Tobacco Funds Approved For MRLS Study

The Kentucky Agriculture Development Board on Friday approved using $311,000 from state and county tobacco-settlement funds to research causes of Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome that resulted in deaths of foals and caused some mares to abort fetuses last spring.

Approval for money to help fund the MRLS study, which is estimated to cost more than $750,000 total, came at the request of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, Keeneland Association and the KTOBA are each putting up $20,000 for the study, with the remainder of the cost coming in the form of in-kind contribution from work by the University of Kentucky, veterinarians and farm managers.