in this issue: Thoroughbred levy passes Hendra vaccine update Insulin dynamics in pregnancy

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1 newsletter of the rirdc horse program 13/118 NOVEMBER 2013 in this issue: Thoroughbred levy passes Hendra vaccine update Insulin dynamics in pregnancy

2 page 2 rirdc equine research news november 2013 industry profile Chris Watson Chris Watson, together with his parents Peter and Serena, and wife Sian, operate Mill Park Stud. The commercial Thoroughbred nursery and spelling farm is located near Meningie, in the upper south east of South Australia. Chris is on the board of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Aushorse, and is also a committee member with the South Australian Thoroughbred Breeders Association. what s your background? My parents originally ran the farm as a cattle property, then moved into fine wool Merinos the sheep are still part of the farm today. Horses were always a family interest and the hobby developed into a business in the early 1990s. After school I spent many years working on studs in the Hunter Valley (NSW), Kentucky (USA) and Ireland. After completing a Bachelor of Business degree at the University of Adelaide I returned home to assist in the everyday management of Mill Park. The farm now has several facets which have combined to make it a successful enterprise, but one that we are constantly looking to improve. We spell racehorses, mainly for trainers in Adelaide but also some from interstate; we breed our own and clients mares; and we raise and sell the young stock from these matings. We have now had 14 Group One winners from our stud, which this spring have included Happy Trails, winner of the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington, and the Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner. what made you join the board of tba? I was encouraged to join the Board of the South Australian Thoroughbred Breeders two years ago. I decided it was a way of contributing to an industry that had given me a lot. This led me to the Board of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia last year. When it comes to decision-making, I think there s a lot of value in my grassroots experience of working in a commercial environment. how important is research for the horse industry generally, and thoroughbred industry specifically? Research is extremely important. Unfortunately, the industry has had little funding generally compared with other commercial industries. While we lost an opportunity for general horse industry research, the rirdc horse program advisory committee Dr John McCaffrey (Chair) Consultant Equine Veterinarian Dr Nigel Perkins (Research Manager) Director AusVet Animal Health Services Ass/Prof Guy Lester Head of the Equine Section Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences Murdoch University Leslie Young Managing Director Doncaster Bloodstock Services Racehorse owner, manager, breeder and journalist Dr Brian Stewart Head of Equine Welfare and Veterinary Services Racing Victoria Ltd. Dr Dave Alden Senior Research Manager Established Rural Industries RIRDC Margie Heath Program Coordinator RIRDC Elizabeth Owens Sales and Marketing Manager Symbio Alliance Animal nutritionist, Australian national champion dressage rider Chris Watson Thoroughbred industry is going it alone and this means we can direct it in a more focussed fashion. what do you think about the levy on breeders, to help pay for research? Having an official levy means it s recognised by the government and we can attract matching funds to make a real investment in research for the industry that supports us. I expected the yes vote, and it s fantastic to see that a huge number of those voting in the affirmative were individual mare owners, not just the bigger operations. As the industry grows, I hope horse numbers will grow and available dollars will increase without the levy amount rising. what are your priorities, in terms of areas of research? The most important research I think is on issues to do with the wastage that is directly related to racing and breeding problems like degenerative joint disease in foals, racetrack breakdowns and respiratory illnesses. The work that s been done to date by the RIRDC Horse Program has provided some great results, and hopefully that can continue. I would also like to see a focus on employment, education and training to increase the supply of good staff and on helping clubs to increase turnover. We need to develop the industry as a whole and, while horses are the most important factor, we need to look more 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 development, with 67.9 per cent of votes cast in favour of the move.

