Equine Abortion Rate Down Nearly 50% This Year In Kentucky

The equine abortion rate in Kentucky is down 48% from a year ago, based on the latest figures released Monday by the University of Kentucky's Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center (LDDC). Through the first week of June, 424 aborted fetuses had been submitted to the LDDC for examination compared to 810 during the same time period in 2002. During the first week of June only, one fetus was submitted compared to five last year.

The 2003 statistics represent good news for Kentucky breeders, who battled outbreaks of mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) in 2001 and 2002.