The field of biology has been moving at an alarming pace, with advances made to make farming more efficient and horse breeding has seen some major developments, with cloning and other genetic programs to help breeders enhance performance and make the most out of DNA discoveries. Australia is one of the pioneering countries regarding breeding techniques, with many horse owners bringing their mares to a top-rated breeding facility.
Cloning
This is the process of creating a genetic copy of an animal, which doesn’t mean the cloned animal is 100%, markings may be different, although base colours are usually similar. The main reason to clone is to preserve genetics; there are 4 stages to the cloning process.
- Gene banking
- Creating embryos
- Embryo transfer
- Gestation
Talk to one of the leading Australian facilities offering state-of-the-art equine breeding programs about cloning if you are interested in preserving the genetics of a line.
Artificial insemination
This is not a new field; development is ongoing and a top facility would have a few dummy mares for the stallions to engage with. The facility would offer numerous artificial insemination services, including testing sperm, preparation for freezing, freezing and storage. As a stallion owner, you want to maximise your options with a specific bloodline; the latest technology allows you to acquire and store semen for future use.
Embryo flush & transfer
This is a procedure when the mare is inseminated; about one week later, the embryo is flushed out and transferred to a surrogate mare. If you would like to learn more about horse breeding and the many options, search online for Australia’s leading equine breeding facility, which is based in NSW. Changing the topic, if you are looking to buy an ocean-front property, click here.
ICSI sperm injection
This procedure involves the collection of eggs from a donor mare’s follicles; the eggs are cultured in a lab until maturity and when the time is right, a single sperm cell is injected into the egg, which should start the dividing process and 7-10 days later, the embryo can be transferred to a surrogate mother or frozen for future use.
Gestation & foaling down
Typically, a mare is kept in an individual paddock from 320-310 days and is regularly checked by the resident vet team, with round-the-clock care; when foaling seems to be imminent, the mare is moved to a deep straw-lined foaling stable. These stables are disinfected between mares, ensuring a sterile environment, with each stable equipped with hi-res digital cameras to allow staff to monitor the situation. Round-the-clock care ensures that mother and foal are well and your new foal can start its journey we call life.
If you are the proud owner of a winning stallion and you want to preserve and work with the horse’s genetics, approach a leading breeding centre and examine the many options. If you would like to find out more about the technology used with horse breeding, the web hosts a wealth of resources to educate you about cloning and artificial insemination techniques.
