Equine research of great benefit

Press, 6 July 1977, Page 28

Equine research of great benefit

Assisting to establish the Equine Research Foundation was one of the more rewarding tasks undertaken by the executive during the year. This was one of the main points made by the president (Mr G. C. Cruickshank) in his report presented to the annual meeting of the Trotting Conference in Christchurch yesterday. Mr G. D. Kelly, a member of the executive, was elected chairman of the foundation, a tribute to the important part he played in its establishment. 1 The conference and the Raciing Conference had contributed $5OOO each to enable some work ito be undertaken immediately ■by the foundation. ’ “Equine research is something -which lias been largely overlooked in New Zealand and has 'been carried on individually, rather than as an organised and 'concentrated effort,” said the report. “While the greatest hopes of producing telling results lie in ithe sphere of equine reproduction, this will not be the only aspect the foundation will be j looking at. “Problems associated with racehorses, such as soreness, and problems which plague studs. Isuch as scours, are all areas in

Which the foundation will be active.”

Tlie report mentions that equine reproduction rates are lower than in many other animals, with a loss of nearly 40 per cent between the service of a mare and foaling.

The loss between foaling and that foal reaching two years is about 3 per cent. The chance of improving the 40 per cent loss should receive the greatest attention. The -Osts of the scheme will be n by breeders. Brood mare owners and stallion owners will have to meet a small but constant levy. “Those with a genuine appreciation of the foundation’s aims will no doubt realise the benefit to be gained, not just individually, but in the national interest of the sport,” said the report. Later Mr Kelly said that it was proposed that racing and trotting breeders would contribute $27,000 a year towards the foundation.

The meeting agreed that a levy of $1 a foal and SI for every stallion service should be paid. Other points from the president’s report were: Stakes.—Every trotting club increased stakes during the 1976-77 season. This was due, mainly, to the changed and improved policy under the stakes subsidy scheme of the Racing Authority whereby clubs were provided with an incentive to improve their stakes structure.

T.A.B.—Turnover this season was expected to exceed S2SOM. Off-course betting on trotting meetings should reach S7SM, which would be an increase of $10.2M. or 15.7 per cent over the previous 12 months. This tvould account for 30 per cent of the board’s total turnover. Stud Book.—Volume 21 of the Stud Book should be on sale by August. Assurances have been given that computer and allied problems have been overcome

and it is hoped to be able to produce future volumes both on time and at a reasonable cost. The price of the new edition has not been set. but because of tremendous statistical work and its restricted demand, it will be more expensive. The previous volume was sold at cost, but that practice cannot be maintained.

Freeze branding.—The system of freeze branding, introduced in 1973, was proving most successful. New Zealand leads the world in this field, which is to be used by the Australian Trotting Council. The Arab world, too, was considering introducing it as a means of identification. Tire system is “fool proof in that it is not subject to any alteration as is the fire branding system used by the Racing Conference. Moreover, the regulations provide that the brand must be applied while the foal is still a weanling. so giving greater credence to its opera tional worth.”