Rare breeds of horse may have another tool in their arsenal against extinction: gender selection. The gender of a foal depends on what chromosome the sperm contains when it fertilizes the ovum. The nucleus of a sperm carrying the X chromosome is 4 percent larger than sperm containing a Y chromosome. This difference allows the sperm to be separated.
Inseminating the mare with semen that contains mainly X chromosomes increases the chances of getting a filly. This is important for breeds like the Suffolk Punch, which have fewer than 300 mares in the entire world. The Suffolk Punch is an English draft bred that is known for their power, stamina and temperament.
Tullis Matson, who owns AI Services, a UK-based equine reproductive center, began using new technology to sex sort equine semen in 2019. The company works in partnership with both Cogent and Sexing Technologies, and uses specialized equipment to sex sort the semen prior to insemination of the mare.
Ruby, a Suffolk Punch owned by Nottingham Trent University, was inseminated with semen from Holbeach Iggy, a Suffolk Punch stallion owned by Mike Clarke of Holbeache Farm, Suffolk, as part of a project between The Rare Breed Survival Trust and Nottingham Trent University. Using pedigree information, the project determined which animals can be bred to one another to minimize genetic decline and the risk of inbreeding.
Ruby had a healthy filly from the procedure. This form of gender selection allows breeding populations to increase more rapidly than by using traditional breeding methods.
Read more at Equine Science Update.
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