[Heavenly Jumper]

This is an excerpt from the AMHA newsletter...

2. UC Davis will soon stop doing blood typing of horses altogether and it may not be available in this country at all. I recommend that any of you that may have breeding age horses that have not yet been DNA'd to get it done ASAP.

AND from another newsletter -

No More Blood Typing After 2008

The Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) at the University California (the lab that currently does all of our DNA testing) has announced that they will no longer be processing blood samples. To the best of our knowledge, the VGL is the only facility left in the United States that is processing equine blood.

Blood testing has been phased out in favor or DNA testing which offers more genetic opportunities and readily lends itself to mechanization, therefore helping to contain the cost of processing.

If you have a breeding age registered Morgan that has never been blood or DNA typed, contact the Registry to learn about your options. Please have the complete registered name and registration number of the horse available when you call 802-985-4944.

If you do not take care of this by December 31st, 2008, any foals that your mare or stallion produce may not be eligible for registration.

*** This does NOT apply to horses that have already been blood or DNA typed. ***

Anyone know any more about this?

[haunani]

It sounds like they'll still be DNAing horses, just not blood typing them anymore, and are urging folks who haven't had it done yet to get it done soon.

[Mutrok]

They will still be DNAing horses (with hair samples) but not blood typing.

Most registries that I know of want DNA through hair samples for registration anyway.

[Heavenly Jumper]

Originally Posted by mutrok

They will still be DNAing horses (with hair samples) but not blood typing.

Most registries that I know of want DNA through hair samples for registration anyway.

Ah so they'll be keeping hair then, ok. I got worried there...

[Haas Horse Farm]

I was going to say I have three here to pull hair for now. They are not going to do blood typing but just hair typing.