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Newsletter
What is new in KY that may
affect our industry? KY's KEEP program
may help mule and donkey owners to better promote their animals.
This association is
presently working on preparing the information to be submitted to
the state in an effort to obtain eligibility under this program.
You may want to read the terms for this listed below.
KY Mule
and Donkey Breeder's Incentive
Document Explaining the Conditions for KY
Mule and Donkey Owners
KY's KEEP program
Kentucky Horse Breeders Incentive Fund
THE
KENTUCKY MULE AND DONKEY ASSOCIATION WILL BE MEETING AT THE
PARIS STOCKYARDS ON FRIDAY JUNE 27TH 2008 AT 7:30 PM.
THE LOCATION IS HWY 68 WEST. 2 MILES WEST OF PARIS. THE
PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS TO NOMINATE JUDGES FOR THE GAITED
SHOW IN LIBERTY. ANY MEMBER WHO WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE A
LICENSED WALKING HORSE JUDGE WILL NEED TO
ATTEND.
THE
MULE DAZE FUN SHOW HAS BEEN DEEMED A SUCCESS. THE CLUB
PROFITED $887.00 FROM PROCEEDS OF THE SHOW . THANKS TO PAUL
STAMPER AND JOHNNY GREEN FOR HELP GETTING THE ARENA. AND TO
ALL THE KMDA MEMBERS FOR THEIR HELP . PICTURES FROM THE
EVENT WILL BE POSTED AS SOON AS AVAILABLE.
OUR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW
IS FAST APPROACHING . WE NEED TO COLLECT SPONSORSHIPS FOR
THE SHOW. IF YOU NEED SPONSORSHIP PAPERS PLEASE CALL OR
CONTACT ANY OFFICER OR MEMBER.
AGAIN THANKS TO EVERYONE
FOR ALL THEIR HELP.
Westside Mini Expo
Despite the intense heat
we all had a great time. Many thanks to the farms that
came out to participate. Everyone seemed to have a
GREAT time and learned a lot. The food was wonderful.
Many thanks to all the cooks at Westside Community Methodist
Church who donated their time to decorate, cook, and prepare
the facilities. Because of all that was donated we
cleared $500.00 to fund our show in August.
A delighted participant wrote:
"Your workshop was fabulous!!!!
I enjoyed learning and improving the
management of my farm. I love being cost effective and will
certainly save money my using my new knowledge. I would
recommend this day of training to people who are new or
experienced in the donkey business. The food was outstanding
too."
The Rogers offered a great idea. "Swap a Thought"
It sounds like a great idea. Look for this to be our
next get together after the show in August. We will
share a meal and our favorite desserts along with a helpful
donkey tidbit from each farm. The
only cost would be in your dessert, meal, and travel.
In September we hope to have a driving clinic. Details
to come sometime in July.
We are looking forward to seeing all of you at the August
show. You can access all the information you need on
the forms page.
Again thanks for all your support!!!
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Three EIA-Positives Found in
Indiana
Horse owners and veterinarians should
watch their horses, mules, donkeys and other equine closely for any
unusual disease symptoms, in light of a cluster of recent positive
cases of equine infectious anemia (EIA).
According to Dr. Tim Bartlett, a
veterinarian and director of Equine for the Indiana State Board of
Animal Health, three horses on a south-central Indiana farm have
tested positive for the disease in the last few weeks.
State and federal veterinarians have
been working with the owner to identify the source of infection and
determine if any other animals are at risk. All three positives have
been euthanized; two herd mates have tested negative and remain
under quarantine until further testing is complete.
EIA, also known as swamp fever,
mountain fever or malarial fever, is an untreatable and incurable
viral disease that infects horses, ponies, donkeys, mules and other
equine. An estimated 30 percent to 50 percent of infected equine die
within two weeks to four weeks of the onset of EIA.
Depending on an individual horse's
immune system and the severity of its reaction, EIA symptoms can
range from virtually none at all (except a positive blood test) to
weakness, weight loss and swelling to fever, rejection of feed and
sudden death. A blood test (often called Coggins' test), conducted
by a veterinarian, can detect the infection. However, equine owners
should remember that test results can produce a false negative up to
42 days after exposure to the disease, before a detectable level of
antibodies develops.
What can horse owners do to prevent
EIA? Dr. Bartlett explains the disease is spread via blood-to-blood
transmission, not close proximity or casual contact. "Blood
transfusions, unsterilized or contaminated needles and medical
instruments can transmit the virus," he says. "But horse owners
should be most concerned about biting insects - especially
horseflies - which can spread the disease.
"Research shows that as few as three
horseflies can carry enough virus from one animal to another to
cause an infection. That's why pest control is critical to the
control of this disease," adds Dr. Bartlett.
He also advises equine owners to
minimize the chances of EIA entering their herds through newly
purchased animals. "All equine should be tested for EIA before being
brought onto a farm," Dr. Bartlett says. "Then, the animal should be
isolated and observed for 45 days to 60 days, then retested before
it is introduced to the herd."
State law requires all equine entering
Indiana have a health certificate indicating a negative EIA test
within the previous 12 months. Suckling foals, accompanied by an EIA-negative
dam, are exempt from testing.
Once a horse (or other equine) tests
positive for the disease, the animal must be permanently identified
with "32A" freeze-branded on the left side of the neck to comply
with state law. Permanent identification is designed to protect
Indiana's healthy equine population, by eliminating confusion about
health status.
The owner then has two options for
handling the horse:
1. Permanently quarantine the animal
to the owner's premises, at least 200 yards from the nearest equine;
or
2. Euthanasia (at the owner's expense)
after notifying the State Veterinarian. All other animals in the
herd must also be tested for EIA.
Anyone wanting more information about
EIA may contact his/her local veterinarian. Information about EIA is
available online at the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.
Source:
www.useventing.com
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