To most people in racing and breeding Weatherbys Ireland is the company that registers your new foal in the General Stud Book and issues passports. But there is an awful lot more going on at the company’s Irish headquarters just outside Naas.

They’ve more than a 40-strong team in the office, consisting of laboratory technicians, stud book administrators and pedigree researchers. The laboratory processes 500,000 samples a year, not only verifying parentage of thoroughbreds but also pioneering DNA testing and genomic services for cattle, sheep, dogs, shrimp and even camels!