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around 60 people, including 13 full-time researchers. Among them are three research directors affiliated with the University of Caen. Labéo, Normandy’ s interdepartmental research and analysis center, was created in 2014 by merging the former laboratories of Calvados, Manche, and Orne. Its roots run deep: Calvados’ s bacteriology lab was founded in 1896! Dr. Guillaume Fortier has been Director General since the beginning, and is also the veterinary advisor for the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Federation.“ Labéo has 400 employees. The Eure lab joined us in 2017. Equine research began between the World Wars with workhorses. Today, we are a fully integrated part of the industry, working to improve breeding, selection, and animal health. That’ s our pride!” One million euros per year are dedicated to equine health research. Key themes include bacterial( like strangles) and viral diseases( notably flu and rhinopneumonitis), and even equine asthma.“ For over a year, we’ ve been developing a genomic approach to horse diseases with a major sequencing unit employing eight fulltime staff,” explains Fortier.“ We can now decode a horse’ s DNA in two hours! We’ re studying genetic resistance to certain bacterial and viral diseases. For instance, with myositis, we compare horses affected by the condition with those unaffected, to see if their blood signals differ— there are about 7,000 distinct molecules in horse blood; are some specific to affected horses? This knowledge could lead to early detection tools.” A test for resistance to rhodococcosis— one of the most serious foal diseases— is currently in development. The aim is to create marketable detection tools to serve breeders. The extraordinary technical platform at Normandie Équine Vallée is also attracting international researchers. A partnership has been signed with the JRA( Hidaka Training and Research Center) in Hokkaido, Japan.“ The JRA is a global powerhouse, and they’ ve sent us a post-doc researcher who needs one of our machines to validate his protocol,” says Fortier.“ In return, the Japanese will help us with piroplasmosis, a disease they specialize in. It’ s a win-win partnership!”
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ARA- BIANS
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By Cécile Adonias
MUSAL- LAM ALI
Musallam Ali is“ Naheez Racing.” Cécile Adonias spoke with the man behind this highly followed and influential account in the world of Purebred Arabians, to discover a true enthusiast of horses who works tirelessly to promote them. A conversation centered on horses, social media and the challenges facing the industry.
Galorama. Can you please introduce yourself: name, country?
M. A. My name is Musallam Ali from the Sultanate of Oman in the city of Salalah in southern Oman, a horse owner and lover. I have achieved victories in the UAE, Poland, and Oman. My best achievement was winning the Mazrat Al Ruwayah, Meydan( GR. 2) at MEYDAN( 2020) & The victory was through the horse RASI( Rate118)
G. How and when did you discover horses?
M. A. I’ ve loved horses for many years, and my first experience with them was in the late 1990s, when I watched
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