Horse owners should not become too lax even though researchers say the insult that caused the foal losses and other health problems this spring in Kentucky and other states probably is past.
There still are lingering problems in the aftermat
Scientists now believe they know why more than 500 foals died and mares spontaneously aborted several thousand more early pregnancies on central Kentucky’s horse farms this spring.
Their work, however, is far from finished as
While cost isn’t always the most important consideration when it comes to a crisis, over time, the costs can add up.
For example, since Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome materialized in Kentucky, veterinarians and farm managers have been
Beginning Wednesday May 30, trained veterinarians, researchers and technicians will be contacting and visiting farms to administer an in-depth confidential farm survey. Questions will involve routine farm management, pasture management, and
Attention to all non-Thoroughbred horse farms in Kentucky with more than 20 mares. If mares were bred between March 1 and May 1, examined by ultrasound as being in foal prior to 40 days and also after 60 days of gestation we strongly encourage
As of May 25, we will be discontinuing the posting of daily reports from the UK Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center (LDDC). Both field reports from equine practitioners and submissions to the LDDC, indicate a sharp decline in number of MRLS
Following is from the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture as of Friday, May 25, at 5 p.m. More information can be found on their web site at
Dr. David Powell of the Gluck Equine Research Center said at the Keeneland informational meeting on the evening of May 24 that he is “confident at this stage that the incidence of problems has dropped significantly.” Therefore, he offered the
Following are some of the questions and answers from the informational meeting Thursday about Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome.
Q: A veterinarian from Minnesota asked if there were alterations in immune functions in mares
No longer does the mysterious Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome appear to be the result of incredibly high mycotoxin levels in pasture grasses; now the most likely cause appears to be cyanide brought onto pastures from wild black cherry trees, carrie
A reproductive study examining the breeding records of four Central Kentucky Thoroughbred farms reveals that nearly 30% of mares bred between early February and early May 2001 who were declared at one time to be in foal, lost those foals.
Dr
The good news is if the Eastern tent caterpillars were responsible in some way for this spring’s outbreak of foal loss, that they are gone now, cocooned and growing into the next generation of moths. The bad news is that next year, they could be
Keeneland is exploring ways to deal with sale horses whose health might have been compromised by pericarditis and other problems linked to mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS). One possibility is a pre-sale heart-scanning program for yearlings.
The Jockey Club is asking breeders to submit their 2001 Live Foal/No Foal Reports as soon as possible after the birth of the foal or when it is determined that a mare will not produce a live foal this year. The request is coming on the heels of the
The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture on May 23 posted the following information on its web site at https://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/VetScience/mrls/briefings.htm
All non-thoroughbred horses born in Ireland from this year onwards are to be microchipped and DNA typed in a joint venture between the Northern Ireland Horse Board and the Irish Horse Board.
Weatherbys introduced the microchipping of all
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