EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN TRAINING LOCATION AND RACEHORSE INJURY AND PERFORMANCE - 1/99
Dr Nigel Perkins
Massey University
This is an extension of the Massey University Equine Monitoring System (MEMS) initiated by the New Zealand Equine Research Foundation as a commissioned research project in 1997. [The objectives and progress of the initial project are outlined in Report 1]. A specific question has since been raised by the Matamata Racing Club as to whether horses training on their new training track are being exposed to an increased risk of injury or disease as a result of some factor associated with the design or construction of that track.
Studies on such a problem overseas indicate that these relationships are complex. Thus a multi-prolonged approach using a tailored series of projects has been designed to examine the question. These projects complement work already underway in the MEMS project.
THE USE OF MICROSATELLITES AS LINKAGE MARKERS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A LOW DENSITY EQUINE GENE MAP - 2/99
Drs A Murray & I L Anderson
Massey University
Genetics has always been an integral part of the horse industry and for centuries horses have been selected for many characteristics such as size, strength, speed, gait, conformation etc. The scientific basis for many of these selection programmes is dubious. Furthermore many equine health problems are known to have a genetic component including a number of infectious diseases, allergic conditions and musculoskeletal problems.
This study is part of an international project to construct an equine gene map which will identify where important genes associated with both desirable and undesirable traits may be located. This has already been achieved with a number of species (cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens). If this is completed successfully in the horse the design of breeding programmes will be facilitated; faster and more precise results than those obtained with traditional breeding strategies should follow. This is a fundamental but very important research objective.
PERIFHERAL QUANTITATIVE COMPUTER TOMOGRAPHY (pQCT) OF THE DISTAL LIMB IN HORSES - 3/99
Prof. Elwyn Firth
Massey University
The objective is to measure the mineral content of bone in the live horse during growth, training and old age using a special scanner designed for this purpose. From earlier work on tissue taken during euthanasia we know that bone mineral content varies dramatically between horses at various phases in their life. With this proposed non invasive approach precise data may provide a basis on which better management decisions can be taken to protect the arrival from undesirable effects, or to maximise the effects of nutrition and exercise, all of which influence bone mineral content and presumably strength.
INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE POTENTIAL USE OF AN ANTAGONIST TO GnRH TO CONTROL EQUINE REPRODUCTION: IN VITRO AND IN VIVO STUDIES
Dr Margaret Evans
University of Otago
Previous studies (see report 2) using cells from horses cultured in our laboratory (in vitro) have shown that an antagonist to GnRH can block the release of two important pituitary hormones follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and lutenising hormone (LII), which stimulate the production of fertile eggs in the female and spermatozoa in the male. The present study extends this work to the live horse (in vivo). If similar results are achieved we would, in the future, use such a product (the antagonist) to block these hormones at specific times and for specific periods during the mare's cycle. This may help determine more precisely, the role of these hormones in the development of fertile eggs and the establishment of early pregnancy. It should improve our ability to treat some forms of infertility.