1.
LV MARE AND FOAL GALLOP ROUND PADDOCK.
0.07

2.
LV TO SV PAN..MARE AND FOAL GUIDED INTO STABLE.
0.17

3.
SCU PAN..MARE AND FOAL IN STABLE.
0.22

4.
SV TV CAMERA MOUNTED ON CORNER BEAM.
0.26

5.
CU CAMERA.
0.28

6.
LV PAN..STABLE MANAGER INTO HOUSE.
0.35

7.
SV PAN..STABLE MANAGER SWITCHES ON TV SET IN HOME.
0.39

8.
WE STABLE MANAGER AND WIFE SEATED IN LIVING-ROOM, TV SET IN BACKGROUND.
0.44

9.
CU MARE AND FOAL ON TV SCREEN.
0.50

10.
SV STABLE MANAGER AND WIFE.
0.54

11.
CU MARE AND FOAL ON TV SCREEN.
1.01



Initials JRG/V/WS/PB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A NEW EXPERIMENT IN BRITAIN - THE USE OF CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION TO WATCH OVER MATERNITY TIME AT THIS STUD FARM AT WASTE IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.

THE FOAL IS THE FIRST BORN IN BRITAIN UNDER A TELEVISION CAMERA HOOKED UP TO THE BEAMS OF THE STABLES THERE.AN ORDINARY HOUSEHOLD LAMP PROVIDES ENOUGH LIGHT FOR THE STABLE MANAGER AND HIS WIFE TO VIEW AT NIGHT-TIME-IN THE COMFORT OF THEIR LIVING-ROOM.

THE FOAL'S NAME - TO MARK THE EVENT: "CLOSED-CIRCUIT." AND HER MOTHER, A BROOD MARE:"STRAIGHT RUN."
BOTH BEFORE AND DURING THE BIRTH, THE VIGIL WAS KEPT - AND THANKS TO THE TELEVISION CAMERA THERE WAS NO DISTURBANCE TO THE MARE; THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT BEFORE FOALING, VETERINARY SURGEONS SAY.

THE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SYSTEM - IT CUTS DOWN THE NUMBER OF STAFF REQUIRED TO WATCH OVER THE BIRTHS.THE MAKERS OF THE EQUIPMENT - MURPHY ELECTRONICS - SAY THAT IT COULD PROVIDE THE SAME BENEFITS FOR FARMERS WHO HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AT CALVING TIME.