Equinome Launches Australian Genetic Service
Wednesday, 15 December 2010: Irish company Equinome has officially launched its genetic-testing service to the Australian bloodstock industry.
The launch, organised by Enterprise Ireland, was attended by a
cross section of leading racing and breeding industry figures including
trainers Gai Waterhouse and Ron Quinton.
Also
attending the launch at the Sydney residence of the Irish Consul
General Caitríona Ingoldsby were Peter McGauren, CEO of Australian
Thoroughbred Breeders, Andrew Harding, CEO of the Australian Racing
Board, Dr Christine Smith, President Elect of Equine Veterinarians
Australia, Michael Ford, Keeper of the Australian Stud Book and
Professor Patrick Cunningham, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Irish
Government.
Dr Emmeline Hill, a co-founder and chairman of
Equinome, delivered a presentation outlining the research, development
and commercialisation of the breakthrough Equinome Speed Gene Test.
Unveiled
earlier this year, the test can predict the optimum racing distance for
an individual thoroughbred by analysing the DNA sequence of a gene
related to muscle mass development.
Breeders in Australia can now
avail of the Equinome Speed Gene Test and incorporate the information
provided by it into their key decision-making processes.
This can be used to definitively ensure that a broodmare band will
produce more of the desired type of foal, to assist with stallion choice
and to ensure that breeding objectives are met more consistently.
Racehorse
owners and trainers can also use the information to optimise purchasing
and training decisions while stallion masters can utilise the results
to ensure that a higher proportion of a young stallion's early crops are
of the preferred potential genetic type.
Equinome, a University
College Dublin spin-out company, was established in 2009 by Dr Emmeline
Hill in partnership with Jim Bolger, the renowned Irish trainer and
breeder.
Headquartered in NovaUCD, the University's Innovation
and Technology Transfer Centre, the company also has laboratory
facilities in UCD's School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary
Medicine and at Jim Bolger's training yard in Co. Kilkenny in Ireland.
Dr
Hill a leading horse genomics researcher at University College Dublin,
said, “We are delighted by the high level of interest that we have
already received in Australia to the introduction of Equinome's new
genomic technology.
“The Australian bloodstock industry has
always been recognised as one of the world leaders in the production and
training of top-class thoroughbred racehorses and we are very excited
about working with breeders, owners and trainers here to assist in
maintaining this proud tradition.”
Since the launch of company
earlier this year Equinome has secured clients in the USA, Australia,
New Zealand, Ireland, UK, France and Singapore.
Equinome has an
ongoing research programme using the latest genomics technologies to
identify and characterise the molecular genetic variants underlying key
performance and health traits in the thoroughbred.
Equinome also
has access to large numbers of elite horses at various stages of
training and competition that provide subjects for its scientific
research programme.
Australian clients who wish to avail of the
Equinome Speed Gene test must provide a 4-5ml uncoagulated blood sample
for each horse.
They must then download a copy of the Sample
Submission Form and VET15 Import Licence from Equinome's website and
contact Equinome to arrange for courier collection and shipping of
samples to Equinome's laboratories.
Results will be returned to clients within seven days of receipt of the blood samples.
