New equine pregnancy test gives result in days

With spring just around the corner many horse owners will be waiting with anticipation for their mares to foal, after an 11-month gestation period.

However, it is the first few months after covering that are often the most anxious, as owners wait to find out if their horse is successfully in foal. It can be weeks before the results of blood tests are known, a procedure that can also be costly. But this suspense could become a thing of the past thanks to a new equine pregnancy testing kit from Promar Labs.

The new test is an easy to use kit which gives you an accurate result in just a couple of days. All you have to do is take a fresh sample of faeces from the mare, at least 160 days after covering, put it in the container supplied with the kit and post it to the lab in the envelope provided. You will receive the result within a few days.

"Breeding horses is a very valuable business so knowing quickly whether your mare is in foal is a big advantage," says Linda Forbes, Laboratory Manager at Promar Labs.

"This new test is easy to use and very cost-effective, as it doesn't require a vet to visit the farm."

Promar Labs has been carrying out pregnancy testing for the dairy industry for many years. Through extensive research and testing the company has pioneered this new test for use with horses.

It works by measuring the amount of a specific hormone, oestrone sulphate, present in a sample of faeces. The hormone is produced by the foal and placenta, and is only present when there is a living foal. By 160 days there is enough of the hormone present in to determine pregnancy.

For further information on products from Promar Labs telephone (01904) 487515, fax (01904) 487630, e-mail enquiries@promarlabs.com or visit www.promarlabs.com .

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