Public
Service Extension
Regulatory Services
Animal Health
College of AFLS
Solving reproductive problems
A
medication that is helping horse breeders produce healthier mares and
foals may someday help address problems of infertility in humans.
Clemson
scientists found that the medication, patented as EquidoneT, alleviates
horse reproductive problems caused by a common fungus in fescue pastures.
The problems include spontaneous abortions, prolonged pregnancy, difficulty
giving birth and little or no milk production. Many times the foal is
stillborn or dies shortly after birth; the mare can also die or have to
be destroyed because of complications during delivery.
With
the medication, mares are delivering healthy foals without complications
and producing a normal milk supply after delivery. The medication has
the added benefit of stimulating production of follicles on the ovaries,
suggesting that it could be used to treat problems of infertility in humans,
as well as to increase the reproduction rate in horses and other livestock.
A new company, called Equi-Tox®, has been formed to continue development
and begin commercial distribution of the medication.
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