3 november 2013 equine research news page 3 R&D Levy Update Thoroughbred breeders have had their say on a levy for research and development, with 67.9 per cent of votes cast in favour of the move. The proposed levy will be a charge of $10 per mare covered per season and paid by the stallion owner, and a charge of $10 per mare returned per season and paid by the broodmare owner. Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) has now made a submission to the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce, outlining details of the proposed levy, the level of support from breeders and how it could be used. The Department of Agriculture is now undertaking a six week appeal process, which gives breeders a chance to have a final say. Once this is complete, the department will make a recommendation to the Minister.The levy proposal also needs to be approved by the Prime Minister, Treasurer and Minister for Finance and Deregulation, after which legislation will need to be drafted. It is hoped the levy will be in place by 1 August 2014, after which it will be collected by the Australian Stud Book (ASB). It is expected the levy will raise $400,000 for Thoroughbred research which will be matched by the Federal Government, with the first funds expected to be paid at the end of August The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) will continue to manage the research program on behalf of the industry. In addition to the levy, it s expected that some organisations will continue to make voluntary contributions and TBA is seeking an agreement for any Thoroughbred industry funds to be matched by the government. It s hoped the final budget for research will be approximately $1 million. The Thoroughbred Research, Development and Extension Program The Australian Electoral Commission conducted the poll and has declared that 67.9 per cent of voters supported the proposed levy. There were 8,415 ballot papers issued to eligible entities or voters and 2,567 returned, with 10 rejected at preliminary scrutiny as informal and the rest admitted to the count. Voting was not compulsory but Thoroughbred Breeders Australia was happy with the number of ballot papers returned. Of those votes returned, 1,730 voted yes on an enterprise basis. The result was also calculated on the basis of one vote per brood mare registered and one vote for mares covered. The result of this vote was 12,832 for and 8,442 against with 17 informal. will be based on the current Horse RD&E Plan , until a new Thoroughbred RD&E Plan is prepared. It will aim to deliver a positive return on investment to levy payers, including economic and market research studies, as well as research and work into serious disease threats for the industry. Further information on the Thoroughbred Levy is available on the TBA website: 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.

4 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, EquiVac HeV, was launched in November 2012 to interrupt the transmission of the disease from flying foxes to horses, preventing the disease passing from horses to humans. It was developed by Pfizer Animal Health Australia in partnership with CSIRO s Australian Animal Health Laboratory with assistance from some organisations in the United States. It has been welcomed by many as a chance to protect the equine industry and those working with horses from the virus that has caused 70 horse fatalities and four human deaths in Australia to date. Jeffrey Wilkinson from EVA says the roll out of the vaccine was slow in the beginning. Some horse owners took a wait and see approach, while others put off vaccination hoping the Australian Government may support its roll out, Mr Wilkinson said. However, the roll out has now gathered great pace, and the 150,000th dose has just been administered. Since the education campaign was extended, more horse owners have vaccinated their horses, noting the health and safety benefits for their families and staff.

november 2013 equine research news page 5 The focus has been on Hendra hotspots Queensland and northern New South Wales but a case this year in Kempsey was a reminder that the disease is not just

5 november 2013 equine research news page 5 The focus has been on Hendra hotspots Queensland and northern New South Wales but a case this year in Kempsey was a reminder that the disease is not just contained to those regions. It was the most southern detection to date and spurred others to take the step to vaccinate. Recently some events have made the vaccine a condition on entry for horse competitions. The Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) is one, Equestrian NSW is making it a requirement of multi-day events to reduce risk and Racing Queensland is preparing to make it compulsory too, Mr Wilkinson said. This has been a major impetus for some horse owners to take up the vaccine, particularly in the show horse community. Without a greater use of the vaccine right across the country, we face an uphill battle trying to reduce the number of Hendra cases in any given year. Events and organisations making the vaccine compulsory will be vital to controlling or stamping out this virus. hendra research The Hendra vaccine released last year for horses was hailed a breakthrough. However, it hasn t stopped researchers continuing to work behind the scenes to better understand the virus and reduce its impact on both horses and humans. The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) manages the Australian Government s investment in eight projects funded under the National Hendra Virus Research Program. Researchers from the University of Western Sydney, James Cook University, Griffith University and the CSIRO are leading the projects. The NSW and Queensland governments manage other research projects under the Program. The RIRDC-managed research includes investigating where flying foxes are, the risk that they will shed the virus, the conditions under which horses contract the virus, how to detect the virus early and how government agencies can better promote information to horse owners. Several projects are already delivering interim results, which are being submitted for review and publication in scientific publications. They are all helping to build a more complete picture about the virus, its transmission and how to stop its spread. 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 or excretions from an infected flying fox People can contract the virus if they come into contact with the bodily fluids of an infected horse Signs of Hendra in a horse include acute onset of illness, increased temperature, depression, shifting of weight between legs, increased respiratory rate, nasal discharge, head tilting/ circling, muscle twitching and urinary incontinence Horses that show signs should be quarantined and a veterinarian should be called immediately May to September is the danger period for Hendra cases The Hendra vaccine prevents the disease in horses Good biosecurity and hygiene practices are key to stopping Hendra transmission

page 6 rirdc equine research news november 2013 rirdc horse research INSULIN DYNAMICS DURING EQUINE PREGNANCY Research continues into the potential causes of skeletal diseases such as osteochodrosis

