Horsegene

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 606142.

The Horsegene Project: check out the project video here!

Osteochondrosis, insect bite hypersensitivity and chronic progressive lymphedema are heritable diseases that cause significant problems in horse industry. To develop genomic tools for breeding against these heritable diseases in horses, several European research groups have recently obtained an EU FP7 grant. The HORSEGENE project brings together researchers and representatives of several universities and equine associations to identify associated genetic markers and optimize breeding strategies to improve equine welfare and reduce economic losses due to these diseases.

The HORSEGENE project brings together the efforts of European research groups that have been working on the genetics of disease susceptibility in horses for many years. Researchers from the KU Leuven (Belgium), Animal Health Trust (Great Britain), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Sweden) and Wageningen University (the Netherlands), as well as representatives of several equine associations, laboratories, studbooks and stud farms will collaborate to achieve our collective goal. The HORSEGENE project concerns research for SME associations, lasts for three years and the total project budget amounts to 2.39 million euro.

News

Final workshop at Diepensteyn (Belgium). Project results are now available here!

November 2016

Insect Bite Hypersensitivity

Insect bite hypersensitivity is a seasonal allergic reaction to bites of Culicoides insects that results in a severe itch and self-mutilation. Insect Bite Hypersensitivity is observed in many horse breeds worldwide and causes significant problems in horse industry, as it results in poor animal welfare and severe economic losses for horse owners and breeders.

Chronic Progressive Lymphedema

Chronic progressive lymphedema is particularly observed in several related heavy draught horse breeds and is caused by a systemic failure of the lymph system and skin elastic network. Affected horses show progressive swelling, thickening and hardening of the skin of the lower limbs, which often ends in severe disfiguration and disability of the limbs.

Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is an orthopaedic developmental disorder in young, growing horses and may lead to premature retirement of the horse as a result of chronic or recurrent lameness. Just like Insect Bite Hypersensitivity, it is observed in many horse breeds worldwide. Osteochondrosis causes problems of animal welfare and reduces the economic value of the horse.