Effectiveness of reproductive utilization of Hucul mares in Poland

Abstrakt

The present paper studies reproductive utilization of 136 Hucul mares maintained in Poland in the years 1987-1996.The animals were entered into VIII volume of the Hucul Stud Book; the parameters and indices were established for individual mares and collectively for 14 active dam lines. During those years, the examined mares gave birth to 820 foals, including 433 fillies (52.8%) and 387 colts (47.2%). Individually, the mares had maximum 11 foals – one mare and 10 foals each – three mares, on average 6 foals per mare. The following indices were determined: 88.5 % - fertility (50% of the studied mares achieved 100% fertility), 9.6% - barren, 1.3% - miscarriages, 0.6% - stillbirths. The reproduction index of 68% shows that the breeders make a good use of high reproductive potential of Hucul horses. A very high percentage of born foals were qualified for further breeding: 80.6% mares and 16.8% stallions (data for 2011). There were substantial differences between the individual mare bloodlines resulting from variability of genetic background and the realization of the breeding program aiming at preserving the rare or declining lines.