Latest News – The Horse
Eye Problems In Horses; Link To Foal Loss Unknown
Dr. Claire Latimer is a specialist in veterinary ophthalmology, the study of animal eyes. Since May 1, she has seen a surprising increase of eye problems in horses in Central Kentucky that fall into two distinct groups. She said the first syndrome
The Blood-Horse Supports Research On Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome
In an effort to show support for industry horse owners and breeders, The Blood-Horse, Inc., publishers in the equine industry since 1916, announced yesterday it will contribute a portion of its advertising revenues for the remainder of 2001 to
Endurance Ride For Research
On April 1, the 100+ volunteers, staff, and students at the Virginia Tech Middleburg Agriculture Research and Extension Center (MAREC) held their first ever 50-mile endurance ride dedicated to research primarily intended to improve the
Forage Testing Points to Molds and Mycotoxins
There is increasing evidence indicating that molds and mycotoxins are involved in the syndromes in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia this spring. There have been some positive screens for the mycotoxin zearalenone in pasture and
An Eye on the Weather
Tom Priddy, a meteorologist at the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, put together data on the weather this spring that is thought to have caused the current equine problems associated with pasture.
Charts and audio clips
Federal Government Lends Research Assistance on Foal Loss Syndrome
The good news is that the federal government doesn’t have to be in Kentucky or any other state because of the current spring syndromes taking place in the horse populations. They would be required to investigate if there was any indication that
Dr. Tom Riddle: One Practitioner’s Experience With Foal Loss Problem
I have been asked to speak about my experience with the recent early fetal loss syndrome in Central Kentucky. I saw my first two cases on April 26 when I was asked to fetal sex six mares on a farm in Jessamine County. Fetal sexing
Pericarditis Causing Problems With Foals, Other Horses
Fluid is drained from the pericardial membrane surrounding the heart of a horse with Pericarditis.
Photo: Stephanie
Preliminary Test Results Suggest Possible Causes, Preventative Measures
After testing numerous pasture samples for mycotoxins, endophytes, and other possible causes to the problems in Kentucky, tests have shown higher than expected levels of a mycotoxin called zearalenone, according to Dr. Steve Jackson, a consultan
Foal Losses ‘Devastating’ to Family-Run Jonabell Farm
John A. Bell III reached into his pocket and pulled out two sheets of paper with the cold, hard facts. “Well, here’s the bad news,” he said. Bad news, indeed, for the family-owned and operated Jonabell Farm that Bell founded in 1956. Of 76 mares
Diagnostic Lab Numbers Update
As of noon today (May 9), the University of Kentucky’s Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center stated that a total of 371 aborted/stillborn fetuses had been submitted for diagnostic testing/evaluation since April 28, 2001. That total includes 25 submitted by noon today, and 28 submitted yesterday (May
Breeding Sheds All Set to Rally
So far it looks as if many Kentucky breeding sheds will stay open as long as they have clients who want to book their mares…or until the stallions must head into quarantine for trips to Southern Hemisphere locations. Those trips usually take
Keeneland To Stream Meeting About Fetal Loss Live On Internet
Keeneland will offer live streaming on its Internet site of the informational meeting Thursday, May 10, organized by the Kentucky Farm Managers’ Club and the Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners. The meeting will be held in Keeneland’s sales pavilion to address the serious problem of late-term abortions and early fetal death that is affecting broodmares in Kentucky.
Keeneland’
Veterinary FAQ on the 2001 Foal Loss Syndrome
With Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ACVECC, head of the Kentucky-based Hagyard-Davidson-McGee veterinary firm’s Medicine Unit in Lexington that includes neonatal intensive care. Of his comments, he said, “For all of these following recommendations, we don’t know if they are useful or futile because we don’t know when the ‘hammer’ hits these horses. Whatever you do hopefully helps prevent
Latest Numbers Presented on Late Term Abortion/Early Foal Loss Syndromes
The University of Kentucky Disease Diagnostic Center reported Thursday that a total of 386 aborted/stillborn equine fetuses/foals had been submitted for diagnostic testing/evaluation since the problem first arose late last month.
The
Epidemiologist Q&A on Excessive Foal Losses
Dr. David Powell, an epidemiologist at the University of Kentucky’s Veterinary Science Department in the Gluck Equine Research Center, was interviewed Monday by The Blood-Horse about the unusually high number of early fetal loss and late-term abortions among broodmares at Central Kentucky farms. Following are transcripts of the interview:
Q: Where
