THERE was relief for stallion farms and breeders across the country this week with the news that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) had secured permission to import the Arvac vaccine, ahead of the 2025 breeding season.

The European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders’ Associations (EFTBA) announced a breakthrough had been reached in its bid to protect the Irish equine population from Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA), a venereal and respiratory-spread disease, which can result in pregnancy loss and affect stallion fertility.

Artervac, the approved EVA vaccine that has been used to protect stallions in this region from this disease for many years, has not been available this year and attempts to have a substitute vaccine imported had been ongoing prior to this week’s development.

The Department explored the possibility of importing a comparable activated vaccine from Japan but, for many reasons, this proved to be impractical. The ITBA, and its European counterparts, then sought permission for an import licence of the live EVA vaccine named Arvac from the USA.

Veterinarians should contact veterinary.medicines@agriculture.gov.ie as soon as possible, and no later than November 1st, to indicate their intention to apply for a licence to use the vaccine.

This initial communication should include the location of the proposed quarantine facility and the number of stallions to be vaccinated. Import and use of the vaccine requires adherence to strict biosecurity measures.

Reacting to the news earlier this week, Irish National Stud chief executive Cathal Beale told The Irish Field: “Huge work has been done by Des Leadon and Joe Hernon on behalf of the European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders’ Associations, and by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, for all the breeders of the country.

“We’re still, at this moment in time, waiting on what the protocols and details will be, but to be given the green light to use this as an option is massive. It means protection for the entire breeding population; for the sires, and therefore the mares. It’s been safely used in Kentucky for the past 20 years without any problems, as far as I’m aware.

“It’s a good news story for the industry and an example of what can happen when there is collaborative work. A lot of the credit goes to Des and Joe for their efforts here. From an EFTBA perspective, to get not just the Department in Ireland on board, but also to work with their colleagues in Germany and France is a great result.”

Earlier this year, breeders had been urged to have their mares tested for EVA and to make themselves aware of the relevant protocols put in place by stallion farms, before they sent their mares for covering this past season.

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