Levy Board unveils new formal arrangements for equine infectious disease service

The Levy Board has announced the implementation of key steps towards re-establishing on a long-term basis the essential equine infectious disease surveillance provision that had been performed by the Animal Health Trust (AHT) until its closure in July 2020.

Acting on the recommendations of an industry-wide committee, the Levy Board has concluded an agreement with Rossdales Ltd to provide the diagnostic microbiology testing capacity, arrangements that will work with the epidemiological surveillance and monitoring unit that will now be based at the University of Cambridge Veterinary School.

Since the closure of the AHT in July 2020, the services have been provided by the former AHT team headed by Dr Richard Newton under the contract of the BHA.

The team will now work for Cambridge University and will continue to respond to disease outbreak incidents and to produce daily updates on infectious disease reports worldwide for the benefit of thoroughbreds and non-thoroughbreds.

Full coverage has been maintained by Dr Newton’s team on an ad hoc basis from Rossdales, while the new arrangement will last for an interim of two years while longer-term options are considered.

Funding will continue to be provided by the Levy Board, racehorse owners and the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.

Alan Delmonte, chief executive of the Levy Board, said: “This is an important milestone in putting in place successor arrangements to the services that had been carried out by the Animal Health Trust for a long time.

"A full evaluation of the current situation and the equine sector’s requirements took place, including through a tender process that was announced by BHA in 2020. Substantial work has been done by Stephen Atkin, who was retained to act as project manager of this complex area that has taken many months to consider."

He continued: "As well as now engaging the widely recognised expertise of Rossdales, it will be welcomed that it has been possible to retain the previous AHT team headed by Dr Richard Newton. All in the equine sector are grateful to them for continuing to provide disease monitoring coverage and reaction to outbreaks given the challenging circumstances of the past year.”

Dr Alastair Foote, director of Rossdales Laboratories, added: “We're delighted to have been awarded the tender, and to be able to provide continuity of the former AHT services that were critical to the equine industry, maintaining essential diagnostic testing and surveillance work.

"Our recent major investment in new laboratory facilities at our Newmarket site has meant we have been able to rapidly accommodate the required testing requirements, with new tissue culture and virus isolation facilities, and we look forward to working alongside the surveillance and research team at Cambridge.”

Read more

High Stakes the headline act as Gigginstown House dispersal brings £500,100

Fine start for Taghrooda's son Israr with eyecatching Doncaster success

How an invite to Guineas day led a business giant into becoming an owner-breeder (£)