05BreedingGuide 12/14/07 6:45 PM Page A 05BreedingGuide 12/14/07 6:45 PM Page B Contents History of APHA . .1 The American Paint Horse . .1 Breeding Practices . .1 Live Cover . .1 Pasture Breeding . .1 Hand Breeding . .1 Artificial Insemination . .2 Transported Cooled Semen . .2 Frozen Semen . .4 Transfers . .4 Embryo Transfer . .4 Oocyte Transfer . .4 Fertilized Egg Transfer . .4 APHA Requirements on Transfers . .4 DNA Testing . .5 Parentage Verification . .6 Breeders Trust . .6 Methods to Breeding Horses Based on Pedigrees . .7 Outcrossing . .7 Linebreeding . .8 Inbreeding . .8 Craft or Science? . .8 References . .9 For more information on the American Paint Horse Association and what it can offer you, call (817) 834-2742, extension 788. Visit APHA’s official Web site at apha.com. 05BreedingGuide 12/14/07 6:45 PM Page 1 History of APHA The American Paint Horse The American Paint Horse Association has come a long Both bloodline and color requirements determine a horse’s eligi- way since its formation in 1962. With only a few hundred bility for registration. First, a Paint’s sire and dam must be regis- horses in the registry by the end of that year, it has grown tered with the American Paint Horse Association, the American to more than 800,000 American Paint Horses today. APHA Quarter Horse Association or the Jockey Club (Thoroughbreds). is recording these registrations at a rate of about 50,000 Then, depending on the amount of white present on the horse, it each year, making it one of the fastest-growing breed reg- istries in the world. is placed in one of two APHA registries, Regular or Breeding Stock. Founded by horsemen and -women who loved the To be eligible for the Regular Registry, the horse must exhibit a min- ability and speed of the Western stock-type horse, but who imum amount of white hair over unpigmented skin within a pre- also appreciated the extra eye-appeal of a colorful coat scribed zone and have at least one registered Paint parent. The pattern, APHA’s heart lies in its members. That is why Breeding Stock registry is made up of those horses with at least one the association strives to develop and sponsor programs Paint parent but no qualifying white present on their coat. that reflect their interests and their love of the American Paint Horse. Breeding Practices To be eligible for registration, a foal must be produced by one of APHA’s five accepted breeding methods: live cover, artificial insemination (AI), transported cooled semen, frozen semen or embryo transfer. Each of these breeding methods has its own set of rules and requirements that must be met for the resulting foal to qualify for registration. Currently, about 86 percent of foals registered are conceived through live cover, the oldest and perhaps simplest breeding method. Another 9 percent result from AI. Transported cooled semen accounts for just over 5 percent of registrations and less than 1 percent result from embryo transfer or frozen semen. Live Cover Live cover has a slightly better conception rate than do the other breeding methods. However, there is a greater chance of the mare and stallion causing injury to one another because of biting, kicking or pawing. The live cover breeding method is performed in two basic ways: pasture breeding and hand breeding. Pasture Breeding Using this method, the stallion is turned loose in a pasture with the mare(s) the owner wants him to breed. The stallion then breeds the mares during the natural breeding season, generally considered to be March through September. Pasture breeding could be considered the most “natural” breeding method, because human assistance is not required. Generally, half of the reported pasture breedings result in an APHA registered foal. Hand Breeding The second type of live cover breeding is called hand breeding. This method requires at least two handlers—one to control the mare and one to control the stallion. While one handler steadies the mare, the other handler allows the stal- lion to mount the mare for breeding. Breeding hobbles are often placed on the mare to protect the stallion from kicking. Many times, the stallion is muzzled or a thick neck drape is placed on the mare to protect her from biting. Generally, over half of reported hand breedings resulted in an APHA registered foal. APHA Breeding Guide • 1 05BreedingGuide 12/14/07 6:45 PM Page 2 Artificial Insemination Transported Cooled Semen Artificial insemination is widely used in area of the vagina with a mild soap solution The use of transported cooled semen the horse industry today. AI has been to remove any contaminants. has become an increasingly popular accepted by APHA for more than 20 years, Once the mare and the semen have both breeding practice in the Paint Horse and many breeders find this method prefer- been prepared, the semen dosage