THOROUGHBRED HORSES 
25 pages
Published: 7 May 2024
Author(s): AgriFutures Australia
Download report PDF
DownloadPurchase a hard copy - AUD $50
The Australian thoroughbred breeding industry is second in size only to that of the United States, with 660 stud farms predominantly in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, but also in Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.
Currently, the industry produces approximately 12,000 foals per year and contributes more than $1.16 billion per annum to the Australian economy.
Despite these impressive figures, between 5–15% of mares abort their pregnancies each season, resulting in financial loss to the mare owner and, in some cases, a health and safety risk to horses and humans.
To help thoroughbred breeders manage pregnant mares to maximise foal survival, the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program has invested in a suite of tools. The resources in this toolkit include:
(1) Fit to foal: Managing the pregnant mare for maximum foal survival
(2) A series of technical factsheets on equine pregnancy risks
(3) A series of practical posters for stud farm staff
(4) Online videos and learning materials on the TBA Learning website.
The fit-to-foal resources are available on the AgriFutures and TBA Learning websites and breeders and stud staff can use them as either standalone resources, or as a combined resource when managing pregnant mares.
The Australian thoroughbred breeding industry continues to grapple with managing risks related to Rhodococcus equi pneumonia, commonly known as ‘rattles’. The disease compromises foal health...
Infectious diseases can cause significant equine illness and death, seriously impacting the productivity of the Australian thoroughbred breeding industry and incurring economic losses. One well-known...
The Australian thoroughbred breeding industry is second in size only to that of the United States, with 660 stud farms predominantly in New South Wales,...
Equine herpes virus (EHV) is a DNA virus found in horses all around the world. There are different strains of EHV, with the most common...
Exposure to hairy processionary caterpillars (Ochrogaster lunifer), or their nest material, can damage tissues in the amnion, umbilical cord and placenta of developing fetuses, resulting...
Exposure to fetal material and bodily fluids poses a significant risk of spreading and contracting infectious diseases carried by pregnant mares. Monitor, test and suit-up...
Resistance to antibiotics used to treat horses is increasing. Resistant bacteria can spread from horses to humans (and humans to horses). When bacteria develop resistance...
The Australian thoroughbred breeding industry is responsible for generating more than $1.16 billion to the Australian economy and is the second-largest industry of its kind...
