Horse Genetics Resources
Dr. Molly’s McCue’s Equine Genetics and Genomics Laboratory at the University of Minnesota is conducting a study to further analyse the genetics of muscle diseases – such as PSSM2 and others – in horses, and how diet and exercise might impact clinical…
We’ve started asking for horse hair samples to be sent to us in paper envelopes in preference to ziplock bags. There are two main reasons for this: Firstly, paper doesn’t trap moisture, instead it dries the sample out. This helps prevent bacterial…
Research team led by Göttingen University questions link to warmblood fragile foal syndrome Warmblood fragile foal syndrome is a severe, usually fatal, genetic disease that manifests itself after birth in affected horses. Due to the defect, the connective tissue is unstable. Under…
Why should I do DNA testing? Horse owners choose to do DNA testing on their horses for a few different reasons. Breeders test for coat colour and health genes to increase their ability to produce healthy, desirable foals. They can also choose…
A study involving Arabian horses from 12 countries found that some populations maintained a larger degree of genetic diversity and that the breed did not contribute genetically to the modern-day Thoroughbred, contrary to popular thought. An international team of scientists was led…
A new study by Dr. Gus Cothran, professor emeritus at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), has found that the Cleveland Bay (CB) horse breed has the third-lowest genetic variation level of domestic horses, ranking above only…
Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome (FIS) is a fatal inherited disorder that was first described in Fell Ponies back in 1996. Foals with FIS are normal at birth, but within a few weeks develop severe anaemia. They almost completely lack B-cells, which are a…
We have been testing for susceptibility to immune-mediated myositis (IMM) since August this year and have seen a number of Australian horses test positive. IMM is a new addition to the recommended tests for horses that would have traditionally used the QH…
I am sorry to say that we have just seen a case of a Warmblood foal with fragile foal syndrome (FFS). The foal was born dead a few weeks short of full term. In addition to skin and mucous membranes that tore…
The Department of Agriculture has just updated the list of countries we can accept samples from. Quite a few have been removed from the list:We can no longer accept samples from: South and Central America Most of Asia (Japan, Macau and Singapore…