Save the date: New birthday for NZ standardbred racehorses
Traditionally, all racehorses in New Zealand have had their birthdays on August 1. From now on, all standardbreds will have their birthdays on January 1.
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Breeding
Informative articles on horse breeding and equine husbandry.
Higher levels of a key hormone linked to poorer reproductive performance in mares
Early diagnosis of infertile mares based on adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations may allow improved reproductive performance.
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Breeding with cooled transported equine semen
Many factors contribute to a successful result when breeding horses using cooled, transported semen. Here’s what you need to know.
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Mycobacterial infection linked to 10 abortions in horses in Japan
The strains in all cases were identical, suggesting the horses on all seven farms had been infected by the same unknown contagious source.
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Orphaned, but newborn foal Margie beats the odds
Margie’s mum, Sierra, suffered an uncommon pregnancy complication known as a uterine torsion, where her uterus was twisted 270 degrees clockwise. Only about 65% of mares and 32% of foals survive the condition past 320 days.
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Evidence analysis shows that animals rarely avoid inbreeding
“We address the ‘elephant in the room’ of inbreeding avoidance studies by overturning the widespread assumption that animals will avoid inbreeding whenever possible.”
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No more freeze branding for NZ harness horses
Standardbred foals will be microchipped from next season, and there could also be a change in birth date for the breed.
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Band of brothers: Stallions can be kept together provided conditions are right – review
“It only poses a risk for injuries if the necessary requirements for this type of husbandry are not taken into account.”
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Horses treated to ovulate early give birth to healthy foals in US
The mares carried the foals through a normal pregnancy, and they needed no supplemental progesterone, a hormone produced by the ovaries, to carry to term.
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Hall of Fame honour for star broodmare Sunbride
A third member of New Zealand thoroughbred breeding’s elite broodmare ranks will be honoured when Sunbride joins iconic producers Eulogy and Eight Carat in the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.
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Novel rotavirus the likely culprit in outbreak of diarrhea in Kentucky foals
Jump in diarrhea cases was noted in the first few months of the year, which makes up the bulk of the busy foaling season in Central Kentucky.
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Not a zebra! Spring has sprung as stripy-legged foal makes appearance
The yet-to-be named new arrival was born to Rachel, a mare rescued with five others in December, 2020.
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Loss of Hartmann’s mountain zebra mares a blow for US zoos
Five-year-old Wiley died at Zoo Knoxville in Tennessee after injuries sustained when she ran into a fence, and six-year-old Grenade died at Albuquerque Biological Park in New Mexico.
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Thoroughbred aftercare group aims to retrain broodmares
The new “Broodmare Bunch” program launched by Indiana-based Friends of Ferdinand aims to assist potentially at-risk broodmares in finding homes after their breeding careers have ended.
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Breeding the next generation of sport horses: Are you ready?
Veterinarian Dr Katie Atwood takes prospective breeders through the process of examining a mares’ reproductive health and the different options for creating a foal.
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Canadian zoo welcomes new Grevy’s zebra foal
Following the tradition of naming its Grevy’s zebra offspring after Star Wars inspired names, Toronto Zoo welcomes young Poe.
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US lawsuit challenges breeding cap on Thoroughbred stallions
“The highest quality thoroughbred horses will be bred less times than market economics would otherwise dictate.”
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Troublesome retained testicle had ‘gelding’ acting like a stallion
Better out than in: Surgery for a rare case of abdominal cryptorchidism a success.
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Equine herpesvirus-3 infection confirmed for first time in Icelandic horse in Iceland
Its prevalence has yet to be examined, but it has not been considered to have a severe impact on horse breeding in Iceland.
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Window into the genetics behind equine reproduction grows ever wider, say researchers
The genetic origins behind reproductive traits are still far from clear, and this is especially so for horses.
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