A groundbreaking ceremony for the University of Kentucky (UK) Equine Reproduction Facilities was held Oct. 26 at UK's Maine Chance Equine Campus. The ceremony recognized supporters who generously donated money to fund the remodeling of facilities for equine reproduction research that will be conducted by scientists at the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center.
The remodeled facilities will help the university develop the best equine reproductive research program in the country and give the Gluck Equine Research Center the opportunity to match the signature equine industry it serves. The remodeled facilities will be used for the management of mares and stallions, and laboratory facilities will be constructed for handling semen, embryos, and reproductive tissues.
Lexington is the epicenter of the state's renowned equine industry and, as such, reproductive health is of top concern. Statistics show the importance of equine reproduction research at UK and the significance of equine breeding in the area. In 2008 41% of all Thoroughbred mares bred in North America were bred in Kentucky, and 608 Quarter Horse stallions in Kentucky covered or bred via artificial insemination more than 10,990 mares. In 2007 30 Standardbred stallions covered or bred via artificial insemination 1,543 mares, and 752 Standardbred foals were registered. Each year, the American Saddlebred Horse Association reports about 1,050 of its registered mares are bred in Kentucky.
"This facility augments a program that is of highest significance to a region which represents the equine reproduction capital of the world," said Nancy Cox, MS, PhD, associate dean for research of UK's College of Agriculture, Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station director, and administrative leader for the Equine Initiative. "The college appreciates the advice from our stakeholders to make a shared investment in reproduction research. We are grateful to those who showed their confidence in us through investments in this facility."
Major donors who have supported the remodeling of the facilities are: Ashford Stud, Darley USA, Flaxman Holdings Limited, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute (Drs. Walter W. Zent, William D. Fishback Jr., Kevin B. Pfiester, Stuart E. Brown II, Ed Fallon, Luke Fallon and Kristina Lu), Kentucky Thoroughbred Association/Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders (KTA/KTOB), Lane's End, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital (Drs. Tom Riddle and Peter Morresey), Shadwell Farm, Shawnee Farm, Dr. Ed Squires, and Dr. Mats Troedsson.
Funds donated by stakeholders were matched through UK's Research Challenge Trust Fund.
"The new reproductive area at UK's equine research farm includes state-of-the-art mare and stallion facilities with modern laboratories to study reproductive problems in horses," said Troedsson, chair of the Department of Veterinary Science and director of the Gluck Equine Research Center. "The facilities will allow researchers at the Gluck Equine Research Center and the Department of Veterinary Science to conduct research on reproductive diseases in mares and stallions, and to respond to emerging problems that are presented to the breeding industry in Kentucky and elsewhere.
"The facilities are the result of generous support from the equine and veterinary communities in Central Kentucky," Troedsson said. "It is a great example of how the horse community and the university can work together with a common goal to further our knowledge in equine veterinary science. We are very thankful and excited about the enthusiastic support this project received."
Squires, executive director of the Gluck Equine Research Foundation and director of advancement and industry relations, said, "The mare and stallion facilities, when finished, will provide researchers with laboratories and barns to conduct cutting-edge studies on fertility issues in both stallions and mares."
Areas of reproductive health research at the Gluck Equine Research Center include causes, diagnosis, and treatment of embryonic and fetal loss in mares; early embryonic development; uterine infection; nutritional effects on reproduction; stallion behavior; diagnosis and treatment of fertility problems in stallions; and fescue toxicosis.
Major equine research contributions from the Gluck Equine Research Center's reproductive health group include demonstrating the usefulness of artificial lights and progesterone/estradiol treatments for hastening the onset of the breeding season. Additionally, this group was part of the team that performed the definitive experiments that identified the cause of mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS).
For more information about the Gluck Equine Research Center, visit ca.uky.edu/gluck.
Jenny Blandford is the Gluck Equine Research Foundation assistant at the Gluck Center.
Want more articles like this? Sign up for the Bluegrass Equine Digest e-Newsletter.
More information on Gluck Equine Research Center and UK's Equine Initiative.
Disclaimer: Seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian before proceeding with any diagnosis, treatment, or therapy.
