Latest News – The Horse
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
Ohio Vet: Problems Not Just in Kentucky
While Kentucky horse farms are at the epicenter of the foal loss crisis, the problem is not contained to the Bluegrass region according to a Northern Ohio veterinarian. Dr. Richard Novak drove 7 1/2 hours from his practice in Novelty, Ohio, to
Two Ohio Counties Experiencing Similar Syndromes
Now two counties in Ohio are seeing syndromes similar to those being presented in Kentucky, according to an update Thursday by Dr. Grant Frazer, associate professor at Ohio State University. Frazer said there is no way to make a confirmation tha
Cases of Foal Loss Syndrome Reported in Ohio
An equine practitioner in Morgan County, Ohio, suspects that five cases of red bag delivery within the past week–plus 10 pregnant mares that are now empty–could be the same thing that veterinarians in Kentucky are dealing with, according to
Veterinarians in Some States Report No Problem With Foal Losses
As of May 10, the states of Tennessee, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana seem to be clear of the problems of foal losses facing Kentucky horse breeders. Since Tennessee’s foaling season tends to coincide with Kentucky’s
Foal Loss Reported in Simpsonville, Near Louisville
Simpsonville, Ky., is experiencing the same problems that are plaguing horse breeders in Lexington, according to William Rhoads, DVM, and Scott Bennett, DVM, of Equine Services Hospital. Both equine practitioners said that some farms
Foal Losses: View From the Field
Actually, the view from the field in Central Kentucky was rather lonely this Thursday, May 10. There were acres and acres of fresh-mown–or being furiously mowed–pastures that are beginning to resemble putting greens. The
Researchers Unite to Search for Cause of Crisis
Over and over the refrain has been heard for the past two weeks–the horse industry is lucky to have the equine expertise concentrated in Central Kentucky, especially during this time of all-out war against an unknown killer. Dr. Roger Murphy,
State Veterinarians Keeping In Touch
On Tuesday, May 8, notices were sent to each state veterinarian “to make sure they got factual information” about the current foal loss problems, said Rusty Ford, Equine Programs Manager with the Kentucky State Veterinarian’s Office.
For
Feed Additive Might Help Protect Mares During Foal Loss Syndrome
Veterinary and diagnostic professionals in Kentucky are working feverishly to identify the cause of the recent abortion and early fetal loss syndromes. One of the most probable causes is mycotoxins in pastures. If that is the case,