6 page 6 rirdc equine research news november 2013 rirdc horse research INSULIN DYNAMICS DURING EQUINE PREGNANCY Research continues into the potential causes of skeletal diseases such as osteochodrosis (OC) in growing foals, especially Thoroughbreds, with a project showing that problems in bone development could be triggered before birth. Skeletal diseases in growing horses are a major industry problem and have been the subject of much research interest for many years. It is often seen in very young foals, which suggested that problems in bone formation could be occurring before the foal is even born. Evidence is emerging for this from both human and animal studies, but it has not been examined in the horse. Funded by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Horse Program and led by Professor Wayne Bryden from the University of Queensland and Dr Caroline Foote, Equine Consulting Services, the project provides new insights into the possible relationship between the nutrition of the mare during pregnancy and skeletal abnormalities in growing foals. A current hypothesis is that elevated post-feeding insulin* levels may predispose growing horses to abnormal skeletal development. This project showed that insulin resistance* in the mare during pregnancy disrupts the uterine environment* and in so doing can lead to long term effects on normal bone development and bone turnover* in the foal. The findings of this study add to the understanding of the role diet plays during gestation and have implications for the management of broodmares by Thoroughbred breeders. developmental orthopaedic diseases Commonly referred to as a group as developmental orthopaedic diseases (DOD), these conditions of the bone affect all horse breeds; however the underlying causes are poorly understood. DOD, which includes osteochodrosis (OC), costs the Thoroughbred industry many millions of dollars annually, with as many as ten percent of foals unable to be sold as yearlings due to skeletal problems. A number of factors have been identified as possible contributing causes including genetics, rate of growth, exercise and nutrition; however few studies have evaluated the contribution of the mare s diet. OC is of particular concern to the Thoroughbred industry. It is caused by a defect in the normal process of bone formation resulting in the thickening, cracking and tearing of the joint cartilage of growing horses. This condition is known to be associated with dietary deficiencies and/or nutrient imbalances, trauma, rapid growth rates and genetic influences. can problems in bone formation be triggered prior to birth? This study explored the hypothesis that problems in bone formation occur prior to birth, by investigating the prevalence of insulin resistance in a large population of broodmares and their foals from Thoroughbred studs in the Hunter Valley region and southern region of New South Wales. In addition, experiments were conducted on the Gatton Campus of the University of Queensland.

november 2013 equine research news page 7 Objectives of the study were to: (1) determine insulin sensitivity* in the mare during gestation and lactation, (2) investigate the effect of ration and body

relationship between insulin status of Thoroughbred yearlings and the occurrence of OC.

7 november 2013 equine research news page 7 Objectives of the study were to: (1) determine insulin sensitivity* in the mare during gestation and lactation, (2) investigate the effect of ration and body condition score on insulin sensitivity in the mare during gestation, (3) determine the influence of maternal insulin sensitivity on the foal from birth to one year of age, and (4) explore the relationship between insulin status of Thoroughbred yearlings and the occurrence of OC. The study consisted of a series of five experiments which examined the glucose and insulin relationship in mares fed high or low energy diets during pregnancy and lactation, and the relationship between insulin status and the occurrence of OC in Thoroughbred yearlings. the influence of the maternal diet Overall, the results from this project indicate that the mare s diet during late gestation influences the insulin sensitivity and glucose dynamics* in the foal during early life. Mares in the study which were fed a high energy diet had foals with lower insulin concentrations during the first year of life, which appears to be linked to the development of OC. Further research is warranted to refine the relationship between maternal diet and the impact on the foal during the critical windows of early growth and development. The project received additional financial support by the Hunter Valley Equine Research Foundation and the University of Queensland. The report Insulin dynamics during equine pregnancy: Possible relationship to osteochondrosis in foals is available on the RIRDC website for download (free) or purchase ($25). RIRDC publication number 13/101. * see glossary page 8 Fact Sheet Understanding leg fatigue fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses A fact sheet is now available summarising recently published research on understanding leg fatigue in race horses, one of the most common causes of racetrack fatalities. Led by Chris Whitton from the University of Melbourne, the project examined the differences in bone microstructure and metabolism between horses that suffered catastrophic fractures and those that did not. This provides baseline data for the development of clinical screening and the reduction of fracture risk. The results suggest that exercise intensity be increased gradually in two year old race horses entering training for the first time, and that training periods do not exceed six months in duration in all horses. It was found that further investigation is required into the effect of different training strategies on bone modelling and remodelling*, safe durations and intensities of training periods, and appropriate periods of rest. The fact sheet Understanding leg fatigue fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses is available on the RIRDC website for free download or hard copy. RIRDC publication number 13/058.

