Fears horse flu outbreak threatens yearling sales
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![A horse at an Upper Hunter broodmare farm in NSW returned a positive result for the virus [File photo].](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200708/r172954_652807.jpg)
A horse at an Upper Hunter broodmare farm in NSW returned a positive result for the virus [File photo]. (AAP: Paul Miller)
There are fears for the immediate future of the thoroughbred breeding industry after a confirmed outbreak of horse flu in Australia's premier breeding region, the New South Wales Hunter Valley.
The Federation of Bloodstock Agents of Australia (FBAA) says it will take the industry at least two years to recover.
A horse at an Upper Hunter broodmare farm near Murrurundi returned a positive result for the virus yesterday, the first for local thoroughbreds.
FBAA president Tim Stewart says if the virus is not contained soon, the next yearling sales could be in jeopardy and that will reduce international interest in local progeny.
"I mustn't cry wolf too early, but unless we tidy this up very quickly there would be some doubts about at what point the yearlings can be got ready for the sales," he said.
"We've got huge costs involved in looking after these animals, and if we lose the cash flow from the yearling selling season then it's going to hit the breeders."
Mr Stewart says he is hopeful the situation can be brought under control.
"Two weeks from now if this situation was brighter and if it looks like it's resolved itself without too many sporadic outbreaks, then we would think we had a very lucky escape," he said.
"It's dreadful, absolutely dreadful, but two weeks on from now I'm really hopeful that maybe something might be coming out from it."
The Emirates Park Stud Farm is situated next to the affected property.
Emirates stud director Dr Shalabh Sahu fears his operation could lose up to $10 million.
"We are losing a lot of income because no mares can walk on to our property to be mated with our stallions so that's a big loss," he said.
"We can't send our mare out to the outside stallions because their movements are restricted. So there's a big economic loss to us and to everyone in this industry."
