Springfield, IL – Researchers from the University of Illinois Saturday (March 5) received an $8,000 grant from the Illinois Equine Industry Research & Promotion Board (EPB) to work toward determining critical LH concentration for ovulation induction in mares.

Kevin H. Kline, PhD, and Kristine M. Doyle, U. of I. Department of Animal Science, received the grant from Lois A. Guyon, EPB chair, and Chuck Hartke, director, Illinois Department of Agriculture, during ceremonies at the Illinois Horse Fair in Springfield.

The grant is one of seven awarded, totaling nearly $28,000. Funding comes from voluntary assessments of 5 cents per 50-pound bag of horse feed, collected from feed manufacturers and passed along to feed buyers at the retail level. Grants awarded Saturday are funded from 4Q 2004 collections. Additional grants will be made as future funds become available.

In making the presentations, Guyon recognized the Horsemen's Council of Illinois for its work in bringing about the legislation that established the checkoff last year "and all of you who voted to approve the referendum and continue to support it with your voluntary assessments," she said to the capacity crowd gathered in the Livestock Center where nearly 30 different equine breeds/sports/disciplines were demonstrated. Illinois Horse Fair annually attracts more than 10,000 horsemen to the three-day event in March at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

"As we go forward, we do so with the assurance that by law, all of the money collected must and can only be used to support equine research, education and promotion," Guyon told the assemblage. As envisioned by the legislation and the EPB, approvals will be split about 50/50 between research and education and equine promotion, she said.

Any group, individual, company or institution may apply for funding. It is the sole responsibility of the EPB's grant selection committee to determine who receives grant money, with preference given to projects benefiting the largest number of people or horses.

The U. of I. inquiry stems from the fact that fertility in the horse is relatively low compared to other species. The national foaling rate may be as low as 65% each year. This costs the equine industry millions of dollars a year.

Part of the problem is that the length of estrus can vary greatly among mares, making it difficult to predict the time of ovulation and the optimum time for breeding.

According to Kline, if a method to accurately predict the time of ovulation can be developed, it could greatly increase the foaling rate. The research proposes to identify the critical concentration of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) that will induce ovulation in the mare and correlate it with concentration of estrogen present in the blood at this time in order to develop a test that more reliably determines the optimal breeding time, Kline says.

A provision of the EPB grant is that results of this research, along with any other such projects funded by the EPB, must be shared with the Illinois equine industry.

Other grants awarded Saturday go to:

Central Illinois Riding Therapy (East Peoria), $6,000 toward purchase of a dump truck so the group can haul shavings donated by Caterpillar. The quantity of shavings donated is large enough not only to bed all the group's horses, but to be sold as a continuing revenue source to support the group's programming.

University of Illinois Extension, Equine Education for Youth and Adults (Franklin County office) $5,000 for equipment to increase horse-related programs in southern Illinois.

Equine Science Program at Southern Illinois University, $3,200 to study natural behaviors, management and equine welfare.

Illinois 4-H Program Expansion Project, $2,250 for a new horse judging contest and oral reasons clinics.

LaSalle County Sheriff's Mounted Posse, $1,600 for global positioning satellite equipment to help the all-volunteer group in search and rescue operations while demonstrating the usefulness of horses for the purpose..

Mounted Angels Therapeutic Horsemanship (Pike County), $1,600 toward purchase of a cargo trailer for handicapped rider equipment transportation and storage.