NEWSLETTER OF THE RIRDC HORSE PROGRAM 13/118 NOVEMBER 2013 in this issue: • Thoroughbred levy passes • hendra vaccine updaTe • insulin dynamics in pregnancy page 2 rirdc equine research news november 2013 industry profile CHRIS WATSON mainly for trainers in Adelaide but also Chris Watson, together with his parents some from interstate; we breed our own Peter and Serena, and wife Sian, and clients’ mares; and we raise and sell operate Mill Park Stud. The commercial the young stock from these matings. Thoroughbred nursery and spelling farm We have now had 14 Group One is located near Meningie, in the upper winners from our stud, which this spring south east of South Australia. have included Happy Trails, winner of Chris is on the board of Thoroughbred the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington, and the Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner. Breeders Australia and Aushorse, and Chris Watson is also a committee member with what made you join the the South Australian Thoroughbred board of tba? Thoroughbred industry is going it alone Breeders Association. I was encouraged to join the Board of the and this means we can direct it in a South Australian Thoroughbred Breeders more focussed fashion. two years ago. I decided it was a way of what’s your background? what do you think about the contributing to an industry that had given levy on breeders, to help pay for My parents originally ran the farm as me a lot. This led me to the Board of research? Thoroughbred Breeders Australia last year. a cattle property, then moved into fine Having an official levy means it’s wool Merinos – the sheep are still part When it comes to decision-making, recognised by the government and we of the farm today. Horses were always a I think there’s a lot of value in my can attract matching funds to make family interest and the hobby developed grassroots experience of working in a a real investment in research for the into a business in the early 1990s. commercial environment. industry that supports us. I expected the After school I spent many years working “yes” vote, and it’s fantastic to see that on studs in the Hunter Valley (NSW), how important is research a huge number of those voting in the Kentucky (USA) and Ireland. After for the horse industry affirmative were individual mare owners, generally, and thoroughbred not just the bigger operations. completing a Bachelor of Business industry specifically? degree at the University of Adelaide I As the industry grows, I hope horse Research is extremely important. returned home to assist in the everyday numbers will grow and available management of Mill Park. Unfortunately, the industry has had little dollars will increase without the levy funding generally compared with other The farm now has several facets which amount rising. commercial industries. have combined to make it a successful what are your priorities, in enterprise, but one that we are constantly While we lost an opportunity for terms of areas of research? looking to improve. We spell racehorses, general horse industry research, the The most important research I think is on issues to do with the wastage that is rirdc horse program advisory committee directly related to racing and breeding – problems like degenerative joint disease dr John mccaffrey (Chair) dr brian stewart in foals, racetrack breakdowns and Consultant Equine Veterinarian Head of Equine Welfare and respiratory illnesses. Veterinary Services dr nigel perkins (Research Manager) Racing Victoria Ltd. The work that’s been done to date by Director AusVet Animal Health Services dr dave Alden the RIRDC Horse Program has provided Senior Research Manager some great results, and hopefully that ass/prof guy lester Established Rural Industries can continue. Head of the Equine Section RIRDC Department of Veterinary & I would also like to see a focus on Biomedical Sciences margie heath employment, education and training – to Murdoch University Program Coordinator increase the supply of good staff – and RIRDC leslie Young on helping clubs to increase turnover. Managing Director elizabeth owens We need to develop the industry as a Doncaster Bloodstock Services Sales and Marketing Manager whole and, while horses are the most Racehorse owner, manager, Symbio Alliance important factor, we need to look more breeder and journalist Animal nutritionist, Australian national champion dressage rider broadly as well. november 2013 equine research news page 3 R&D LEVY UPDATE Thoroughbred breeders have had their say on a levy for research and The Australian Electoral development, with 67.9 per cent of Commission conducted the votes cast in favour of the move. poll and has declared that 67.9 per cent of voters supported The proposed levy will be a charge of the proposed levy. $10 per mare covered per season and paid by the stallion owner, and a charge There were 8,415 ballot papers of $10 per mare returned per season issued to eligible entities or and paid by the broodmare owner. voters and 2,567 returned, with 