DESPITE the prolonged winter and slow spring leading to increased livestock mortality rates for embattled farmers, Irish Equine Centre experts said there was no notable rise in mortality rates among the equine population.

Describing the past few months as “very challenging’’ for the equine community, Dr Ursula Fogarty and Professor Tom Buckley of the IEC did not, thankfully, see a repeat of the rising mortality rates that hit livestock farmers nationwide.

IEC’s Head of Pathology Dr Fogarty said that this was most likely attributable to several factors including the smaller numbers of equines per average yard compared to the higher livestock numbers per farm that farmers were trying to manage in the continuing fodder crisis and prolonged wet spring.

Dr Fogarty said: “It’s been a very difficult time for both horses and people between Storm Emma, the heavy snow and the very wet ground. For all, conditions have been very difficult to manage. It is hard to get good quality forage. There will always be a few casualties but unlike the livestock, there was no big increase in equine mortality numbers noted by ourselves in the Irish Equine Centre.

“However, some mares are not cycling properly yet and also for the grass to grow, temperatures need to be over eight degrees. Animals are being confined more than normal because of wet land. We would urge people to be as vigilant as they can with their horses. There are many foals on the ground and we would say to people to be aware that a sudden increase in the temperatures will bring a flush of grass when the growth does take off. There will be no gentle introduction to it and this sudden change may be too much for animals so people will have to be careful not to expose them to too much lush grass too quickly.”

VACCINATION

Many breeders are vaccinating mares against Rotavirus. Typical signs of affected foals include lethargy, diarrhoea and abdominal distension. “It is not too late to vaccinate against Rotavirus which many people are doing,” added Dr Fogarty, who also said breeders should be aware of Rhodococcus equi (causes pneumonia in foals) as well.