Studbook takes ‘moral stance’ as registration of foals bred by way of sure reproductive strategies to be banned

A European studbook has introduced plans to ban the registration of foals born by way of sure trendy breeding strategies, primarily based on welfare grounds.

The Swedish Warmblood Affiliation (SWB) introduced that offspring produced by intra cytoplasmic injection (ICSI) and ovum pick-up (OPU) will not be registered with the affiliation’s studbook from 1 March 2025.

OPU includes assortment of oocytes from a mare’s ovarian follicles, carried out underneath sedation. ICSI is the lab-based course of whereby a single sperm is injected into the matured oocyte, which is incubated to encourage an embryo to develop, then transferred right into a recipient mare. OPU is carried out in international locations world wide together with the UK, however is prohibited in Sweden.

Per Jansson, chairman of the SWB board, instructed H&H the choice was the end result of a “full assessment and analysis” of the studbook enterprise – and that the affiliation has reviewed its equine welfare regulatory framework yearly since 2020.

“Based on the Swedish animal welfare act, operative intervention with out medical purpose, for instance OPU, isn’t allowed, which in apply implies that Swedish mares must journey to different international locations the place OPU is allowed,” he mentioned, including that foals born by way of embryo switch can nonetheless register with the studbook as this process “requires no operative intervention and isn’t painful for the mares concerned”.

Mr Jansson mentioned SWB has no “technical” means to make sure breeders are complying with the rule, however the affiliation would require written affirmation when a foal is registered.

“Horse welfare at all times weighs extra closely for SWA than purely business pursuits. We need to emphasise how necessary we contemplate the moral stance is within the breeding business and we wish to assist the Swedish values and laws relating to animal welfare,” he mentioned.

World Breeding Federation (WBF) vp Eva-Maria Broomer instructed H&H it’s “not unusual” for a studbook to set a precedent; for instance some studbooks don’t permit cloned horses.

“With these types of issues it turns into troublesome when one studbook decides and others haven’t adopted go well with, as a result of individuals will simply do it anyway and register elsewhere,” she mentioned.

Dr Broomer mentioned ICSI “raises a variety of questions and challenges”, and that the WBF is “monitoring the state of affairs rigorously” and gathering knowledge.

“These strategies can be utilized as a power for good, for instance in turning into an necessary device in permitting us to protect and strengthen necessary breeding traces, however they may also be misused and abused. To stop this we’d like full traceability and transparency,” she mentioned.

“That is additionally necessary for consumers who ought to know if they’re buying an ICSI foal or horse. Points that aren’t but absolutely understood embody if there are long-term impacts on equine well being or any discernible well being variations between ICSI foals and those that had been produced the traditional means.”

Dr Broomer added that the significance of genetic range must also be thought of.

“Right here, once more, ICSI generally is a power for good by allowing us to make use of horses for breeding that may not have been in a position to produce offspring within the standard means,” she mentioned.

“Alternatively, it may change into a limiting issue if it results in using fewer mare-lines by permitting extra foals to be produced from a smaller variety of traces.”

Equine-assisted reproductive strategies (ART) have come underneath rising dialogue, and had been the main target of a debate on the British Equine Veterinary Affiliation congress in September the place business consultants mentioned “How far is just too far?” (information, 24 October 2023).

It was agreed throughout the board that ache management throughout ART procedures must be a significant focus – and that the breeding business must give attention to the dearth of analysis round ART together with whether or not ache is assessed nicely sufficient, and whether or not fertility clinics must be licensed.

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H&H senior information author

Since becoming a member of H&H in 2018, Becky has lined a broad vary of equestrian information together with welfare issues, veterinary research, FEI Tribunal hearings and street security campaigns. She has additionally interviewed high riders together with Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to call just some. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, in addition to the Royal Highland and Blair Fortress Worldwide Horse Trials nearer to residence. She was additionally a key a part of the distant reporting group for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.