuffs so Crandell could photograph them for the chapter.

Crandell, who earned her doctorate from Virginia Tech, has been with Kentucky Equine Research since 1997. Her primary responsibility involves consultation with feed manufacturers and horse owners.

Fowler, pictured above with a copy of the book, wrote the chapter “Minerals” with Laurie Lawrence, Ph.D., and Mieke Brummer-Holder, Ph.D. She was well acquainted with her cowriters at the onset of the project, as Lawrence was her graduate advisor at the University of Kentucky, and Brummer-Holder was a student under Lawrence at the same time.

Although Fowler has been published several times in scientific literature, this is only her second time writing a book chapter. She previously contributed work to an American Youth Horse Council publication titled Horse Smarts: An Equine Reference and Youth Activity Guide.

Fowler began working at Kentucky Equine Research last year and serves as the director of research.