Contaminatet! Round Bale Hayfage Blamed fr 100 Surrogate Mares’ Deaths on Flarida Embryo Transfer Farm - The Horse Owner's Res. EQUUS Contaminated Round Bale Haylage Blamed for 100 Surrogate Mares’ Deaths on Florida Embryo Transfer Farm FRAN JURGA\- UPDATED: MAR 10, 2017 - ORIGINAL: OCT 10, 2008 State officials|and veterinarians in the Ocala, Florida region are investigating a massive death event at an embryo transfer farm near Summerfield. In the past 10 days, dozens of broodmares began showing neurological signs of distress, and often dropped dead in the fields, About 100 horses are believed to be dead. The farm owners believe the cause to be something in haylage bales, which they purchase from an outside contractor. The farm, which houses 400 "rescued mares used in embryo transfer servites, is the contractor's sole customer, so it is hoped that whatever contaminated the bales was limited to that source. {The horses}|started trembling and fell on the ground. It was like they were having seizures," said the farmlowner, who js also a veterinarian and said that attempts were being made to determine the cause of the horses’ deaths. Moldy hay is a common prpblem with horses. Dead animals can contaminate hay as well, but probably would not be present in so many bales. That leaves the possibility of botulism. Dr. Carol Clark, a veterinarian with Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital in Ocala, provided background information. In the case of botulism, the bacteria Clostridium botulinum produces spores, whichistick to the Hay when it is cut and baled. The spores become bacteria, which produce a deadly toxin. The bacteria thrive in environments absent of oxygen. In some cases, Brass that is cut and wrapped begins to ferment, which is conducive to the deadly bacteria's growth if not handled correctly, Clark said. She commented that the processed hay ("haylage") is typically given to cattle because they are less susceptible to botulism. The veterinarian/owner said the hay he gave his sick horses was haylage, but that it was to make it safé for horses. "inoculate According to gn information paper from the government of Ontario on haylage for horses, the warning signs of botulism are that affected horses: hntpstlequusmagazine.com/blogiequustcontaminaled-scund:-bale-haylage-bamec-for-100-surrogate-mares-dealhs-on-forda-embryotraneferfam 1/3519112021 Contaminatot! Round Bale Ha jage Blamed for 100 Surrogate Maree’ Deaths on Florida Embryo Transfer Farm ~The Horse Owners Res. * usually have muscle tremors. '* may be so|weak that th * lose control of their ton} * can't eat and they droo 'y cannot stand up. ue so it may hang from their mouth. because they can't swallow. ‘+ may walk Stiffly with a short stride or they may be weak and stumble. Their tail may lose its tone. Please read the com feed haylage to horses. Th particular grasses and hai Amysterious|footnote to t to be vaccinated against b In an interesting twist of e1 would not be involved bec. grass-based Hay. mation paper if you are hoping to save on your hay budget and re are specific commercial haylages made just for horses, with esting techniques. e botulism theory is that it is standard procedure for broodmares tulism, since young foals are highly susceptible to the infection ents in this story, a representative of the State of Florida said that it use it only investigates health problems related to horse feed, not The farm, kngwn as EquiTransfer, is home to about 400 mares, primarily surrogate "receiver" mares, who afe used in en} leases the mares for the p owners commented that t embryo transfers and, ace Southeast. The farm seem: Vanners, via mare surrogal orts that thi mares but t Ocala.com re| welfare of thi Farms like Eq being the hor year althougt opponents for infection, as well as sat which itis a pppular practi “It was a surprise to every horses to be surrogate mot Click here to Watch a video| Gainesville Sun about this bryo transfer services provided by the farm, which technically irpose of carrying another mare's foal and giving birth. One of the farm used "rescued mares. In 2006, the farm performed 700 ding to its website, is the largest embryo transfer farm in the to specialize in breeding Paso Fino horses, plus some Gypsy (es of any and all breeds. re had been complaints from local citizens about the condition and jat no action had been taken by authorities. increasingly coming under criticism by animal welfare advocates as of puppy mills for dogs. One mare can provide several embryos per arn that repeated breeding and flushing may put the mare at risk rating the market and decreasing the gene pool for breeds for e, However, sabotage is apparently not suspected. Ine. It was an isolated incident. It's very sad. We rescued those hers,” said one of the owners on a local television broadcast. ews reports from Central Florida's WFTV. Read an article in today's ragedy here, nips Jfequusmagazine.corblog-equusicontaminaled-ounc-bale-naylage-blamed-fr-100-surogato-mares-deaths-onflords-embrycransfertarm 2/2