Foal Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome

[lucydales]

Sue and I will be going too.

[greydales]

It's a long way for me but I plan to come as I hope to breed from my two girls

[dollylanedales]

I think it was just unfortunate that people had other things on that day when the last meeting was arranged - not that they did not want to attend.

I have a list of dates to go into the battery farms to rescue hens, and that meeting was on one of those dates - important as the meeting was to me, so was the lives of 3,000 hens. Otherwise I would have been there.

I can see what you are saying, Heather, regarding what will be discussed at the meeting. But perhaps you could outline in a letter to Jo Ashby, the points you wish to be raised, or questions you want asked. I know its not the same as being there, but at least you will have an input.

[Debbie]

I too am saddened that the original meeting didn't go ahead last fall. I think it would have been beneficial at that point to have considered what would happen once the test would be found.

Now there are many, many important points to ponder and these are the same points that could have been pondered last fall.

I realize the Society will not move abruptly, wishing their members to have time to let the information sink in and to ask/answer questions. However, Anna's comment that this take place now because of stallion licensing, does raise many questions...the first being, how will this affect the licensing? And what effects will this have on the breeding season? Any at all?

I'm not sure anything should be hurried simply because the carrier test was found.

[Anna]

Just to clarify I don't know how it will effect licensing as thats a council decision and nothing I know anything about except I have a colt to license so whatever the outcome, whether there is a decision to be made or not, it will DIRECTLY affect me but I would rather, personally, that the DPS made any decisions BEFORE this breeding season rather than hang on another year.

Like I've said before, if Xabi turns out to be a carrier I want to know NOW and will duely make my own decision about him before the breeding season starts not when he's covered x mares and syndrome foals can't be prevented.

I would write to the DPS and council outlining your questions and thoughts Heather if you can't attend the meeting.

The differenence between last years meeting and this one is that we now have a test availiable, last autumn when the meeting was planned we had no idea when the test would be availiable and in what form in would be so we coudln't move on as such, now we do and we as breeders can move forward and start to make decisions hence why I wasn't going to attend last autumns meeting but I will be attending this spring.

[joashby]

Just before you all start ringing your Vets up for expensive call-outs, you can save money by requesting that the DPS office send the sample of hair taken from each pony foaled after the beginning of 2001, at registration, for FIS testing. I have already begun this process, with full agreement from the AHT. Just let me know which ponies you would like testing - obviously this request has to be from the owner! The cost is £40 per test, payable to the Dales Pony Society.

Ponies foaled before this date either have no sample, or a sample which was not taken by a Vet, so for these, you will need a Vet, and I can send the relevent sample bags from the office.

The purpose of the meeting is to inform members of the syndrome, the symptons of the foals, how to avoid breeding affected foals, and how the science works, both of the syndrome and the carrier test. This meeting was promised at the AGM in 2008, when the Council committed to hold a meeting for members whenever there was some new information to be given.
No decisions will be made on the day, but if opinions are to be expressed, then Council will be there to listen--but information for breeders is the main purpose of the meeting.

A full report on the meeting and the information given will be available, hopefully in the Spring Despatch, and on the website, I would imagine.

I am more than happy to recieve member's views prior to this meeting - in fact I already have had several letters, expressing variable views!

[dalesponyrider]

Thanks for that Jo. As I read Heather's post I commented to my Joe that I wondered if the hair samples already taken could be used and hey presto! There was my answer in your post! I definitely want D tested! Please take this as a definite request and I will confirm by telephone as soon as possible!

[Debbie]

Wonderful Jo!! I didn't think the hair samples on file would be fresh enough for the carrier test, but obviously they are. That is a big relief, and will certainly help to keep the testing cost effective then.

[maggie]

Just want to say how much I welcome this meeting, thank you to Council for organising it and for being prepared to listen to the views of members before making any decisions.

Julie has already very kindly offered accommodation for anyone who needs it and I want to add that Roger and I would also be pleased to offer a bed for the night before/after/both for anyone who wants to come and can't make the journey in one day. We could also arrange transport to the venue from Darlington if anyone is coming on the train or coach.

Hope as many people as possible can get there and support each other to understand the complexities of the issue.