pulling mane/tail hair for DNA on FOALS

[RobinRTrueJoy]

Does any one else have trouble pulling mane or tail hair for DNA on foals? I pull it but the roots ( bulbs on the end that are needed for DNA samples) don't seem to come out. What do you do?

Thanks!

Robin

 

[Becky]

Robin, I do find the foal hair tends to break off a lot easier than adult hair. The only thing I do is just grasp a few hairs at a time close to the base and pull. I have always been able to get enough to test. Not always easy to do with an unhappy foal flopping around!

 

[K Sera]

I'm glad you asked this question ... ironically I just tried to pull some tail hairs out of my foal last night and my first attempt came up with broken off hairs. My next attempt seemed to get the root as I grabbed about 15 - 20 in a bunch and yanked. He was very ticked off! I had to do it again and got a few more but decided to leave him alone at that point and hope I got enough. They seem to be intact but I understand what you mean and was wondering the same thing! OH!

 

[Songcatcher]

I too have had problems with the very young ones. Easier to get it from the tail, but still seems to break off easily. Like Becky said, just a few hairs grasped closely to the base seems the most successful. Still, there has been a time or two I had to wait a couple of weeks and try again.

 

[Genie]

It never looks like I have enough for the DNA but I always get the results back without a problem, so I guess what I do works.

I always pull mine from the tail as they seem to pull out better.

 

[Gena]

I too have had better luck grabbing a small amount at a time, pulling close to the base quickly.

 

[disneyhorse]

I can never get mane hair, it is too fine and breaks easily. I go for the tail, about three small pinches of hair. The foals HATE HATE HATE it but I tell them it's just this ONE time

You only need about 20-30 hairs, so count them to make sure you're not ripping out more than you need for your foal's sake

I just did my filly... results should come back any day now...

Andrea

 

[Irish Hills Farm]

I have been successful with both mane and tail hairs, I pull a few hairs at a time with no troubles, but have to say tail hairs are a lot easier (IMO) to pull.

 

[Miniv]

For the little ones, I've had better luck with tail hair.......just a few at a time.