Crucell N.V., a Dutch biotechnology company, and the Israel-based Kimron Veterinary Institute are anticipating the approval of their veterinary West Nile Virus (WNV) in Israel in early 2004. Based on encouraging results from their early work,
A pair of recent studies conducted by researchers in New York, Ireland, and Australia have provided new information about the equine throat. Articles about both research projects appeared in the May 2003 issue of the Equine Veterinary Journal.
In New York, scientists at Cornell University looked at dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP), which interferes with breathing in
The debate over fast workout times for sale 2-year-olds
The specter of catastrophic injury continues to haunt sales of Thoroughbred 2-year-olds in training. Every time a horse breaks down during an under-tack show, the debate heats up again. Are immature racing prospects being asked to work too fast too soon?
John Kimmel, a trainer who has a veterinary degree, believe
The number of reported equine abortions in Kentucky declined for the fourth week in a row, based on figures released by the University of Kentucky’s Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center (LDDC) on Monday. The latest decrease caused the total for the year to fall below 2002’s pace, reversing an upward trend seen earlier in 2003.
During the 10th week of
The number of equine abortions in Central Kentucky remains ahead of last year’s pace based on the most recent report issued by the University of Kentucky’s Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center (LDDC) on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Thirty-eight aborted fetuses were submitted to the LDDC for examination during 2003’s sixth week compared to 33 during the same time period in 2002. The cumulative total for
The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA) is working in conjunction with the University of Kentucky, horsemen, and veterinarians to develop a computer program that would help the equine industry detect health problems like mare reproductive loss syndrome more rapidly.
According to KTA executive director David Switzer, the program would be designed to combine the information from all
The abortion rate in Central Kentucky is up from a year ago, but scientists aren’t sure why there has been an increase.
“At this time, there is nothing that is fully consistent with MRLS (mare reproductive loss syndrome),” said Dr. Lenn Harrison, the director of the University of Kentucky’s Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center in Lexington, on Jan. 31. “We haven’t identified the same
Ireland is not a big country. It covers only 32,599 square miles, making it about the same size as Indiana. But Ireland plays a large and important role in the Thoroughbred industry. Some of the best runners in the world are raised on its limestone-enriched pastures. Two Irish-bred standouts-High Chaparral and Domedriver-won races at the 2002 Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, an
British scientists have identified the distinctive gene that gives about 3% of the Thoroughbred population the gray coat color, and they plan to continue studying the genetics in hopes of learning why grays are more prone to developing melanomas
Many trainers judge the health of their horses’ airways by listening to the sounds the animals make while they are exercising. Airway Dynamics of Midway, Ky., is doing the same thing more scientifically by using high-tech equipment. Veterinarian David Lambert and Robert West Jr., who operates Millford Farm, own the company.
Airway Dynamics demonstrated its information-gathering
All the details have not been finalized, but Barretts Equine Limited plans to prevent consignors from treating their juvenile sale horses with clenbuterol within 72 hours of presale under tack shows. The California auction company also plans to
Keeneland is exploring digital X-ray technology with the idea of improving the repository for its sales. But there probably won’t be any major changes this year, according to Keeneland’s director of sales, Geoffrey Russell.