is placed industry. This is because there are some able to live cover, despite the technological into a sterile syringe for insemination into distinct advantages to breeding with expertise needed, and the time and expense the mare. transported semen, including opening a involved. This is because the potential for AI is performed using one of two meth- wider market for stallion owners and injury due to fighting between the mare and ods. In the first method, the technician providing mare owners a world of breed- stallion is eliminated. inserts a sterile speculum into the mare’s ing options. To artificially inseminate a mare, a stallion’s vagina and passes a plastic pipette or a ster- However, use of transported semen semen must be collected. The usual method ile catheter into the uterus. The syringe con- means adding a few extra procedures of collection is to first wash the stallion’s penis taining the semen dosage is then attached during the breeding process. Not only to remove any contaminants, then allow him to the end of the pipette or catheter and the must owners understand the technical to mount a phantom mare (mounting semen is deposited into the uterus. aspects of shipping and long-distance dummy). Another handler directs the stal- During the other common method, the artificial insemination, but guidelines set lion’s penis into a collection device known as technician wears a sterile arm-length glove up by APHA must be carefully followed. an artificial vagina (AV). The stallion’s penis is and manually palpates the mare. He or she Fortunately, most of what the associ- washed again afterwards. then guides the catheter through the cervix ation requires involves filling out simple Once the semen is collected in the AV’s col- and into the uterus using a finger, and then forms, which is relatively quick and easy. lection bottle, it is removed from the AV and attaches the syringe to dispense the semen In order to ship semen, the stallion maintained at 100˚ F in a water bath or incu- dosage. owner, lessee of record, or authorized bator. The gel fraction found in ejaculate is Artificial insemination should be per- agent (all will be referred to as “stallion removed from the semen by straining formed only by veterinarians or trained, owner”) must apply for a Transported through gauze or aspirating with a syringe. experienced breeding professionals. The Cooled Semen Permit. The APHA Field Removing this gel allows the AI technician to reason for this is two-fold. First, AI has a Services Department sends applications accurately divide the semen into even doses. lower conception rate than does live cover, upon request. (All stallion owners who Usually, a sample of the semen is analyzed so an experienced technician is essential to transported semen during the previous using a microscope to determine motility, obtaining a successful breeding. Second, AI year automatically receive forms for the concentration and morphology. The semen is an invasive procedure. During the insem- current year’s permit.) can be used raw to inseminate the mare, or ination process, if the mare’s rectum is acci- Applications can also be downloaded it can be extended with a dilutor. The pur- dentally torn, the injury can result in death. from APHA’s Web site, located at pose of a dilutor is to add volume to the To learn more about artificial insemina- apha.com. semen dosage to aid in handling. Extenders tion, the various products and instruments After completing the application form, also often contain nutrients and antibiotics used, and methods of this breeding practice, stallion owners send it and the required that aid in keeping the semen motile and you can contact your local equine practi- fee to APHA. Stallion owners must reap- contamination-free. tioner or a veterinary teaching hospital. You ply for the permit each year, and must Before the actual insemination process may also want to contact local breeding pro- pay the appropriate annual fee. takes place, a technician prepares the mare fessionals or research the many books avail- Upon receiving the breeder’s applica- for the procedure by cleansing the perineal able on the subject. tion, APHA checks that the stallion is list- ed for Paint breeding and that its DNA is on file. Once the application is approved, the stallion is assigned a permit number and the owner is sent 10 Collection and Insemination Reports. Owners can begin shipping semen as soon as they receive their reports. Though owners receive only 10 forms initially, they may request as many as they need during the year. Each time semen is shipped to a mare, the stallion owner must fill out the collec- tion (upper) portion of the Collection and Insemination Report, keep the gold copy for his or her files, and send the rest of the form with the semen shipment to the mare owner.