Equine DNA Parentage Test
Do you need proof of parentage for a foal?
Would you like to offer your purchasers DNA-certified pedigrees?
DNA Parentage Testing for Equine is Fast, Affordable, and Powerful.
Parentage among horses can be definitively established using PCR technology to compare allele sizes. EDC Veterinary is using an optimized 22-DNA marker panel (plus a gender marker for a total of 23) for parentage testing
The testing fee is $38 per sample; for example, if a sire, dam and 1 progeny (foal) are tested; the total fee for 3 horses is $114. A typical test includes both parents, if the dam is not available, please contact us for more information about extended testing options.
You will be emailed a detailed Parentage Report showing inclusion or exclusion of each sire tested along with a DNA Profile summary page. Results are reported as:
- Parentage qualifies (Inclusion of sire and dam) – both the sire and dam matched the progeny (foal) at all 22 DNA markers.
- Parentage does not qualify (Exclusion of sire, dam is included) – the dam matched the progeny (foal), but the possible sire did not match the progeny and is not the sire.
Q: Why should I send the mother’s sample if I already know she is the mom?
A: Having the mother’s DNA makes testing much more powerful. A sire may be falsely included if the mother’s sample is not used to eliminate her half of the DNA contribution. When the mother is not available, extended testing can be done to determine proper parentage.
Q: What type of sample is needed?
A: DNA testing is performed from hair samples collected from the mane above the withers. The DNA is contained in the root bulb (follicle). The hair from the mane of a foal may be fine and not have much of a root bulb. When collecting samples from young foals, collect hair from the tail instead where the follicle at the end will be larger.
Q: If my horse has already been DNA Profiled through EDC Veterinary, do I need to send another sample?
A: No. We can retrieve the DNA Profile information for horses we have tested from our database. You can provide us with the DNA ID number for that previously tested horse and we will include it in a new Parentage Evaluation. There is a $10 fee to include each previously tested Profile in a new Parentage Evaluation case.