10 rejected at preliminary Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) scrutiny as informal and the has now made a submission to the rest admitted to the count. Federal Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce, outlining details of the proposed Voting was not compulsory but levy, the level of support from breeders Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and how it could be used. was happy with the number of ballot papers returned. The Department of Agriculture is now undertaking a six week appeal process, Of those votes returned, 1,730 which gives breeders a chance to have voted yes on an enterprise basis. a final say. The result was also calculated on Once this is complete, the department the basis of one vote per brood will make a recommendation to the mare registered and one vote Minister.The levy proposal also needs for mares covered. The result to be approved by the Prime Minister, of this vote was 12,832 for and Treasurer and Minister for Finance and 8,442 against with 17 informal. Deregulation, after which legislation will need to be drafted. the research program on behalf of will be based on the current Horse It is hoped the levy will be in place the industry. RD&E Plan 2011-16, until a new by 1 August 2014, after which it will Thoroughbred RD&E Plan is prepared. be collected by the Australian Stud In addition to the levy, it’s expected It will aim to deliver a positive return Book (ASB). that some organisations will continue on investment to levy payers, including to make voluntary contributions and It is expected the levy will raise economic and market research studies, TBA is seeking an agreement for any $400,000 for Thoroughbred research as well as research and work into Thoroughbred industry funds to be which will be matched by the Federal serious disease threats for the industry. matched by the government. It’s hoped Government, with the first funds the final budget for research will be expected to be paid at the end of approximately $1 million. August 2015. The Rural Industries Further information on the Research and Development Corporation The Thoroughbred Research, Thoroughbred Levy is available on the (RIRDC) will continue to manage Development and Extension Program TBA website: www.tbaus.com rirdc's horse program is australia's national horse research and development program ‒ a partnership between industry and government that delivers significant benefits back to you. current contributors: Australian Racing Board through Racing Information Services Australia, Australian Thoroughbred Breeders Club, Australian Stock Horse Society, Equine Veterinarians Australia, Equestrian Federation of Australia. page 4 rirdc equine research news november 2013 HENDRA VACCINE One Year On one year on from its release, uptake of the hendra vaccine has been slower than expected. however, equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA) believes all horses should be vaccinated, as it is the best way to prevent the deadly hendra virus. many competitions and events, particularly in Queensland where hendra is most prevalent, are now making vaccination a condition of entry, so uptake is expected to rise. The Hendra vaccine for horses, It has been welcomed by many as a Government may support its roll out,” EquiVac® HeV, was launched in chance to protect the equine industry and Mr Wilkinson said. November 2012 to interrupt the those working with horses from the virus “However, the roll out has now gathered transmission of the disease from flying that has caused 70 horse fatalities and four great pace, and the 150,000th dose has foxes to horses, preventing the disease human deaths in Australia to date. just been administered. passing from horses to humans. Jeffrey Wilkinson from EVA says the “Since the education campaign was It was developed by Pfizer Animal roll out of the vaccine was slow in extended, more horse owners have Health Australia in partnership with the beginning. vaccinated their horses, noting the CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health “Some horse owners took a “wait health and safety benefits for their Laboratory with assistance from some and see” approach, while others put families and staff.” organisations in the United States. off vaccination hoping the Australian november 2013 equine research news page 5 FAST FacTs • The Hendra virus is found only in Australia, and was first identified in 1994 • Prevalence of Hendra virus is low but it is one of the most lethal • Hendra is transmitted from flying fox to horse, horse to horse and horse to people and one dog is also known to have contracted the virus • It is believed horses contract Hendra virus by ingesting food or water contaminated by fluids The focus has been on Hendra hotspots continuing to work behind the scenes or excretions from an – Queensland and northern New South to better understand the virus and infected flying fox reduce its impact on both horses Wales – but a case this year in Kempsey • People can contract the and humans.