8 page 8 rirdc equine research news november 2013 current rirdc horse projects Short term and future athletic performance of the critically ill equine neonate Researcher: Jane Axon Organisation: Scone Equine Hospital Finite element analysis modelling of third metacarpal bone invivo stresses Researcher: Chris Whitton Organisation: University of Melbourne Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates from horses Researcher: Tony Mogg Organisation: University of Sydney An adenoviral vector vaccine against Rhodococcus equi Research: Mary Barton Organisation: University of South Australia Developing training programs to prevent injury in young racehorses Researcher: Lisa Kidd Organisation: University of Queensland Efficacy of IV and aerosolised recombinant equine TNF-α for treating EIPH Researcher: Ron Slocombe Organisation: University of Melbourne Working towards a more accurate diagnosis of inflammatory airway disease Researcher: Cristy Secombe Organisation: Murdoch University Laminitis treatment by regional drug delivery to the horse s foot Researcher: Chris Pollitt Organisation: University of Queensland Determining forces generated using a padded whip and impacts on the horse Researcher: Glenys Noble Organisation: Charles Sturt University Use of the guinea pig as a laboratory model for EAFL (Extension of PRJ-530 and 2592) Researcher: Judy Cawdell-Smith Organisation: University of Queensland Targeting blood cell activation and clotting dysfunction in equine endotoxaemia Researcher: Simon Bailey Organisation: University of Melbourne Health and Safety in Australian Racing: Evaluation of Safety Vests Researcher: Caroline Foote Organisation: Equine Consulting Services Macrocyclic lactone resistance in Australian horses Researcher: Glen Coleman Organisation: University of Queensland Longitudinal cohort study of horse owners Researcher: Melanie Taylor Organisation: University of Western Sydney Development of improved diagnostics and therapeutics for Hendra virus infections Researcher: Glenn Marsh Organisation: CSIRO Models that predict risk for Hendra virus transmission from flying fox to horses Researcher: Lee Skerratt Organisation: James Cook University Models to predict Hendra virus prevalence in flying fox populations Researcher: Hamish McCallum Organisation: Griffith University Implementing a national flying-fox monitoring program Researcher: David Westcott Organisation: CSIRO Early detection of Hendra virus infection by microrna profiling Researcher: Cameron Stewart Organisation: CSIRO Thoroughbred horse R&D levy Researcher: Peter McFarlane Organisation: McFarlane Strategic Services Spikes in Hendra spillover: early warning through the bat urinary metabalome Researcher: Michelle Baker Organisation: CSIRO more information on rirdc horse projects can be found at glossary bone modelling the natural process in which bone adapts to training by changes in volume or shape. bone remodelling the natural process of bone replacement which results in repair of bone damage. bone turnover the natural process of bone renewal. glucose dynamics the changing levels of glucose in the blood. insulin a hormone that is important for metabolism and utilisation of energy from the ingested nutrients especially glucose. to buy rirdc books and reports: insulin resistance refers to a higher requirement for insulin in order to keep blood glucose stable insulin sensitivity describes how sensitive the body is to the effects of insulin. An insulin sensitive animal requires less insulin to lower blood glucose levels than an animal with low sensitivity (or higher insulin resistance). uterine environment the environment of the foal within the uterus of the mare. Order online at or call Many books and reports are also available to download free of charge from rirdc equine research news is the official newsletter of the rural industries research and development corporation horse r&d committee. Subscription is free and the newsletter is sent out electronically. Go to RIRDC Equine Research News PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: Fax: rirdc@rirdc.gov.au Website: ISSN: (Online)

in this issue: Measuring racetrack surfaces Drug compliance made easier Implications for corticosteroid injections

newsletter of the rirdc horse program 14/036 august 2014 in this issue: Measuring racetrack surfaces Drug compliance made easier Implications for corticosteroid injections page 2 rirdc equine research