Meeting Set to Discuss MRLS Contingency Plans

A meeting to prepare and support horse farm personnel against the possible recurrence of mare reproductive loss system risk factors during the 2002 foaling season will be held at the Fayette County Extension Office in Lexington the evening of Feb. 4.

The industry-sponsored meeting, co-hosted by the Equine Maintenance Managers Association and the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, will "give people opportunities to ask questions about what's not clear, and where we are, on anything pertaining to MRLS," said Dr. Jimmy Henning, a University of Kentucky agronomist who will speak on contingency and monitoring plans.

Other scheduled topics to be covered include a clinical synopsis of MRLS, an update on horse pasture mineral content, management of the Eastern tent caterpillar population for 2002, and understanding mycotoxins. Experts other than the designated speakers will be present to answer questions in their field.

The meeting will review MRLS risk factors that were identified, and recommended prevention measures. An alert system for notifying veterinarians and farm managers if MRLS risk conditions were to occur also will be discussed.

Reservations to attend the meeting must be called into the Fayette County Extension Office at 257-5582 by Jan. 24.