SIW 1 2021

Just in Time - Using Science to Save our Breeds

The first special interest webinar in our series preceding the 29^th National Equine Forum (#NEF21) was entitled "Just in Time - Using Science to Save our Breeds".

The webinar took place on Wednesday 13th January 2021, the webinar replay is now closed.

RESOURCES

Delivered by industry leaders, this webinar will take the audience on a journey to understand how many of our breeds are facing decline, and what needs to happen now in order to safeguard the future. Opening with a fascinating look at how the extinction vortex has impacted the natural world and how it applies to our equine breeds, the webinar will continue with a close look at the challenging situation of inbreeding in Thoroughbreds. The next two speakers will showcase how focused research using DNA analysis can provide breed societies and breeders keystone support to guide decisions that can increase effective populations. This will be endorsed with a case study to show proof of concept that breeds in decline have a chance to be saved when genomics and kinship analysis are utilised.

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Tim Brigstocke MBE

Chairman, National Equine Forum

Tim has been Chairman of the NEF since taking over from Prof Sir Colin Spedding in 2012. He has spent his whole career in agriculture having worked in agribusiness, the Government's research service and administered the largest cattle breed society in the world.

Since 1999 Tim has run his own consultancy business which specialises in expert witness work. He is involved in a whole host of organisations in the land-based sector including being Treasurer of RUMA, The Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture and Chairman of the UK Government's Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAnGR) expert advisory committee, which includes Equidae. He also chairs the biannual British Horse Council advisory meeting.

Tim Brigstocke will welcome attendees to the webinar, and take part in the panel discussion.

Prof Tim Morris

Vice Chair, Rare Breeds Survival Trust

Professor Tim Morris is a Veterinarian who was Director of Equine Science and Welfare for the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) from 2008-2013. After qualification from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) as a Veterinary Surgeon, he was in veterinary practice before returning to the RVC to complete a PhD. He then held a range of roles in research, clinical veterinary medicine, and then public affairs for the international pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. He is a visiting professor at the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, has held a large number of roles in veterinary and scientific organisations, industry bodies, and animal welfare charities, advises commercial organisations, is Vice Chair of the Rare Breed Survival Trust and a non-executive Board member of the UK Government’s Animal Health and Welfare Board for England.

Prof Tim Morris will chair the main webinar. He will provide an introduction to the topics and how the deleterious effects of inbreeding, as well as extinction, are a real threat to equine breeds.

Tullis Matson

Managing Director, Stallion AI Services

Tullis Matson has been a leading figure in equine reproduction for over 25 years. His work started in 1989 with the establishment of a natural covering stud at the family farm. In 1990, he went to New Zealand to learn the practice of Artificial Insemination before returning home to form one of the UK’s first equine AI units; Stallion AI Services.

Stallion AI Services was founded in 2000 and is one of the world’s most successful equine semen collection, processing and distribution centres. The company collects and processes semen from over 200 stallions per year and has semen for over 1,400 stallions in cryopreserved storage with facilities for worldwide export.

Throughout his career, Tullis has carried out extensive research into semen collection, stallion fertility and equine semen cryopreservation with Stallion AI Services being home to a world leading equine semen freezing extender. Tullis and Stallion AI Services specialize in semen collection and processing from sub-fertile stallions and the latest technologies available in the industry including post castration and post mortem epididymal semen extraction, semen sexing and genetic preservation.

Tullis has been a long-standing ambassador for the plight of rare breed equines and has recently established a charity, Nature’s SAFE, aimed at assisting in the conservation of the world’s endangered species through regenerative cryopreservation.

Tullis' presentation, entitled The extinction vortex – might it happen?, will examine the extinction vortex and its application to rare breed equines. He considers the current and future challenges that breeds face as small and declining populations and how, if unaddressed, these challenges may lead to breed extinction. His presentation closes with the technologies available to help recall rare breed equines from their current decline.

