Fragile foal syndrome

[Chinchilla]

https://horse.practicalhorsegenetic...02KLr0Z26-Z60pY41lHWXuixSwImKDJajaDa1F3KGvuH4


Sad article posted by practical horse genetics in Aus. Must have been such a traumatic delivery for the vet.
Just sharing to make more people if possible aware of FFS.

 

[twofatladies88]

How sad - I have never heard of this (you never stop learning). It must have been devastating for all concerned, having bred my own and been there for the births, I am so lucky to have had stress free foalings.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I had heard of it called Warmblood Fragile Foal Syndrome, although I know that it has been found in TB's too, so dropping the 'warmblood' seems sensible. I do wonder how many other breeds it could be found in?

I found this on Chronicle of the horse. https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/sport-horse-breeding/10362770-wffs

 

[ihatework]

Over the last couple of years awareness has been raised significantly in sporthorse breeding.
Any decent stud is now testing stallions, and mare owners should follow suit - they have where my young horse is kept.

It’s actually a far more common mutation than you might imagine, the stallion of my young horse (Balou du Rouet) is a confirmed carrier as is another sire of a couple at the stud (Cristallo). We really need to work hard to breed this out.

 

[be positive]

Over the last couple of years awareness has been raised significantly in sporthorse breeding.
Any decent stud is now testing stallions, and mare owners should follow suit - they have where my young horse is kept.

It’s actually a far more common mutation than you might imagine, the stallion of my young horse (Balou du Rouet) is a confirmed carrier as is another sire of a couple at the stud (Cristallo). We really need to work hard to breed this out.

Are the stallion owners and studs actively encouraging the smaller breeders to test their mares, it is not something I know anything about although I see it takes two carriers for it be be an issue but do we really need the carriers in the gene pool at all, or is it so prevalent that we cannot cull them all?

 

[SEL]

Here's Animal Genetics article on it.

https://www.animalgenetics.eu/Equine/equine-genetic-disease/WFFS.html

 

[ihatework]

Are the stallion owners and studs actively encouraging the smaller breeders to test their mares, it is not something I know anything about although I see it takes two carriers for it be be an issue but do we really need the carriers in the gene pool at all, or is it so prevalent that we cannot cull them all?

To an extent, yes. The bigger names are all advising of WFFS status and advising mare owners to test. Honestly, I would imagine most hobby or 1-2 mare owners won’t test and will just choose a negative stallion. Anyone serious with a long term breeding program would be a fool not to though, this could be bred out in 2-3 generations.