NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said the latest infections had put a halt to plans to allow limited breeding to occur between studs. “The latest infections is a bitter blow to the industry,” Mr Macdonald said. “It looks pretty bleak. It’s possible we could lose one or two years of breeding out of this situation.”

Segenhoe manager Royston Murphy said he expected EI would now spread to other stud farms through the Hunter, particularly with the present strong winds. “It is devastating but we’re realistic: it was only a matter of time before it spread through the valley,” he said.

Mr [Olly Tait] said all thoroughbred horses should be vaccinated as soon as possible so the industry could get back to normal. “The existence of EI is a reality; we need to vaccinate to prevent this ever happening again. This will cost hundreds ofmillions of dollars in the Hunter alone.”

THE thoroughbred breeding industry is facing losses of hundreds of millions of dollars after four horses in the NSW Hunter Valley — the heart of Australia’s racehorse industry — tested positive for equine influenza yesterday.

The spread of the highly contagious virus to two studs means the next two breeding seasons are likely to be shelved, a scenario that would also cost thousands of jobs.

NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said the latest infections had put a halt to plans to allow limited breeding to occur between studs. “The latest infections is a bitter blow to the industry,” Mr Macdonald said. “It looks pretty bleak. It’s possible we could lose one or two years of breeding out of this situation.”

Three of the infected horses are from the Segenhoe Stud at Scone, which is about 250m away and separated by a river from a recreational horse property infected with the disease.

Mr Macdonald said the latest thoroughbreds to be infected appeared to confirm that the influenza is not just spread bycontact but is also a wind-borne disease.

After news of the positive tests was revealed yesterday, almost all of the front gates of the multi-million-dollar stud farms in the Hunter carried signs warning visitors to stay away.

Segenhoe manager Royston Murphy said he expected EI would now spread to other stud farms through the Hunter, particularly with the present strong winds. “It is devastating but we’re realistic: it was only a matter of time before it spread through the valley,” he said.

Hunter Valley Thoroughbred Breeders Association president Olly Tait, who manages the Darley Stud just down the road from Segenhoe, said although other farms in the Hunter had been affected, none of the horses had been from the prestigious thoroughbred studs.

Mr Tait said all thoroughbred horses should be vaccinated as soon as possible so the industry could get back to normal. “The existence of EI is a reality; we need to vaccinate to prevent this ever happening again. This will cost hundreds ofmillions of dollars in the Hunter alone.”

Andrew Bowcock, owner of Alanbridge, one of the few locally owned studs in the Hunter, has avoided EI so far but fears it will be only a matter of time. “One good thing about this is that the Government has finally realised how big this industry is,” he said.

“Billions will be lost if they don’t do something. We need vaccines brought in so we can at least protect our stock. If we can’t contain EI, we are all going to be infected.”

In NSW, 1300 horses on 146 properties have tested positive for equine influenza.

Mr Macdonald said the infection was plateauing with the number of infected properties less than the anticipated 200 properties, but confirmed that another two stallions at the Eastern Creek quarantine yard had tested positive for the disease late last week.

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