Submitted by belgian-warmblood
on 05/17/2017 - 10:56
OUD-HEVERLEE The subject of fully checking the parentage of the foals has in recent years regularly been on the agenda of the Board of Directors. Also last year, during the preparation of the foal season. The decision was finally made at the meeting of May 16, 2017. There will be a transition year, but from 2018 the correct pedigree of each BWP foal will be checked by means of DNA.
The number of foals whose parentage has been checked, has strongly increased in recent years. With more than 30% having been checked, the legal obligation was largely met. But times change. The control systems of the past have faded, and the semen from domestic stallions is no longer exclusively distributed by only one stallion holder. So, the need of an irrefutable proof of the correct pedigree of foals has become increasingly important.
The principle has been agreed upon in no time. Finding the right practical way took more time, says Jozef Bauters after his first Board meeting as president.
Transition year
So, 2017 will be a transitional year. The breeders who are not subject to the obligation, will be offered the possibility to take part on a voluntary basis. In those cases, the studbook will take part of the costs. From 2018, the system will be generalized. Thus, BWP will be one of the first studbooks to apply the system. As the sport horse sector is growing and gaining importance, it is a logical step. A proof of the correct pedigree is requested ever more frequently, e.g. at auctions and breeding shows. These requirements are then met right away and without additional arrangements.
Only horses
For the other breeds managed by the Belgian Warmblood Association - BWP, nothing changes. For the Belgian Riding Pony, The Harness Horse Belgium and the Dartmoor Pony Belgium, sampling at random remains. The Connemara Pony Belgium continues to check the paternity of each foal. Given the extent of the studbook operations, the physical checks and the value of them, an overall investigation would be a form of overkill. The system of voluntary checks will be offered to the breeders of those breeds.
