Australia, Breeding and Racing

Int Breeders Meeting 1: Yearling X-Ray Study
A study conducted by the University Of Melbourne has found "most common bone abnormalities revealed in x-rays taken from sales yearlings have no effect on subsequent racing performance, based on number of wins & prize-money earned," reported racingpost.co.uk. The researchers looked at more than 80,000 radiographs taken from over 2,400 yearlings & followed the horses through their 2YO & 3YO careers before drawing their conclusions. Dr Chris Whitton told the veterinary session of the International Breeders' Meeting in Melbourne: "The bottom line is, radiographic lesions at yearling sales have no or limited effect on future performance." The x-rays were held in the repositories at 8 sales conducted by Magic Millions & Inglis in 2003 (the year repositories, which house radiographs to be examined by vets hired by potential buyers, were introduced in Australia). The x-rays included 34 different views of each yearling. Researchers found 4 types of lesions had "a notable effect on performance": horses with more severe sagittal ridge OCDs (osteochondritis dissecans lesions) in their hind fetlocks were "10-times less likely to start as a 2YO or 3YO" & "tended to make their debuts later & have slightly fewer starts. However researchers found no difference in the number of wins & prize-money earned by these horses. Whitton explained: "My reading is that these horses are slower to mature." Horses with any OCD lesion of the stifle "performed at a slightly lower rate"; so did horses with a bone formation on their front sesamoid. However the effect was small enough that "it's hard to get excited about them", concluded Whitton. There were 8 types of lesion that had no effect on performance "including bony fragments in the fetlock & sesamoid fractures". (Mar 12)

Int Breeders Meeting 2: Vaccination Debate
Meanwhile "how to prevent a future outbreak of equine influenza turned into one of the hottest points of contention" at the International Breeders' Meeting in Melbourne, reported racingpost.co.uk. The main issue was "whether quarantine alone could suffice or whether horses in Australia should be vaccinated regularly to prevent recurrence of the disease". Plans were put forward by Thoroughbred Breeders' Australia for a Vaccination Summit (including experts from around the world) to be held this year & the IBM "agreed to support the implementation of a vaccination programme in Australia, although the delegation from New Zealand (the only country now completely free of the disease) declined to voice an opinion". Equine infectious disease specialist Dr James Gilkerson (from the faculty of veterinary science at the University Of Melbourne) "rejected the idea of a regular vaccination programme" & instead "argued that with recovery from the outbreak well on its way, equine influenza will soon be eradicated from Australia & quarantine should be the 1st stop in keeping the country free of the disease". Gilkerson summed up: "Effective quarantine services can protect our horse population. I don't think vaccination in Australia will protect against future outbreaks: I think that's the job of quarantine & I don't think anyone from overseas believes that it's vaccination that prevents influenza coming into their countries." However Gilkerson's argument was challenged by TBA president John Messara "who responded with a vigorous cross-examination" & declared: "How can you explain that every other racing nation that has had an outbreak of EI is now following a vaccination regime? Why is every other country in the world following that line of policy & you're advocating another one?" US expert Dr David Powell (an epidemiologist at the Gluck Equine Research Center in Kentucky) also suggested quarantine might not be sufficient insurance against another outbreak, noting: "In recent times we have had to accept it is not just in Australia, but in Japan, Hong Kong, South Africa & other countries there's been a breakdown of quarantine. We should bear that in mind." However Messara (principal of Arrowfield Stud where 1,000 mares were bred last year) said "by his own estimate, EI had caused an economic loss to the thoroughbred industry of more than $1 billion." And speaking to racingpost.co.uk after the session, Messara "said of the view opposing regular vaccination: The rest of the world vaccinates, so why don't we? We've always felt safe as an island, but we wanted to open up & be a part of the world & we're proud that we've done that. But there is a consequence." Messara noted he agreed with the "purist view" that EI should be eradicated. But, he added, the industry "wants the insurance of vaccination". (Mar 12)

Blocks To Horse Travel Removed
The Australian Racing Board announced "work to restore travel routes for Australian yearlings & racehorses is reaping excellent results". This includes:

• Japan: a health certificate has been agreed between Australia & Japan and "permission to export to Japan is now in place".
• UAE-Dubai: export conditions have been agreed & a health certificate "is awaiting final approval from the UAE veterinary authority".
• Hong Kong: a health certificate has been agreed between HK & Australia, with exports "approved to take place from specified pre-export quarantine premises"; restrictions will be further eased once Queensland declares freedom from EI (which will take place between March 14-20).
• Philippines: a health certificate has been agreed between Australia & Philippines.
• New Zealand: traffic from Australia to NZ "is the biggest issue that remains to be resolved, not just for yearlings sold to NZ buyers at forthcoming sales but also NZ entries that would traditionally participate in the Queensland racing carnival but will only travel over if they are assured they will be able to return home". In this regard "work is continuing in an endeavour to satisfy NZ Ministry Of Agriculture that it is safe to resume imports of Australian horses". NZ suspended all imports of Australian horses in August 2007 & in February 2008 released draft protocols involving "21 days pre-export isolation & 14 days post-arrival transitional holding". The ARB noted: "It is hoped those requirements can be further refined, because in their current form there would be doubts as to whether they could accommodate the pre-EI levels of trans-Tasman travel" (prior to the August 2007 EI outbreak 1,500 horses a year travelled from Australia to NZ, with approximately 700 of these permanent exports). The ARVB added: "Last week's declaration of EI freedom in NSW & the impending declaration of freedom in Queensland will hopefully facilitate this."

Resumption Of Aust Imports To Singapore
The Singapore Turf Club announced "permission has been given for the resumption of importation of Australian-based horses into Singapore". The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority "has been monitoring the EI situation in Australia & worked with the Australian veterinary authorities on an import protocol which has built in additional safeguards to ensure horses imported from Australia into Singapore are free from EI. Under the import protocol that has been agreed, Australian horses to be exported to Singapore will undergo a 21-day pre-export quarantine in Australia & then a further 21-day post-arrival quarantine in Singapore. Tests, vaccinations & other veterinary requirements are also required during the quarantine period as safeguards." The 1st batch of Australian imports "is expected to arrive in Singapore in early April". (Mar 12)

New Deputy Chairman For HK Jockey Club
The Hong Kong Jockey Club announced: the resignation of David Eldon as a Steward & Deputy Chairman of the Club; the election of Brian Stevenson as the Club's new Deputy Chairman; & the co-opting of Voting Member Iain Ferguson Bruce to fill the vacancy on the Board. (Mar 12)

European Union To Require Micro-Chipping Of Foals
Member states of the European Union "have reached an agreement on a new regulation that will revise existing equine identification legislation," reported thehorse.com. The main new requirement "is the compulsory micro-chipping of foals born after 1 July 2009". The requirement "will not be retro-active for older horses & the regulation does allow member states to approve alternative methods to the microchip". Microchips "provide a link between a horse & its passport & strengthen existing horse identification requirements"; such "unique identification could also prove useful for disease control & surveillance purposes & for the recovery of lost or stolen horses". (Mar 12)