On another forum a poster notes that a prominent Sydney racing figure, citing laws relating to unfair restriction of Trade, has launched an action in State Court challenging the Studbook's right to ban the use of artificial insemination in Thoroughbreds.
Has anyone anywhere gone to court over this issue before?
Ban on A. I. Challenged in Australian Court
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Patuxet
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Ban on A. I. Challenged in Australian Court
"He is pure air and fire and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him; he is indeed a horse ..." Wm. Shakespeare - Henry V
Toral wrote:I sincerely hope this person loses their case against the studbook. The thoroughbred breed doesn't need AI to further deplete the already thin gene pool.
I don't know of any other cases like this in the thoroughbred industry, but I'm sure there probably have been tries.
The 150-200+ mare bookings of many Kentucky studs in recent years did the industry no favors in this regard. Such breeding practices condensed into a 4 month period borders on abuse. AI looks humane in comparison.
horsenuts wrote:The 150-200+ mare bookings of many Kentucky studs in recent years did the industry no favors in this regard. Such breeding practices condensed into a 4 month period borders on abuse. AI looks humane in comparison.
That number of bookings seems like it will be corrected in the recent economic market, and I don't see how AI is any more or less humane than natural cover. I'd be interested in knowing if there has been any research at all on AI and it's effect on equine population genetics, most likely on the quarter horse or standardbred. What I've been able to look up is only concerned with the actual methods of AI, and not the result as a whole.
On another note, here's a great interview on the Blood-Horse of John Gaines on the subject of AI, as well as breeding on the whole.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/26692/john-gaines-in-his-own-words
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Shammy Davis
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Shammy Davis
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Shammy Davis
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horsenuts wrote:The 150-200+ mare bookings of many Kentucky studs in recent years did the industry no favors in this regard. Such breeding practices condensed into a 4 month period borders on abuse. AI looks humane in comparison.
Abuse? Really?
Of the 2,500+ stallions active in the United States in 2009, 17 (.7%) bred more than 150 mares.
Thirty years ago when stallion books numbered 40-50 mares it was assumed that the majority of mares would need 2-3 covers to conceive. Now the majority of KY mares are covered once. Though the books have grown, the "work" done by the stallions has not changed very much at all.
The breeding season in KY lasts for 20 weeks. A stallion breeding 150 mares averages 7.5 mares per week. Now of course things never work out that neatly but seriously...you call that abuse??
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Shammy Davis
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Shammy Davis
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It appears the kiwis were looking at this issue in 2007 also.
http://www.nzthoroughbred.co.nz/latest-news.aspx?c=970
http://www.nzthoroughbred.co.nz/latest-news.aspx?c=970
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Shammy Davis
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Shammy Davis
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Shammy Davis wrote:http://www.smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/thoroughbred-industry-divided-on-the-merits-of-artificialinsemination-20091125-jq76.html
A direct quote from the man behind the challenge, according to the article: "McHugh plans to buy a high-quality young stallion for $3 million to $4m. But, instead of standing him at stud and having him personally cover 100 mares (at a price of between $15,000 and $20,000), McHugh believes many more mares could be covered using AI."
It seems all he cares about is the extra money he would rake in by covering more mares.
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Shammy Davis
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As if that’s not enough, along comes a court case in Australia, where one-time bookie Bruce (yeah, I know) McHugh is trying to force the racing authorities to register for racing thoroughbreds foaled after artificial insemination (AI). His cogent argument is that banning such animals – as all the heavyweight racing countries do right now – is an unfair restraint of trade.
Sage Australians (yep, I know, don’t go there) say McHugh’s no eejit, having once taken Kerry Packer’s $13m against his £11m, and won the bet.
Local self-interest reckons that if the maverick bookie wins in court, it will scupper the stud industry because Aussie AI-breds will be banned from breeding or racing abroad.
The authorities may also lean on the view – not universally supported by experts – that AI could mean too many progeny from the most successful stallions, with an attendant risk of inbreeding.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 43094.html
Sage Australians (yep, I know, don’t go there) say McHugh’s no eejit, having once taken Kerry Packer’s $13m against his £11m, and won the bet.
Local self-interest reckons that if the maverick bookie wins in court, it will scupper the stud industry because Aussie AI-breds will be banned from breeding or racing abroad.
The authorities may also lean on the view – not universally supported by experts – that AI could mean too many progeny from the most successful stallions, with an attendant risk of inbreeding.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 43094.html