| DNA TESTING AND
IDENTIFICATION THE FUTURE OF THE HORSE INSURANCE INDUSTRY As we all know, it is a useful tool in crime detection. to find out who raped a victim or if a person was at the scene of a murder or robbery . Also used in paternity cases to determine who the father or as in the case of the switched babies, who both parents were. That brings us to the potential for DNA testing in horses and other animals of value, show dogs and cats for instance. It is especially important to determine what is the lineage of an animal for prepurchase. After all, one wants to be sure that expensive animal we are purchasing is actually the one we are getting. One reads of horse switching all the time. Another consideration is the artificial breeding methods used in certain breeds. Again from what individual was the semen extracted? This is important when shipping containers of live semen to various breeding stations. Even with live cover as in thoroughbreds one cannot be sure if the stallion used is the stallion claimed! The only sure way is DNA testing. This new and inovative technique does not require blood but merely a hair sample from the animal to be tested. Testing is done by the reknowned University of California Davis Genetics Research Labratories. The information is then stored in a secure compter profile facility.. In future, with the development of techniques by UC Davis and others to research health related information from DNA that test would prove invaluable to breeders, purchasers and most of all the Insurance companies as an underwriting tool beyond compare. Both prior to insuring and in claims settlements.. With the Olympics at hand , the test could serve to ensure the animal shipped thousands of miles to compete is actually one and the same. It also holds true for importing show and race stock. The cost for this procedure which lasts for a lifetime is a mere $100 A tiny sum in the overall picture. In my opinion it should be mandatory for all horses over $25,000 value just as regular veterinary examinations are and could be part of it. If you would like to contact us, need additional information or have questions, please
feel free to email us.
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