WEATHERBYS Ireland expects to process an extra 5,000 thoroughbred DNA samples this year following an announcement this week that the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket is unable to guarantee British breeders it can continue to provide its usual service in the coming months.

The Weatherbys Scientific laboratory in Millennium Park in Naas currently processes around 11,500 DNA samples every year for the Irish thoroughbred population. The annual British foal crop is approximately 5,500 and the AHT had processed 500 samples before this week’s decision by the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association to use the Irish option.

The samples will arrive at the lab in the form of blood vials, a foal-marking document and a microchip number, all taken by a veterinary surgeon from the foal at the time of microchipping. Weatherbys then confirm the parentage and this leads to the creation of the horse’s passport. The lab also handles sport horse samples and has a thriving bovine business.

Russell Ferris, CEO of Weatherbys both in Ireland and Britain, commented: “Weatherbys and the Animal Health Trust have had a good working relationship for about 30 years. They are a charitable trust and we have always supported them because of that. Unfortunately a backlog of samples has built up and we are happy to help.

“There will be a lot of extra work for our laboratory team and I would like to acknowledge their efforts during the current crisis. We are operating a two-shift system and they deserve great credit for going in to work in a closed environment while respecting social distancing guidelines.”

The decision to send the British DNA samples to Ireland was taken because, with April and May being the months which see the greatest volume of samples received, any delay could have a detrimental impact on registration, passport production, horse identification and even trade.

TBA chairman Julian Richmond-Watson said: “We have worked with the AHT for many years, but it has become apparent in the past few weeks that there is uncertainty over their ability to continue to process DNA samples.

“British breeders need their foals to be registered and the respective passports issued without delay. We are therefore pleased that through working with Weatherbys we have been able to redirect samples via Weatherbys to their laboratory in Ireland. We have been assured of the integrity and the ability of this laboratory to process our samples and so I would like to thank Weatherbys for facilitating this process.”