Environmental Monitoring
Over the past 20 years, the Irish Equine Centre has become a world leader of environmental testing for equine premises. At present, we monitor various environmental factors and the biosecurity status of over 250 racing yards, stud farms, sporthorse yards and racecourses across Ireland, Europe, and the UK.
We investigate factors which influence poor performance, health issues, and outbreaks of enteric and respiratory disease in equine premises. We also work with farmers in cases of poor performance and health issues such as outbreaks of respiratory or enteric disease in livestock.
We work to improve the overall environment by assessing various combinations of the following:
- Overall hygiene status
- Ventilation and air quality
- Quality of the feed, forage, bedding and water
- Forage, feed and bedding storage
- Paddock hygiene
- Yard layout, isolation units, and exercise areas
By improving these environmental factors, consistency of health will be achieved. This will lead to less time and money spent on medication and diagnostic services, and to a more consistent performance throughout the year.
The environmental monitoring service is bespoke to each client and has a very positive cost/benefit outcome. This bespoke service caters to establishments of all sizes and is incorporated into the daily routine of many top trainers and stud farms.
Stable and Housing Hygiene
The Irish Equine Centre is at the forefront of environmental testing for equine premises and monitors the biosecurity status of many top stud farms, racing yards, sporthorse yards and racetracks in Ireland, the UK and throughout Europe. We work with racing yards, sport horse yards and farmers to investigate recurrent illness, poor performance, and outbreaks of disease. The testing undertaken by this Department over the years, has
proven that good yard design and biosecurity practices can greatly reduce incidences of disease and increase consistency of performance.
Please contact the Environment and Nutrition department if you wish to book a ventilation assessment for your yard or farm.
Ventilation and Air Quality
Over the past 20 years, the Irish Equine Centre has become a world leader in guiding the design and control of the stable environment for performance horses. At present, we monitor the stable environment of over 200 racing yards across Ireland, Europe, and the UK. Please contact the Environment and Nutrition department if you wish to book a ventilation assessment for your yard.
Forage, Feed and Bedding Storage Hygiene
When pathogenic fungi and bacteria are present in forage, feed and bedding in large numbers, they can greatly affect the respiratory system of a horse and therefore, its performance.
Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxins that are caused by fungal growth on feed or forage. Exposure to mycotoxins can lead to a range of different diseases. We provide a quantitative analysis covering the 6 main mycotoxins of importance to equines (aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B1 and B2, ochratoxin, T-2, HT-2 and zearalenone).