Simon Cooper

Director of The General Stud Book and Company Secretary, Weatherbys

Simon Cooper has worked in the UK, Hong Kong and New Zealand in administration, corporate governance and communication roles at a senior level, predominantly within horseracing-related businesses. He has worked for Weatherbys since 2016 in the role of Director of The General Stud Book, and Company Secretary. His international roles include Vice-Chairman, International Stud Book Committee (ISBC); Co-chairman, European and African Stud Book Committee (EASBC); and Member of Executive Council, International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). Simon also serves on the tri-partite EU Task Force for Brexit and the Animal Health Law (FEI and IFHA).

Before joining Weatherbys, Simon worked for New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Inc. (2004 to 2016). This included serving on the Board of the NZ Equine Health Association & the NZ Equine Research Foundation. Prior to New Zealand, he worked for Attheraces PLC in London (2001-2004); and before that for the Hong Kong Jockey Club (1994-2001) including in the role of Secretary-General, Asian Racing Federation.

Simon is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (FCIS) & has a Diploma in Business Administration from Henley Business School.

The title of Simon’s presentation is Inbreeding – even in Thoroughbreds?

Paul Flynn

Head of Research and Development, Weatherbys Scientific

Paul Flynn joined Weatherbys Scientific in 2002. He has over 15 years’ experience within the genomics industry, specialising in application of latest omic technologies and bioinformatic solutions.

Paul’s career began at a grass roots laboratory level gaining a thorough understanding of molecular based laboratory mechanisms. Now heading Weatherbys Scientific’s R&D team, Paul oversees stratified product development, and chairs the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) developing strategically focused technology roadmaps. He also acts as a consultant, supporting external product development or niche data analysis needs and working closely with key research groups and genomic technology providers. Paul has supported product development and beta testing efforts for various stakeholders within the genomics industry.

Paul holds an MSc and is currently undertaking a part-time research PhD in Multi Species (Bovine and Equine) Conservation Genetics and Equine Pedigree Proofing via Genomics.

Paul’s presentation, DNA analysis – how can it help?, will focus on how DNA analysis can help in the field of conservation genetics, with both equine and bovine species. Including an introduction to DNA and relevant technologies, Paul will look at their practical application for breed management strategies. He will also provide some thoughts on how these developments can be used in the future.

Dr Andy Dell

Trustee and Member of The Breed Committee, Cleveland Bay Horse Society

Andy Dell is a retired Teacher from Kendal in Cumbria where he lives on a smallholding with his partner Jill. He has been involved with horses since his teenage years, growing up in Devon and with Cleveland Bay Horses in Cumbria for the past 30 years.

Andy is a Trustee and Member of The Breed Committee of the Cleveland Bay Horse Society and in the early “Noughties” was instrumental in putting together a breed management strategy, now known as SPARKS, to control inbreeding in the global Cleveland Bay Horse population.

In 2008 Andy was awarded the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) / Marsh Christian Trust Award for Technical Support of Conservation of Biodiversity. He completed a Doctorate entitled “Genetic Analysis and Breed Management of the Endangered Cleveland Bay Horse” at the University of Lincoln in 2010.

Under the auspices of the RBST, SPARKS has been extended to two more critically endangered equine breeds (the Suffolk Horse and the Eriskay Pony, as well as to Vaynol Cattle). Andy has been made an Honorary Life Member of the RBST in recognition of his ongoing work and is a member of their Expert Advisory Panel

Andy is a Visiting Fellow at Nottingham Trent University, where he is working with others in the field of Livestock Conservation and Bioinformatics.

Andy's presentation, entitled Breeders – what should we do?, will examine the success of 16 years of the SPARKS Breed Management Programme and the impact it has had on controlling inbreeding and increasing Effective Population Size in the Cleveland Bay Horse.

Sponsors

Corporate Friends

Weatherbys Scientific
World Horse Welfare

Friends

The 826 Studbooks Association
Central Prefix Register
Cob Care
Exmoor Pony Society
Neue Schule
James Rayner
Traditional Gypsy Cob Association