As equine breeding has shifted from quantity to a greater focus on quality, genetics and genomic research in reproduction has the potential to improve the accuracy of breeding selection criteria.

The low levels of potential pathogens found was reassuring, the researchers said.

Inbreeding has traditionally been measured using pedigree analysis, but researchers are increasingly applying molecular-based technology to examine the question.

Researchers have begun to understand which microbial populations comprise healthy and unhealthy gut microbiomes and how they may change once the foal no longer relies on the mare for food.

Tie-stalls are a common way to house stallions in Eastern Europe, according to the researchers.

“Mare owners should know the signs that predict foaling is close, and what normal foaling looks like.”

Bacteria residing in a biofilm can be up to 1000 times more resistant to treatment with antibiotics as compared to free-living bacteria.

The need for speed could result in the demise of the hardy stayer unless breeders are given incentives.

A review of abortions across two Kentucky breeding seasons is reported.

Researchers say fenbendazole should be the first choice for treatment of Parascaris infection, with treatment suggested at two and five months of age.

Standardbred foals that suffer bacterial infections when young are at least twice as likely to suffer such problems.

Study in Poland looks for links between the neuropathogenic strain of EHV-1 and abortion. None was found.