Posting about Morgans passed on by the AERC office

[Michael Maul <mmaul@flash.net>]

The following press release was sent to the AERC office and they asked 
me to post it on Ridecamp. They thought it might be useful to AERC 
members who have Morgans.

Mike

************************
DNA MANDATORY FOR MORGANS
Shelburne, Vermont, September 20, 2001
 
As of January 1, 2001, every Morgan foal presented for registration to 
the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) must have its
parentage verified using DNA. To do this, the sire and dam must also have 
DNA on file. 
 
AMHA started a blood typing program in 1981. They were one of the first 
registries to require blood typing to ensure accurate pedigrees
(versus the standard system of relying only on owner's reports of who the 
sire and dam are). However, labs are now phasing out blood typing
and offering DNA instead. 
 
Unfortunately, blood and DNA tests are not interchangeable.  To retain the 
genetic information from 20 years of blood testing, a bridge from
blood to DNA has to be established. 
 
The AMHA Registry is asking owners of Morgans born before 1991 to check that 
your Morgan has a blood type on file and when it was done.
If the blood type was taken after November 1988, the testing lab at UC-Davis 
will test the frozen blood serum in their archives to establish a
DNA record. The conversion fee is $45. After January 1 it will be changed to 
$100. Owners should apply for the conversion before January to
take advantage of the discounted rate.
 
If the horse was tested before November 1988 or has never been tested, you 
will need to complete a combination blood and DNA test. This
double test can be done for $75 until 1/1/2002. After that date the lab at 
UC-Davis will no longer be processing blood. AMHA is contracting
with another lab to handle this work. However, because of many additional 
costs associated with this change, the fee could be as high as
$250.
 
Only breeding stock are involved in this conversion. If you have an older 
mare or stallion that is done breeding, or a gelding of any age, they do
not need a DNA record. 
 
For the blood typing and DNA applications, or to see if your Morgan requires 
testing, visit www.morganhorse.com and select the DNA link,
call the Registry at 802/985-4944, or e-mail them at registry@morganhorse.com.