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Post by pcdunn2005 on Jul 28, 2007 17:28:38 GMT
This is supposed to be impossible, as mules (hybrids of horses and donkeys) are generally considered sterile. But from time to time, female mules do have foals. Apparently only 50 cases have been found in the last few hundred years of recorded history, which is why the case of a mule foal being born to a female mule called Kate, owned by a Colorado wilderness outfitters company is causing a stir. Genetic tests are being performed on both to figure out what happened. Story here at the Denver Post (available for 2 weeks, I think): www.denverpost.com/search/ci_6464853 Pat D. |
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Post by bobdezon on Jul 28, 2007 18:06:34 GMT
parthogenisis was it? Ill bet the creationiss will love this.  |
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Post by pcdunn2005 on Jul 29, 2007 0:10:22 GMT
No, they think the sire was a donkey, but results on the foal's genetic make-up are pending. They confirmed Kate the mule is actually a mule, and actually the foal's mom, as female mules have been known to steal baby horses as their own (poor things!).
Some cultures think a mule foaling is bad luck, oddly enough.
Pat D.
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Post by Riding With The Angels on Jul 29, 2007 0:17:55 GMT
How do we get loads of mules then? Are there groups of stallions wandering the plains thinking I'm gonna make out with a donkey today?
I mean surely all horses would rather do the biz with another horse.
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Post by pcdunn2005 on Jul 29, 2007 3:28:56 GMT
Well, since all the livestock were turned out to pasture together, it's possible the foal's daddy is a stud horse, but I seriously doubt this, simply because wilderness outfitters use gelded male horses and mares for riding stock, and mules for pack animals. Mixing stallions and mares on a long wilderness ride is asking for trouble. So if no whole male horses were in the outfit's corral, that sort of eliminates them. (A stray wild stallion, or an encounter with an escaped stud horse is possible, but not too probable, in this area.)
A jack donkey would be attracted to a molly mule, despite size differences, as mules look more like big donkeys. I guess that's their reasoning. I imagine mules are generally bred with the help of a vet, if you understand, same as expensive racehorses. who never actually meet their mates.
Hope this helps...
Pat D.
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Post by tricia on Jul 30, 2007 19:05:48 GMT
In the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico a racehorse that is to be registered must be produced by live cover. That means the Stallion must actually physically breed with the mare. For some types and breeds of expensive show horses, absolutely. All you need is a vet and some frozen, shipped semen.
From the Thoroughbred rulebook:
D. To be eligible for registration, a foal must be the result of a stallion’s Breeding with a broodmare (which is the physical mounting of a broodmare by a stallion with intromission of the penis and ejaculation of semen into the reproductive tract). As an aid to the Breeding, a portion of the ejaculate produced by the stallion during such mating may immediately be placed in the uterus of the broodmare being bred. A natural gestation must take place in, and delivery must be from, the body of the same broodmare in which the foal was conceived. Without limiting the above, any foal resulting from or produced by the processes of Artificial Insemination, Embryo Transfer or Transplant, Cloning or any other form of genetic manipulation not herein specified, shall not be eligible for registration.
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Post by Meercat on Jul 30, 2007 20:01:49 GMT
In the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico a racehorse that is to be registered must be produced by live cover. That means the Stallion must actually physically breed with the mare. For some types and breeds of expensive show horses, absolutely. All you need is a vet and some frozen, shipped semen. From the Thoroughbred rulebook: D. To be eligible for registration, a foal must be the result of a stallion’s Breeding with a broodmare (which is the physical mounting of a broodmare by a stallion with intromission of the penis and ejaculation of semen into the reproductive tract). As an aid to the Breeding, a portion of the ejaculate produced by the stallion during such mating may immediately be placed in the uterus of the broodmare being bred. A natural gestation must take place in, and delivery must be from, the body of the same broodmare in which the foal was conceived. Without limiting the above, any foal resulting from or produced by the processes of Artificial Insemination, Embryo Transfer or Transplant, Cloning or any other form of genetic manipulation not herein specified, shall not be eligible for registration. Im curious as to how they prove a foal was conceived artificially! |
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Post by bobdezon on Jul 30, 2007 20:16:46 GMT
Im curious as to how they prove a foal was conceived artificially! It'll have all the "E" numbers on the label |
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Post by Riding With The Angels on Jul 30, 2007 22:05:42 GMT
and a bar code |
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Post by Meercat on Jul 30, 2007 22:13:22 GMT
and a bar code Put the scanner down, and step AWAY from the pony....... |
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Post by redbaron on Aug 5, 2007 19:03:21 GMT
there's been a lot of strange things going on in Colorado recently - and lots more to come... pm on way pcdunn |
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Post by Mr. Jon Donnis on Aug 5, 2007 19:54:08 GMT
Did you know that if you killed all Mules in the world today, every single one, that by this time nextyear there would be 10,000 mules roaming the planet
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Post by tricia on Aug 6, 2007 1:02:11 GMT
So how's that rank next to mosquitos? I'd rather have the mules.
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