Texas A&M University
College of Veterinary Medicine Hosts Equine Reproduction Short
Course
While thousands of new Aggies were moving onto campus on August
22, another group was wrapping up a three-day seminar at the Large
Animal Hospital. For the first time, the College of Veterinary
Medicine & Biomedical Sciences hosted a complimentary short
course in Equine Reproduction for people who have participated in
the Legends Premier Stallion Season Auction.
The Legends auction is an online auction to which stallion
owners donate breedings, or seasons. These seasons are then
auctioned to mare owners, with the proceeds going to support equine
reproductive research at Texas A&M University. The first two
years of the auction generated more than $500,000, which has
supported research projects through Stallion Reproductive Studies
at Texas A&M.
"We are so appreciative of the support that the industry has
provided us," said Dr. Dickson Varner, a stallion reproductive
specialist at Texas A&M. "This short course was our opportunity
to give back to the industry, and to say thank you to those who
have shown us such great support through the Legends auction."
The three-day seminar began with a welcome BBQ and social hour
hosted at the Bright Athletic Complex, and continued with a full
day of lectures presented in the Burkhart Auditorium at Kyle Field.
The final day of the seminar gave participants the opportunity to
observe wet lab procedures at the Large Animal Hospital and the
Reproduction Pavilion. Lectures and labs covered both mare and
stallion reproduction topics.
"Not only were we able to offer an outstanding seminar to the
participants in the Legends auction, but thanks to the support of
Purina Mills and Texas A&M Athletics, we were able to do it
free of charge," said Dr. Jim Heird, Executive Professor for the
Equine Initiative at Texas A&M. "This seminar was the perfect
way to showcase the incredible talent of the reproductive
specialists at Texas A&M, as well as the beauty and uniqueness
of our campus."
Dr. Eleanor Green, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine
& Biomedical Sciences, spoke to the participants on Saturday
morning about just a few of the advances in animal medicine and
management that have originated at Texas A&M. "Texas A&M is
the leader in equine reproductive research. Texas is number one in
horses. When you combine that with the incredible spirit and drive
of Texas A&M, you have to ask - where else but Texas?"
"Support from generous sponsors allows Texas A&M to remain
one of the top equine reproduction programs in the world. This
support fosters research that creates new knowledge to the direct
benefit of equine patients and the horse industry. At the 2010
International Equine Reproduction Symposium that hosted researchers
and scholars from around the globe, nearly one quarter of the
abstracts and presentations came from Texas A&M."
To learn more about the Legends Premier Stallion Season Auction
or equine reproductive research at Texas A&M University,
contact the Equine Initiative offices at (979) 845-6098.
