Students Awarded Equine Research Funding

A team of four Huntley College of Agriculture students received $8,000 in funding from the university’s Projects Hatchery to research the safety and efficacy of equine dietary supplements.

Ivanna Marroquin, Anita Fereidooni, Ericka Diaz, and Samantha Meija explored whether feeding horses a commercially available Echinacea-ssp-based supplement for 28 days would increase hematological parameters in the animals.

Parameters that the students explored included complete blood count, serum biochemistry, and erythropoietin.

Research on the use of Echinacea in the equine industry is limited, but it has reportedly used to boost immune systems and hematological parameters.

The Projects Hatchery is a multidisciplinary program under the Office of Undergraduate Research that encourages students to pursue research topics with the help of a mentor.

The students review literature in the research field, develop project plans and a budget proposal, and develop a final research report and presentation.

The funding awarded to the team was used for research supplies and stipends.

Holly Greene, an animal and veterinary sciences lecturer, served as the students’ mentor.