Irish Draught facing extinction unless breeding policies change

THE author of a report into the Irish Draught says that the breed could face extinction unless proposals are adopted that allow for greater diversity.

Dr Francis Kearney yesterday said current breeding policies are failing to ensure the long-term survival of the Irish Draught.

“In terms of diversity, the breed is dwindling and in-breeding is on the increase. Unless this trend is reversed, it could, ultimately, lead to extinction, as in-breeding reduces fertility, though this is a worst-case scenario,” said the geneticist with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), which undertook the study on behalf of the RDS Committee of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Mr Kearney also said that, in terms of achieving greater diversity, breeders should not face barriers to the use of ID stallions standing abroad.

“The progeny of Irish Draught stallions abroad cannot achieve fully-registered Irish Draught status and I feel that the offspring should be judged on their individual merits,” said Dr Kearney following the presentation of his findings in the RDS yesterday.

The study, which took two years, was summarised as follows:

* The Irish Draught, despite the utilisation of significant resources, suffers from the lack of a sustainable breed development programme that is aimed at both genetic improvement, and at the safeguarding of genetic diversity.

* There are no clearly set out breeding objectives by either of the organisations who approve animals for breeding purposes, namely, the Irish Draught Horse Society, and the Irish Horse Board. The lack of breeding objectives undermines the ability of a quality control system, such as mare or stallion inspections, to play a meaningful role in breed development.

* Initial results from the RDS-funded University of Limerick study into Irish Draught Conformation suggests there is no consistency in the evaluation methods used for either Irish Draught mares or stallion approvals (the view of individual inspectors as to what an Irish Draught is and the attributes it requires for future function differs greatly).

* There is no question as to the expertise of the judges used by the Irish Draught Horse Society or the Irish Horse Board, however, the current trait-based system allows for widely inconsistent results between judges on an individual animal.

* The licensing of Irish Draught stallions for both the Irish Draught Stud book and the Irish Sport Horse Studbook does not explicitly favour the retention of individual breed characteristics and a separate identity for the Irish Draught. No research or planning has been carried out on the long-term consequences of this system for either the Irish Draught or the Irish Sport Horse.

The study should garner a lot of interest, considering the on-going debate among sport horse breeders as to the importance of the Irish Draught, once considered the foundation of the Irish sport horse.

Dr Kearney stresses that the development of a sustainable breeding programme must be built around three components:

*The definition of a breeding objective.

* Evaluation of an animal’s ability to fulfil that breeding objective.

* The design and implementation of a sustainable breeding programme to ensure the best animals are used.

Other recommendations are that colts with good diversity values should be identified and brought through the to the stallion approval process, while “target matings” that would result in foals with good diversity values should be investigated.

The study — a follow on from Dr Kearney’s 2005 report on the development of a breed preservation plan — says that the current disharmony within the Irish Draught Horse Society suggests that “little meaningful engagement on a breed development programme can be made at this point”.

It is also suggested that “attention should be focused in the short term in storing genetic material [primarily semen, but also eggs].

Ensuring profitability for breeders should also be a priority and it is stressed that the IDHS and the IHB “have an obligation to ensure the long-term survival of the breed”.

Dr Kearney said his report should be seen as a framework, but all the stakeholders should come together to achieve the goal of ensuring the long-term future of what is a something uniquely Irish and a part of our heritage.

THE Department of Agriculture has sent officials overseas as part of its investigation into the source of the equine infectious anaemia (EIA) that hit Ireland.

The officials travelled late last year according to department spokesman, who yesterday said: “Our determination is to gather sufficient evidence to prosecute the case.

“We take this very seriously. The bloodstock industry is a major contributor to the economy and our determination is to protect its integrity and reputation,” he said.

“Our position is that if there is any question of illegality, we will pursue people,” he said.

The department is hoping to be in a position to present a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The spokesman could not divulge what country the officials had travelled to, but said the investigation had progressed significantly. It is suspected that the outbreak of EIA — also known as swamp fever — stemmed from the illegal importation of blood plasma from Italy. As of yesterday, 28 cases of swamp fever had been confirmed.

* SJAI pony measuring takes place at Woodlands, Killarney, tomorrow, starting at noon. Attendees are reminded to bring each pony’s passport and that each animal must be mouthed in a bridle. Measuring will be refused otherwise.