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I am presenting the information in chart
form for easier reading.
On Farm Breedings
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ADVANTAGES |
DISADVANTAGES |
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Least stressful for the herd owner if they prefer
someone else to take charge of the breeding
decisions for their female. |
Stressful for a herd owner that would prefer to have
some control over the breeding decisions for their
female. |
|
Female is at the stud owner’s farm if re-breeds need
to be done, possibility of less transportation
needed for dam and cria. |
Stress from travel, new environment, social
adjustment with other animals and re-integration
with the dam’s own herd are unavoidable. |
|
Most commonly practiced method at present. |
Herd owner looses the cute days with their cria. |
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May be able to see more than one stud and his
offspring while at the stud owner’s farm. |
Bio-security can be an issue. Your dam and cria may
be in contact with stud owner’s herd and other dams
coming in from other herds. |
| |
Dam may be changing feed at critical time in both
lactation and new gestational period. |
| |
You need a way to transport your animal to and from
the Stud Owner’s farm. |
Mobile Matings
|
ADVANTAGES |
DISADVANTAGES |
|
Easiest for the dam’s owner. |
Due to distance factors, mobile matings may not
always be an option. |
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Easiest on the female being bred. |
If the female isn’t pregnant when spit checked,
another breeding date needs to be set up. |
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The stud comes to the dam. |
|
|
Mobile mating limits the number of outside animals
that come into contact with your herd. |
|
|
May be able to see more than one stud and his
offspring at the stud owner’s farm. |
|
|
No stress from traveling and unfamiliar surroundings
that can often lead to a lower conception rate. |
|
|
Bio-Security
is more easily controlled. |
|
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The dam and cria are always in your care. |
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Drive-By Breedings
|
ADVANTAGES |
DISADVANTAGES |
|
In a short period of time the female is back in her
own pasture with her herd mates in the least
stressful environment possible. |
You need a way to transport your animal to and from
the Stud Owner’s farm. |
|
Bio-Security is more easily controlled. |
If the female isn’t pregnant when spit checked,
another breeding date needs to be set up. |
|
The dam and cria are always in your care.
|
Stress from travel is unavoidable. |
|
May be able to see more than one stud and his
offspring at the stud owner’s farm. |
|
|
Distance limited only by dam owner’s desire to
travel and the type of transportation available. |
|
|
Drive-By Breeding limits the number of outside
animals that come into contact with your herd. |
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The big advantage of
any of these types of breedings is that genetics are
available without the cost of owning a sire. This is
especially true for smaller herds. Remember that owning an
animal includes more than the purchase price. It includes
feed, vet, shearing, nail trimming, labour, insurance,
housing and associated costs, as well as the risks involved
in ownership.
May you all have
genetic improvement in the next generation.
Deb Griffey |
