Breeding and Reproduction

Horse breeding from planning through foal care

MRLS Workshop

Since the devastating disease process known as mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) appeared on the scene in 2001 (and reappeared in 2002), concerted efforts have been focused on understanding and controlling the problem. Economic losses to th

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Clostridium in Mares and Foals

Newborn foals are especially susceptible to gastrointestinal diseases such as clostridial enterocolitis, which is characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, toxemia, shock, or death without prior signs. While this disease occurs only

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Sexually Transmitted Diseases

You’re preparing your mare for the upcoming breeding season. The stud owner insists on a bacterial culture of your mare’s uterus prior to live breeding to reduce the chances of her passing any sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) she might have

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Numbers Fall For Keeneland November Sale; MRLS Blamed

Keeneland will catalog 3,597 lots for the November breeding stock sale in Lexington, Ky. The number is down by 12.6% from last year’s figure of 4,119. Tom Thornbury, Keeneland’s associate director of sales, identified the effects of mare

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Origins of the Horse

It was previously thought that modern horses were descended from a limited number of wild herds and were selectively bred, leading to the diversity in breeds that we have now. However, new DNA evidence suggests that horses have a more diverse

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Equine Herpes Outbreak in Australia

A mare (or mares) imported from North America to Victoria, Australia, is believed to be at the center of the latest outbreak of equine herpes virus (EHV-1), or equine rhinopneumonitis virus, in Australia. 


As the Australian

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Foal Loss Possible in Caterpillar Areas

Four interesting facts were brought to light because of the late-term abortion and Eastern tent caterpillar (ETC) study that was recently completed at the University of Kentucky, according to Thomas Tobin, MVB, MSc, PhD, MRCVS, Dipl. ABT, of the

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Australian Shuttlers Released From Quarantine

In the wake of a positive West Nile Virus (WNV) test on a Canadian Standardbred horse, almost 50 Thoroughbred shuttle stallions were released from Australia’s major quarantine station outside Sydney on the morning of Aug. 30.


The decisio

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Researchers Lay Groundwork for Future MRLS Studies

The scientific community wrapped up a two-day workshop at the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center Aug. 28 with a thorough review of research into mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS). They put forth some ideas on how to

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Mare Milking Early

I have a Paso Fino mare whose due date is three months away and her milk bag is full, hot, and dripping very white milk. She has been waxed over for about a week now, but thankfully she seems to be in no distress. I can find no one with this

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Putting Equine Podiatrists in Their “Right Minds”

While most people don’t consider equine podiatry an artistic profession, Ric Redden, DVM, owner of the International Equine Podiatry Center and organizer/chief instructor of the first In-Depth Equine Podiatry Course going on this week, heartily

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KTA Sets Meeting for MRLS Loan Applicants

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA) will offer a seminar July 25 to assist breeders in filling out loan applications for funding tied to mare reproductive loss syndrome. The money is available through a federal law enacted in

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Caterpillars Cause Late-Term Abortions

The University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture today is releasing preliminary results from a collaborative project involving the UK Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center (Drs. Lenn Harrison, Manu Sebastian, and Deborah Williams), UK

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