[SarahKing]

Just an interesting question. I am a vet tech student, and our guest lecturer yesterday was a camelid expert. In his family breeding program (llamas), they run an IgG test on every cria born, regardless of whether or not they "think" it's doing well. His explanation is that the test runs about $30 and can catch an issue before the foal is visibly not quite right.

Is this SOP for horse breeders as well?

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

Just an interesting question. I am a vet tech student, and our guest lecturer yesterday was a camelid expert. In his family breeding program (llamas), they run an IgG test on every cria born, regardless of whether or not they "think" it's doing well. His explanation is that the test runs about $30 and can catch an issue before the foal is visibly not quite right.

Is this SOP for horse breeders as well?

My repo vet does, so yes.

[Suncountrygirl]

I do all of mine. Better safe than sorry

[chemteach]

Always ran them.

[NorthHillFarm]

Yes.

[not again]

Absolutely every foal gets checked. Plus we keep our bank of colostrum on hand from our best mares. If a foal does not nurse in what we consider a timely manner or the mare leaks too much in advance of foaling, we always give colostrum from the freezer or from that mare, then run an IgG.

[Laurierace]

I am a little shocked to hear this even posed as a question. Obviously yes is my answer.

[Dawn J-L]

Absolutely YES!!!!

[Sugarbrook]

YES!!!! Always have, always will. I cannot imagine not doing the test.

[ise@ssl]

Absolutely - it's one of the most valuable tests at a modest price that any breeder can use. And what's even better is with the snap test they can do it right there in the barn.

[clint]

Yes, every foal.

[Hillside H Ranch]

On every single one of my foals, yes. On every client foal that is born at our facility, yes. However, plenty of our clients that foal out their own mares do not routinely do IgG tests, even though we strongly reccomend it.

[Signature]

Yep, every time, snap test in barn!

[Callaway]

I use snap tests as well.

[lindsay_aggie]

Yes, every foal.

We also bank out own plasma from a couple of our older geldings. We know their medical history, vaccination history, they have been exposed to the same environment the foal will be born into, it is not hard on the geldings, and it is really easy to do. Once or twice a year they donate blood, we use sodium citrate to prevent clotting while it separates and freeze the plasma for low IgG foals.

[Equilibrium]

Yes!

Terri

[ticofuzzy]

I do my own snap tests and yes, I do every foal. I also freeze colostrum and if I do not think the foal has gotten adequate colostrum, I will administer some from my frozen stores.

[bugsynskeeter]

Yes every foal gets tested.

[Daventry]

My parents had a llama breeding program for about 15 years and we routinely did IgG tests on every baby (cria)...but this is due to camelids being known to be HORRIBLE milkers (on average), and this seems to often be passed down through bloodlines. It is quite routine for crias to receive plasma transfusions to prevent septicemia, as many crias do not get enough colostrum in the first 24 hours. Horses, on average though, definitely do not have the same overwhelming problems that camelids do. Depending on the bloodlines, it can be hard to keep some of those little crias alive!

We have never run an IgG test on any of our foals.

[jdeboer01]

Yes, always.

Also, my insurance company requires an IgG count in order to cover a newborn!