What if the Jockey Club allowed AI?

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by lemondropkid1

I've read a lot of articles since Monday about Barbaro, and 2 topics keep coming up: cloning and AI. I'm putting absolutely no weight on this as it would be pointless to clone Barbaro and AI is not allowed, so no point in keeping any semen either. But one of the horse racing correspondants for MSNBC even said in an interview "I have to believe that at some point they've collected Barbaro's semen". This got me thinking about this.

What would happen to the breeding industry of AI were allowed? Would stud fees be affected? Or would anything at all change? I'm not voicing an opinion either way on this, just curious about what anyone involved in the industry thinks.

Genetically speaking, it would serverely limit any sort of remaining diversity in the breed because one popular stud could produce thousands and thousands and thousands of foals.

Here's The Explainer on Slate on the question:

http://www.slate.com/id/2158610?nav=tap3

[slotdirt]

I don't know though, if you're still paying $500,000, I doubt there's going to suddenly be a glut of Storm Cat foals out there simply because artificial insemenation was allowed.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I don't know though, if you're still paying $500,000, I doubt there's going to suddenly be a glut of Storm Cat foals out there simply because artificial insemenation was allowed.

The stud fees would likely drop on all sires because the stud farms could make up in quanity what they'd lose in lowering the stud fees. I absolutely think there would be a glut of popular sires if it were permitted- suddenly, supply can absoultely meet demand.

But I agree that it's not likely to happen any time soon, if ever. Too much money in breeding as it is to change. I imagine SBs and QHs permit it because they're much smaller and the breeding industry doesn't call the shots in those industries? (purely a guess; I don't know much about either one)

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

The stud fees would likely drop on all sires because the stud farms could make up in quanity what they'd lose in lowering the stud fees. I absolutely think there would be a glut of popular sires if it were permitted- suddenly, supply can absoultely meet demand.

But I agree that it's not likely to happen any time soon, if ever. Too much money in breeding as it is to change. I imagine SBs and QHs permit it because they're much smaller and the breeding industry doesn't call the shots in those industries? (purely a guess; I don't know much about either one)

Couldn't they allow AI and cap the number of mares that can use one stallion each breeding season?

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Couldn't they allow AI and cap the number of mares that can use one stallion each breeding season?

the problem goes beyond the number of mares on stud can breed...AI eliminates the transportation of mares (huge business in KY) and the boarding of mares (huge business in a couple of states)...it would enable someone like me to own a mare and keep it at home in my backyard and still have the opportunity to breed to a stallion in Kentucky...the farms would lose a lot of revenue...and jobs would be lost etc... IMO it is all about $$ and jobs not the breed itself...it just sounds better to argue the breed aspects..

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

the problem goes beyond the number of mares on stud can breed...AI eliminates the transportation of mares (huge business in KY) and the boarding of mares (huge business in a couple of states)...it would enable someone like me to own a mare and keep it at home in my backyard and still have the opportunity to breed to a stallion in Kentucky...the farms would lose a lot of revenue...and jobs would be lost etc... IMO it is all about $$ and jobs not the breed itself...it just sounds better to argue the breed aspects..

It sucks for people that have to find new jobs but that sounds like the best part of it to me.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

IMO it is all about $$ and jobs not the breed itself...it just sounds better to argue the breed aspects..

Excellent point-- when you come down to it, most things in life are about the $$.

(It's not like soundness seems to be a big concern in breeding these days, right?)

[LARHAGE]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

The stud fees would likely drop on all sires because the stud farms could make up in quanity what they'd lose in lowering the stud fees. I absolutely think there would be a glut of popular sires if it were permitted- suddenly, supply can absoultely meet demand.

But I agree that it's not likely to happen any time soon, if ever. Too much money in breeding as it is to change. I imagine SBs and QHs permit it because they're much smaller and the breeding industry doesn't call the shots in those industries? (purely a guess; I don't know much about either one)

Quarter Horses register more than a million horses a year over Thoroughbreds. Paints are second with substantially more than Thoroughbreds, I personally feel the old boy network wants the mare care fees, it's highway robbery to the mare owners.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

Quarter Horses register more than a million horses a year over Thoroughbreds. Paints are second with substantially more than Thoroughbreds, I personally feel the old boy network wants the mare care fees, it's highway robbery to the mare owners.

As I said, I agree that it's about the money first and foremost. But are the one million more QHs you name all used for racing or are they used in other disciplines? Because you can breed a TB via AI, it just means you can't race with it, correct? I was referring specifically to the QH racing and SB racing industries (though, as I said, I don't know much about either). Sorry if that was unclear.