Farmkey
Freezemarks More Unusual Species
Farmkey,
the leaders in equine freezemarking have been receiving increased
calls with requests to freezemark more unusual horse species and
other pets.
One
of these unusual requests came from Chester Zoo, for its Przewalkski
horses and Persian Onager (a type of Asiatic Wild Ass).
Chester Zoo put out a call to Farmkey to find a way to help them
identify one Persian horse from another at the Zoo, and Farmkey
came up with the innovative idea of freezemarking them with their
own identification system.
Chester
Zoo vet Stephanie Sanderson said: "As all Przewalski Horses
and all Persian Onager have similar coat colouration the only
realistic method of visually identifying each one would be to
look closely at their patterns of hair growth or microchips.
"This
method would require the animals to be handled, however this is
not possible without sedation as they are wild and potentially
dangerous."
Freezemarking
worked out to be the best method, and five Przewalkski Horses
and three Persian Onagers were successfully freezemarked earlier
this year.
The
procedure went well and Chester Zoo was pleased with the results.
Peter
Mills of Farmkey said: "We were delighted to be able to help
Chester Zoo conquer their problem of identifying each of their
Przewalski horses.
"It
is always advisable to have your horse or pony freezemarked, not
only as a means to distinguish one from the other, but also as
a deterrent against theft. It would be devastating if they were
lost and stolen, but with a freezemark there is a good chance
of recovering them quickly and safely".
A
proven and effective theft deterrent, freezemarks vary from four-
digit to the single mark of Micromark.
With
almost 200,000 horses now security freezemarked, Farmkey has proved
to be the number one choice for 190,000 UK members who know that
should their horse stray or be stolen, 24hour/365 day nationwide
back-up service is at hand.
The
company has links with the police, auctioneers, and horse organisations,
and its network is so extensive and effective that more than 90%
of freezemarked horses which have been stolen are safely returned
to their owners.
For
more information please contact Farmkey on 0870 870 7107
.
