Further ban on importing thoroughbreds

Press, 17 April 1978, Page 17

Further ban on importing thoroughbreds

PA Wellington A further ban on importing thoroughbred breeding stock is to be implemented by' the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries at the request of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, it has been announced in Wellington. It is the second time the movement of horses into New Zealand has been banned, because of outbreaks of the disease contagious equine metritis in England, Ireland and Australia. The ban applies to stallions that have, served mares and to mares that have been covered.

Two consignments of thoroughbreds are due to arrive soon, one from Great Britain on April 26 and the other, in the first week of May, from Australia. On the flight from England is the five-year-old Never Bend entire, Brauner, which is being imported jointly by West Derby Stud and Fairdale Stud, ready for the next breeding season. Mr Alan Hudson, a representative of Dalgety Bloodstock, said: “Brauner has not served a mare so there is no problem about bringing him into the country.’ Other stallions reported to be coming to New Zealand in the

near future are Three Legs, which is to do duty at the Okawa Stud, One Pound Sterling, due to join the Highway Lodge Stud at Greytoxvn. Three Legs would be affected by the ban if he has covered mares, but One Pound Sterling is clear.

One Pound Sterling has been secured by a syndicate headed by Frank Wilson, owner of the Evergreen Lodge Stud, at Walton. The horses has a syndicated value of approximately $300,000 and will be imported without his fertility being tested, though insurance has been arranged against his being found infertile. The tests will be made when he reaches this country. Contagious equine metritis was first reported in France and England last year and was so severe that the English National Stud had to suspend breeding activities for the 1977 season.

The disease, which is detectable and will not respond to treatment, causes mares to abort their foals before coming to the full term of gestation. There has been exhaustive testing of stallions and mares in Great Britain and it now appears that the disease has been eradicated there.