Developing a novel diagnostic test for early pregnancy in the mare

Despite gold standard management practices, breeding in the Thoroughbred industry is still inefficient. While fertilisation rates are estimated at 95%, only about 65% of matings result in a foal being born. This investment will use world first in vitro strategies to investigate the unique biological features of equine pregnancy including an assessment of blood serum profiles to identify compounds that could serve as biomarkers of early pregnancy or compromised pregnancy with the aim of developing a 7-14 day diagnostic test.