EQUIVET AUSTRAILA - NEWSLETTER - AUTUMN 2005

Cheers all. Autumn Newsletter always seems optimistic. The winter one never happens because we are away and we are always too busy for a summer one. Perhaps we will manage another in the spring.

Another breeding season is behind us and again we have been very busy. This year we took on the daunting task of doing the work at Lyndhurst Stud at Warwick. Daunting and challenging because of the number of mares to be bred but it has been exciting to be part of their team and a pleasure to work with Geoff and Griff.

Sam Nugent and his wife Rachel came back from the UK to lend a hand as well as Patrick Traill who was over last year. Sam headed back to the UK but will be moving back to Oz and becoming the resident vet at Widden Stud in the Hunter Valley. Patrick has gone back to the UK to marry Lucy!

Eric Klaui and Alex came out again too. Eric did the majority of the work at Lyndhurst and they will come back permanently (hopefully) this year. They will look after the Warwick end of the practice for us. I am hopeful that they will make Oz their permanent home and we wish them well.

Congratulations to all of our clients who fared well at this year's sales. While we can only aspire to results like those achieved by Tony and Ruth Thomas, most have had to settle for much less.

Congratulations also to Griff and Kirsty Kruger, Steve and Nikki Forrest and Dean and Kirsten Stephen on the birth of their babies. Another generation of horse-owners is born!

Robyn has had another busy season at the Equine Breeding Centre putting through over 300 mares for chilled and frozen semen and embryo transfer with excellent results. She will worry and work herself into an early grave but her results make it all worth while. Hopefully we can get some rain to get some feed back on the farm before next breeding season. Unfortunately drought seems to be more the normal than the exception these days. Laurie and Mark continue to be a wonderful help to Robyn at the centre. Many people ask after Laurie and I am happy to report that he is hanging in there and still has his sense of humour.

Many of you are aware of the investigation into a higher incidence of abortion than normally expected on some stud farms. We can report that Dr Nigel Perkins who has been contracted to investigate if a new problem has arisen, has been liaising with some stud farms in the Hunter Valley and in Queensland and also with veterinary pathologists in Kentucky USA. At this stage, it does appear some cases of abortion here in Australia are similar to the MRLS (Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome) in Kentucky. A hairy caterpillar is at the heart of this catastrophe that led to such devastating losses a few years ago.

Robyn and I were privileged to be able to go down to the Easter Sales in Sydney again this year with my Mum. She is rising 92 years young this year and still wouldn't miss it for quids! The body grows weak but the mind is still as sharp as a tack!

Susanne (pronounced Suzannah) has been away to a Dentistry course and has come back with heaps of new toys which make rasping teeth look easy including a new electric power float which she just loves to use. Give her a ring if you have any teeth problems.

Speaking of seminars; we are planning one of our own at the Equine Breeding Centre. We have tentatively set a date of August 7th and will cover a variety of topics from first aid to general reproduction and advanced technologies like embryo and ovum transfer. We are also planning on bringing in speakers to cover topics like bent legs in foals and nutrition. The seminar will be open to all our clients so make a note of the date in your diary.

Robyn and I are off to do the UK season again and will be leaving early May. This year we are coming back via the USA, visiting Ed Squires to try to learn a little on embryo freezing. Please be patient with Celia and Susanne while we are away as they will be short-handed. I am trying to obtain a locum to cover for at least part of the time. Next year Eric will be here which will be much better.

That's all folks. Perhaps I can do this again in the spring.

Max