A time line for implementation has not been determined yet. A plan is being developed now and recommendations will be made at the May board meeting. Savings would be realized through not having to pay for veterinarian services to pull blood or pay for express shipping. DNA microsatellite technology is proven and effective. Compared to drawing blood, pulling hair follicles from a foal's mane is much more convenient for owners and less traumatic for the foal.
Hair samples are also easier to handle than blood.
Due to declining demand, fewer laboratories will offer blood typing in the future. The board gave a green light to the development of a new Certificate of Registration. Registry staff is currently working on a new document that will be easier for owners to handle and file because of its smaller size - 8 x 11. The time it takes to turnaround an ownership transfer, for example, could be shortened thanks to the elimination of extra steps in the certificate preparation process and new procedures that will enable a certificate to print and be mailed the same day that work is entered. Currently, certificates print the day after work is processed.