Australia and New Zealand Friesian Horse Society (anzfhs.org.au)

This 2011 Stallion Information is being presented to you as an aid in choosing a stallion. When choosing a stallion it is not just important to use the best-quality stallions but it is even more important to make the correct combinations. The ANZFHS and KFPS strive to make as many breeding data on its stallions available as possible.

What are important factors in making a decision as to which stallion you will breed your mare? 

One of the choices you have to make is between selecting an approved studbook stallion or a foalbook stallion with a breeding permit.

An approved studbook stallion has been through a rigorous selection process, consisting of 4 steps:

1. First round of selection (normally in the Netherlands or USA). Followed by x-rays and semen quality tests.
2. Two subsequent rounds of selection during the stallion keuring/show in January in Friesland each year.
3. Central (performance) tests (70 days) in autumn each year for the young stallions (approx. 3 ½ year old), in spring for the older stallions. If passed stallion will be admitted to the studbook and be awarded a provisional license with a breeding limit.
4. Progeny performance testing over 3 generations. Offspring will be selected and has to undergo a performance test.

Progeny of a studbook stallion and studbook mare are admitted to the studbook as adults if they pass the selection process at a keuring. Progeny of a studbook stallion and a Bbook I mare will be eligible for the Bbook I register. For all rules see article about books and registers under menu item "breeding rules".

Note: A studbook stallion is recognisable by a 3 digit number after the name, eg. Jasper 366, Beart 411. The name and sequence number is given to them by the studbook once they approved for a license.

For a foalbook stallion the be issued with a breeding permit, the following  conditions have to be met:

• Must be a "ster" stallion of very good quality (eg, scoring high for racial type and movement), and must be registered in the Main Book Studbook.
• Preferably having passed one or two rounds of the stallion selection as a minimum.
• Be DNA checked (eg. chestnut factor), successful semen analysis and full skeletal X-ray
• Having successfully completed an IBOP test or equivalent (eg. ABFP or high level in sport)Must make a positive contribution to the ANZ breeding - eg. bloodline must offer new breeding opportunities

The breeding permit is limited to 10 or 20 mares, and has to be renewed every year. The stallion has to be presented at the keuring in ANZ.

Depending on the status of the mare, the resulting foal will be eligible for Bbook I or Bbook II. See the article about books and registers in the menu item "breeding rules". If you breed with a foalbook stallion without a permit the resulting foal that can only be admitted to the Bbook II. DNA testing is required for this type of breeding at the cost of the owner. It needs two generations to breed back to Bbook I.

The factors in a making a decision about which stallion to use are:

• Inbreeding percentage – it is important with the Friesian Breed to keep this below 5 %. The inbreeding % can be calculated for studbook stallions on the KFPS website. Alternatively, for studbook as well as permit stallions you can e-mail the president for a calculation.
• Matching your mare to a stallion and improve on the less strong points of your mare. When your mare was admitted to the studbook, you would have received a linear score result. This will provide details about the good and the weaker points of the mare. Selecting a stallion that would improve some of these weaker points is important. For studbook stallions you can use the breeding indicators that are available for each stallion, for permit stallions, you can use the linear score results that you can request from the stallion owner.
• The type and purpose of the horse you want to breed. Do you want to breed the more traditional “older” style or a modern “sports” type horse.  
• Does your mare conceive to frozen semen
• The costs and risks of frozen semen versus chilled semen

The stallions are listed in two groups:

Foalbook Stallions with a breeding permit - these stallion are available in Australia and New Zealand

Approved studbook stallions - all stallions listed here are located in the Netherlands and are available only by frozen semen, except Maiko 373 who will be standing in Australia from the end of November 2011 and chilled as well as frozen semen is available.